Vedic literature is full of stories informing us how rishis discovered and used the mantra to solve problems. These stories were called the itihasa, as they are reported by those who witnessed the events, as against puranas, which are simply old stories transmitted, not witnessed. These itihasas are found in the collection known as Brihad-devata, older than the Ramayana and Mahabharata. These are perhaps the earliest memories of India.    

In later times, we find Puranic literature and regional ballads, which maintains a record of the past. They classify kings either as descending from the sun (surya-vansha) or the moon (soma-vansha). For example, Rajputs even today claim descent from the sun, while the mediaeval Hindu kings such as Yadavas and Hoysalas saw themselves as descending from the moon. The connection would legitimise their claim to the throne. The idea of history, thus, becomes important as it justified a claim to power or property.