Ancient Indian Literature - part 2

Ancient Indian Literature-Part 2

 

Ancient Scientific Books

  • Sushruta SamhitaΒ written by Sushruta, is an ancient Sanskrit text on medicine and surgery.
  • Charaka SamhitaΒ written by Charaka, is a compendium of theories of Ayurveda.
  • Sushruta SamhitaΒ along withΒ Charaka SamhitaΒ are considered as the foundational books of Ayurveda which have survived from the ancient era.
  • AryabhatiyamΒ is the magnum opus of Aryabhatta, and the book covers various theories of Mathematics and Astronomy.
  • BrahmasphuαΉ­asiddhantaΒ is the main work of Brahmagupta and it also deals with Mathematics and Astronomy.
  • MahabhaskariyaΒ written by Bhaskara I in which he gives a formula for calculating sin x. Bhaskara is also credited with the representation of numbers in the positional system.
  • Pancha-Siddhantika written by Varahamihira is treatise on mathematical astronomy which summarises five earlier astronomical treatises by five authors, namely theΒ Surya Siddhanta,Β Romaka Siddhanta,Β Paulisa Siddhanta,Β Vasishtha SiddhantaΒ andΒ Pitamaha Siddhanta.
  • Brihat-SamhitaΒ is another work by Varahamihira which talks about astronomy and planetary movements, eclipses, rainfall, clouds, architecture etc.
  • GaαΉ‡itasarasangrahaΒ is a mathematics text written by Mahaviracharya and is considered the first book on arithmetic.
  • Siddhanta SiromaαΉ‡iΒ is the major treatise of Indian mathematician Bhāskara II. His other two major works areΒ LilavatiΒ andΒ BijagaαΉ‡ita.
  • ChandahsastraΒ is a book written by Pingala, is a mathematical text which gives a treatise of calculations.
  • Yoga Sutras by Patanjali gives the theory and method of practice of Yoga.

Ancient Grammer Books

  • AαΉ£tadhyayiΒ written by Panini is a grammar text that describes a form of early Sanskrit.
  • KavirajamargaΒ is a rhetoric, poetics and grammar text in the Kannada language written by Rashtrakuta King Amoghavarsha.

 

Ancient Books on Law and Morality

  • PanchatantraΒ by Vishnu Sharma who used animal fables to describe qualities in a moral person and the need for it.
  • ManusmritiΒ also known as Manava-Dharmasastra is the most well-known Dharmasastra of Hinduism.
  • ArthashastraΒ written by Kautilya is an ancient Sanskrit treatise on statecraft, political science, economic policy and military strategy.

Epics of Ancient India

  • MahabharataΒ written by Veda Vyasa tells the story of rivalry between the Pandavas and Kauravas which resulted in the Kurukshetra war.
  • RamayanaΒ written by Valmiki gives the story of Lord Ram and his triumph over the evil Ravan.
  • RamayanaΒ andΒ MahabharataΒ together are known as the great epics of India and Hindu religion.
  • RaghuvamsaΒ is a mahakavya (epic poem) in Sanskrit written by Kalidasa about the origin and development of the clan of Raghu.
  • KumarasambhavaΒ is another epic written by Kalidasa about Parvati courting Lord Shiva, their subsequent marriage
  • BuddhacharitaΒ written by Asvagosha tells the story of Buddha from his birth till his death (Nirvana).
  • HarshacharitaΒ by Banabhatta is the biography of Indian King Harsha Vardhana.

 

Ancient Books on Dance and Music

  • Natya SastraΒ by Bharata Muni is a Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts. It is also the oldest surviving ancient Indian work on performance arts.
  • Abhinaya DarpanaΒ by Nandikeshvara is another book which gives directions to those involved in the performance arts.
  • Natya SastraΒ along withΒ Abhinaya DarpanaΒ gives the basics of Bharatanatyam.
  • BrihaddeshiΒ written by Matanga is the first text to speak directly of the raga and distinguish classical music from folk music.
  • Sangita-RatnakaraΒ by Sarangadeva differentiated Carnatic and Hindustani music for the first time.

 

Sangam Literature

  • TolkappiyamΒ is the most ancient text on Tamil grammar and is believed to have been written by Tolkappiyar.
  • SilappathikaramΒ written by Ilango Adigal gives the story of Kannagi who burns the city of Madurai to avenge her husband.
  • ManimekalaiΒ written by Satthanar is a sequel to Silapathikaram and is the story of Manimekalai who is the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi and is a Buddhist nun.
  • EttuttokaiΒ is the collection of eight anthology stories of ancient Tamil literature.
  • PattuppattuΒ is an anthology of ten longer poems in Sangam literature.
  • Tirukkural written by Thiruvalluvar is one of the greatest works ever written on ethics and morality.

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