Literary Works of the Vedic Age

One of India's greatest epics tells the story of the battles fought by Aryan tribes to gain control of the Ganges Region. Parallel to that portion of the poem, the five Pandava brothers lose their kingdom, but eventually regain order and restore peace to India. Mahabharata contains philosophical matter and Indian religious beliefs.

Mahabharata

Ramayana

The other great epic of Hinduism, Ramayana, conveys the duties of relationships with an ideal father, wife, king, etc. It tells the story of Rama, representing Vishnu, whose wife, Sita, is kidnapped by the king of Ravan. Along the way, Rama discovers human values and the concept of dharma.