Itihasa
Sign in to saveIn Hinduism, Itihasa-Purana, also called the fifth Veda, refers to the traditional accounts of cosmogeny, myths, royal genealogies of the lunar dynasty and solar dynasty, and legendary past events, as narrated in the Itihasa (Mahabharata and the Ramayana) and the Puranas. They are highly influential in Indian culture, and many classical Indian poets derive the plots of their poetry and drama from the Itihasa. The Epic-Puranic chronology derived from the Itihasa-Purana is an influential frame of reference in traditional Indian thought.
~9 min read
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Characterisation
- Cosmogony and cyclic time (Yugas)
- Yuga
- Dashavatara
- Royal genealogies
- Influence on classical Indian poetry
- Historical Consciousness
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Sources
- Further reading
In Hinduism, Itihasa-Purana, also called the fifth Veda, refers to the traditional accounts of cosmogeny, myths, royal genealogies of the lunar dynasty and solar dynasty, and legendary past events, as narrated in the Itihasa (Mahabharata and the Ramayana) and the Puranas. They are highly influential in Indian culture, and many classical Indian poets derive the plots of their poetry and drama from the Itihasa. The Epic-Puranic chronology derived from the Itihasa-Purana is an influential frame of reference in traditional Indian thought.
==Etymology== Itihāsa, इतिहास, derived from the phrase iti ha āsa , which means "so indeed it was".