Historical literature
(a) The Puranas and the Epics
The peerless treasures of Indian literature are indispensable sources for the study of ancient India. The Epic and Puranic literature enshrine numerous recollections of the primeval age. Buddhist and Jaina works have kept most precious traditions of the early generations of the Indian life. Ancient Tamil and Kannada literatures the reveal the past lore of the Dravidian race and disclose many legends and stories of most valuable significance. Vedic literature in general, with its wealth of high philosophy and ascetical ideas, is the channel through which the ancient ideas of those early men have come down to us.