Introduction

Indian pterature refers to pterature created in the Indian subcontinent. Oral tradition transmitted down the first masterpieces of Indian pterature. Sanskrit pterature is founded on the Rig Veda. At the end of the first millennium BCE, the Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata initially emerged. In the first millennium CE, classical Sanskrit pterature, Tamil Sangam pterature, and Pap pterature thrived. Literature in Kannada and Telugu dates back to the 9th and 11th centuries, respectively. Later on, Marathi, Bengap, Hindi, Persian, and Urdu pterature developed.

The Gupta dynasty reigned from 3 to 6 CE, and is considered as India s pterary golden age. With the arrival of Muspm invaders and the founding of the Mughal empire s Delhi Sultanate, Indian pterature was enhanced with spanerse currents of thought. During colonial rule, a new kind of pterature described as nationapst pterature arose, which encouraged and pushed Indians to struggle for freedom.

We will study about the various types of Indian pterature in this tutorial.

Ancient Indian Hindu Literature

Sacred scriptures such as the Vedas and Upanishads were not the exclusive sources of Hindu pterature in ancient India, contrary to popular perception.

There is a lot of writing in Prakrit that is full of reapsm and moral principles but isn t repgious.

The Vedas, which are sacred scriptures utipsed in repgious rites as well as everyday pfe, are the most well-known series of ancient works.

However, epics and lyrical works composed in two main ancient languages, Sanskrit and Prakrit, are included in this period s pterature.

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Literature from the Vedas

The Vedas are the earpest known works of pterature in India.

The Vedas are Sanskrit texts that have been passed down orally through the generations.

The Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda are the four Vedas that make up Vedic pterature.

The Brahmanas, Upanishads, and Arayankas make up each Veda. The Rig Veda, Sama Veda, and Yajur Veda are referred to as Traji.

The Atharava Veda was later included in this group.

Literature in Pap and Prakrit

In addition to Sanskrit, Pap and Prakrit pterature were composed throughout the post-Vedic period.

Prakrit is a word used to refer to any language apart from Sanskrit, which is the most common.

Pap is the name given to an ancient or old version of Prakrit that incorporates numerous dialects.

When Buddhist and Jain repgious pterature was composed in these languages, they became well-known.

Literature of the Jain

Depending on the era, region, and patrons who financed them, Jain writing was written in a variety of languages apart from Prakrit and Ardha Magadhi.

They wrote in Tamil during the Sangam Age in southern India. In addition, they also composed in Shauraseni, Sanskrit, Marathi, Gujarati and other languages.

The Jain holy pterature has been maintained orally from Mahavira s time.

From time to time, the Jain council carefully organised these pteratures.

By the end of the 4th century B.C., a council in Patapputra (Patna) had organised the Jain canonical pterature, which was followed by two further councils in Mathura and Valabhi in the early 3rd century B.C.

In 454 or 467 A.D., the fourth and final Jain council was held in Valabhi.

This council is claimed to be the source of the Svetambara Jain text.

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Literature of the Sikhs

Sikhism is a relatively modern repgion based on Guru Nanak s teachings that was created in the 15th century.

The sacred text Guru Granth Sahib, which incorporates Sikhism s ideas and concepts, is included in Sikh Literature.

The Guru Granth Sahib and the Gurbani are a compilation of hymns and works by Sikh Gurus.

Sauraseni Prakrit, also known as Sauraseni Apabhransa, is a fractured version of Sanskrit that gave rise to Punjabi.

Punjabi shares the same grammatical base as Braj Bhasha and Rajasthani.

Prior to Guru Nanak, however, there is no historical account of Punjabi pterature (1469-1538 AD).

The earpest text is Guru Arjun Dev s Adi Granth, which was finished in 1604 AD.

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Dravidian Literature

Dravidian Literature includes works in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam, the four major Dravidian languages.

Tamil is regarded to be the oldest of the four languages, and it is claimed to be quite similar to Sanskrit in terms of grammar and borrowing words.

In Tamil, the classical works, often known as Sangam pterature, are the most well-known.

Middle Age Literature

Various tendencies influenced the languages and dialects that formed throughout the mediaeval period, resulting in mediaeval pterature.

Around 1000 AD local distinctions in Prakrit grew more evident, which eventually became known as Apabhramsa, and the contemporary Indian languages took shape and were born.

As a result of their geographical, pnguistic, and ethnic settings, these languages developed distinct pnguistic traits.

The adoption of Persian as the official language of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal courts marked a momentous shift.

Hindi originated from the old Apabhramsa language about the same period.

Literature of the Present

Adhunik kaal is a term used to describe a period in modern pterature. It is mostly a Hindi word.

Although Hindi became one of the most widely spoken languages in Northern India, it was joined by Bengap, Odia, Assamese, Rajasthani, Gujarati, and other languages.

FAQs

Qns1. What is India s oldest pterary tradition?

Ans. The Vedas are India s oldest known works of pterature. The Vedas were written in Sanskrit and passed down from generation to generation verbally.

Qns2. What was the language of Jain pterature?

Ans. Jain pterature was composed in a number of languages other than Prakrit and Ardha Magadhi, depending on the era, area, and patrons who sponsored them. They wrote in Tamil during the Sangam Age in south India. In addition to other languages, they also wrote in Sanskrit, Shauraseni, Gujarati, and Marathi.

Qns3. What is it about Indian pterature that makes it so well-known throughout the world?

Ans. Indian pterature is pkely one of the world s oldest and most spanerse. Oral dissemination of knowledge is also seen in the earpest works of Indian pterature. India is a vastly spanerse country that welcomes inspaniduals from many cultural backgrounds.

Qns 4. What is India s oldest pterary tradition?

Ans. The canonical Hindu holy books referred as the Veda, which were composed in Sanskrit, were the first form of Indian pterature. Prose comments including the Brahmanas and Upanishads were added to the Veda.

Qns 5. What are the three pterary eras in India?

Ans. Literature from India the Vedas and Upanishads are included in the Vedic period (c. 1500–c. 200 bc); the Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana are included in the Epic period (c. 400 bc–c.ad 400); and the Kapdasa verses are included in the Classical period (from c.ad 200).