-
Evolution of Histori...
Evolution of Historiographical Tradition in Ancient and Medieval India
by: G.P. SinghThis volume attempts to present a systematic and comprehensive history of historical writing in ancient and medieval India. It discusses the beginnings of historical tradition, Buddhist and Jain traditions of historiography, writing of historical biography, chronicles, va§÷àvalã, and the tradition of historical writing in all states of India.
₹1,260.00
ISBN: 9788124605561
Year Of Publication: 2011
Edition: 1st
Pages : xvii, 574 p.
Bibliographic Details : Bibliography; Index
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 23
Weight: 1000
In India, historical writing was a tradition that evolved in different ways in the ancient, medieval and modern periods of history. Several traditions of historiography evolved during the centuries. This volume is an attempt to present a systematic and comprehensive history of historical writing in ancient and medieval India based on many original sources and works written in the modern times.
A well-researched, painstaking study, the book broadly discusses the beginnings of historical tradition, Buddhist and Jain traditions of historiography, and writing of historical biography, chronicles, vamsavali and other historical works, as well as the tradition of historical writing in South India. One of its main concerns is to bring out the contributions of people of different religions to the evolution of the tradition of historiography. It sheds light on the historical and semi-historical works of ancient and medieval historians of Indians to dispel the argument that ancient Indians had no tradition of historiography. It shows that ancient Indians had indeed a clear conception and perception of history, taking history as the soul of the nation. It states that conscious of the fact that the culture and civilisation of a country got reflected through its history, they took pains to preserve the historical records of the past.
The book will prove extremely useful to fill the vacuum existing in our knowledge about historians and historiography in ancient and medieval India.
Preface
Abbreviations
Book One
Introductory
1.1. Purpose, Scope, Method and Utility of the Work
1.2. Nature of Historiography, Schools of Historical Thought and Writing, and Forms and Kinds of History
1.3. Changing Approaches to Indian Historiography
Book Two
The Beginnings of Historical Tradition
Preliminary Remarks
2.1. The Itihasa-Purana Tradition and Its Impact on Historiography
2.2. The Vedic Tradition
Rigvedic History
Historical Value of the Rigveda: General Views
2.3. The Epic Tradition
History in the Epics
Historical Value of the Epics: A Critical Assessment
2.4. The Puranic Tradition
Antiquity and Historicity of the Puranas
Puranic History (Puranic Tradition of Historiography)
Book Three
Buddhist and Jaina Tradition of Historiography
General Remarks
3.1. Buddhist Historiography
3.2. Jaina Historiography
Book Four
The Tradition of Writing Historical Biography
Introductory Remarks
4.1. Historical Biographies
4.2. A Critical Evaluation of Biographical Writings
Book Five
The Tradition of Writing Chronicle,
Vamshavali and Other Historical Works
General Remarks
5.1. Chronicles, Vamshavalis and other Historical Works of Northern India
Kashmir
Punjab
Sindh
Rajasthan
5.2. Chronicles and Other Historical Works of Western India
Gurjaradesha (Gujarat)
Maharashtra
5.3. Chronicles, Vamshavalis and Other Works of Eastern India
Orissa
Bengal
Assam
Manipur
Tripura
Book Six
The Tradition of Historical Writing in South India
Preliminary Remarks
6.1. Historical Writing in Tamiladesha
6.2. The Tradition of Historiography in Karnatadesha
6.3. Historical Writing in Andhradesha
6.4. Historiography in Kerala
Book Seven
Chronological Tradition
Prefatory Remarks
7.1. The Puranic Tradition of Chronology
7.2. Chronological System in the time of Candragupta Maurya
7.3. The Buddhist Tradition of Chronology
7.4. The Jaina Tradition of Chronology
7.5. Eras and Their Historical and Chronological Significance
Conclusions and Observations
General Bibliography
Index
-
Sale!Ancient Indian Historiography ₹900.00
In ancient India, learning and literature flourished at different levels and concerned almost all broad disciplines of knowledge. One such stream was historiography as we find a rich tradition of history-writing maintained over the centuries. This book examines the evolution of the tradition of historiography from the Vedic times to the 12th century ad, arguing against an oft-held belief that ancient Indians lacked a sense of chronology and history. Here, Dr. G.P. Singh highlights the contributions of ancient India to historiography through a critical study of literary works authored by eminent scholars and writers of the past that contain historical writing. Based on research for over two decades, the work elaborately studies Vedic, Epic and Puranic traditions, Buddhist and Jain historiography, historical references and details in the dramas of Kalidasa and Visakhadatta, and historical writing in South India. It pays special attention to writing of historical biographies, chronicles and vamsavalis. It discusses how various religious and other texts throw light on the political and social fabric of different periods and their economic condition and cultural milieu. It frequently refers to the views of modern scholars on various aspects of the historical writings. It looks into the value of the historical writings, the historical conditions under which they were written and the purpose for which written, their language and style, and their immediate impact and influence on writing in later times.The volume will offer fresh approaches to studying ancient Indian historiography and new bases of research on the subject for historians and scholars.
-
Sale!Apsarases in Indian Literature and the Legend of Urvasi and Pururavas ₹315.00
Indian literature abounds in a variety of myths and legends narrating allegorical/historical stories with moral teachings where celestial or semi-celestial beings, in particular the apsarases, occupy an important place. Of such legends, a few have become much popular and they reappear in the course of the history of literature at various stages. One such legend is that of Urvashi and Pururavas which is one of the most ancient legends of India, owing its origin to the Rigveda. This scholarly work, based on extensive original sources primary, comprising ancient Sanskrit texts, commentaries and glosses and modern literary pieces, kavyas and plays, as well as critical writings on these original works, studies the origin and development of the institution of apsarases and their characteristics as described in the vast corpus of Vedic, Epic-Puranic and classical works. In this context, it undertakes an interesting survey of the concept of nymphs (apsarases) in Indo-European, especially Greek mythology. Dr. Handique then thoroughly examines the depiction of the legend of Urvashi and Pururavas a favourite theme that has been immortalised in literary masterpieces in Indian literature as a whole: from the ancient Vedas and Puranas, the Harivamsha and Vikramorvashiyam to modern works like Urvashi Janani and Abhishapta Urvashi and stray poetic pieces. Presenting a new angle to the study, the book attempts to explore aspects of an age old tradition that bears close affinity with the institution of the apsarases in terms of mode of living worship and ideals like system of the devadasis. The book will prove invaluable to scholars of Indian mythology, culture and literature as well as interest general readers of ancient India’s legends and tales.
-
Sale!Ancient History of India ₹450.00
This is a fresh look at the history of Ancient India, centering on the Law Code of Manu (Manusmriti / Manu Dharmashastra), and its relationship to Rigveda and its possible relationship to the Indus/Harappan Civilisation of 4000 to 5000 years ago. It also throws light on Aryan society and culture, castes and guilds, use of technology and related practices in the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Dr. Charles Naegele, a practicing lawyer in Silicon Valley, California, USA, and a lifelong student of classical Indian knowledge, has written a work that will be certain to stir up controversy regarding the re-dating of the Law Code of Manu and the well-documented research concerning almost no possibility of Aryan Invasion Theory and the numerous similarities between the text of the Law Code of Manu and the archeological finds from the Indus/Harappan Civilisation.
Scholars and history buffs, as well as everyone who is proud of Indian heritage will enjoy not only this work, but also his future works. -
Sale!Art & Archaeology of India ₹630.00
The book begins with an introduction on the prehistoric and proto-historic cultures of India. Well-known historians discuss human evolution as gathered from hominid fossil remains, pre-human hominid remains of the Siwaliks and fossil remains of the Narmada basin. The systematic study, mentioning the areas of finds and their geography and other characteristics, examines the nature of cultural relics belonging to each period and dynastic rule; agriculture, trade, settlement and migration patterns related to making, use and spread of art materials; how the finds reflect upon rise of craft and industrial centers at the time; and social and religious aspects of society that are revealed by the art and architecture of the periods. Importantly, it reveals the interchange of cultural thoughts and lifestyles and of art and architectural influences; and the synthesis of artistic style and materials as evident in especially the periods of Muslim rule in India. The book also features fossil finds, art and architectural materials pertaining to painting, pottery, sculpture and iconography, and literary materials like Persian documents housed in the Indraprastha Museum of Art and Archaeology, New Delhi. The materials date from the stone ages, Indus-Saraswati Civilization and Chalcolithic period to what are commonly identified as the ancient medieval and modern periods of Indian history. The volume will be useful to scholars and students of various disciplines history, archeology, art and culture, and sociology.
-
Sale!Bharat Ka Pragatihaas evam Adhya-Itihaas ₹234.00
Fresh excavations, new dating techniques and ever-growing conceptual frameworks since 1950 have greatly reshaped our perspective on Prehistory and Protohistory of the Indian subcontinent. This monograph, which is primarily aimed to serve as a starter for the undergraduate and postgraduate students, presents, in a concise but comprehensive manner, a syncretic view of the latest information on various aspects such as tools and technologies, settlement and subsistence patterns, ecological background and distributional configuration in respect of the Stone Age and the Chalcolithic Cultures outside the Harappan Zone. The Megalithic Cultures of peninsular India and the Deccan too find a place in the book. A glossary of the terms used frequently in archaeology as well as maps, line-drawings and explanatory notes on individual sites add further value to the text.
