India - History and Cultural Context
Early History
Indus Valley Civilization: 2700 - 1750 BC
Aryans migrate from Persia: 1500 BC
Alexander the Great invades: 4th c. BC
Sanskrit Theatre develops: 200 BC
Golden Age: 120 - 500 AD
Sanskrit Theatre declines: 1000 AD
Islam introduced: 10th c. AD
Islam dominates: 12th - 15th c. AD
Indian Theatre & Dance are shaped by:
Hindu religion
Hindu caste system
Sanskrit epic literature
Mahabharata
Ramayana
Hindu Philosophy
The essence of all things is spirit or soul
Brahman is the supreme world soul
Hundreds of gods & spirits
Three principal aspects of Brahman
Brahma the creator
Shiva the destroyer
Vishnu the preserver
Hinduism: Key concepts
Spiritual Goal - union with Brahman
Life is characterized by Maya - illusion
Perfection impossible in one lifetime
Reincarnation
Three Hindu paths to liberation:
Way of Action
Way of Knowledge
Way of Devotion
Way of Action
Aryan influence
Sacrifice was center
Special class of people performed sacrifices
Early Scriptures were called Vedas
Rg Veda
Sama Veda
Yajur Veda
Athara Veda
Way of Devotion
Bhakti - Popular devotionalism
Devotion to:
Vishnu
Krishna
Rama
Caste System - Varna
Brahmana - priests and intellectuals
Kshatriya - warriors and rulers
Vaisya - artisans and farmers
Sudra - unskilled laborers or peasants
Hindu Literature
Basis of virtually all Indian performance traditions
Passed from generation to generation by oral tradition:
Written down in Veddic, parent language of Sanskrit
Mahabharata
Longest epic poem
Two rival families - Pandavas & Kauravas
Great war - Kurukshetra Plain, near Dehli
850 - 650 BC
contains the Bhagavadgita
Song of the Divine One
Dialog between Krishna & Arjuna
Added 100 BC to 100 AD
Final form - 400 AD
Ramayana
Life & exploits of Rama
Oldest Sanskrit poem
7 sections - 50,000 lines
Author: Valmiki
Written about 500 BC
Reached present form 400 BC
Rg Veda
"Knowledge of Verses"
Oldest book of hymns of the Indo-Aryans
Written by various poets
2000 - 1000 BC
Celebration of various pre-Hindu gods
l Agni, Soma, Indra & the Adityas
