INDIAN

KNOWLEDGE
SYSTEM
Khushboo Vachhani Talati
 Course Outline- GTU
◦ 5519206_IKS.docx
Course Outline- SLIMS
◦ IKS.docx
 Unit 1
A. Indian Knowledge Systems: An Overview – Importance of Ancient
Knowledge, Defining Indian Knowledge Systems, The IKS Corpus – A
Classification Framework, Chaturdasha Vidyasthana, Historicity of IKS,
Some unique aspects of IKS

B. The Vedic Corpus – Introduction to Vedas and Vedangas, Indian

Philosophical Systems – Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya Vaishesika, Purva
Mimansa and Vedanta. Non-Vedic Philosophical Systems
Introduction to Itihasa and Purana, NitiShastras and Subhasitas
A. Indian Knowledge System
◦Importance of Ancient Knowledge
◦Defining Indian Knowledge Systems
◦The IKS Corpus- A classification, Framework,
Chaturdasha Vidyasthana, Historicity of IKS, some unique
aspects of IKS
Importance of Ancient Knowledge
◦ IKS:
The ancient knowledge in India was preserved and transmitted “orally” until a few centuries back
There was ab uninterrupted lineage of “Guru-sisya” that took responsibility for the preservation and
transmission knowledge down the generations
e.g. teacher-student, father-son
These people formed a clan, who preserved the knowledge, practiced it by making a living, and transmitted
it to their offsprings.
The use of print media in recent history and the palm leaf scripts earlier have served to formally capture
this oral knowledge and store it
◦ Importance of Ancient Knowledge:
Ancient knowledge is the accrued knowledge over
several generations and preserved in the formal and Identity
informal means.
Formal means include documented knowledge and
Informal means include shared values and practices
through oral traditions
The thinking patterns and the repository of knowledge Economic Ancient Culture
created by forefathers in any society enable the current Value knowledge
generation to understand the thought processes and
frameworks to the previous generations.
It will allow them to analyse the received wisdom in a
contemporary context and identify new opportunities to
assimilate the accrued wisdom and synthesize new Received
wisdom
knowledge.
Ancient knowledge serves multiple roles for society
 Received Wisdom:
Identity: Quintessential Ancient knowledge plays
value that ancient the role of “received
knowledge brings to wisdom” and provides a
society is the identity it head start to a society to
provides to fellow march on the highway of
members of the society innovation and new
knowledge creation

Received Economic
Identity Culture
Wisdom Value

Economic Value: IKS is

Culture: in a direct sense,
huge potential from
it is the manifestation of
economic standpoint.
human intellectual
Transforming knowledge
achievement regarded
into economic value
collectively by society
makes us “military
over time
power”
 Defining IKS
◦ Indian:
By this term, it means the indigenous sources of knowledge generated by the Indian society, Akhanda Bharata.
Knowledge synthesized, codified and made available by the “Indians” is considered Indian knowledge
◦ Knowledge:
Primarily arises in the form of the wisdom of the knowledge seekers, obtained by the insights gained by personal
experiences with life situations, facing problems and coming up with means of solving them, observation of events,
experimentation, conjecturing and analysis
Tacit knowledge- preserved and transmitted through an oral tradition without loss
◦ System:
Structured methodology and a classification scheme to access the available corpus of knowledge. By the inherent
nature, knowledge could be accessed in any manner depending on the interest, purpose and capacity of the seeker.
The IKS Corpus
◦Classification
◦Framework
◦Chaturdasha Vidyasthana
◦Historicity of IKS
◦Unique aspects of IKS
Classification
Usefulness of classification framework depends on 3 factors-
1. Completeness- ensures all important components of the IKS are included in
the proposed framework
2. Compactness- indicates the efficacy of the grouping of various topics in IKS
in a congruent and logical fashion (simple, concise, easy to understand and
remember)
3. Inter-connectedness- logical relationships among the various sub-
classifications. The classification framework will identify how the different
components are logically connected.
 Vedic and allied
literature (Sanatana
dharma)

Literature and other

Literary sources
dharmic traditions

Large repository of
IKS classification knowledge in other
languages and dialect

Informal non-literary Oral traditions found

sources througout country
Sanatana dharma- Core literature
◦Vast repository of knowledge starting with the Vedas, known as Sruti
◦Transmitted using oral methods later systematically documented in
written form
◦Foundational by Indian society and several important literary works
were developed later
◦E.g. six schools of philosophical thought known as darsanas developed
their basic assumptions from the Vedas while stating their
prescriptions
 IKS

Literary Non-literary

Sanatana Dharma Other Dharmic traditions Regional Oral traditions

Art forms
Buddhist Wealth of Religious and other Health
Core Other Literature in all major Indian
Jain Languages Food and Life practices
Folklore

Basic and applied sciences

Engineering, technology,
14 Vidyasthana architecture, alchemy
Works of several religious leaders Aesthetics, Kavyas, Arts
and philosophers
Health, Wellness, Psychology
Public Administration
 Sanatana dharma- Other literature
◦ Includes works that addressed key issues of day-to-day life such as health, wellness, science, engineering, technology that aided
societal progress and development, and aesthetics and art forms
◦ e.g. the work of astronomy of Aryabhata recognizes the ideas of what constitutes a year, and the notion of four yugas from the
Vedic corpus while proceeding with specific discussions on the mathematical aspects
◦ Several works were covered:
1. Basic and applied sciences (Mathematics, Astronomy, Plant Sciences)
2. Engineering and Technology (Metal working, Technology, Shipbuilding, Dams and watershed Management, Alchemy,
Cosmetics, Perfumes, Dyes, Town Planning and Architecture)
3. Health, Wellness and Psychology addressed the crucial issue that we face in contemporary society
4. Niti-sastras is a collection of literature that informs the society of the good code of living through poetic verses and stories. The
samanya-niti deals with elements of good living and the role of ethics and morality in life
5. Public administration deals with the idea of governance of state and public policy measures required for administration. Manu
smriti provides rich information on governance and administration. Arthasastra compiled during the 3 rd century BCE is a seminal
work and it triggered further works in the area
6. Aesthetics, Kavyas and Performing Arts is another area with rich contributions, the Sanskrit language is the vehicle thtough
which the entire knowledge corpus of Sanatana-dharama is presented
Other Dharmic Traditions
◦ Buddhist literature has dealt with the religious concepts in its canonical texts
◦ E.g. mathematical concepts, maritime activities and alchemy
◦ Jain sacred literature consists of canonical texts
◦ E.g. Mathematics as an integral part and have dedicated “Ganitanuyoga”

Regional Literature
◦ Separation of regional languages
◦ 22 languages in the country
◦ Religious, philosophical and other literature

Oral Traditions
◦ 64 Kalas
◦ Sanskrit language dominance
Caturdasa-Vidyasthana

Sama- Atharva-
Rgveda Yajurveda
veda veda
Siksa
Puranas Nyaya, Vaisesika,
,
Yoga, Samkhya
Vyakarana Itihasas

Nirukta
Dharma Purva-Mimamsa,
Chandas Sastra, Uttara-Mimamsa
Smrti

Jyotisa

Kalpa

Vedangas Darsanas
Vedas:
◦ Primodial source of knowledge (Sanatana dharma)
◦ Sruti- not authorised by anyone by heard by the seers of Vedic lore
◦ Mantras passed down- guru sisya
◦ Other sources – secondary to Vedas- purpose- expand the ideas that has practical applications and relevance
◦ Upavedas- associated with the Vedas- material being

Vedangas
◦ Complementary tools and skills- help to understand exact meaning and intent of what is presented in Vedas and
follow them- specific instructions provided

Dursanas
◦ Three forces- individual (jiva), the Universe (Jagat) and larger force governing the other two (Isvara, Brahman,
etc).
◦ Connection between these three becomes issue of philosophical thinking
◦ Darsana essentially means a philosophical thought or view
Puranas and Itihasas
◦ Puranas contain rich repository of ideas that seek to explain various aspects of the Vedic thoughts using detailed stories
and anecdotes
◦ Present socio-cultural ideas and practices for living
◦ Address common issues faced by mankind

Dharma sastras and Smritis

◦ Guide to lead a dharmic life based on the principles of the Veda
◦ Dharmic principles engrained in the Vedic corpus are presented in multiple formats in our knowledge traditions
◦ Smrtis are rule books with specific operating guidelines of how to put the dharmic principles into action and what are the
consequences of not doing so
◦ Itihasas demonstrate dharmic principles “in action” through case studies and real-life situations
◦ Niti-sastras and Subhasitas are pearls of wisdom articulated by learned people in the society, clearly showing the value of
adhering to the dharmic principles in life
 Historicity of IKS
Before 3000 BCE
◦ Main contributions include the Vedas, Puranas and the Itihasas

3000 BCE to 500 CE

◦ Significant contributions were made in the areas of Linguistics, Literature, Health and wellness, Mathematics
and code of living.
◦ An indication of the vibrancy of society and its receptiveness to new ideas and methods of improving the quality
of life

500 CE to 1800 CE
◦ Indians have made significant strides in the area of mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and spirituality
◦ Architecture and technology
Some Unique aspects of IKS
Nuances of an Oral Tradition
◦ Entire knowledge is to be transmitted orally and committed to one’s memory
◦ Concise and specific
◦ Nyaya- valid means of knowledge
◦ Puranas and Itihasas- encyclopaedia in nature

Religious vs Material Dimensions

Spiritual vs Material Dimensions