: The Mahabharata may not be authentic history, but it exemplifies the ancient tradition of itihasa #IndiaNEWS Since the different interpretations of the past are shaped by the social and intellectual

The Mahabharata may not be authentic history, but it exemplifies the ancient tradition of itihasa #IndiaNEWS
Since the different interpretations of the past are shaped by the social and intellectual background of the compilers of the traditions, the choice of the materials and their interpretations differ. Early India seems to have at least three distinct historical traditions from a very early period: the Vedic-Brahmanic, the bardic tradition called itiha?sa-pura?n?a (Brahmanised later), and the S??raman?ic (within which the Buddhist and the Jaina traditions can be differentiated). Occurrence of an event/tradition across these traditions invariably would empower them with a greater claim of historicity, but each of these traditions represents a unique historical consciousness in its own right. The beginning of Indian historical traditions can be traced in its earliest literary composition, the R?g Veda. Though the text’s primary concern was not recording history, certain Vedic poets left valuable historical accounts about their families and patrons. Such information often helps us to reconstruct bits of early Indian history. For instance, the history of a significant political event, the da?s??ara?jn?a or the Battle of Ten Kings, can be satisfactorily reconstructed from the accounts given by the poet-priests of both the contending parties, Vis??va?mitra and Vasis?t?ha. The event was a landmark, demarcating the hegemony of the Bharata tribe over vast regions of the North...Read more

Stock Market NEWS Best intraday tips Intraday Stocks below 100