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Summary
Art And Culture Class 14

THE CLASS STARTED WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS TOPICS (05:06 PM)

OTHER PAINTINGS (05:08 PM)

  • 1) Thangka Painting:
  • It was practised in the Leh Ladakh region.
  • Initially, it was done on cotton sheets, In contemporary times it is also practised on canvas.
  • It depicts the sino-tibetian aspect mainly the Tibetan dragon.
  • 2) Madhubani Painting:
  • Madhubani painting was mainly practised by women on 'Mithilanchal' in Bihar.
  • It was a 'Wall art'.
  • Colours were mixed in rice flour to apply on the wall.
  • Later the paper and canvas tradition also started in Madhubani.
  • On the basis of theme there are three types of Madhubani:
  • a) Aripan Madhubani: Painting is done at the entrance of the house.
  • b) Gosai Ghar Madhubani: It carried religious motives and it was created inside prayer rooms.
  • c) Kohbar Madhubani Painting: It was based on a love theme and created inside the bedrooms.
  • One of the important features of Madhubani painting is the complete utilization of space on canvas, despite the high density it maintains clarity in the painting.
  • 3) Patna Kalam Painting:
  • It was practised by the men of the royal courts of Bihar.
  • They followed Mughal style and technique in the painting but the theme was different.
  • They depicted mundane activities of daily life and hardships of the common man.
  • 4) Manjusha Painting:
  • It was practised by the rural folk of Bihar and it is noted for the depiction of snakes in each and every painting.
  • 5) Patachitra:
  • It emerged from the temple town Puri.
  • Initially it was a palm scroll painting whose theme was based on legends of the 'Lord Jagannath'.
  • In modern times, painting is practised on paper, cotton cloth and silk cloth.
  • A wide variety of themes was also incorporated.
  • 6) Kalighat Painting:
  • It is practised in West Bengal.
  • This painting follows the 'Subaltern approach', whereby the life, daily activities, and religious practices of marginalized sections of society were depicted.
  • 7) Warli Painting:
  • It was practised by the Warli tribe of Bombay, Initially wall art was created with a combination of just two colours.
  • The painting started to be practised on paper and cloth also.
  • The theme of Warli was based on the unique sedentary life of the tribal community and the entire range of activities in their life.
  • 8) Pabuji ki Phad Painting:
  • It is based on the life of the mythical warrior Pabuji.
  • The pastoralist community of Rajasthan pay huge respect to Pabuji and considers him the saviour of their livestock.

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (05:43 PM)

  • Scripts and Languages of India:
  • Bramhi and Kharosthi are regarded as the earliest scripts of India.
  • Bramhi was practised in mainland India and Kharosthi in the North Western part.
  • Bramhi was regarded as the 'Mother of the majority of Indian scripts'.
  • Indian languages are considered one of the most advanced languages in the world.
  • Generally majority of the Indian languages follow the Abugida system.
  • In this system consonants are fully written and vowels are written as diacritic.
  • Vowels are fully written when a word is going to start from the vowel.
  • Literature:
  • a) Sanskrit Language and Literature:
  • Sanskrit is regarded as a truly international language.
  • It transcends the boundary of region and religion.
  • It was practised in many parts of the world and in many religions.
  • The initiation of the Sanskrit language in India started with the advent of Aryans.
  • In the beginning, Vedic literature was composed in Sanskrit.
  • Vedic Literature in Sanskrit:
  • Vedic Texts:
  • A) Rig Veda:
  • It is derived from the word 'Rk' which means a 'Collection of Psalms'
  • Rig Veda is the earliest collection of 1028 hymns
  • Rig Veda is divided into 10 Mandalas or Chapters out of which 2 to 7 are the oldest composed during the early Vedic age.
  • The rest of the mandalas were composed in the later Vedic age.
  • Theme wise Rig Veda can be divided into three parts:
  • 1) It gives a beautiful description of nature, mentioning rivers, mountains, animals, trees and the varying topography of India.
  • 2) It is a book of prayer and mantra with which they sought the development of a highly cultured society.
  • 3) It provides important details regarding the socio-religious practices of that time.
  • The expert Priest of Rig Veda was referred to as 'Hotra' or 'Hotru'
  • B) Sama Veda:
  • It derives its name from the Sama which means 'Music'.
  • It is regarded as the 'Veda of Music'.
  • In the beginning, It was created by all those hymns of Rig ved which were sung.
  • It mentions various rags.
  • Later Gandharva Veda was attached to the Sama Veda which was regarded as the 'Rule Book of Music'
  • The expert priest of Sama Ved was referred to as 'Udgatar'
  • C) Yajur Veda:
  • It derives its name from the 'Yajna'
  • It is considered as the most popular among all the Vedas
  • It provides guidelines for the performance of Vedic rituals and yajna.
  • It also gives details regarding precise mathematical formulas to create religious altars.
  • There are two parts of Yajur Veda i.e. Krishan Yajur Veda and Shukla Yajur Veda.
  • The expert preist of the yajurveda was reffered as 'Adhvaryu'
  • D) Atharva Veda:
  • The origin of Arhavaveda was attributed to Atharva and Angira Rishi
  • It was the most exhausting of all Vedas.
  • It covers a wide variety of themes such as:
  • 1) Cure for 99 diseases.
  • 2) Book of spells and charms
  • 3) Botanical knowledge
  • 4) Astrology and Astronomy, etc.
  • 5) Vedic mathematics.
  • Extended texts of Vedas:
  • A) Brahmana:
  • Brahmanas were the first explanatory books of the Vedas.
  • They explained the Vedic rituals, guidelines and how to ordain the Vedic life.
  • It contained a simplistic explanation of the Vedas.
  • B) Arnyaka:
  • These are regarded as 'Forest texts of Veda'
  • It deals with the mystery of Veda.
  • The knowledge of Arnyaka was disseminated in the Vanaprastha stage of life.
  • Arynakas deal with questions like Life, death, soul, etc.
  • C) Upanishads:
  • It is derived from the word Up and Nishad.
  • It means to sit near the guru to learn in 'Guru-Shishya Parampara'
  • Upanishads dealt with the philosophy of Veda.
  • Most complicated discussions were included in the Upanishad.
  • For Example, the Purpose of life, the purpose of worship, life after death, the origin of the universe, etc.

PURANA (06:46 PM)

  • Puranas hold a very important position in Hindu life.
  • It expounds the ideals of Hinduism combined with legendary stories.
  • On the basis of the theme Purana is divided into 5 parts:
  • 1) Sarga: It deals with the 'Creation of the Universe'
  • 2) Pratisarga: It deals with the 'Destruction of the Universe'
  • 3) Vamsa: Dynastic History
  • 4) Vamshanucharita: Geneology of Gods
  • 5) Manvantara: The story of the first human beings Manu and Ila.
  • There are a total of 18 Puranas.

CLASSICAL SANSKRIT LITERATURE (06:58 PM)

  • Mudrarakshasa: Visakhadatta was the writer, It narrates the ascent of King Chandragupta Maurya to power in India.
  • Mrcchakatika (The little clay cart): Shudraka, It was Satire on society.
  • Devichandraguptam- Visakhadatta (Biography of Chandragupta II)
  • Harshacharita -> Banabhatta (Biography of Harshavardhana)
  • The literary works of Kalidasa:
  • A) Dramas:
  • Abhigyan Shakuntalam: Love affairs of Dushyant and Shakuntala
  • Malvikagnimitra: Love affairs of Princess Vidisha and Agnimitra Shunga.
  • Vikramorvashi: Love affairs of Pururava and Urvashi
  • Kumarsambhavam: Marriage of lord Shiva and Parvati and birth of Kartikeya, It also deals with the making of the young god Kartikeya.
  • Raghuvaṃśa: Story of the clan of lord Rama.
  • B) Poetry:
  • Ritusamhara: Medley of Seasons
  • Meghdootam: Love letter through clouds.
  • Sanskrit Grammer:
  • Astadhyayi: Panini
  • Mahabhashya: Patanjali (Commentary on Panini's Astadhyayi)
  • Amarkosha: Amarsimha. (Lexicography of Sanskrit)
  • Other Texts:
  • Charak Samhita: Written by Charak (Book of Ayurveda)
  • Sushruta Samhita: Written by Sushruta (Book on surgery) It also mentions surgical instruments and plastic surgery, Nose reconstruction surgery, and Ophthalmic surgery.

BUDDHIST LITERATURE (07:18 PM)

  • Buddhist literature is generally divided into Canonical and Non-canonical literature.
  • Canonical Literature Non-Canonical Literature

    It is regarded as the most sacred literature of Buddhism. 

    		 Non-canonical literature was derived from Canonical literature. 
    It was based on the direct doctrines of Buddha and the traditions established by Buddha.  They are also highly revered and respected and often explain the doctrines of different branches of Buddhism.
    It was written only in the Pali language.  They were written in both Pali and Sanskrit languages.

    It includes:

    Sutta Pitaka: It contains the original teachings of Buddha.

    Vinaya Pitaka: Rules and regulations to be followed by the Buddhist monks.

    Abhidhamma Pitaka: Philosophical interpretation of Buddha's teaching. 

    (Sanskrit) Buddhacharita: Aswaghosh 

    (Sanskrit) Lalitavistara: Sacred literature of Mahayana Buddhism

    (Sanskrit) Mahavibhas: Encyclopedia of Buddhism.

    (Pali) Mahavastu: Sacred text of Theravada.

    (Pali) Mahavamsa and Dipavamsam: Both are Sri Lankan chronicles of Buddhism.

     (Pali) Therigatha: It was the unique text of that time which was authored by the women and attributed to the women. It talks about women's experience of renunciation.

    'Jataka Kathas' are part of Khuddaka Nikaya a chapter in Sutta Pitaka.

    		  

JAIN LITERATURE (07:33 PM)

  • Jain literature was mainly written in the Prakrit language.
  • The compilation of Jain literature happens in the first and second Jain councils.
  • It includes text like purvas, ang, Upang, Prakirnas, Agama, Chedabsutra, Mulsutra and Bhagavati sutra.
  • Jain literature was the unique text of that time which not only compiled its own doctrines but also the doctrines of rival religions i.e. Buddhism, Hinduism and Ajivikas.
  • It is also a very important source of the Mahajanpad history of India.
  • Particularly Bhagwati sutra gives detailed accounts of Mahajanpad History.
  • Moreover the dynasties which ruled in the eastern part of India were elaborately covered in Jain literature.

TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: SANGAM LITERATURE.