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## The Bardic Tradition The bardic tradition emerged from Sutas and Magadhas who were early authors of Ithihasas and Puranas. These were important figures in early states and were listed among the main supporters of the king. They were expected to act as messengers of the king, accompany him in bat...

## The Bardic Tradition The bardic tradition emerged from Sutas and Magadhas who were early authors of Ithihasas and Puranas. These were important figures in early states and were listed among the main supporters of the king. They were expected to act as messengers of the king, accompany him in battle, and maintain and narrate stories about his exploits. However, sutas were also mentioned as low status people in the Dharmasastras such as the Manusmrti. This suggests Brahmins were contesting with sutas to be close to the king and transmit royal lore. Once epics and Puranas were written down, authors were recognized as Brahmins rather than as sutas. Brahmins recognized the potential value of controlling oral information and recording it in a literary form. ## The Itihasa-Purana Tradition The Itihasa-Purana tradition marked the beginning of ancient Indian historical tradition. Early forms of oral historical narratives, Gatha, Narasamsi, Akhyana, Itivrtta and Vamsanucharita were absorbed by the Ithihasa and Purana. * Itihasa means history. It provides a delineation of contemporary social, economic, political, religious and cultural life of the people. * Purana is applied to ancient stories whether they are quasi-historical, theocratic, mythological, or fanciful. **Puranas** present an integrated cosmic view that includes the past and present. Each Purana was dedicated to a deity or sect, and therefore it always connected events to the emergence of an Avatara/incarnation. Vishnu Purana is a great example. ## The Vamsa Puranas contain historical matter alongside mythological ancient lore. The tradition of recording the names of rulers and the duration of their reigns was widely prevalent and was systematized within the Puranic tradition. This was represented in the vamsa or genealogical part of the Puranas. This created a systematic pattern of records that emerged and there was a distinction between the perceived past.