India is the land of many wonders and the brightest minds have taken birth here. These have contributed immensely to the growth of Indian literary tradition.
Pioneers in various fields have penned many texts that make up the trove of literary treasures of India. Indian authors have created a rich repository of literary gems on various topics and themes.
From treatises on medicine to sacred ancient texts, from poetry and plays to political accounts, Indian literature is very diverse and has had a profound impact on the world across a variety of fields.
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are ancient texts on the importance of Yoga and how it helps one attain salvation. These are read by people across the world and the yoga postures mentioned in it are practiced by people all over as more and more people are turning towards yogic practices.
These yoga sutras are taught to aspiring yoga teachers and practitioners. It has helped spread the popularity of yoga in the West especially and has also led many yogic practitioners to come to India to learn more about yoga.
The Science of Yoga - (The Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali)
Wellness practices around the world are based on texts on Ayurveda. These texts have inspired many healing techniques that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
They have also been instrumental in the making of many Ayurvedic medicines that help cure a lot of health issues. A majorly popular Indian text that has influenced the practice of medicine all over the world is the Charak Samhita.
चरक संहिता सम्पूर्ण- Complete Charak Samhita
Being the land of spirituality, it is obvious that India will have a literary influence on the world in this field. The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are not only read but followed by people everywhere.
The world is now talking about the concepts of Karma, Moksha, etc all of which have been talked about in this sacred text. This has influenced how people are living their lives.
The teachings from sacred Hindu texts like Vedas and Upanishads have influenced teachings from other religions as well like Jainism and Buddhism. The Eddas are the sacred texts of Scandinavia and fascinatingly they have been inspired by the Vedas.
Vedas & Indian Vedic Books
The Bhakti movement that originated in India has spread far and wide and the literary works of Bhakti saints like Mirabai and Tulsidas are popular among people in the west who are now joining this movement.
For instance, in different countries, the devotees of the Hare Krishna Movement not only sing these hymns but also read and preach the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
Modern Indian authors have also written compelling books on spirituality that are read by people from different countries and that have shaped people’s understanding of religion.
Indian literature has influenced and inspired the creations of artists everywhere. Artists worldwide have created art in the form of paintings and sketches depicting scenes from Hindu texts like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
Literary works of Western authors have also been inspired by ancient Indian texts. Sanskrit text ‘The Story of Vikram’s Birth’ inspired the Latin text Metamorphoses which was penned by Apuleius.
Apart from this, the 11th-century text ‘Kathasaritsagara’ which was a compilation of over 350 fairy tales has had a lot of influence on foreign literary works like the Arabian Nights.
Many literary devices have been incorporated from Indian literature into foreign literature. For instance, a main plot within which all the other tales are incorporated.
This literary device was borrowed from famous texts like Arabian Nights from Indian fiction works like the Panchatantra. The works of authors like Allen Ginsberg and T S Eliot have been largely influenced by concepts like spirituality, mysticism, and Indian philosophy.
Many elements from Indian epics have been taken and incorporated into Western literature like multiple plotlines in a single narrative and grand battle scenes.
The Ocean of Story Being C.H. Tawney's Translation of Somadeva's Katha Sarit Sagara (Kathasaritsagara): (Ten Volumes)
Various genres of entertainment have been inspired by Indian literature. Science fiction concepts like time travel and alternate realities that are now depicted in movies and books have already been explored in many ancient Sanskrit texts.
The mention of vimanas in epics like Ramayana has influenced the concept of flying machines in the field of science fiction, especially in the works of foreign writers like Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke.
Similarly, the idea of superpowers being possessed by humans or divine beings was also first mentioned in the ancient Indian epics and their larger-than-life characters for instance Lord Hanuman in the Ramayana.
J.R.R. Tolkien's immensely popular book ‘Lord of the Rings features many mystical talking creatures. This is an idea that has already been explored in ancient Hindu epics and Panchatantra, a collection of Indian fables.
Indian science fiction has also gained popularity among the fans of the genre across the world. Authors of Indian science fiction literature have readers in foreign countries.
Not only do they collaborate with their Western counterparts but also interact with their audiences across the globe.
पन्च्तन्त्रम् (संस्कृत एवम् हिन्दी अनुवाद) - The Complete Panchatantra
Global political philosophies and policies are largely influenced by various Indian treatises on politics penned by the finest Indian authors.
The best example of this is seen in the form of Arthashastra which was penned by ancient Indian scholar Chanakya and is one of the most important texts in political literature in India.
Popular not just in India but in other countries as well, it talks about many concepts of statecraft, governance, economics, and administration.
All of these have been incorporated into administrative policies across the world and have influenced global political thought and world politics.
Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata also shed focus on important aspects of leadership and governance.
They have been translated into many different languages and have been read by people of various cultures with them gaining an understanding of concepts like power and governance from these sacred texts.
Their relevance in this regard apart from their spiritual and religious importance is also widely appreciated.
कौटिल्य अर्थशास्त्र - Kautilya Arthashastra
As a new conflict arises every second day, the world seeks ways to resolve it. Many of these conflict-resolution approaches are based on Ahimsa, a concept mentioned in Hindu sacred texts and even Buddhist and Jain texts.
These approaches are based on finding resolutions that are peaceful and serve the greater good.
Poetic works of Kalidasa, Mirza Ghalib, Rabindranath Tagore, etc have been translated into various languages from across the world and are read worldwide by poetry enthusiasts.
Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Gitanjali: Song Offerings not only earned him a Nobel Prize for literature but amassed praise and popularity in the West. He became an icon globally and remains one.
Gitanjali - Song offerings
Translation of Indian literary texts into other languages enables cross-cultural understanding. For instance, Shakuntala which was written by Kalidasa was translated into English by Sir William Jones in 1786.
People are also able to understand Indian society and culture better because of the works of modern Indian writers like Arundhati Roy, RK Narayan, Vikram Seth, etc who enjoy an audience worldwide. Vikram Seth’s book ‘A Suitable Boy’ was widely read and appreciated by people all over the world.
Indian literature is vast and diverse, ranging from poetry to plays, sacred ancient texts to novels, etc. These have been written by Indian authors in multiple languages like Sanskrit, Bengali, Tamil, Hindi, English, Kannada etc.
The first evidence of Indian literature is the ancient texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, etc. they cover topics like spirituality and philosophy and have been read by not just Indians but have captivated people all over the world.
Poems are written in various Indian languages and explore multiple themes like spirituality, nature, human emotions, and even social issues like caste and gender.
Indian literature has always fascinated the world. It has amassed a readership not only in India but in other parts of the world too. Foreign institutes offer special courses where Indian ancient literature is taught as part of the curriculum.
Tales from Indian mythologies have been adapted into films by Western filmmakers. Even global science fiction has been influenced by Indian themes and concepts and many literary works in the West were inspired by Indian texts.
Indian literature explores multiple themes of religion, spirituality, morals, traditions, rituals, etc. It also exists in multiple native Indian languages. These traits are not found in other literature.
Sanskrit has the richest literary culture because the most important and sacred texts in India like the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata are written in Sanskrit.
Rabindranath Tagore who won the Nobel Prize in literature is the best writer in Indian literature.
Indian writers are being subjected to many pressures, one of them being their works constantly being under the scanner. This has taken away their freedom of speech and expression.
Indian Authors have contributed to Indian literature in every sphere. This has impacted the world a lot, influencing ideas on religion, wellness, spirituality, science, culture, and tradition.
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