Ancient Indian Society and Culture
By
PROF. ADAPA SATYANARAYANA
Department of History
Osmania University
Hyderabad.
1
Indian History
• Salient features of Ancient civilisation-dynamics of transformation
• Vedic religion and socio-cultural conditions & Discontentment
• The Vedic religion gave the Brahmans, predominant position in
society consequently the autocracy and monopoly of power of the
Brahman upon the other castes was revolting to human nature.
• Rise of Jainism and Buddhism Causes
• Later Vedic ritualistic practices. Animal sacrifices-Yagnas and Yagas,
Vedic Mantras and Priestly domination from Birth to Death
• Caste rigidity/ untouchability
Indian History
• Ancient Indian History, Society and Culture
• 6th Century BC and its significance. It was a period of philosophical
discourses. Different schools of thought existed. Charvaka, lokayat, ajvika,
etc.
• They were the first materialist philosophers, who rejected the authority of
vedas
• The sixth century B.C. gave birth to Buddhism which had been one of
tremendous mental ferment philosophic enquiries not only in India but in
many parts of the world. It was not only the age of Buddha but of Leo-Tse
and Confucius, of Zoroaster and Pythagorus. In the sixth century the great
reaction that took place against the erstwhile religion torpedoed the very
foundation of its corrupt and superstitious structure.
• After the sixth century B.C. there appears to have been a great intellectual
and spiritual ferment throughout the whole of the then known world. This
was the period which saw an outburst of spiritual efflorescence; it led to
religious movements which have had far reaching influence on the history
of man.Vedic religion and socio-cultural conditions & Discontentment
Indian History
• Charvakas existed since 7th century-prior to Jainism and
Buddhism-no texts available. But mentioned in vedas,
epics etc. The first non-vedic sect- it reject other
worldliness and emphasis existence this worldliness.
Belief in physical world and direct experience. No life
after death. So physical world is real /they were
atheists, rationalists/humanists/materialists/social
revolutionaries-
• No belief in God, soul, no supernatural force, no karma,
ritual, yaga, yajna, karma , no concept of moksha, etc
Indian History
• Jainism- Literary sources 12 Angas; Teachings
of 24 Tirthankaras in Arth.magadhi
• Rishaba to Mahavira Jina attained Moksha
• Triratnas –right faith, knowledge, conduct-
• Pancha anuvratas- ahimsa, not to lie, non-
attachment to worldly possessions celebacy
• No belief in the existence of God, rejection of
yagnas-yagas renunciation, equality- condemn
untouchability- gender equality,
Indian History
• Buddhism –jatakas- tales ; trpitikas, first
sermon at sarnath- four noble truths
• Desire cause of suffering’; end deire by
following ashtanga marga
• Right faith, right action Ahimsa-non violence
• Believed in Karma;; attain nirvanas through
eight fold path; no place for vedic principles
• On faith in caste system- empasised on
morality
Indian History
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMvQtRtT4-I spread of
Buddhism
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcJA1B_J4k 4mints
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzO9HfB-iU Rise and Fall of
Jainism and Buddhism
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFBFArv-8Y&t=82s Ajvikas
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S-CANIXN3w Indian culture
in SEASIA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxhf8o34QhM
• https://youtu.be/IvGCdf_GVbM classical sufisong
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/sufi-music-remains-
unchallenged-singer-kailash-kher/story-
sRokB1PJXKRYNZ4ZplzJhP.html sufisong
• https://youtu.be/IvGCdf_GVbM Mastkalandar
Indian History
• The medieval period. Advent of Islam and its
impact.
• Hindu-Muslim interface/culture, religion,
mysticism. Sufism and its impact/ chisti,
suharwardi /Darga, Khankha, Urs , Qawali
music
• Bhakti movement- Ramananda,
Vallabhacharya, Chaitanya, Namdev, Kabir,
Nanak
