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The document discusses various Sanskrit terms related to kinship and social organization in ancient India. It covers concepts like patrilineality, matrilineality, varna system, occupations, gender roles and inheritance practices as described in Dharmashastras and other ancient texts. It also mentions some rulers, Chinese travelers and literary works providing insights into the social structures of the time.

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Abhishek Poyam
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16 views3 pages

3

The document discusses various Sanskrit terms related to kinship and social organization in ancient India. It covers concepts like patrilineality, matrilineality, varna system, occupations, gender roles and inheritance practices as described in Dharmashastras and other ancient texts. It also mentions some rulers, Chinese travelers and literary works providing insights into the social structures of the time.

Uploaded by

Abhishek Poyam
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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• Sanskrit text terms

o Kula – families
o Vamsha- lineage
o Jnati- larger network of kinfolk (relatives)
• Patriliny- tracing descent From father to son to grandson & so on.
• Matriliny - when Descent is traced through Mother.
• Adi Parvan- first section of Mahabharata describes why conflicts arose amongst Kauravas &
Pandavas
• Nishadas- forest dwellers
• Vanik- merchant
• Chandalas- untouchables / Manusmrti laid down there duties
• Endogamy- marriage within a unit
• Exogamy - marriage Outside the unit.
• Polygyny- A man having several wives.
• Polyandry- A woman having several Husbands.
• Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras- Sanskrit text / codes of behaviour / contained rules about ideal
“occupations” of four varnas
o Brahmanas- To study & teach Vedas, perform sacrifices and give & receive gifts.
o Kshatriyas- warfare, protect And administer justice
o Vaishyas- Agriculture, pastoralism and trade
o Shudras- only one occupation – serving 3 “higher” varnas (servitude)
• Puta- Prakrit word meaning “son”
• Satavahanas - ruled over western India & Deccan/identified Through Metronymics (names derived
from mother)/succession to the throne was generally patrilineal / endogamy was popular
• Purusha sukta- hymn from Rigveda
• Sudarshana lake rebuilt by Shaka ruler Rudradaman
• Mrichchhakatika- Sanskrit drama/written by Shudraka/ also called “the little clay cart”
• Fa Xian- Chinese Buddhist monk (5BC)
• Xuan Zang – Chinese pilgrim (7BC)
• Matanga Jataka- Pali text, where Bodhisatta ( Buddha in a previous birth) is identified as a chandala
• Criterion to access resource ( Gender ) –
o Social differences between men & women Due to differences in access To resources
o Manusmriti- Equal division of paternal estate amongst sons after death of parents, with a
special share for the eldest. Women could not claim any share/ women were allowed to
retain gifts they received during marriage as stridhana (woman’s wealth).This could Be
inherited by their children, without the husband Having any claim on it/ Manusmriti warned
women against hoarding family property, or even their own valuables, without husband’s
permission.
• Majjhima Nikaya- Buddhist text /in Pali/ dialogue between a king named Avantiputta & Buddha
disciple named Kachchana.
• Puranaruru- Sangam literature in Tamil
• Mahasammata- the great elect (he who is designated by people)
• Itihasa- “thus it was”
• Sutas- charioteer-bards
• Text/Book Used to be in division into 2 section –
o Didactic- stories / meant for the purpose of instructions
o Narrative- Social Message.
• Ashtadhyayi- work on Sanskrit grammar/ by Panini
• Ramayana and Mahabharata- in Sanskrit
• Manusmriti -in Sanskrit
• Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas- works on medicine/ in Sanskrit
• Natyashastra of Bharata- work on dramaturgy/ in Sanskrit

• Most text in Sanskrit/ few in pali & tamil


PYQ NOTES

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