The Vedas: A Historical Perspective

Summary
Number of Sessions: 10
Resource Person: Dr. Roshen Dalal
Medium: English

Details of the Course
The history of Indian literature is the history of mental activity of atleast 3,000 years. It is expressed through speech and writing. Vedas, being the oldest were composed at different locations, by different people and compiled by some.

Get to know what is the basic essence of these texts through these 10 sessions.

Topics to be covered:
1. The Rig Veda: An Introduction
2. The Rig Veda: Society and Economy
3. Yajur Veda and Sama Veda: Ritual and Song
4. The Atharva Veda: Mysteries and Medicine
5. Were the Vedic people migrants?: The Indo-European Theory
6. The Indo Iranians, Devas and Asuras
7. Archaeology and the Vedas
8. Related literature: The Brahmanas and Aranyakas
9. Related Literature: Padapathas and other texts
10. Conclusion

About the Resource Person
Roshen Dalal has an MA and PhD in ancient Indian History from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has taught at both school and university, and has been involved in research in the fields of history, religion and philosophy, and education. She is the author of twelve books: the best-selling two volume Puffin History of India; The Puffin History of the World, also in two volumes; India at 70: Snapshots Since Independence;The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths; Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide; The Vedas: An Introduction to Hinduism’s Sacred Texts; The 108 Upanishads; The Compact Timeline History of the World, and the latest book, Jiddu Krishnamurti: A Life of Compassion beyond Boundaries. She has also written one novel, The Guru Who Came Down from the Mountain. Apart from books, she has written numerous articles and book reviews.