Page 73 - sst_class_06

epics, composed by Elango and Sattanar respectively in the first or second century AD. Many
of the Tamil works were composed by Jain and Buddhist scholars. In the field of literature,

the Mauryan Age witnessed remarkable progress. Literary work were produced in Sanskrit,
Prakrit as well as Pali. Some of the important literary works produced during the Mauryan
period include Arthashastra of Kautilya, Ashtadhyayi of Panini, Kalpasutra of Dadrabhu,
etc. The Arthashastra is divided into 15 Adhikaranas with 180 Prakarans. This work is a
combination of Sutra and Bhashya Sutra probably applies to the headings of Prakaranas and
Bhashya is a commentary on it with a certain mixture of verses. The purpose of the work is
to lay down means for the acquisition and maintenance of dominion over the Earth.
During the Gupta period, literary works of both secular and religious nature were written.
Dramatists and poets such as Kalidasa, Bhasya, Vishakhadatta and Harisena composed many
famous works. The Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana were complied during this time. Many
law books such as those of Yajnavalkaya, Brishaspati were written too.

preserVIng old storIes

Other Hindu religious stories include the Puranas. Purana literally means old. The Puranas
contain stories about gods and goddesses, such as Vishnu, Shiva, Durga or Parvati and how
they were to be worshipped. It also explains about the creation of
the world and about kings.
The Puranas were written in simple Sanskrit language. Everybody

including women and shudras, who were not allowed to study
the Vedas, were allowed to hear Puranas. They were recited in
temples by priests, and people used to come to listen to them. The Purana
Two Sanskrit epics : The Mahabharata and Ramayana were
quite popular among the masses. You also must have heard

about a war fought between the cousin brothers (the
Kauravas and pandavas) to gain control of the throne of the
Kurus and their capital, Hastinapur.

The Ramayan is about Rama, a prince
of Kosala, who was sent into exile. His
Scene From the epic, Ramayana wife Sita was abducted by the king
of Lanka, named Ravana. Rama fought a battle to get her back. He
won and returned to Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala, after his victory.
Valmiki is recognised as the author of the Sanskrit Ramayan. But both
the Puranas and the Mahabharata are supposed to have been compiled Valmiki

by vyasa.
scIence, matHematIcs and medIcIne

Astronomy, Medicine and Mathematics made great progress in ancient India. In the field of
Mathematics, the Indians made three special contributions—the notation system, decimal
system and the use of zero. The Arab traders learnt these concepts from India and spread
them to the western world.

Social Studies-6 73