Samskaras

Samskaras

During the post Vedic age or pre-Buddhist Age or the later part of Later Vedic period, the life was fully ritualized. It was the part of the process of development of Vedic Life of Aryans wherein each aspect of individual life and the society was taken care of.


Samskaras are set of rituals which were performed during the life time of an Aryan. These are explained in Sutra literature. The various Samskaras and the method of performing those Samkaras are given in Grihya Sutra. Such ceremonies usually starts when the conception of a child took place. They continue throughout his life and even after death. Such an elaborate set of ceremonies guided the four stages of the life of an individual which is also known as Chatur Ashram Vayvasta or simply Ashram Vayvasta.


Some of the major Samskaras are Garbhadharna (performed when a child is conceived.), Pumsavana (for procuring a male child.), simantonnyanna (to ensure safe delivery of child.), jartakarma, (at the birth of child.) annaparsana (when solid food is given to the child for the first time.), cudakarma (when hairs are removed for the first time.), uppanyana (considered as second birth when he is declared divijya and starts his Brhamcharya asharama), marriage, saradhas, and so on. There are nearly forty such samskaras which are performed through different stages of every Aryan. There are some minor sanskara which an Aryan is expected to perform every day.


With such an elaborate rituals, the life of an Aryan is expected to get organized. However, when gradually the dominance of Brhamans increased over such sacrifices during the later stage of Later Vedic Age, there emerged rigidity and ceremonial performance of such rituals. Such a way of life later became the major features of identification of a life of Hindus.

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Sources:
The History and Culture of Indian People, volume one, Chapter 25 and 26, edited by R. C. Majumdar; Wonder That Was India, Chapter V, by A. L. Basham and Life and Culture in Ancient India by B. N. Luniya.

Bharatvarsha

Bharatvarsha

According to the Vishnu Purana,
"The country that lies north of the ocean and the south of the snowy munatains is called Bharat for there dwell the descendants of the Bharat."


In Sanskrit, as per Vishnu Purana,
Uttaram yastsamundrasya,
Himadres Haiva dakshinain
Vaisham tad Bharatam nama
Bharatiyatia santatih.


In other words, it is stated that the subcontinent of India stretches from the Himalayas to the sea. It is known as Bharatvarsha, or the land of Bharat where the descendants of Bharata live. Bharata was a king highly praised in Puranas. As per the continents of various Puranas, Bharatvarsh was a land which formed the part of a larger unit called Jambu-dvipa. Bharatvarsha on Jambu-divipa (island or the continent) was considered to be the innermost of the seven concentric islands or the continents into which the earth, as conceived in the Puranas, was supposed to have been divided.


In epics and some of the Purana, the whole Jambu-divpa is called the Bharatvarsha.

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Later addition:

Bharatvarsha is divided into nine Khandas or parts: Indra-dvipa, Kaserumat, Taamra varna Gabhastimat, Naga-dwipa, Saumya, Gandharva and Varuna. (Source: A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion by John Dowson, Rupa and Co. New Delhi)

Comment on Indhistory Web site

On the link Asoka, the Indhistory web site titled IH has given some details on Asoka.


According to the content of the site, Asoka ascended the throne in 273 B. C. It is a wrong statement. There is no definite proof about the date of his accession. However, on the basis of a clue on the thirteenth rock edict, it is learned that he undertook the accession in the ninth year. On the basis of the references in Divyavadana, a Buddhist text, we can ascertain that the war took place in 261 B. C. It is again referred there that he acquired the throne with the help of Radhagupta. Radhagupta was the chief minister of Bindusara who had appointed his eldest son Susima as the next emperor on the throne of Mauryan Empire.


The second statement which is against the established sources, it is claimed that he was the most trusted son of Bindusara. It is also not true. The fact was that as an administrator under his father kingship, he proved more successful in Ujjain and Taxila. Both these province capitals were first held by Susima.


Similarly, it is on record on the 13th Pillar inscription that he had made 150000 people as slave. But it is written there that they were injured.


Similarly, it has been claimed that he became total vegetarian. However, it is not conclusion derived at by most of the established historians.


In the same manner, it is claimed that he adopted Buddhism just after the Kalinga war. He had taken nearly two and half year to decide to adopt Buddhism. Such a fact is available in his own inscription on Bhabru Cave inscription. Most of historians have concluded that it was a child monk Nigrodha who motivated him to Buddhism. However, it was Moggasli Putta Tissa, under whom, he worked for promoting Buddhist religion. According to Buddhism sources it was Upagupta who initiated him into Buddhism. However, Asoka had inscribed about his faith on Bhabru Cave inscription but he had no where mentioned his preceptor.


The use of word Dharma as promoted by Asoka is also not in the right spirit. He had got inscribed many Pillar inscriptions (Eight in main), in which he had not mentioned anything about Buddhism.

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The above criticism is done in good faith only. I have personal nothing against the site owner. It is only that being a history student and teacher, I am stating which I have learned and continue to learn from my regular study which my dharma.
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UGC student may derive useful information on the accession and adoption of Buddhism of Asoka.

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Category: Review of a Web site on Indian History.

Civil Services Prelims: Sanskrit Literature: Books and Authors Bank

The details of Sanskrit literature is given in an essay in Banglapadiea. By clicking on Sanskrit literature term, you can reach there. The contents of essay will itself show you its utility for your preparation.

SUMIR SHARMA: Hindi Granth Karyalay: Munshi Premchand : A brief life sketch

A brief life sketch of Munshi Prem Chand with the names of the titles of his literary work.