Social & Historical foundations of Library

 1. Vedic Period (c. 1500 BCE – 500 BCE)

🔹 Knowledge Transmission System

• The Vedic period is the era when the Vedas (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda) and associated texts were composed.

Oral Tradition:

1. Shruti (what is heard) was passed down verbally from one generation to another.

2. Teachers (Gurus) trained students (Shishyas) in Gurukulas through memorization.
3. Advanced mnemonic techniques such as Padapatha, Krama-patha, and Ghana-patha were used to ensure accuracy.

Script and Writing

1. Writing was not common during early Vedic times; oral learning dominated.

2. Later, with the development of Brahmi script, texts began to be written.

3. Palm leaves and birch bark were used as writing material.

4. Tied manuscripts were preserved in wooden or cloth covers, stored carefully in temple or community repositories.

Content of Vedic Literature

1. Religious hymns, rituals, philosophy.

2. Early science, astronomy, mathematics, and medicine (e.g., Ayurveda).

Centers of Learning

1. Early Ashrams and Gurukulas served as the primary institutions of learning.

2. Students stayed with the guru until their education was complete.

3. These places can be seen as early precursors to libraries, storing knowledge orally and eventually in written form.

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2. Buddhist Monasteries and Libraries (c. 600 BCE – 1200 CE)

Buddhism promoted organized monastic education and institutional libraries across ancient India and Central Asia.

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Takshashila (Taxila University)

1. Located in present-day Pakistan.

2. One of the world’s first known universities (600 BCE).

3. Attracted students from across Asia.

4. No centralized campus but several teaching centers.

Subjects Taught:

1. Buddhist philosophy, Vedas, grammar (Panini taught here), logic, mathematics, astronomy, medicine (Ayurveda), politics, military science.

Library System:

1. Scholars wrote and preserved manuscripts on palm leaves.

2. Stored in monastic buildings or special granthagaras (book halls).

3. Students and monks had access under the supervision of senior monks.

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Nalanda University

1. Located in Bihar, India.

2. Flourished from 5th to 12th century CE.

3. Patronized by Gupta emperors and other Indian rulers.

4. Had over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.

Library – "Dharmagranthagar" or "Dharmaganja":

1. One of the largest ancient libraries.

2. Divided into three buildings

                 Ratnasagar ("Ocean of Jewels"),Ratnodadhi ("Sea of Jewels"),Ratnaranjak ("Delighter of Jewels")

Library Features:

1. Multistoreyed buildings, reportedly up to nine floors.

2. Held thousands of manuscripts on religion, philosophy, science, logic, literature, and medicine.

3. Texts were written in Sanskrit, Pali, and Prakrit.

4. Many manuscripts were lost during the destruction by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193 CE, who set the library on fire. It is said to have burned for months.

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