Day: May 5, 2020

Puranas as a source of history Purana means’ old’. According to tradition, the composition of Puaranas began with Sage Veda-Vyasa. There are 18 Mahapuranas (great puranas) and many more Upapuranas (secondary puranas). The standard list of the 18 Mahapuranas includes the Vishnu, Narada, Bhagavata, Garuda, Padma, Varaha, Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Shiva, Skanda, Agni, Brahmanda, Brahmavaivarta, […]

Sangam literature and culture The term ‘Sangam’ literally means ‘confluence’. However, in the context of early South Indian history this term can be rendered into English as an assembly, a college or an academy of learned people, held under the patronage of the Pandyan kings, who were great lovers of literature and the fine arts. […]

Tamil States of the Sangam Age The Sangam literature, foreign accounts and archaeological sources found from different explored or excavated sites throw light on the various aspects of the political, economic and religious life of the Sangam Age which is roughly about 600 years from c. 300 B.C to A.D 300. selfstudyhistory.com The advent of […]

Sangam Age- Social development Ancient Tamil texts reflect processes of interaction between the northern Sanskritic and the southern Tamil cultures: The Sangam poets were familiar with the Mahabharata and Ramayana legends. In fact, the Chola, Chera, and Pandya kings claim to have fed the warring armies on the eve of the war. This should be […]

Harappan seals and sealings as a source of  history Seal making was an important Harappan craft. Most of the seals are square or rectangular. A few cylindrical and round seals have also been found. Most of the seals are made of steatite, but there are a few silver, faience, and calcite ones as well. Most […]

Money lending in Ancient India Early Vedic and Later-Vedic Period (1500 BC – 600 BC) The earliest reference to money lending occurs in Shatapatha Brahmana which describes a usurer (money lender) as Kusidin. The word Kusidin is mentioned several times and interpreted as money lender at interest. selfstudyhistory.com In addition, loan deed forms called rinapatra […]

Post – Mauryan Period: Development of religions, Mahayana In the realms of religious doctrines and practices, the period c. 200 BCE to 300 CE reflects several continuities with the earlier centuries, but also some striking new developments. One of the most important of these was the beginning of new devotional practices within Buddhism and Jainsim […]

Mesolithic Rock Painting In the distant past when there was no paper or language or the written word, and hence no books or written documents, how people lived in those times can be constructed by old tools, pottery, habitats, bones of ancient human beings and animals, and drawings on cave walls. selfstudyhistory.com Remnants of rock […]