photo.jpg

## Historical Records in Ancient India The genealogical core in each Puranas absorbed the earlier Gatha and Akhyana tradition. A systematic pattern of historical writing and preservation of historical records thus emerged and was kept going. This is seen as “veering between the perceived past and...

## Historical Records in Ancient India The genealogical core in each Puranas absorbed the earlier Gatha and Akhyana tradition. A systematic pattern of historical writing and preservation of historical records thus emerged and was kept going. This is seen as “veering between the perceived past and historicity." Genealogies became particularly important when attempts were made by rulers to either contest or consolidate power. When powerful monarchies developed in North India, such preserved historical records offered a strong basis to claim Kshatriya status based on lineage identities. Invoking genealogies at such moments became a means of asserting status. Traditionally, the epic Mahabharata is recognised as an *itihasa* while the Ramayana is regarded as a *mahakavya* (great poem). The stories contained in the epics may date back to the early centuries of the 1st millennium BCE, but the texts were finally written down much later (c. 4th-5th centuries CE). As such, the texts have undergone alterations and additions over several centuries. These furnish important information about the *chandravamsa* and *suryavamsa* genealogies. Several ruling families in the early medieval period (c. 7th century CE) traced descent from these lineages. These also give an insight into the socio-political processes of those times. ### Prasastis and Charitas Certain categories of historical texts were associated with the royal court and were developed to proclaim the status of rulers. Examples of these texts are the eulogistic inscriptions known as *prasastis*. While some of the earliest examples of *prasastis* are in Prakrit, the best known examples are in Sanskrit. Such inscriptions become particularly common from c. 4th century CE. The best-known of such *prasastis* is Samudragupta's *Prayaga prasasti*, also known as the Allahabad Pillar Inscription. Another genre of text associated primarily with the courts was the *charita*. These were meant to be accounts of the lives and achievements of “great men.” The best known of the *charita* genre is the *Harsacharita*, composed by Banabhatta. ### Chronicles: *Rajatarangini* It is often said that the only truly historical work produced in ancient India was the *Rajatarangini*, or 'the river of kings'. It was written by Kalhana in 12th century in Sanskrit. He completed this work within two years, during the reign of King Jaysimha of Kashmir. It consists of eight books or *tarangas*, and is composed in verse. It gives a history of kings of Kashmir from the period of Mahabharata war up to 12th century CE. It is a very dependable account based on literary sources and oral tradition and an extensive field-work by Kalhana. The author wrote this book after a long time.