Ancient India History and Civilization

SHIKSHANA PRASARAKA MANDALI’S
Department of History
Sir Parshurambhau College Pune
SEM :- III (D.S.C. 1A)
Ancient India :history and CIVILIZATION
introductory lecture
Presented BY:- DR. SOPAN SHENDE.
Mob.NO. 8983370495 / e-mail :- dr.srshende@gmail.com

Sir parashurambhau college
( autonomous )
department of history
faculty of the department
Dr. Soapn Shende
(M.A.,M.Phil.,Ph.D.)
Associate Professor and Head Department of History
Mr. Akshaya Kakade
(M.A.,SET,)
Assistant Professor Department of History

( autonomous )
S.Y.B.A. HISTORY SEMISTRE- III
SUBJECTS FOR STUDY
1- CC / S.E.C.-1A ( OLD-G-2) HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA (PART1) (1757-1857)
2- D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1) ANCIENT INDIA : HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION
3- D.S.C. 2A ( OLD -S-2) HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL INDIA(PART 1)( 1206-1526)
4- S.E.C. 2 A ( CREDIT – 2) UNDERSTANDING TEMPLE ARCHITURE ( SELF STUDY)

Ancient India : history and CIVILIZATION
SYLLABOUS :
UNIT- I - UNDERSTANDING ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY :
1.1- Introduction to History.
1.2- Meaning and nature,
1.3- Sources of Ancient Indian History-
(Physical sources, Epigraphic Sources, Numismatics, Literary sources)
UNIT- II - DIVISON OF HISTORY ( Pre-History)
2.1- Stone Age
2.2- Development of human-being
UNIT-III - DIVISON OF HISTORY ( Proto-History)
3.1- Harappan Civilization - Sources of Study, Socio-economic and Cultural life
3.2- Introduction to Vedic Culture - Sources of Study, Socio-economic and Cultural life
UNIT- IV - RELIGIOUS TRANSFORMATIOM
4.1- Rise and development of Jain and Buddha Dharma
4.2- Atheist ( Lokayats)

BOOKS FOR STUDY
 ENGLISH :
Kosambi, D.D., 1963,The Culture And Civilization of India in Historical Outline, Vikas Publication, New Delhi,
Mahajan ,V. D., 2019, A History of Ancient and Medieval India, New Delhi,(Rrpri.)
Pusalkar, K.M., 1959, Geographical Factors in Indian History, ,Bombay,.
Sankalia ,H.D., 1963,Prehistory and Protohistory of India and Pakistan, Bombay,
Singh Upender, 2012, H history of Ancient and Early Medieval India, Pearson, Longman, Second Impration,
Thapar, Romila, 2002,Early India: From the Origins to 1300 A.D., Penguin Books,
 मराठी :
 कोलारकर श. गो., प्राचीन भारताचा राजकीय, सामाजजक व संस्कृ ततक इततहास, आरंभापासून १२०६ पययन्त, श्री मंगेश प्रकाशन,
नागपूर,
 गायधनी रं.ना., १९९७, प्राचीन भारताचा इततहास, अतनरुद्ध पजललके शन हाऊस, पुणे.
 तांबे व. द., काटदरे मा. गो., १९४६, प्राचीन भारत, मंगलसाहहत्य प्रकाशन, पुणे , प्रथम आवृती,
 थापर रोममला, (अनु), प्रा. रं.ना. गायधनी व वासंती फडके , २००६, अमलय इंडडया, के सागर प्रकाशन , पुणे
 देगलूरकर, ढवळीकर, गाईकवड, १९७३, प्राचीन भारतीय इततहास आणण संस्कृ तत, पॉप्युलर प्रकाशन, मुंबई, पहहली आवृती,
 शेंडे सो. रा., २०१९, प्राचीन भारताचा समग्र इततहास, सुतनधी प्रकाशन ,पुणे,

SHIKSHANA PRASARAKA MANDALI’S
Sir Parshurambhau College, Pune30
(AUTONOMOUS)
LECTURE NO. 2 :- UNDERSTANDING HISTORY
Presented BY:- DR. SOPAN SHENDE.
Mob.NO. 8983370495 / e-mail :- dr.srshende@gmail.com

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 To understand meaning and development of word ‘History’.
 Difference between ‘ ITIHAS’ and ‘HISTORY’.
 Understanding Pre- History.
 Understanding Stone Age.
 Types of Stone Age.

UNDERSTANDING HISTORY
 MEANING OF WORD ‘HISTORY’
 ‘ITIHAS’ : MEANING AND NATURE
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ‘ITIHAS’AND ‘HISTORY’
 TYPES OF HISTORY

MEANING OF HISTORY
In the opinion of some scholars that, the word ‘History’ is derived from the
Greek word ‘Istria’.
The meaning of the word ‘Istria’ is enquiry, research, explanation or
information.
The word ‘ History’ was used by the British.
The word ‘History’ is generally known as ‘ITIHAS’.
Mob. No. 8983370495 dr.srshende@ gmail.com

TYPES OF HISTORY
 Pre History : Writing skill is the main characteristic of defining the history.
Per-history means , in those age writing skill or written sources
were not available.
 Proto History: There is writing skill but just we are not able to deciphered it.
 Age of History : There is skill of writing and we can read it. In this type there is
skill of writing and written sources are available.

PRE-HISTORY
 Understanding Pre-History
 Charistics of Pre- History – Art of Writing
 Impact of Writing on History.
HISTORICAL AGE WRITING SKILL READING SKILL
1 Pre - History NO NO
2 Proto History YES NO
3 Age of History YES YES

PRE – HISTORY
STONE AGE:
CLASSIFYING STONE AGE : The three age – system- the idea that there was an age of stone tools ,
followed by one dominated by those of bronze and then of Iron. The term ‘STONEAGE’ first put forward
in the late 18th century and early 19th century, by the Danish scholars P.F. Shum and Christian Thomsen.
The Indian stone age is divided into there parts. a) Palaeolithic, b)Mesolithic and c)Neolithic on the
basis of geological age, the type and technology of stone tool, and substance base.
TYPES OF OLD STONE AGE :
• Old Stone Age or Palaeolithic Age is further divided into the lower, middle and upper Palaeolithic.
a) Lower Stone Age ( 5 lakh to 1.5 lakh )
b) Middle Stone Age ( 1,50,000 – 40,000 B.C.)
c) Upper Stone Age ( 9000 – 8000 B.C.)
• New Stone Age (Neolithic Age)

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN STONE AGE
Sr.
No.
AGE Characteristic Techniques Sites in India
1 Lower Stone Age (5 laks to 1.5 laks) Hunter Life, use of
stone as a tool,
Natural Shelter, Cloths
:- Leaves, Bark of Tree,
Skin of Animals
An Axe, Invasion of
Fire
Kashmir, Punjab,
Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Mhaisur,
Andhra, Madras etc.
2 Middle Stone Age ( 150,000 B.C. and
40,000 B.C.)
Change in Tools, small and medium-sized
hand-axes, cleavers, and
various kinds of
scrapers, borers, and
knives.
Central India, Deccan,
Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
and Orissa.
3 Upper Stone Age (9,000 and 8,000 B.C.) producing parallel sided
blades
Scrapers
Points
Awls
Burins
Borers
Knives etc.
Rajasthan,
Central and Western
India,
Parts of the Ganga
and Belan valleys,
Gujarat,
Andhra Pradesh, and
Karnataka.

SEM :- III (D.S.C. 1A) Ancient India : history and
CIVILIZATION
LOWER PALAEOLITHIC SITES : Kashmir,
Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Mhausur, Andhra, Madras etc.
MIDDLEPALAEOLITHIC SITES: Central
India, Deccan, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, and Orissa.
UPPER PALAEOLITHIC SITES: Rajasthan,
Central and Western India,
Parts of the Ganga and Belan valleys,
Gujarat,
Andhra Pradesh, and
Karnataka.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com

SEMISTRE- III
D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1) ANCIENT INDIA : HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION
UNIT- II : STONE AGE AND HUMANDEVELOPMENT
divisions of stone age
Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) Neolithic Age
I- Lower Palaeolithic,
II- Middle Palaeolithic ,
III-Mesolithic
अश्मयुग क िं वा पाषाणयुग
ववभागणी – १- पुरणाश्मयुग:
( १- पूवव पुरणाश्मयुग मध्य पुरणाश्मयुग उत्तर पुरणाश्मयुग )
२- नवाश्मयुग – तािंम्राश्म युग

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SEMISTRE- III
STONE AGE AND HUMANDEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF STONE AGE:
 The Indian stone age is divided into the Palaeolithic and Neolithic. On the basis of geological age, the type of
technology of stone tools.
 The Palaeolithic age is further divided into, the Lower, Middle, Mesolithic and Neolithic.
 The Palaeolithic Age: Palaeophiid tools have been found in an almost all parts of the subcontinent
 Excavated sites are comparatively few. And mostly the evidence comes from source. Early Palaeolithic tools
fairly large core tools made of quartzite or other hard rock. They include chopping tool, hand axes and cleavers.
 The Palaeolithic Age sites:-
In Gujrat, Sabarmati valley;
In Maharashtra- Wainganga valley, Godavari, Pravara, Tapi valley;
In Utter Pradesh- Belan valley;
In Karnataka - Ismpur : located on Hunsig valley, in Gulbarga district,
In Jharkhand- Chhotanagpur plateau ;
In West Bengal, Orisha, Tamil Nadu
The sites offered some obvious advantages to prehistoric humans. Water and variety of wild animals and plants
food were available.

LOWER PALAEOLITHIC TOOLS
 Early Palaeolithic tools fairly large core tools.
 Made of quartzite or other hand rock.
 They include chopping tool, hand axes and cleavers
( Picture from Upendra Singh,2012, p.69,72,73)
The Palaeolithic stone Age sites:- In Gujrat, Sabarmati valley;
Maharashtra, Wainganga valley, Godavari, Pravara, Tapi valley;
Utter Pradesh, Belan valley; In Jharkhand Chhotanagpur plateau,
West Bengal, Orisha, Tamil Nadu
karnatak- Isampur , located on Hunsig valley. Isampur in
Gulbarga district,

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SEMISTRE- III
STONE AGE AND HUMANDEVELOPMENT
MIDDLE PALAEOLITHIC SITE
Middle Palaeolithic Sites: Middle Palaeolithic tools have been found in many parts of Indian subcontinent.
Diwan In Rajasthan, Hiran Valley in Gurat, Potwar plateau between Indus and Jhelum river, Thar region, Luni
river valley,( Luni Industry), Newasa Industry ,Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra, (Discovered by H.D. Sankalia,
Deccan college Pune; ) plain of Ganga and Yamuna river
Upper Palaeolithic Site : The upper Palaeolithic site in Belan valley , son valley,
Stone tool activities, such as cutting , slicing , piercing , and chopping, food processing etc.
Mesolithic Age: The pleuston geological era made way for the Holocene during 10,000 years ago. Many environmental changes
took place during this transition.
 There were certain changes in the stone tool kits of pre-historic people. People started making and using very small tools
referred as microliths.
This is generally seen as a result of an increase in population due to more favourable environmental conditions as well as
technological innovations.
The Mesolithic sites : Bhimbetka (6556-6177) ,Baghor, Bagor, There are 642 rock shelters nearly
400 of which have paintings, engravings and brushings. In eastern India over 55 rock shelters have been identified in the
western districts of Orisa; kerala.

MIDDLE PALAEOLITHIC TOOLS
MIDDLE PALAEOLITHIC SITES:
Middle Palaeolithic tools have been found in
many parts of Indian subcontinent.
Diwan in Rajasthan, Hiran Valley in Gurat,
Potwar plateau between Indus and Jhelum
river, Thar region, Luni river valley,( Luni
Industry), plain of Ganga and Yamuna river,
Newasa Industry ,Ahmednagar district in
Maharashtra, (discovered by H.D. Sankalia,
Deccan college Pune; )
( Picture from Upendra singh, 2012,P. .75)

MICROLITHIS
(Picture from Upendra Singh, 2012,P. .83,84)


The Mesolihic ART
MESOLITIC SITES IN INDIA
Bhimbetka (6556-6177)
Baghor, Bagor
,, There are 642 rock shelters
nearly 400 of which have
paintings, engravings and
brushings.
Orisa, In eastern India over 55
rock shelters have been
identified.
in the western districts of kerala.
https://www.google.com/search?q=mesolithic+art+in+india
&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMyJqY_Mnr
AhVNIbcAHXfLCsIQ_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1600&bih=789
#imgrc=WS_6CDgCgQUbIM
SEMISTRE- III

SEMISTRE- III
THE NEOLITHIC AGE
The food producing agricultural-pastoral communities of the subcontinent has been divided into
three overlapping phases:
DIVISIONS OF NEOLITHIC AGE:
Phase I - c. 7000 -3000 BCE;
Phase II – c. 3000 – 2000 BCE;
Phase III – c.2000- 1000 BCE onwards

SEMISTRE- III
D.S.C.1A( OLD -S-1) ANCIENT INDIA : HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION
NEOLITHIC AGE
Man and nature relationship :
Increase in the number and size of human settlements:
The small and relatively self-sufficient village community:
innovations in stone tool technology:
Innovation of pottery:
Domestication of animal and plants:
The beginning of animal and plant domestication did not mean the end of hunting – gathering
way of life
V. Gordon Childe coined the phrase ‘ Neolithic Revolution ’ to highlight significance of these
changes.

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STONE AGE AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT LN NEOLITHIC AGE
• Human life in Neolithic Age :- Food production required new tools and equipment. Early
experiments in agriculture were made by women. Pottery was connected to food
storage and cooking. Women and children may have been involved in other activities
including collecting and processing clay. Collecting fire wood and decorating the pots.
Hunting and fishing were an important parts of the lives of Neolithic people.
• Change in Belief Systems: The cultivation of crops and the domestication of animals
must have led to increased concerns with fertility and magico religious way of
controlling it. Terracotta female figurines found in Neolithic age have been given the
label of Mother Goddesses.
• The farming communities connected women with fertility. Relation of dead with respect
or fear or both. Patterns in the orientation and form of burials show the exitance of
funerary customs. Multiple burials may indicate simultaneous death or the strength of
kinship ties.
• The worship of fertility goddesses was an important part of all societies in all over the
world.

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SEMISTRE- III
HARAPPA, INDUS OR SINDHU – SARASVATI CIVILIZATION
 Harappan civilization : The first site of this civilization were discovered in the
valley of Indus and its tributaries. Hence is was given the name ‘ Indus valley
civilization. It also known as Sindhu- Sarasvati or Harappan civilization.
 The statistics of Harappan sites has risen to about 1022.
( Sites in Pakistan are – 406, In India are- 616 and excavated sites are -97)
 The area covered by the Harappan Culture zone is huge, ranging between
6,80,000 to 8,00,000 sq. km.
 The sites of Harappan civilization have been found in Afghanistan, Baluchistan,
Pakistan; Punjab, Sindh, Jammu, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Western Uttar
Pradesh in India.
 The vast geographical extent of the civilization should make the objection to the
term ‘Indus’ Valley . The term ‘Sindhu – Sarasvati’ used by scholars. Also
objected. The best option is to use the term ‘Harappan Civilization’.

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Discovery of harappan
• History of excavation of Harappa and Mohenjodaro :
Long gurney of excavation and study of Harappan civilization; Charles Masson (
Army man of East India Company) (1826) To Dr. Vasant Shinde ( Deccan College , Pune )
2019-20 ( Excavation at Rakhighri)
• Many archaeologists, researchers, scholars worked on Harappan Civilization. Some of
them are – Charles Masson( 1826), Alexander Burnes ( A traveller), Alexander
Cunningham (Military engineer of EIC ),(1850),
• Role of Department of Archaeological Survey of India.
1872- Alexander Cunningham re-visited Harappa as director General of Archaeological
survey of India. He found some stone tools and ancient pottery.
• 1920 - Daya Ram Sahani started excavation at Harappa.
• 1921-Rakhaldas Banarji started excavation at Mohanjodaro
• 1924 – Sir Johan Marshal (Director General of ASI) Made formal announcement of the
discovery of the Indus or Harappan civilization.

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Discovery of harappan civilization-2
• Archaeologists and Scholars :
Mortimom Wheeler, Madhav Swarup Vats(1920-30), V. Gordon Childe, George Deales (1964),
H.T. Lambrik (1967), S.C. Malik( 1968), P.V. Kane ( 1995), Stuart Piggott, B.B. Lal (1997), Keeth
A.R. Kennedy (1997), Dr. Bhandarkar,Ramprasad Chanda (1926), Macc Adam, Nayjoti lahiri, R.s.
Bhist, Amalanand Ghosh, M.R. Mughal, Vasant Shinde ,

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INDIAN SITES OF HARAPPAN CULTURE
• Indian rivers where Harappan culture flourished : Indus, Jhulam, Chenab, Ravi,
Satlaj, Ghaggar-Hakra,( Indus and it’s tributary rivers) Ganga] Yamuna, mahi,
Sabsrmati, Narmada etc.
• The Harappan sites : Mohanjodaro, Kot Diji, Amri, Harappa, Vaniwal,
Ganwerwala, Kalibangan, Sothi, Roper, Bara, Siswal, Rakhigarhi, Barangon,
Krishani, Alamgirpure, Manpur, Kot Kori, Dholvira, Surkotda,Lothal,Rangpur,
• ( Map, Upendra Singh,p.136)

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DIVISON OF HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
• Divisions :
A- Early Harappan Phase ( 3200 to 2600 BCE)
B-Mature Harappan phase (2600 to 1900 BCE)
C- Late Harappan phase ( 1900to 1300 BCE)
Amalanand Ghosh was the first archaeologist to identify similarities between pre-
Harappan culture and the mature Harappan culture. Ghosh focused on the pre-Harappan
Soti culture of Rajastan. He address that there were similarities between Soti pottery and
the pottery of – a) Zhob, Quetta and other Baluchi sites.
b) Pre-Harappan Kalibangan ,Kot Diji and Mohenjo-Daro
M. R. Mughal, the first comprehensive analysis of the evidences from pre- Harappan site
in the greater Indus valley and north Baluchistan

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FEATURES OF HARAPPAN CULTURE
The Harappan civilization was an urban, dose not mean that all or most of it’s
settlements had an urban character.
 A majority were in eact villeges. The cities depended on villages for food and perhaps
also labour and various kinds of goods products in cities found their way into the
village.
Roads in the Harappan cities were not always absolutely straight and did not always
cross another at right angles.
But the settlements were clearly planned.
Major difference between the buildings in large cities and those in smaller towns and
villages was in the type, and row material used. In village houses were mostly of mud-
brick. In rocky area there was extensive use of stone.
The great bath in Mohanjodaro closely associate with the Harappan civilization

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SOURCES OF UNDERSTANDING HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
 Building structure
 Terracotta human figures, toys, fiancé bangles, ornaments, gold and silver
jewellery
 Bronze statues , copper objects
 Seal making was another Harappan craft

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SEMISTRE- III
• Tools of cultural study :
a) The Harappan civilization is marked by the stone, terracotta and metal sculpture over
the modelling of both human and animal figures. Sculpture of the dancing girl. The filling
for a powerful form expressed in the bronze figure of the bafellow, elephant, and the
rhinoceros from Daimabad of the late Harappan phase.
b) More numerous than stone sculptures are terracotta figurines of female
(Goddesses), birds and beasts of various types. He modelling of the goddesses images
show a continuity from the early Harappan tradition, but now with greater degree of
ornamentation. The terracotta figure of the hump less bull strikes the onlooker with the
compactness and muscularity of the form, the elephant figure is delineated with the
sense of massiveness.
c) The Harappan civilization is remarkable for its conspicuous absence of a temple or a
large-scale religious shrine. Large number of terracotta female figurines have been found.
These are usually described as mother goddess figurines or linked to fertility rites in view
of their pronounced reasts and prominent hips.
Religious life of harappan culture -1

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c) Much attention has been paid to male figure seated cross-legged. The figure has a
prominent and is shown with at least three faces. The most frequent identification of this
figure is with a proto- Siva deity. The presence of animals around him attempting to link
the mail figure with ‘Shiva Pashupati’.
d) The Harappan belief system certainly includes the veneration for Pipal tree and the
leaf.
e) The Svastika –like cross symbol mark as an auspicious symbol also figures in some
seals.
f) The well-known mail figure from Mohanjodaro shows the bust with one shoulder
covered by a shawl. The half closed eyes, suggesting that person was meditating, are
taken to mean that the person was a priest or a priest- king.
g) Cementeries have been found at Harappa, Lothal and Kalibangan and other sites.
Grave goods, consisting of potteries and some times of ornaments were deposited.

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social life of harappan culture
• Harappan society : The people who lived within the Harappan society comprised village
and city folk. Society included occupational groups such as farmer, herders, sailors,
rulers, administrative officials, ritual specialists ,architects, carpenters, brick masons,
well digger, boat makers, sculptor, shopkeepers, sweepers, garbage collector and so on.
The affluent social groups would have comprised rulers, land owners, and merchants
class. Kenoyer, suggests that the animal on the square stamp seals represent totemic
symbols standing for a specific clan, at least 10 clans or communities are represented by
these animals.
• Position of women: The social implications of the worship of female deities are
complex. Some of the female figurines of Harappan site may represent goddess, may
seem to represent ordinary, mortal women. Terracotta figurines of women at work are
few. Figurines depicting women grinding or kneading something(clay, food) have been
found at Harappa and Mohanjodaro, suggesting the association of women with food-
processing activities. Some of the fat female terracotta figurines may represent
pregnant women.

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• Economic life of harappan culture
• Farming : Farming was the prime occupation of Harappan people. They grew a wide verity of
crops like wheat, barely, pulses, mustered, bajra, jowar, sesame and cotton. There were two
harvesting seasons. Rain, wells, floodwater of river, traditional system of bunding were used
for agriculture.
• Domestication of animal: Intimately linked with the agrarian economy was animal breeding.
Bones of cattle and ox have been found. Bones of sheep and goat point to their domestication.
• The Harappan craftsmen continued with the stone blade industiy. The discovery of factory site
in the limestone hill of Sukkur and Rohri. The khetri ( Rajasrhan) have been an important
source of copper. Major advancement in metallurgy. Bronze was mostly used for making better
knives, axes. The use of copper tools and weapons production and house-hold goods.
• Brick manufacturing a typical urban craft. The cultivation of cotton plant was conducive to the
textile industry during mature Harappan times. Bed-making was the major craft in the mature
Harappan time. The Harappan beds were made of gold, copper, shell, ivory etc. One such
workshop was found out by R.S. Bisht at Banawali.
• Trade and commerce: The extensive trade contacts of the Harappan civilization with other
areas such as Oman, Mesopotamia etc. Baluchistan, Sindh, Rajasthan, Cholistan were internal
trade routes.

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SEMISTRE- III
HARAPPA, INDUS OR SINDHU – SARASVATI CIVILIZATION
 Harappan civilization : The first site of this civilization was discovered in the
valley of Indus and its tributaries. Hence it was given the name ‘ Indus valley
civilization. It also known as Sindhu- Sarasvati or Harappan civilization.
 The statistics of Harappan sites has risen to about 1022.
( Sites in Pakistan are – 406, In India are- 616 and excavated sites are -97)
 The area covered by the Harappan Culture zone is huge, ranging between
6,80,000 to 8,00,000 sq. km.
 The sites of Harappan civilization have been found in Afghanistan, Baluchistan,
Pakistan; Punjab, Sindh, Jammu, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Western Uttar
Pradesh in India.
 The vast geographical extent of the civilization should make the objection to the
term ‘Indus’ Valley . The term ‘Sindhu – Sarasvati’ used by scholars. Also
objected. The best option is to use the term ‘Harappan Civilization’.

( autonomous )
SEMISTRE- III
Discovery of harappan
• History of excavation of Harappa and Mohenjodaro :
Long gurney of excavation and study of Harappan civilization; Charles Masson
( Army man of East India Company) (1826) To Dr. Vasant Shinde ( Deccan College , Pune
) 2019-20 ( Excavation at Rakhighri)
• Many archaeologists, researchers, scholars worked on Harappan Civilization. Some of
them are – Charles Masson( 1826), Alexander Burnes ( A traveller), Alexander
Cunningham (Military engineer of EIC ),(1850),
• Role of Department of Archaeological Survey of India.
1872- Alexander Cunningham re-visited Harappa as Director General of Archaeological
survey of India. He found some stone tools and ancient pottery.
• 1920 - Daya Ram Sahani started excavation at Harappa.
• 1921-Rakhaldas Banarji started excavation at Mohanjodaro
• 1924 – Sir Johan Marshal (Director General of ASI) Made formal announcement of the
discovery of the Indus or Harappan civilization.

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SEMISTRE- III
Discovery of harappan civilization-2
• ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND SCHOLARS :
Mortimom Wheeler, Madhav Swarup Vats(1920-30),
V. Gordon Childe, George Deales (1964), H.T. Lambrik (1967),
S.C. Malik( 1968), P.V. Kane ( 1995), Stuart Piggott, B.B. Lal (1997),
Keeth A.R. Kennedy (1997), Dr. Bhandarkar, Ramprasad Chanda (1926),
Macc Adam, Nayjoti lahiri, R.S. Bhist, Amalanand Ghosh,
M.R. Mughal, Vasant Shinde and others.

( autonomous )
SEMISTRE- III
INDIAN SITES OF HARAPPAN CULTURE
• INDIAN RIVERS WHERE HARAPPAN CULTURE FLOURISHED :
Indus, Jhulam, Chenab, Ravi, Satlaj, Ghaggar-Hakra,( Indus and it’s tributary rivers) Ganga]
Yamuna, mahi, Sabsrmati, Narmada etc.
• THE HARAPPAN SITES : Mohanjodaro, Kot Diji, Amri, Harappa, Baniwal, Ganwerwala,
Kalibangan, Sothi, Roper, Bara, Siswal, Rakhigarhi, Barangon, Krishani, Alamgirpure, Manpur,
Kot Kori, Dholvira, Surkotda,Lothal,Rangpur,

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SEMISTRE- III
DIVISON OF HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
• Divisions of Harappan Civilization :
A- Early Harappan Phase ( 3200 to 2600 BCE)
B-Mature Harappan phase (2600 to 1900 BCE)
C- Late Harappan phase ( 1900to 1300 BCE)
Amalanand Ghosh was the first archaeologist to identify similarities between pre-Harappan
culture and the mature Harappan culture. Ghosh focused on the pre-Harappan Sothi culture of
Rajasthan. He address that there were similarities between Sothi pottery and the pottery of –
a) Zhob, Quetta and other Baluchi sites.
b) Pre-Harappan Kalibangan ,Kot Diji and Mohenjo-Daro
M. R. Mughal, the first comprehensive analysis of the evidences from pre- Harappan site in the
greater Indus valley and north Baluchistan

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SEMISTRE- III
FEATURES OF HARAPPAN CULTURE
The Harappan civilization was an urban, dose not mean that all or most of it’s
settlements had an urban character.
 A majority act were in villages. The cities depended on villages for food and perhaps
also labour and various kinds of goods products in cities found their way into the
village.
Roads in the Harappan cities were not always absolutely straight and did not always
cross another at right angles.
But the settlements were clearly planned.
Major difference between the buildings in large cities and those in smaller towns and
villages was in the type, and row material used. In village houses were mostly of mud-
brick. In rocky area there was extensive use of stone.
The great bath in Mohanjodaro closely associate with the Harappan civilization

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SEMISTRE- III
SOURCES OF UNDERSTANDING HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
 Building structure
 Terracotta human figures, toys, fiance bangles, ornaments, jewellery
 Bronze statues , copper objects
 Seal making was another Harappan craft

BURRIALS OF HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION

TOOLS OF HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
Y2AZoAHAAeAGAAcwEiAHlJJIBDDAuMTUuNi4wLjIuMZgBAKABAaoBC
2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=SPVzX-
iEIsGc8QPtpr2QCw&bih=754&biw=1536&rlz=1C1CHBF_enIN918IN91
8#imgrc=1OiK_7LjQV2sqM&imgdii=drHS09pEIK1fiM

POTTRY OF HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
Y2AZoAHAAeAGAAcwEiAHlJJIBDDAuMTUuNi4wLjIuMZgBAK
ABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=SPVzX-
iEIsGc8QPtpr2QCw&bih=754&biw=1536&rlz=1C1CHBF_enIN
918IN918#imgrc=1OiK_7LjQV2sqM&imgdii=drHS09pEIK1fiM

TERRACOTTA HUMAN FIGURES, TOYS, FIANCÉ BANGLES, ORNAMENTS

SHEELS OF HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
Y
2AZoAHAAeAGAAcwEiAHlJJIBDDAuMTUuNi4wLjIuMZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img
&ei=SPVzX-
iEIsGc8QPtpr2QCw&bih=754&biw=1536&rlz=1C1CHBF_enIN918IN918#imgrc=1OiK_7LjQV2sqM&imgdii=d
rHS09pEIK1fiM

SEMISTRE- III
• TOOLS OF CULTURAL STUDY :
a) The Harappan civilization is marked by the stone, terracotta and metal sculpture
over the modelling of both human and animal figures. Sculpture of the dancing girl. The
filling for a powerful form expressed in the bronze figure of the bafellow, elephant, and
the rhinoceros from Daimabad of the late Harappan phase.
b) More numerous than stone sculptures are terracotta figurines of female
(Goddesses), birds and beasts of various types. He modelling of the goddesses images
show a continuity from the early Harappan tradition, but now with greater degree of
ornamentation. The terracotta figure of the hump less bull strikes the onlooker with the
compactness and muscularity of the form, the elephant figure is delineated with the
sense of massiveness.
c) The Harappan civilization is remarkable for its conspicuous absence of a temple or
a large-scale religious shrine. Large number of terracotta female figurines have been
found. These are usually described as mother goddess figurines or linked to fertility rites
in view of their pronounced reasts and prominent hips.

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SEMISTRE- III
d) Much attention has been paid to male figure seated cross-legged. The figure has a
prominent and is shown with at least three faces. The most frequent identification of this
figure is with a proto- Siva deity. The presence of animals around him attempting to link
the mail figure with ‘Shiva Pashupati’.
e) The Harappan belief system certainly includes the veneration for Pipal tree and the
leaf.
f) The Svastika –like cross symbol mark as an auspicious symbol also figures in some
seals.
g) The well-known mail figure from Mohanjodaro shows the bust with one shoulder
covered by a shawl. The half closed eyes, suggesting that person was meditating, are
taken to mean that the person was a priest or a priest- king.
h) Cemeteries have been found at Harappa, Lothal and Kalibangan and other sites. Grave
goods, consisting of potteries and some times of ornaments were deposited.

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SEMISTRE- III
social life of harappan culture
• Harappan Society : The people who lived within the Harappan society comprised village
and city folk. Society included occupational groups such as farmer, herders, sailors,
rulers, administrative officials, ritual specialists ,architects, carpenters, brick masons,
well digger, boat makers, sculptor, shopkeepers, sweepers, garbage collector and so on.
The affluent social groups would have comprised rulers, land owners, and merchants
class. Kenoyer, suggests that the animal on the square stamp seals represent totemic
symbols standing for a specific clan, at least 10 clans or communities are represented by
these animals.
• Position of Women: The social implications of the worship of female deities are
complex. Some of the female figurines of Harappan site may represent goddess, may
seem to represent ordinary, mortal women. Terracotta figurines of women at work are
few. Figurines depicting women grinding or kneading something(clay, food) have been
found at Harappa and Mohanjodaro, suggesting the association of women with food-
processing activities. Some of the fat female terracotta figurines may represent
pregnant women.

( autonomous )
SEMISTRE- III
• ECONOMIC LIFE OF HARAPPAN CULTURE :
• Farming : Farming was the prime occupation of Harappan people. They grew a wide verity of
crops like wheat, barely, pulses, mustered, bajra, jowar, sesame and cotton. There were two
harvesting seasons. Rain, wells, floodwater of river, traditional system of bunding were used
for agriculture.
• Domestication of animal: Intimately linked with the agrarian economy was animal breeding.
Bones of cattle and ox have been found. Bones of sheep and goat point to their domestication.
• The Harappan craftsmen continued with the stone blade industiy. The discovery of factory site
in the limestone hill of Sukkur and Rohri. The khetri ( Rajasrhan) have been an important
source of copper. Major advancement in metallurgy. Bronze was mostly used for making better
knives, axes. The use of copper tools and weapons production and house-hold goods.
• Brick manufacturing a typical urban craft. The cultivation of cotton plant was conducive to the
textile industry during mature Harappan times. Bed-making was the major craft in the mature
Harappan time. The Harappan beds were made of gold, copper, shell, ivory etc. One such
workshop was found out by R.S. Bisht at Banawali.
• Trade and commerce: The extensive trade contacts of the Harappan civilization with other
areas such as Oman, Mesopotamia etc. Baluchistan, Sindh, Rajasthan, Cholistan were internal
trade routes.

( autonomous )
S.Y.B.A. SEMISTRE- III
D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
ANCIENT INDIA : HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION
Vedic culture

D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
Introduction TO VEDAS
The word ‘Veda’ comes from the root ‘vid ’(to know) and it means knowledge.
The use of Vedic literature as a source of history is linked to a number of questions about the people to whom these
texts belonged.
Those are - 1- Who were the Indo-Aryans? 2- Where did they come from? 3- What was the relation between the
Vedic and the Harappans.
*The original homeland of the Indo-Aryans is the subject of continuing debate among philologists , linguists,
historians and archaeologists. That is Indo-Aryans were immigrants and they were indigenous.
* The Vedas reflected a close connection with Iran. But we do not know when, where and why the Indo- Iranians
and Indo- Aryans parted ways.
The composer of the Rigveda described themselves as ‘Aryan’ , which can be understood as a cultural or ethnic
term. The terms ‘ Indo-European’ and ‘ Indo-Aryans’, as used by linguists and historians, have nothing to do with
racial classifications.
The Indo – Aryans were superior, they had military technology and the use of the horse and chariot.
They established their political and cultural dominance.

D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
VEDIC CULTURE
ABOUT SOURCES -1
• Sources : Challenge is to incorporate both literary and archaeological evidence, wherever they are
available.
• However evidence from these two sources dose not always match. When dealing with material culture,
priority should be given to archaeological evidence.
• Vedic literature, on the other hand, is a Reacher source of information on the development of
philosophical concepts and religious ideas and practice.
• It has led to the sideling of substantial archaeological evidence from Neolithic – chalcolithic, chalcolithic
and early iron age cultures in various regions of the subcontinent during c2000 -500 BCE.
• Extracting history from a literature as ancient , vast and complex as the Vedas is not easy task. The
Vedic corpus was not a popular literature and therefore, dose not necessarily represent popular ideas
or practices.
… National historians extracted historical details from the texts but tended to idealised the Vedic age.
[ Altekar A.S. 1938, Majumdar R.C.,1951]

D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
VEDIC CULTURE
ABOUT SOURCES - 2
A) Sources of Vedic culture:
Vedic age is divided in to Vedic or Rig Vedic and later Vedic age.
• Vedic literature :
Veda :- Also known as Shruti. They were four in numbers I. e. Rigveda,
Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.
• Four parts of the Veda:- 1- The Samhita 2- Brahmanas 3 – Aranyaka and
4- Upanishad
• Vedange (limbs of the Veda) :- A number of supplementary texts known as
Vedange. They are six in number.
They are – Shiksha, Chhanda , Vyakarana, Nirukta, Kalpa and Jyotisha
• The Smritis :- The category of Smriti texts includes the Vedange, Puranas ( 18+18), Epics (Ramayana and
Mahabharata), Dharmashastras (Shrautasutra and Grihyasutra) and The Smritis ( such as Narad, Manu, Parashar,
Yajanyavalyaka and other.)

s.Y.B.A. SEMISTRE- III
D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
VEDIC CULTURE
SOCIAL LIFE- 1
• Social life : Anthropological studies have brought out the importance of gift exchange in simple societies and some
of their observations are useful for understanding the culture reflected in the Rigveda. It is not the individual but
group (family, class, tribes) who make the exchanges and are bound by their obligations.
• The offering and receiving gifts are acts that establishes cement social relationship and social hierarchies.
Gift (Bali) were received by rajan from the members of the clan. Priests received ‘dana’ (ritual gifts) and
‘dakshina’ ( sacrificial fees)
• Household was the basic unit of labour and there is no mention of wage labour.
‘Das’ and ‘Dasi’ were term used for male and female slaves.
Das and Dasyus, both these terms are used to describe certain enemies. The Rigveda talks of conflict between the
Aryas and the Dasyus.

D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
VEDIC CULTURE
SOCIAL LIFE- 2
• Position of women:
Nationalist historians and scholars in the early 20th century often presented Vedic age as a golden age for women.
The Rigveda contains hymns composed by women, there are references to women sages.
Women have to be understood in relation to men and their relationship in wider social economic and political
context.
Women had limited access to sacred learning. There are no women priest in the Rigveda.
The Vedic prayers are for sons, not daughters.
The Rigveda attaches importance of the marriage institution. There are references of various types of
marriages(monogamy, polygamy, polyandry) There are references to women choosing their husbands.
A women could remarry if her husband died or disappeared. There are also references to unmarried women.

D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
• VEDIC CULTURE
SOCIAL LIFE- 3
• VARNA SYSTEM : The Purushasukta of the Rigveda refers four social groups. They
were -1-Brahamana, 2- Rajayanya ( Kshatriya) 3- Vaishya and 4- shudra.
The first three varnas were known as ‘dvijia’. The Brahamanas had an exalted status in
the varna hierarchy. The position of the shudra at the bottom of the varna ladder. The
shudra were associated with serving the higher varnas.
The Dharmasutras explain the origin of jatis through mixture of varnas.
The word ‘caste’ comes from the Portugues word ‘ CASTAS’ which refers to animal and
plant species as well as to tribes, clan, race within human society.
• Ashram system : The early Dharmashastras contain the detailed reference to the four
ashramas. ( Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprashta and Sannyasa)
The Smritis put the ashrmas together as ideal package of four consecutive stages in the
life of a dvija male.

D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
VEDIC CULTURE
ECONOMIC LIFE- 3
• ECONOMY: The Rigveda repeatedly emphasizes the importance of cattle- wealth (go).
Agriculture known as secondary to cattle – keeping. The Rigveda new the chief of the clan as ‘
Gopati’ (loard of the cattle).
• The data on agricultural practice are significant. The word ‘Sita’ stands for the furrow marks left
on the fields a result of the plough being drown by oxen. The crop was general was known as
‘sasya’. One of the main crop was barly (yava ).
• There are references of professions like, carpenter ( takshaka) was wood cutter, making
chariots, furniture, wooden houses.
• The Rigvedic society was well acquaintance with leather –workers (charmamana). Cloth
makers, ornament and jeweller makers. ‘Iron’ was of course synonymous with the term
‘ayaas’ in classical Sanskrit.
• The Rigveda mentions food and drink, cloth and leisure-time pursuits of people.
There are references of the consumption of milk and milk products.
The drink known as Soma. People wore cloths of cotton, wool, and animal skin.
• There were references of singing, dancing and chariot racing. These were popular pastimes.

D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
• VEDIC CULTURE
RELIGIOUS LIFE:-
• The Rigveda indicates a diversity of religious practice.
• The Rigveda mention of people who did not worship Indra. And the Dasa and Dasyus are
described as non honouring the Vedic gods and not performing sacrifices.
• The Vedic hymns divided the universe into the sky (dyu),earth (prithsvi), and the middle realm
( antiriksha). The word ‘dev’ is frequently used for the gods.
The Rigveda asserts that there aer33 gods associated with the sky, earth, and intermediate
region.
Deities were worshipped through prayer and sacrificial rituals ( yajnas). Some sacrifices were
simple, domestic affairs performed by the householders.
Seven types of sacrificial priests are mention in the Rigveda. They are- Hotra , Adhvaryu ,
Agnidh , Brahamana ,Potri , Neshtri , Mitravaruna .
The priest were given a fee(dakshina). The Rigveda dose not mention temples or the worship of
images of deities.
The Rigveda reflects a naturalistic polytheism. A belief in many gods who personified natural
phenomena. The gods were conceived of as andromorphic, i. e. as having physical form similar
to that humans.

D.S.C. 1A ( OLD -S-1)
VEDIC CULTURE
• RELIGION IN LATER VEDIC PERIOD :- Religion, Rituals and Philosophy
• The Brahamana texts reflect a situation where sacrifices had become longer, more elaborate, and expensive.
• The ‘agnihotra’ was a simple domestic sacrifice to be performed daily morning and evening by the head of a dvija
household.
• A number of complex sacrificial rituals were associated with kingship. The ‘Vajapeya’ sacrifice was connected to
power and prosperity. The ‘Ashvamedha’ was a sacrifice associated with claims to political permeants. The
‘Rajasuya’ was the royal consecration ceremony.
• Domination of priest in religious activities.
• Varna and jati system become more rigid. They were depend on birth.
• Sanyasa Ashram become more prominent. Swarg is become a gole of life.
• Philosophy of Brahmana and Upanishad were most popular.

Sir Parshurambhau College Pune
• UNIT- I- III- “SOURCES OF ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY ( EARLY INDIA)”
• PHSYCAL SOURCES :
Archaeological Sources: Archaeology - the study of the human past through material remains – is
closely connected with history.
Field archaeology deals with the exploration and excavation of site. Archaeologists generally work on
land, marine or underwater archaeology.
In India marine archaeology deals with the entire cities that have been submerged by the sea.
Marine archaeology involves many specialists such as oceanographers, geologists, geophysicists and
diver-photographers, geologists, geophysicists. In recent times , exciting underwater discoveries have
been made off the coast of Dwarka and Bet Dwarka in Gujrat.
Ethno- Archaeology : Ethnography is the study of living cultures and communities. Ethno- archaeology
studies the behaviour and practices of living communities in order to interpret the archaeological
evidences related to communities of the past. Ethno-archaeology can contribute towards filling the gaps
in history.
Material remains include different things such as structures, artefacts, bones, seeds, seals, coins,
sculpture and inscriptions.
Material evidence is a key to understanding human behaviour and experience.
Archaeological reconstruction depends on the amount and the kind of material that is preserved.
Inorganic materials like stone, clay, and metal objects are most likely to survive in the archaeological
record.

EPIGRAPHICAL SOURCES
Inscriptions and Coins come under the general umbrella of archaeological sources.
INSCRIPTIONS AS A SOURCE OF HISTORY-
Inscriptions are a valuable source of information of political history.
The Royal inscriptions of later age had genealogical material, gives detail about the history of
dynasties and the reign of kings.
Inscriptions provide datable information on the history of religious sects, in situations, and practices.
Inscriptions reflect the history of languages and literature and few refer to the performing arts
.
Epigraphy : The Study of inscriptions is known as epigraphy. An inscription is an writing that is engraved on
something – stone , wood, metal, ivory, bronze statue, bricks clay, shells, pottery, etc.-It also includes palaeography,
the study of ancient writing.
There are three main three types of scripts. In logographic scripts, written symbols stand for word, in a syllable, and
in an alphabets. Both the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts and midway between alphabetic and symbolic scripts, and
can be described as semi-syllabic or semi- alphabetic.
CLASSIFICATION OF INSCRIPTIONS : Inscriptions can be classified according to their content and purpose into types
such as donative, dedicative and commemorative inscriptions.

MATERIAL REMAINS: Different things, such as tools, artefacts, bones, seeds, seals,
structures, sculpture and inscriptions , coins .

• ROCK ART AS SOURCE OF EARLY ANCIENT INSDIAN HISTORY
The Mesolihic ART
MESOLITIC SITES IN INDIA
Bhimbetka (6556-6177)
Baghor, Bagor
,, There are 642 rock shelters nearly
400 of which have paintings,
engravings and brushings.
Orisa, In eastern India over 55 rock
shelters have been identified.
in the western districts of kerala.
https://www.google.com/search?q=mesolithic+art+in+india&sourc
e=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMyJqY_MnrAhVNIbcAHXf
LCsIQ_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1600&bih=789#imgrc=WS_6CDgCg
QUbIM

NUMISMATICS AS A SOURCE OF HISTORY
COINS AS A SOURCE OF HISTORY : Numismatic evidence is an especially important source for the
political history. Of India between c. 200 BCE and 300 CE. Coins also offer information on the
Indo-Greek, Parthians, shakes, kshatraps , Kushans, and the Satvananas. The deption of deities
on coins provided information about the personal religious preferences of kings, royal religious
policy and the history of religious cults.
NUMISMATICS : Numismatics is the study of coins. Currency and coinage are more specific
terms. Currency is a medium of exchange backed by issuing authority. Coinage is metal currency.
In world context, the earliest, the earliest coins appear in Lydia in West Asia in c.700 BCE and
were made of electrum, a natural alloy of golf and silver.

( autonomous )
SEMISTRE- III
D.S.C. 1A
rELIGIOUS TRANSITION
 vedic religion
 Athesim
 Janism
 buddhism

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SEMISTRE- III
D.S.C. 1A

( autonomous )
SEMISTRE- III
D.S.C. 1A
RELIGIOUS TRANSITION
• Background of religious transition
a) Religious life in later Vedic period
b) Social life in later Vedic period
c) Reaction against Socio- religious life in later Vedic
period

SEMISTRE- III
D.S.C. 1A
PROCESS OF TRANSITION
Reaction against later Vedic Religion and society-1
• The renunciatory tradition : The renunciants were referred to by various terms
including, Parivrajaka ( wonderer), Sramana and Bhikshu.
These were people who had left their homes and lived as wonderers, dependent on
food and alms offered by sympathetic or generous house holders.
• According to Buddhist texts Purana Kassapa was a teacher who rejected the distinction
between moral and immoral and denied that actions had consequences. He Taught
that good actions did not led to the accumulation of any merit and the deeds like killing
, stealing and lying were not sinful.
Ajit Keshkambalin taught a materialist doctyine. According to him, actions earned to
the elements after death and there was no rebirth. The materialist aspect of his
doctrine connects him to the later Charvak school.
Pukudha Kachchayana taught that the elements such as earth, water, fire, and air, sky,
as well as happiness, sorrow and life are fixed and unchanging, and do not affect each
other. Sanjaya Belatthiputta is described as some one who wriggled about like an eel.

( autonomous )
SEMISTRE- III
Reaction against later Vedic Religion and Society-2
• Formation of Sects :
• The Ajivika Sect : The Ajivikas sect seems to have quite old,as there areallusions to prececessors of
Makkhali Gosala, its most important leader. Central idea of Ajivika was,that of ‘niyati’( fate), the principae
that ultimately determined and controlled everything.
• Mkkhali Gosala: jain and Buddhist tradations give account of the birth and parentage of Gosala.
The Jaina Bhagavati Sutra tells that , his father was Mankha, named Mankhali. His mother was Bhadd.
He born in cowshd inSaravana village, so he wae calld by name Gosala.
• A central Ajivika idea was that of Nyati ( fate). They seems to have practised ahimsa, they practiced
• complete nudity. The Ajivika sect did not practice discrimination on the basis of caste or class andits
• ascects and laity come from various sections of Makkhali Gosala used theworkshop of a women potter
Halahla, as his headquarter at Shravasti.

( autonomous )
SEMISTRE- III
• The Buddha Dharma:
• The early life of Buddha: Shiddhartha ,the son of Suddhodhana and Maya. From
SaKya clan, who ruled from Kapilvastu. His mother Maya gave birth him
atLumbini. Siddhartha married a young woman named Yashodhara and they had
a son named Rahul.
• Siddharth left his home and family and wondered around for six years,seeking
the truth. He realised that he must nourish his body and try to attain peace of
mind.
• Under the oioal tree at Gayaa, he had attained enlightment and became known
as Buddha.
• Buddha gave his first sermon on deliverance from near Benaras. This event
known as Dhammachakka – pavattan.

( autonomous )
SEMISTRE- III
• The jain doctrine is much older than the Buddhist one. The word ‘Jina’ means follower of Jaina, which
means victor, a person who has attained infinite knowledge and teaches others how to attain
moksha,i.e. liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Tirthankara is another word for Jaina. There were supposed to be 24 tirthankars. The first tirthankara
was Rishabhadev. Neminath,the 22nd one, may have belong to the Saurashtra regin of Gujarat. The 23rd
was Parshvanath,who lived in Benaras. Vardhaman was the 24th tirthankara and came to be known as
Mahavira (Great hero)
• Early life of Vardhamana : Vardhaman was born in 599 BCE, at, Kundangram, a city near Vaishali,capital
of Videha. Vardhaman had an srisrocratic kshtrya background. His father Siddhartha was chief of the
jnatri clan, his mother Trishala ,the Videh king’s sister.

( autonomous )
SEMISTRE- III
Cults of Jaina : - Digambera and Shevtambera trdations both describe Vardhaman as wondering about 12 years.
He supposed to have attained ‘Kevalajnana’ outside the town of Jrimbhikagrama , on the bank of the Rijupalika
river, in the field of a householder name Samaga.
Teachings of Vardhaman Mahavir , the Jania tirthankara:
a) The Triratna ( three gems) of Jainism :
1) Right faith ( Samyag-darshana),
2-) Right knowlwdge ( Samyakg- Jnana)
3) Right conduct ( Samyag- charitra)
b) The Pancha Mahavrata ( The five great vows) for Sravak. ( householder) :-
Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha, Brahmacharya
And Dasha Mahavrata ( Ten great vows) for Srmana. ( Bhakshu)

SEMISTRE- III
• Teaching of The Buddha :
• Four Noble Truths of Buddha : ( Four Arysattya)
1- Dukkha 2-Trushna 3- Nirodha and 4-Nibhana
• Eightfold Path : ( Ashtang Marg)
The Buddhist emphasis on ahimsa involved a critique of Brahmanical sacrifices.
• The Buddhist Sangha : The Buddhist Sangha became a core institution. Monks (Bhikku) and Nuns ( Bhikkuni) are
associated with sangha. Buddha’s folloers had a cholce to join the sangha or remain outside. The mail followers
known as Upsaka anf femail follorwer knownas Upasika.
The Upasaka and upasika was a person who had decleared that he or she had taken refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma
and Sangha. For the laity,good conduct consisted in sangha. They have take ten vowe i.e. Dasha sheel and For
Upasaka and Upasik had to take the five vowe ,i.e. Panchsheel.
• Buddha used Pali, the language of common people, for spread his teachings.

Ancient India History and Civilization

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