Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c10.133

c10.133

Taking next brahmanical tradition and considering those tales only that profess to have a historical basis, three groups may be distinguished:—(1) those that extol rishis and brahmans, (2) those that advocate or describe the merits of tīrthas, and (3) those that commend religious doctrines, rites and observances. Such tales too often indulge in marvels or impossibilities, and it is not always easy to divide the quasi-historical tales from fables that are mythological, for the former have a tendency to treat their subject-matter in a mythological way or to introduce mythology. With this qualification some instances of the three groups may be given.