Hindu Literature and Ancient India

The system of social hierarchy in Hinduism, based on birth.

The earliest form of the caste system where the Untouchables are considered outside of the system.

A sacred text containing hymns to various gods, primarily Brahma.

A collection of 108 discourses on the Brahman religion, discussing concepts like maya and nirvana.

The longest poem in the world, telling the story of a war between the Kauravas and Pandavas.

The Bhagavad Gita is part of the Mahabharata, where Krishna instructs Arjuna on the path to spiritual liberation.

A poem about Rama, his wife Sita, and their struggle against the evil Ravana.

The oldest sacred literature of India, consisting of four Vedas, including the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda.

A branch of the Indo-European language family, with Hindi as the most prominent example.

A language group with origins in South India, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.

The earliest Indians may have migrated from these regions.

A period in Indian history marked by the development of Sanskrit literature, spanning from 200 B.C. to the Middle Ages.

A collection of stories meant to teach practical life lessons to children.

A style of lyric poetry popular in Persian literature, often featuring love and longing.

A cultural renaissance in 19th century India spurred by the British colonization and the resulting exposure to Western literature.

The most famous collection of poetry by Rabindranath Tagore, which earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature.

A type of nonviolent resistance developed by Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizing truth and steadfastness.

The Indian nationalist movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi, who advocated for independence from British rule through nonviolent means.

A type of Indian literature featuring moral tales and fables, often using animals as characters, such as the Jatakas and the Panchatantra.

A secular state where religious freedoms are guaranteed to all citizens.

A term used to describe the ancient Indian civilization that flourished in the Indus Valley between 4000 and 2500 B.C.

A period in Indian history marked by the invasion of Aryan tribes from the northwest, leading to intermingling with the Dravidian population.

A period in Indian history during which Islamic influences began to penetrate the country, starting in the 11th century and continuing under the Mughal Empire.

The process of creating new ethnic states within India, such as Nagaland and Mizoram.

A period in Indian history characterized by a shift in political power, with the Indian National Congress losing its longstanding dominance.

A period in Indian history marked by India's independence from British rule in 1947, followed by the partition of India and Pakistan.

A movement toward greater autonomy for different ethnic and cultural groups within India, leading to the demand for new states or more self-governance.

A system of governance where power is shared between a national government and regional state governments.

A form of government where the executive branch, headed by a prime minister, is accountable to the legislative branch, called Parliament.

The highest judicial body in India, responsible for upholding the Constitution and resolving legal disputes.