Greater Magadha: Studies in the Culture of Early India (Handbook of Oriental Studies: Section 2: India, 19)

Greater Magadha, roughly the eastern part of the Gangetic plain of northern India, has so far been looked upon as deeply indebted to Brahmanical culture. Religions such as Buddhism and Jainism are thought of as derived, in one way or another, from Vedic religion. This belief is defective in various respects. This book argues for the importance and independence of Greater Magadha as a cultural area until a date close to the beginning of the Common Era. In order to correct the incorrect notions, two types of questions are dealt with: questions pertaining to cultural and religious dependencies, and questions relating to chronology. As a result a modified picture arises that also has a bearing on the further development of Indian culture. Introduction : The Separate Culture Of Greater Magadha -- Pt. I. Cultural Features Of Greater Magadha -- Ch. I.1. The Fundamental Spiritual Ideology -- Ch. I.2. Other Features -- Pt. Ii. Brahmanism Vis-a-vis Rebirth And Karmic Retribution -- Iia. Rebirth And Karmic Retribution Hesitantly Accepted -- Ch. Iia.1. A Dharma Sutra -- Ch. Iia.2. A Portion From The Mahabharata -- Ch. Iia.3. The Early Upanisads -- Iib. Rebirth And Karmic Retribution Ignored Or Rejected -- Ch. Iib.1. Rebirth And Karmic Retribution Ignored -- Ch. Iib.2. Rebirth And Karmic Retribution Rejected -- Iic. Urban Brahmins -- Pt. Iii. Chronology -- Ch. Iii.0. Introduction -- Ch. Iii.1. Linguistic Considerations -- Ch. Iii.2. The Vedic Texts Known To The Early Sanskrit Grammarians -- Ch. Iii.3. The Vedic Texts Known To The Early Buddhists -- Ch. Iii.4. Some Indications In Late-vedic Literature -- Ch. Iii.5. Urban Versus Rural Culture -- Ch. Iii.6. Conclusions To Part Iii -- Pt. Iv. Conclusion -- Discworld Meets Roundworld -- Pt. V. Appendices -- App. I. The Antiquity Of The Vedanta Philosophy -- App. Ii. Carvaka In The Mahabharata -- App. Iii. Vedic Texts Known To Panini -- App. Iv. The Form Of The Rgveda Known To Panini -- App. V. Vedic Texts Known To Patanjali -- App. Vi. Brahmins In The Buddhist Canon -- App. Vii. Brahmanism In Gandhara And Surrounding Areas -- App. Viii. Carvakas And The Sabarabhasya. By Johannes Bronkhorst. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [367]-400) And Index. Gangetic plain of northern India, has so far has been looked upon as deeply indebted to Brahmanical culture. Religions such as Buddhism and Jainism are thought of as derived, in one way or another, from Vedic religion. This belief is defective in various respects. This book overturns traditional ideas about the cultural history of India Through a detailed analysis of the available cultural and chronological data, this book overturns traditional ideas about the cultural history of India and proposes a different picture instead. The idea of a unilinear development out of Brahmanism, in particular, is challenged.