Notes and Study material for Exams
The Rig Veda: A Tapestry of Ancient Indian Thought and Culture The Rig Veda, the oldest surviving collection of Indo-Aryan hymns, stands as a cornerstone of Indian civilization. Composed over a period of centuries, likely between 1500 and 1200 BCE, it offers a glimpse into the beliefs, rituals, and social structures of a vibrant and … Read more
The Samkhya School: A Journey into the Realm of Dualism and Liberation The Samkhya school, one of the six orthodox (Ästika) schools of Hindu philosophy, stands as a testament to the ancient Indian quest for understanding the nature of reality and the path to liberation. Unlike other schools that emphasize the importance of a personal … Read more
The Chandela Dynasty: Architects of a Golden Age in Central India The Chandela dynasty, a powerful Rajput clan, ruled over a vast swathe of central India for over four centuries, leaving behind a legacy of architectural marvels, artistic brilliance, and a flourishing cultural landscape. Their reign, spanning from the 9th to the 13th centuries, witnessed … Read more
Vijayanagara empire and their contribution to art, literature and culture – socio-economic conditions, administration, fall of Vijayanagar empire The Vijayanagara Empire, an important South Indian empire was founded by Harihara Raya I and his brother Bukka Raya I. The capital of the empire was Vijayanagara, present days Hampi in Karnataka. The empire ruled from 1336 … Read more
Yoga-philosophy/”>Yoga Philosophy (Yog Darshan), Astang Yoga Yoga An AYUSH system of medicine includes Indian systems of medicine and Homeopathy. AYUSH is an acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy. Yoga is essentially spiritual and it is an art and science of healthy living which focuses on bringing harmony between … Read more
Puranas Divided into sarga, pratisarga, manvantantar, vamsa (genealogical list of kings) & vamsanucharita. 18 main puranas & 18 subsidiary puranas. Vedas Meaning “knowledge”. Rigveda (hymns), Yajurveda (sacrificial formulae), Atharvaveda (magical charms & spell), Samveda. Vedas are called aparusheya (not created by man) & nity Upanishads About 200 in number. Deal with philosophy. Oldest & … Read more
The Bhakti Movement in Indian history represents a movement that popularized devotional surrender to a personally conceived supreme God. Its origins are traced to the Brahamanical and Buddhist traditions of ancient India. It was in south India that it grew from a religious tradition into a popular movement based on religious Equality and broad based … Read more
Jainism Originated in India thousands of years ago and is thought to have heavily influenced the two other main belief systems of the region at that time: Buddhism. The religion centres on the progress of one’s soul towards a divine consciousness through self-reformation, wisdom and self-control and pacifism towards all living creatures. There are two … Read more
Beyond the Mainstream: Exploring the Heterodox Schools of Economics The world of economics is often portrayed as a monolithic entity, dominated by a single, dominant school of thought. This perception, however, fails to capture the rich diversity of perspectives and approaches that exist within the field. While mainstream economics, primarily neoclassical in nature, holds significant … Read more
Satvahanas After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, the history of the Andhras, as a continuous account of political and cultural events, commences with the rise of the Satavahanas as a political power. According to Matsya Purana there were 29 rulers of this dynasty. They ruled over the Andhradesa including Deccan for about 400 years … Read more