Spring 2006

ANS 384 • History of Sanskrit Literature

Course Description

This course is a graduate seminar on the history of Sanskrit Literature from the earliest period until medieval times. The literature to be covered include: the early and middle Vedic texts; Upanishads; ritual literature; grammatical literature; legal codes; epics and Puranas; medical texts; erotic and aesthetic manuals; texts on politics; technical literature such as astronomy; philosophical and theological texts. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the vast literature produced in Sanskrit over a period of 2,000 years. We will read secondary literature that describe each category of these texts, and at the same time read portions of major texts. A reading knowledge of Sanskrit is presupposed.

Texts

J. Gonda, Vedic Literature J. Gonda, Medieval Religious Literature in Sanskrit L. Rocher, Puranas O. Botto, Sanskrit Epics G. Cardona, Grammatical Texts R. Lingat, Classical Law of India

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