Rivers in Ancient India (study)
by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words
This page relates 鈥楽cope, Literature and Methodology鈥� of the study on the rivers in ancient India as reflected in the Vedic and Puranic texts. These pages dicsusses the elements of nature and the importance of rivers (Nadi) in Vedic and Puranic society. Distinctive traits of rivers are investigated from descriptions found in the Vedas (Samhitas), Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads and Puranas. The research is concluded by showing changing trends of rivers from ancient to modern times.
Scope, Literature and Methodology
Scope and Purpose of the Study
The scope of this work includes all the major aspects regarding the overall evaluation of the river from Vedic to Pur膩峁噄c literature. Therefore, a modest attempt has been made here to study the river from the Vedic to the Pur膩峁噄c literature.
There are so many Western and Indian scholars who have already discussed the rivers as goddesses in the Vedic literature. As per our belief and knowledge, a thorough study on the river from the Vedic to Pur膩峁噄c literature has not been found in any other work. Therefore, I have chosen this topic for my Ph.D dissertation. Here, in this work, it has been shown how river played an important role to build a civilization and culture in Ancient India. It has also tried to evaluate the changing trends of the rivers from the Vedic to Modern age.
Review of Literature
For preparation of this dissertation, many books, articles, dictionaries published by various organizations, institutions etc., have been consulted. Among them the original works, i.e. the four Vedas including their 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺蝉, 膧谤补峁噛补办补蝉, 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲蝉 and the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 have been consulted. The 叠峁沨补诲诲别惫补迟腻 of 艢补耻苍补办补, Y膩sk膩c膩rya鈥檚 Nirukta are also deserved special mention.
Western scholars have contributed a lot in the field of Vedic literature and mythology. R.T.H. Griffith鈥檚 English translation of the 峁欢惫别诲补 and 艢耻办濒补 Yajurveda, Aitareya 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 Keith and A.A. Macdonell鈥檚 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects are worth mentioning. The Vedic Mythology of A.A. Macdonell, The Religion and Philosophy of the Vedas and 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲蝉 of Aitareya 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 Keith deserve special mention. The various descriptions of nature and natural objects are also found in the book Treatment of Nature in 峁欢惫别诲补 by Dr. Braj Bihari Chaubey. India, A Comprehensive Geography of D.R. Khuller, Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India of D.C. Sircar and Ancient Geography of India of Anundaram Borooah are also worth mentioning.
All the names of the works could not be mentioned here in this thesis for the sake of precision and accuracy. In the bibliography of this thesis, all the names of the books have been pointed out very clearly.
Methodology
In the present work, mainly analytical method is used or adopted. Descriptive method is also adopted in some places. At the very beginning of writing this thesis, the materials or data have been collected from different sources, i.e. primary and secondary sources. After collecting the materials, these are analyzed methodically. All the supporting references have been put as footnotes. This work is classified into seven chapters including the introductory one. In the last chapter, i.e. concluding chapter, a brief conclusion has been written on the basis of the findings. A bibliography containing consulted works has been attached in this dissertation. The Sanskrit words have been written in italic excluding proper names. Diacritical marks on the Sanskrit words have been put as per oriental methodology.