<–2/”>a >Religious and secular literature
Besides the Growth of Sufism and Sikhism and their devotional literature, the region also produced literary figures in Prakrt, Sanskrit, Hindi and Urdu.
The most important of the Prakrt scholars was Thakura Pheru who was born at Kannana, a village lying about 8 kms from Charkhi Dadari (in district Mahendragarh). Thakur Pheru belonged to the Srimala stock and Dhandiya family i^Dhandha kula) of the Vaishya caste. His father and grandfather are mentioned as Thakura Chanda and Seth Kalio respectively. He was a devoted Jaina as his sectarian title Paramajaina would suggest. We are informed that Thakura Pheru was appointed an officer by Alauddin Khalji and was very intimately connected with the management of treasury and mint.
His encyclopaedic knowledge prompted him to write on a variety of subjects with equal mastery. His works which have come down to us are a very important source of history of India of the thirteenth century. His earliest work Yugaoradhdna- chatuspddikd (A.D. 1290) was written in Apabraihsa at Kannana under the supervision of his teacher Vachanacharya Rajasekara. It provides a biographical survey of the Jaina Acharyas from Mahavira to Yugapradhanacharya, of the Kharataragachcha sect. Some events of historical value are alluded to in the said work. The Rama- parikshd (A.D. 1315) as the name suggests, deals exhaustively with gems — their types, availability, value, qualities and effects. Vastusdra (A.D. 1315) also written at Kannana, is a treatise in Prakrt dealing with Jaina sculpture and architecture. The Ganitasdra, another Prakrt work, is a valuable source of information on the economic conditions as prevailed during the thirteenth century. It deals with prices, weights and measures, varieties of textiles, measurement of land and such minute details as production per bigha of various commodities in southern Haryana. Dhdtotpattikarani- Vidhi is a work on metallurgy, while Jyotishasara (A.D. 1315) gives in a historical perspective, an exposition of movements of the stars and planets and their effect on human life. The last of Pheru’s works Dravyapar ksd (A.D. 1318) is an invaluable source for the study of contemporary economic history. Also dealing with metallurgical subjects such as methods of purification of gold, silver, copper, tin, lead and other metals, it deals exhaustively on the system of coinage, exchange, Classification, weights, coin-value and the ratio of the ingredients in the alloys. Another noted writer of Apabhram a was Bucharaja, a poet whose contributions were Mayanajujha, Santosha- jayatUakOy Chetana Pudgala Dhamafa, Tdnddnd and Kukaddmanjarichaupai. He belonged to Hissar and flourished in the first half of the sixteenth century (V. 1591). Yet another was Jina Vallabha Sari, a scholar from Hansi whose important works in Apabhrarh^a were : SukSmd^’tha-Siddhantavichdra^ShraddhdSti, SraddhdSiaka- Dharmasiksd, Pra^nottara-shl ka and SramgaraS’aka After Jina Vallabha, no noteworthy contribution was made to the Apabhrarh^a literature possibly because after the seventeenth century Sanskrit regained imortance and eminent scholars started writing in that language.
Haryana also witnessed the development of early Hindi literature which had its origin in the Prakrit works of the early medieval Jaina authors and in the writings of the Siddha and Nath sects. Prthadaka was one of the chief centres of Nath order in this region. The earliest Hindi author of this order was Chauranginatha, a resident of Asthal Bohar (district Rohtak) who flourished in the thirteenth century. Although known as an author of a number of works in Khadi Boll (Hindi) only two of them namely, Vayutatvabhavanopadesa and Pranasangali have survived. These works give an exposition of the Nirguna philosophy. He was followed by another author of the Nath order —Mastanatha whose noteworthy composition was During the fourteenth century Isardasa of Faridabad wrote a number of works in Hindi of which the noteworthy are — Angada Paija, Bharata Vilapa and Saiyavati Kathd. His language shows influence of Avadhi. Suradasa, one of the most out- standing poets of Hindi of the fifteenth century, have been claimed by some as belonging to Sihi (Faridabad).’
The growth of Hindi literature in Haryana was further stimulated by the contributions of the scholars of the succeeding generations. Among these Virbhan of Narnaul — the founder of the Satnami sect; Maldev of Sirsa — the author of thirty books in Prakrt, Sanskrit and Hindi (16th century); Hridaya Ram alias Ram Kavi of Gharaunda who later on settled at Thanesar and produced a number of works on religious themes; RQp Chand Pande of the village Salempur; Bhagavatl Das of village Buria (in Ambala district); Anandaghana of Sirsa, who wrote on subjects related to Jain religion and ethics; Sundardas of Karnal, Banarasi Das of Biholi (a village near Rohtak) and Khadgasena of Narnaul (17th century) deserve particular mention.’
In the eighteenth century were born Garib Das (1717-1791) and Nischal Das (1791-1863), the greatest poet-saints of the region. Garlbdas is the earliest known Nirguna saint poet of Haryana. He was born at Chhudani in A.D. 1717 in a Jat family.’” His padas (religious hymns and songs) numbering about 17000 or 18,500 give a brilliant exposition of the Nirgupa philosophy.’” No other saint poet of Medieval India has written in such abundance and on so many facets of spiritual life.’ He founded his own sect named after him as Garibdasi which in course of time established its branches at various places in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Union Territory of Delhi and even in Gujarat (Ahmedabad).
Garib Das’s contribution to the contemporary Indian religious thought was his universalism. He stood for the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of men. He strongly condemned hatred, bitterness between divergent creeds and advocated close understanding between various religions and unity and Equality between the rich and the poor, the high and the low. Like Kabir-2/”>Kabir, he worked for bringing about a healthy synthesis between the progressive Elements of Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism and Islam and hence he easily found followers both among Hindus and Muslims. Garib Das believed that God realization can be achieved in any walk of life, and hence renunciation of worldly life is not at all necessary. His songs reflect a happy reconciliation of worldly and spiritual life.
the last of the Hindu Raj Yogis and Bhakta poets who had as great a mastery of popular poetic language and style as Ghulam Farid had, but whose range of thought and knowledge of other Indian languages was greater than that of any other Indian poet of Medieval India, the only poet who comes near to him being Shah Qayam Din Chisti of Kari Goan in Bombay.
And Dr. K.C. Gupta, the biographer, who calls him ‘Haryana’s Saint of Humanity’ observes
Shrl Garlb Das was a true saint in the sense that he never sought the patronage of any court. During his life-time, many invasions and upheavals took place . . . But we do not find a single reference to events to which he was almost an eye witness . . . although he was bom in a Hindu family and lived his whole life in Haryana in the eighteenth century, his songs transcend all sectarian, spatial and temporal bounds and express man’s eternal seeking for the Divine.
Nischal Das (1791-1863) was born at Kungad (Hansi tehsil) in a Jat family. As he himself informs us he received his instruction in Sankhya, Nyaya, Vyakarana and Vedanta at Varanasi. He was a follower of the Dadupantha. One of his disciples was Ram Singh, the Raja of Bundi. He was a prolific writer in Sanskrit as well as Hindi. Among his Sanskrit works mention may be made of IsopaniSad, Kaihopani- Sad, Mahdihdrata (all commentaries), V rttavivarana, V rttidipika and Ayurveda, but unfortunately these have not come to Light so far. His distinctive contribution to the Hindi literature are his philosophical treatises Vichdrasdgara and Vrttiprabhdkara and Muktiprakasa—\ht first has since then been translated in Marathi, Bengali and English. Swami Vivekananda was greatly influenced by Nischal Das’s contribution, and considered his Vichdrasdgara as the ‘most influential work that has been written in any language within the last three centuries’.
Among other contemporary saint-poets who made noteworthy contribution to the Nirguna literature were Nityananda of Narnaul, the author of Satyasiddhdnta- prakdsa and Bardkhadv, Jait Ram, a son of Garlb Das who composed a number of works on devotional themes of which the most important is Janmakathd (the life story of the Saint Garlb Das); Dayal Das, a disciple of Garlb Das who composed Vichd- raprakdsa (or parlksd), an exposition of the Advaita philosophy.
The period also witness the development of Urdu and Hariyanvi. The noteworthy contributors in Urdu were Muhammad Afzal (1539-1626) of Panipat (the author of Bikata Kahdal)’, his contemporary Shaikh Jivan (the author of Fiqabd-i- Hindi, Mahsharndmd, Dar fanama, Khwabndmd and Ddblrnamd-i-Bibi Fatima); Abdul Ves of Hansi, the editor of first Urdu-Hindi dictionary; and the poets of humour — Mir Jafar Jatar (1659-1713) and his brother Abdul Jabil ‘JataP of Narnaul. Compositions in diflFerent dialects of Hariyanavi of this period have also come to light. The padas (or devotional songs) of Saint Dedhraj of Gharsu (near Narnaul) in Ahrra- watj; of Baba Hari Das in Bangru; and of Gulam Rangila in Mewati come under this category.
These literary traditions of Haryana were continued in the succeeding periods by a number of scholars and poets of whom the following deserve mention. Ram Das of Agroha, author of a number of works including one on the tirthas; Umadas of Thanesar one of the scholars employed by Patiala state for the translation of The Mahabharata into Hindi (five Parvas) and the author of numerous works including the one entitled {Kurukshetra Mahatmya; Sahab Singh and Atma Singh of Jind whose works reflect influence of Va^nava and Sikh religious philosophy; Sambhudas (also of Jind); Nanda and Mukunda (Hisar); Yugal Kishor Bhat (Kaithal); Babu Balmukand Gupta (Jhajjar), a prominent Urdu-Hindi newspaper editor,^ whose weekly paper Hindi Bangavdsi published from Calcutta, is considered by R.C. Majumdar as ‘the most influential Hindi newspaper during the two closing decades of the nineteenth century’ which considerably advanced the Hindi prose style; Madhav Prasad Misra, a great Hindi journalist of his times, who wrote learned articles on contemporary political, social, economic issues; Visvambhar Nath Kaushik, a renowned story writer and a well known editor; and Bhadanta Anand Kausalyayana who wrote on subjects of Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism. Among the Urdu writers worthy of note were — Rao Man Singh, a bakshi of Rao Tula Ram of Rewari who wrote Abhirkuladipfka, ahistoiy of the Ahirs dealing also with the history of the Rewari State from A.D. 1555 to the close of the nineteenth century, throwing light of the political, social and cultural life of Haryana of that period; Ghulam Nabi, author of Tdrikh-i- Jhajjar, a comprehensi\e history of that state from 1803 to 1858 similarly is an important source of history for the period itcovers. Jafar Khan of Thanesar, a leader of Wahabi movement sentenced to life imprisonment in Andamans, whose two works— Tdrlkh-i-Ajaba and TdrJkh-i-Ajib {Kdld Pdni) (1884) give a graphic account of his sufferings. The style of Jafar’s composition is simple and chaste, and ‘is free from rhetorical flourishes and vcrbiege which was a common feature of the contemporary Urdu prcse’ and last but not the least, Altaf Husain Hali of Panipat, ‘the innovator of the modern spirit in Urdu’ as rightly observed by R.C. Majumdar. A master of many languages— Urdu, Persian and Arabic, Altaf Husain contributed a number of scholarly works in prose as well as in poetry of which Muqaddima-i-Sher-o-Shairi, is considered as ‘an epoch making work’ which sums up ‘the essentials which have been recognised on all hands as forming the life and substance of all good poetry’.’,
Haryana is a state in northern India. It is home to a diverse Population of Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians. The state has a rich literary tradition, dating back to the Vedic period.
Religious literature
The Vedas are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. They are a collection of hymns, rituals, and philosophical texts. The Vedas are believed to be revealed to the sages by the gods. They are the foundation of Hindu religion and philosophy.
The Upanishads are a collection of philosophical texts that are part of the Vedas. They discuss the nature of reality, the soul, and the relationship between God and humans. The Upanishads are considered to be the most important texts of Hindu philosophy.
The Puranas are a collection of mythological and historical texts. They tell the stories of the gods and goddesses, as well as the History of the world. The Puranas are an important source of Hindu mythology and history.
The Epics of Hinduism are the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. They are long poems that tell the stories of two great wars. The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem in the world. It tells the story of the Kurukshetra War, a battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The Ramayana tells the story of Rama, a prince who is exiled from his kingdom and must fight to regain his throne.
The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of Sikhism. It is a collection of hymns, poems, and prayers written by the Sikh Gurus. The Guru Granth Sahib is considered to be the living Guru of the Sikhs. It is recited daily in Sikh temples.
The Dasam Granth is a collection of writings by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. It includes poetry, hymns, and a history of the Sikh people. The Dasam Granth is an important source of Sikh history and philosophy.
Muslim literature
The Quran is the holy book of Islam. It is a collection of revelations that were given to the Prophet Muhammad by God. The Quran is considered to be the word of God. It is recited daily in Muslim prayers.
The Hadith are the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. They are collected in books called hadith collections. The Hadith are an important source of Islamic law and tradition.
Sufi literature
Sufi literature is a body of literature that is written by Sufis, or Muslim mystics. It often deals with themes of love, devotion, and union with God. Sufi literature is an important part of Islamic mysticism.
Secular literature
Haryana folk literature
Haryana folk literature is a body of literature that is passed down orally from generation to generation. It includes folk songs, folktales, and proverbs. Haryana folk literature is an important part of the state’s cultural heritage.
Haryana poetry
Haryana poetry is a body of literature that is written in the Haryanvi language. It often deals with themes of love, nature, and social commentary. Haryana poetry is an important part of the state’s literary tradition.
Haryana fiction
Haryana fiction is a body of literature that is written in the Haryanvi language. It often deals with themes of social issues, family, and love. Haryana fiction is an important part of the state’s literary tradition.
Conclusion
Haryana has a rich literary tradition, dating back to the Vedic period. The state’s literature is diverse, reflecting the state’s diverse population. Religious literature, secular literature, and folk literature are all important parts of Haryana’s literary tradition.
What is religious literature?
Religious literature is a genre of literature that deals with religious themes and beliefs. It can include texts from a variety of religious traditions, such as the Bible, the Quran, and the Vedas. Religious literature can be used to teach religious doctrine, to inspire devotion, or to provide comfort and guidance.
What is secular literature?
Secular literature is a genre of literature that does not deal with religious themes or beliefs. It can include works of fiction, poetry, and drama that are set in the real world and deal with everyday human experiences. Secular literature can be used to entertain, to educate, or to explore the human condition.
What are some examples of religious literature?
Some examples of religious literature include the Bible, the Quran, the Vedas, the Torah, and the Talmud. These texts are sacred to the followers of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Judaism, respectively. They contain stories, teachings, and laws that are considered to be divinely inspired.
What are some examples of secular literature?
Some examples of secular literature include the works of Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Leo Tolstoy. These authors wrote about a variety of topics, including love, loss, war, and peace. Their works are not based on religious beliefs, but they can still be considered to be great works of literature.
What are the differences between religious and secular literature?
Religious literature is based on religious beliefs, while secular literature is not. Religious literature often deals with themes such as faith, hope, and love, while secular literature can deal with a wider range of topics. Religious literature is often considered to be sacred, while secular literature is not.
What are the similarities between religious and secular literature?
Both religious and secular literature can be used to entertain, to educate, or to explore the human condition. Both genres can be written in a variety of styles, including fiction, poetry, and drama. Both genres can be considered to be great works of literature.
What are the benefits of reading religious literature?
Reading religious literature can help you to learn about different religious traditions. It can also help you to understand the beliefs and values of people who follow different religions. Reading religious literature can also help you to develop your own spiritual beliefs.
What are the benefits of reading secular literature?
Reading secular literature can help you to learn about different cultures and societies. It can also help you to understand the human condition. Reading secular literature can also help you to develop your own critical thinking skills.
What are the drawbacks of reading religious literature?
Reading religious literature can be biased, as it is based on the beliefs of a particular religion. It can also be difficult to understand, as it often uses religious language and concepts. Reading religious literature can also lead to conflict, as it can challenge your own beliefs.
What are the drawbacks of reading secular literature?
Reading secular literature can be depressing, as it often deals with negative aspects of human existence. It can also be offensive, as it often challenges traditional values. Reading secular literature can also lead to nihilism, as it can promote the idea that there is no meaning or purpose in life.
What is the impact of religious and secular literature on Society?
Religious and secular literature can have a profound impact on society. Religious literature can help to shape the values and beliefs of a society. It can also promote peace and Tolerance. Secular literature can help to promote critical thinking and understanding. It can also challenge traditional values and promote Social Change.
Which of the following is not a type of literature?
(A) Poetry
(B) Drama
(C) Fiction
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a genre of poetry?
(A) Sonnet
(B) Ballad
(C) Epic
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a genre of drama?
(A) Tragedy
(B) Comedy
(C) Melodrama
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a genre of fiction?
(A) Novel
(B) Short story
(C) Novella
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a type of religious literature?
(A) The Bible
(B) The Quran
(C) The Torah
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a type of secular literature?
(A) The Odyssey
(B) The Iliad
(C) The Mahabharata
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a genre of religious literature?
(A) Hymn
(B) Prayer
(C) Sermon
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a genre of secular literature?
(A) Novel
(B) Short story
(C) Poem
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a characteristic of religious literature?
(A) It is concerned with the relationship between humans and a higher power.
(B) It is often based on sacred texts.
(C) It is often used to teach moral lessons.
(D) It is often written in a poetic or lyrical style.Which of the following is not a characteristic of secular literature?
(A) It is not concerned with the relationship between humans and a higher power.
(B) It is not often based on sacred texts.
(C) It is not often used to teach moral lessons.
(D) It is often written in a realistic or naturalistic style.Which of the following is not a difference between religious and secular literature?
(A) Religious literature is concerned with the relationship between humans and a higher power, while secular literature is not.
(B) Religious literature is often based on sacred texts, while secular literature is not.
(C) Religious literature is often used to teach moral lessons, while secular literature is not.
(D) Religious literature is often written in a poetic or lyrical style, while secular literature is often written in a realistic or naturalistic style.Which of the following is not a similarity between religious and secular literature?
(A) Both religious and secular literature can be used to teach moral lessons.
(B) Both religious and secular literature can be written in a poetic or lyrical style.
(C) Both religious and secular literature can be based on real events.
(D) Both religious and secular literature can be used to entertain.Which of the following is not a characteristic of Haryana?
(A) It is a state in India.
(B) It is located in the northern part of India.
(C) It is the 19th largest state in India by area.
(D) It is the 20th most populous state in India.Which of the following is not a language spoken in Haryana?
(A) Hindi
(B) Punjabi
(C) English
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a famous person from Haryana?
(A) Bansi Lal
(B) Devi Lal
(C) Chaudhary Charan Singh
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a historical event that took place in Haryana?
(A) The Battle of Panipat
(B) The Partition of India
(C) The Green Revolution
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a cultural tradition of Haryana?
(A) The Navratra festival
(B) The Holi festival
(C) The Dussehra festival
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a food dish from Haryana?
(A) The aloo parantha
(B) The sarson ka saag
(C) The makki di roti
(D) Religious and secular literatureWhich of the following is not a dance form from Haryana?
(A) The bhangra
(B) The giddha
(C) The