Sacred Texts of

IndiaGroup #2, Pd. 5

Mike G.Jimmy B.

Heather P.Katarina M.Brittany H.

http://www.wayfaring.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/800px-neasden_temple_-_shree_swaminarayan_hindu_mandir_-_power_plant.jpg

The Vedas• Most sacred of all literature.• Revealed to humans directly by gods.• Preserved orally for centuries and

written down 500 years ago.• Explain the meaning of rituals, how

to perform them, and praise the gods.

• Sanskrit for “wisdom”.

The Upanishads

• Serves as commentaries on or for philosophical extensions of the hymns.

• Sanskrit for “sit at the feet of”.• Name given to more than 100 texts

that make up the last part of the Vedas.

• Seen as records of conversations and discussions about most basic questions of existence.

Mahabharata

• One of two great epics in Indian literature.

• Epic focuses on dharma (duties and obligations), karma (actions effect next life), and reincarnation (rebirth after death).

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Bhagavad Gita

• Sanskrit meaning, “the song of the Lord”.

• Poem that makes up a small part of Mahabharata.

• Author of Bhagavad Gita is unknown.• Contains eighteen chapters.• Contains conversations between

warrior, Arjuna and Krishna (God).

Panchatantra• Collection of

oral traditions that have been written down.

• Most famous of the two epics.

• Appeared in 200 versions and in many different languages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SeWLrZ7Znk