Making Sense of an Alien World Al-Biruni and the Sanskritic Tradition| Class 12 History

Al-Biruni came to India in 1017 AD. Despite the circumstances of his arrival, he developed a deep fascination with Indian culture. He also learned Sanskrit to better understand the Indian Culture and Religion.

He documented his observations in his magnum opus, “Kitab al-Hind” (Book of India). This book is a treasure of information on ancient India covering everything from mathematics and astronomy to religion, customs, and social structures.

In this article, You will get the Notes of Class 12 History Notes Chapter 5 Making Sense of an Alien World Al-Biruni and the Sanskritic Tradition.

Al-Biruni also known as also known as Abu al-Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni. He was a scholar and polymath from the Islamic Golden Age, born in 973 AD in what is now Uzbekistan. Al-Biruni spent considerable time studying India, its culture, religion, philosophy, and science.

• He documented his observations in his famous book, “Kitab al-Hind” (Book of India), which is considered a foundational work in the field of Indology, the study of Indian history and culture.

• He was deeply interested in understanding different religions and their practices. He studied and compared Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam making him a pioneer in the field of comparative religion.

• His detailed studies of cultures and societies led some to consider him an early and first anthropologist.

Al-Biruni described Sanskrit as If you want to conquer this difficulty to learn Sanskrit you will not find it easy because the language is of a large range both in words and inflections something like Arabic.

• India, with its unique culture, religion, and philosophy, presented a world different from Al-Biruni’s background.

• The Sanskritic tradition, with its ancient texts and complex concepts, becomes a significant barrier to understanding.

• Kitab al-Hind (Book written by Al-Biruni on Indian Culture): This magnum opus became a landmark work in the field of Indology. It documented Indian mathematics, astronomy, religion, philosophy, customs, and social structures.

Overcoming Barriers to Understanding

He discussed several “barriers” that he felt obstructed understanding. The first amongst these was language.

• The first barrier Al-Biruni faced was language. According to him, Sanskrit was so different from Arabic and Persian that ideas and concepts could not be easily translated from one language into another.

• The second barrier he identified was the difference in religious beliefs and practices.

• The self-absorption and consequent insularity of the local population according to him, constituted the third barrier. What is interesting is that even though he was aware of these problems.

• He depended almost on the works of Bramanas, often citing passages from the Vedas, the Puranas, the Bhagavad Gita, the works of Patanjali, the Manusmriti etc provide an understanding of Indian society.

• For him, Sanskrit was so different from Arabic and Persian that ideas and concepts could not be easily translated from one language into another.

Al-Biruni’s Description of the Caste System

Al-Biruni tried to explain the caste system by looking for parallels in other societies. He noted that in ancient Persia, four social categories were recognised first those of knights and princes second monks, fire-priests and lawyers third physicians, astronomers and other scientists and finally, peasants and artisans.

• In other words, he attempted to suggest that social divisions were not unique to India. At the same time, he pointed out that within Islam all men were considered equal, differing only in their observance of piety.

• He accepted the Brahmanical description of the caste system but disapproved of the notion of pollution.

• He remarked that everything that falls into a state of impurity strives and succeeds in regaining its original condition of purity.

• The conception of social pollution, intrinsic to the caste system, was according to him, contrary to the laws of nature.

• Al-Biruni’s description of the caste system was deeply influenced by his study of normative Sanskrit.

Al-Biruni’s description of the caste system was deeply influenced by his study of normative Sanskrit texts which laid down the rules governing the system from the point of view of the Brahmanas.

However, In real life, the system was not quite as rigid. For instance, the categories defined as antyaja (literally, born outside the system) were often expected to provide inexpensive labour to both peasants and zamindars.

In other words, while they were often subjected to social oppression, they were included within economic networks.

Al-Bir uni’s account of the system of varnas is as follows:

• The highest caste is the Brahmana, of whom the books of the Hindus tell us that they were created from the head of Brahman.

• The Brahman is only another name for the force called nature and the head is the highest part of the body and the Brahmana are the choice part of the whole genus.

• Therefore the Hindus consider them as the very best of mankind. The next caste is the Kshatriya, who were created as they say from the shoulders and hands of Brahman.

• Their degree is not much below that of the Brahmana. After them follow the Vaishya, who were created from the thigh of Brahman.

• The Shudra, who were created from his feet Between the latter two classes there is no very great distance.

• However, as these classes differ from each other, they live together in the same towns and villages, mixed in the same houses and lodgings.

God Knows Best: Travellers did not always believe what they were told. When faced with the story of a wooden idol that supposedly lasted for 216,432 years.

Al-Biruni asks: How, then, could wood have lasted such a length of time, and particularly in a place where the air and the soil are rather wet? God knows best!

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In which century did Al-Biruni visit India?

Al-Biruni visited India in 11th Century.He was a scholar and polymath from the Islamic Golden Age, born in 973 AD in what is now Uzbekistan. Al-Biruni spent considerable time studying India, its culture, religion, philosophy and science.

Who was Al-Biruni?

Al-Biruni was a traveller from Central Asia, who reached India.He also known as also known as Abu al-Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni. He was a scholar and polymath from the Islamic Golden Age, born in 973 AD in what is now Uzbekistan.

What is the through the eyes of travellers about?

It is a voluminous text, divided into 80 chapters on subjects such as religion and philosophy, festivals, astronomy, alchemy, manners and customs, social life, weights and measures, iconography, laws and metrology.

How did Al-Biruni reach Chazni?

Al-Biruni lived in Khwarizm in present-day Uzbekistan. Ghazni’s Sultan Mahmud attacked Khwarizm in 1017 C.E. and took back many poets and scholars to Ghazni. Al-Biruni was one of them.

What was Al-Biruni called?

He has been called variously the “founder of Indology”, “Father of Comparative Religion”, “Father of modern geodesy”, and the first anthropologist. Al-Biruni was well versed in physics, mathematics, astronomy, and natural sciences, and also distinguished himself as a historian, chronologist, and linguist.