INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM QUESTION

BANK SOLUTION
SHORT QUESTIONS
1. WHAT IS INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM? INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM (IKS) REFERS TO THE RICH AND
DIVERSE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF INDIA, ENCOMPASSING VARIOUS FIELDS SUCH AS PHILOSOPHY,
SCIENCE, ARTS, LITERATURE, AND SPIRITUALITY. IT INCLUDES ANCIENT TEXTS, PRACTICES, AND WISDOM
THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS.

2. WHAT IS NITI-SASTRAS? NITI-SASTRAS ARE ANCIENT INDIAN TEXTS THAT PROVIDE GUIDELINES ON
ETHICAL AND MORAL CONDUCT, GOVERNANCE, AND PROPER BEHAVIOR. THEY INCLUDE TEACHINGS ON
STATECRAFT, DIPLOMACY, AND PERSONAL ETHICS.

3. WHAT IS CHATURDASA-VIDYASTHANA? CHATURDASA-VIDYASTHANA REFERS TO THE FOURTEEN

BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE IN ANCIENT INDIA. THESE INCLUDE THE FOUR VEDAS, SIX VEDANGAS,
MIMAMSA, NYAYA, PURANAS, AND DHARMA-SHASTRA.
4. WHAT IS VEDANGAS? VEDANGAS ARE SIX AUXILIARY DISCIPLINES THAT SUPPORT THE UNDERSTANDING
AND INTERPRETATION OF THE VEDAS. THEY INCLUDE SIKSA (PHONETICS), VYAKARANA (GRAMMAR),
NIRUKTA (ETYMOLOGY), CHANDAS (PROSODY), JYOTISA (ASTRONOMY), AND KALPA (RITUALS).
5. WHAT IS PURANAS? PURANAS ARE ANCIENT INDIAN TEXTS THAT NARRATE THE HISTORY OF THE
UNIVERSE, MYTHOLOGICAL STORIES, TRADITIONS, AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES. THEY ARE A VITAL PART OF
HINDU LITERATURE AND INCLUDE WORKS LIKE THE VISHNU PURANA AND THE BHAGAVATA PURANA.
6. WHAT IS PRAKRITI? PRAKRITI, IN INDIAN PHILOSOPHY, REFERS TO THE FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OR
NATURAL STATE OF MATTER AND THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE. IT IS OFTEN CONTRASTED WITH PURUSHA, THE
CONSCIOUSNESS OR SPIRIT.

7. WHAT ARE THE 5 ACTIVITIES PRACTICED IN YAMA? THE FIVE ACTIVITIES PRACTICED IN YAMA ARE:
o AHIMSA: NON-VIOLENCE
o SATYA: TRUTHFULNESS
o ASTEYA: NON-STEALING
o BRAHMACHARYA: CELIBACY OR SELF-RESTRAINT
o APARIGRAHA: NON-POSSESSIVENESS OR NON-GREED
8. WHAT ARE THE 5 ACTIVITIES PRACTICED IN NIYAMA? THE FIVE ACTIVITIES PRACTICED IN NIYAMA ARE:
o SAUCHA: PURITY
o SANTOSHA: CONTENTMENT
o TAPAS: AUSTERITY OR DISCIPLINE
 o SVADHYAYA: SELF-STUDY OR STUDY OF SCRIPTURES
o ISHVARA PRANIDHANA: SURRENDER TO A HIGHER POWER OR GOD
9. HISTORICITY OF IKS IS DIVIDED INTO HOW MANY TIME PERIODS? LIST DOWN THE TIME PERIODS. THE
HISTORICITY OF IKS IS TYPICALLY DIVIDED INTO FOUR MAIN TIME PERIODS:

o VEDIC PERIOD: 1500 BCE TO 600 BCE

o EPIC AND PURANIC PERIOD: 600 BCE TO 200 CE
o CLASSICAL PERIOD: 200 CE TO 1200 CE
o MEDIEVAL AND MODERN PERIOD: 1200 CE ONWARDS
10. SINGLE WORK OF IKS CAN PROVIDE IDEAS ON WHICH STREAMS? A SINGLE WORK OF IKS CAN PROVIDE
IDEAS ON MULTIPLE STREAMS SUCH AS PHILOSOPHY, SCIENCE, ARTS, LITERATURE, MEDICINE, AND
SPIRITUALITY.

11. WHAT ARE SMRITIS? SMRITIS ARE A BODY OF HINDU TEXTS THAT SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR LAW, ETHICS,
AND SOCIAL CONDUCT. THEY INCLUDE SCRIPTURES LIKE MANUSMRITI AND YAJNAVALKYA SMRITI.

12. WHAT IS VEDA? VEDA REFERS TO A LARGE BODY OF RELIGIOUS TEXTS ORIGINATING IN ANCIENT INDIA.
THEY ARE CONSIDERED THE OLDEST AND MOST AUTHORITATIVE SCRIPTURES OF HINDUISM, CONTAINING
HYMNS, PRAYERS, AND RITUALS.

13. NAME ANY ONE VEDA. ONE OF THE VEDAS IS THE RIGVEDA.
14. HOW MANY VEDAS ARE THERE? LIST ALL THE VEDAS. THERE ARE FOUR VEDAS:
o RIGVEDA
o SAMAVEDA
o YAJURVEDA
o ATHARVAVEDA
15. WHY IS VEDA KNOWN AS “APAURUSEYA”? THE VEDA IS KNOWN AS "APAURUSEYA" BECAUSE IT IS
BELIEVED TO BE OF DIVINE ORIGIN, NOT CREATED BY ANY HUMAN. IT MEANS "NOT OF A MAN" OR
"SUPERHUMAN."
16. WHAT IS SIKSA? SIKSA IS ONE OF THE SIX VEDANGAS, DEALING WITH PHONETICS AND PRONUNCIATION.
IT FOCUSES ON THE CORRECT ARTICULATION OF VEDIC HYMNS AND MANTRAS.
17. WHAT IS KARMA KANDA? KARMA KANDA REFERS TO THE PORTION OF THE VEDAS THAT DEALS WITH
RITUALS, CEREMONIES, AND DUTIES. IT ENCOMPASSES THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF RELIGIOUS
OBSERVANCES.

18. WHAT IS UPASANA KANDA? UPASANA KANDA IS THE SECTION OF THE VEDAS THAT FOCUSES ON
WORSHIP AND MEDITATION. IT INCLUDES PRACTICES THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS CONNECT WITH THE DIVINE.
19. WHAT IS JNANA KANDA? JNANA KANDA IS THE PART OF THE VEDAS THAT DEALS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND
PHILOSOPHY. IT INCLUDES THE UPANISHADS, WHICH EXPLORE METAPHYSICAL QUESTIONS AND THE
NATURE OF REALITY.

20. WHAT IS TRAYI VIDYA? TRAYI VIDYA REFERS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE THREE VEDAS: RIGVEDA,
SAMAVEDA, AND YAJURVEDA. IT IS CONSIDERED THE CORE OF VEDIC WISDOM.
21. WHAT ARE THE DIVISIONS OF VEDA? THE DIVISIONS OF THE VEDA ARE:
o SAMHITAS: COLLECTIONS OF HYMNS AND PRAYERS
o BRAHMANAS: TEXTS EXPLAINING THE RITUALS
o ARANYAKAS: MEDITATIVE AND PHILOSOPHICAL TEXTS
o UPANISHADS: PHILOSOPHICAL AND METAPHYSICAL DISCOURSES
22. NAME ANY ONE VEDANGA. ONE OF THE VEDANGAS IS VYAKARANA (GRAMMAR).
23. WHAT IS VYAKARANA? VYAKARANA IS THE VEDANGA THAT DEALS WITH GRAMMAR AND LINGUISTIC
ANALYSIS. IT ENSURES THE CORRECT USAGE AND INTERPRETATION OF THE VEDIC TEXTS.

24. WHAT IS NIRUKTA? NIRUKTA IS THE VEDANGA THAT FOCUSES ON ETYMOLOGY AND THE INTERPRETATION
OF DIFFICULT VEDIC WORDS. IT EXPLAINS THE MEANINGS AND ORIGINS OF WORDS USED IN THE VEDAS.

25. WHAT IS KALPA? KALPA IS THE VEDANGA THAT DEALS WITH RITUALS AND CEREMONIES. IT PROVIDES
GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING VARIOUS VEDIC RITUALS AND SACRIFICES.

26. WHAT IS JYOTISA? JYOTISA IS THE VEDANGA THAT INVOLVES ASTRONOMY AND ASTROLOGY. IT IS USED
TO DETERMINE AUSPICIOUS TIMES FOR PERFORMING VEDIC RITUALS.

27. WHAT IS CHANDAS OR “METRE”? CHANDAS, OR METRE, IS THE VEDANGA THAT DEALS WITH THE POETIC
METER AND STRUCTURE OF VEDIC HYMNS. IT ENSURES THE RHYTHMIC AND MELODIC QUALITY OF THE
VERSES.

28. LIST DOWN THE VEDIC SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM. THE VEDIC SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHICAL
SYSTEM ARE:
o NYAYA
o VAISHESHIKA
o SAMKHYA
o YOGA
o MIMAMSA
o VEDANTA
29. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM “PURUSA AND PRAKRTI”? IN SAMKHYA PHILOSOPHY,
"PURUSA" REFERS TO THE CONSCIOUS SPIRIT OR SELF, WHILE "PRAKRTI" REPRESENTS THE MATERIAL
WORLD OR NATURE. PURUSA IS ETERNAL AND UNCHANGING, WHEREAS PRAKRTI IS DYNAMIC AND
SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
30. LIST DOWN THE NON-VEDIC SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM. THE NON-VEDIC SCHOOLS OF
PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM ARE:
o BUDDHISM
o JAINISM
o CHARVAKA
o AJIVIKA
31. NAME ANY ONE VEDIC SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM. ONE VEDIC SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHICAL
SYSTEM IS VEDANTA.
32. NAME ANY ONE NON-VEDIC SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM. ONE NON-VEDIC SCHOOL OF
PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM IS BUDDHISM.
33. LIST DOWN THE VEDAS.
o RIGVEDA
o SAMAVEDA
o YAJURVEDA
o ATHARVAVEDA
34. NAME ANY ONE VEDANGA. ONE OF THE VEDANGAS IS CHANDAS (PROSODY).
35. HOW MANY VEDAS ARE THERE? THERE ARE FOUR VEDAS.
36. WHAT IS PRAMANA? PRAMANA REFERS TO THE MEANS OF OBTAINING VALID KNOWLEDGE OR THE
SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE IN INDIAN PHILOSOPHY. THERE ARE VARIOUS TYPES OF PRAMANAS, SUCH AS
PERCEPTION (PRATYAKSHA), INFERENCE (ANUMANA), AND TESTIMONY (SHABDA).

37. WHAT IS ATMAN? ATMAN, IN INDIAN PHILOSOPHY, REFERS TO THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL OR SELF. IT IS
CONSIDERED ETERNAL, UNCHANGING, AND THE TRUE ESSENCE OF AN INDIVIDUAL, DISTINCT FROM THE
PHYSICAL BODY AND MIND.

38. WHICH ARE THE MULTIPLE ROLES FOR SOCIETY THAT ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE SERVES? ANCIENT
KNOWLEDGE SERVES MULTIPLE ROLES FOR SOCIETY, INCLUDING:

o EDUCATIONAL: PROVIDES FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM.

o CULTURAL: PRESERVES TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS, AND HERITAGE.
o SPIRITUAL: OFFERS INSIGHTS INTO METAPHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL MATTERS.
o PRACTICAL: GUIDES DAILY LIFE, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING.
o PHILOSOPHICAL: ENCOURAGES CRITICAL THINKING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE.
39. WHICH ARE THE 3 SCHOOLS OF VEDANTA?
THE THREE MAIN SCHOOLS OF VEDANTA ARE:
 1. ADVAITA VEDANTA: FOUNDED BY ADI SHANKARACHARYA, THIS SCHOOL TEACHES NON-DUALISM, THE
BELIEF THAT THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL (ATMAN) AND THE ULTIMATE REALITY (BRAHMAN) ARE IDENTICAL. IT
EMPHASIZES THE IDEA THAT THE APPARENT MULTIPLICITY IN THE WORLD IS AN ILLUSION (MAYA), AND
TRUE KNOWLEDGE REVEALS THE UNITY OF ALL EXISTENCE.

2. VISHISHTADVAITA VEDANTA: PROPOUNDED BY RAMANUJACHARYA, THIS SCHOOL IS KNOWN AS

QUALIFIED NON-DUALISM. IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE ONENESS OF BRAHMAN BUT ALSO RECOGNIZES THE
INDIVIDUAL SOUL AND THE MATERIAL WORLD AS REAL AND DISTINCT YET DEPENDENT ON BRAHMAN. IT
EMPHASIZES DEVOTION (BHAKTI) TO GOD, PARTICULARLY VISHNU.

3. DVAITA VEDANTA: FOUNDED BY MADHVACHARYA, THIS SCHOOL TEACHES DUALISM, THE BELIEF IN A
FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL (ATMAN) AND THE SUPREME REALITY
(BRAHMAN). ACCORDING TO DVAITA, GOD, SOULS, AND THE MATERIAL WORLD ARE ALL DISTINCT
ENTITIES, AND DEVOTION TO GOD LEADS TO LIBERATION.

LONG QUESTIONS :-
UNIT - 1

1. IMPORTANCE OF IKS
THE INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM (IKS) HOLDS IMMENSE IMPORTANCE FOR SEVERAL REASONS:
• CULTURAL HERITAGE: IKS PRESERVES AND PROMOTES INDIA'S RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE, TRADITIONS,
AND ANCIENT WISDOM.

• HOLISTIC APPROACH: IT OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE, INTEGRATING SCIENCE,

PHILOSOPHY, SPIRITUALITY, AND ETHICS.

• SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES: IKS INCLUDES SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN AGRICULTURE, MEDICINE, AND

ARCHITECTURE, WHICH ARE HIGHLY RELEVANT IN TODAY'S CONTEXT.

• INNOVATION AND EDUCATION: IT PROVIDES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND METHODOLOGIES THAT CAN
ENHANCE MODERN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH.

• GLOBAL INFLUENCE: THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF IKS HAVE A GLOBAL APPEAL AND INFLUENCE,
CONTRIBUTING TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF UNIVERSAL VALUES AND HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS .

2. CLASSIFICATION FRAMEWORK OF IKS

THE INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM CAN BE CLASSIFIED INTO SEVERAL FRAMEWORKS, INCLUDING:
• VEDAS: THE FOUNDATIONAL TEXTS ENCOMPASSING HYMNS, RITUALS, AND SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.
• VEDANGAS: SIX AUXILIARY DISCIPLINES THAT AID IN THE INTERPRETATION OF VEDAS.
• DARSANAS: PHILOSOPHICAL SCHOOLS, BOTH VEDIC (E.G., VEDANTA, YOGA) AND NON-VEDIC (E.G.,
BUDDHISM, JAINISM).
• SMRITIS: TEXTS PROVIDING SOCIAL, LEGAL, AND ETHICAL GUIDELINES.
 • PURANAS: MYTHOLOGICAL TEXTS NARRATING THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE AND TRADITIONS.
• ITIHASAS: EPIC LITERATURE LIKE THE RAMAYANA AND MAHABHARATA.
• SASTRA: TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC TREATISES COVERING VARIOUS DISCIPLINES SUCH AS AYURVEDA,
ARCHITECTURE (VASTU SHASTRA), AND MUSIC (SANGEET SHASTRA).

3. DEFINE IKS
INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM (IKS) REFERS TO THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPED AND PASSED DOWN
THROUGH GENERATIONS IN INDIA. IT ENCOMPASSES VARIOUS FIELDS SUCH AS SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY, ART,
LITERATURE, AND SPIRITUALITY, AND INCLUDES ANCIENT TEXTS, PRACTICES, AND WISDOM. IKS INTEGRATES
HOLISTIC AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES, REFLECTING THE CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL HERITAGE OF INDIA.

4. HISTORICITY OF IKS
THE HISTORICITY OF THE INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM CAN BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR MAIN TIME PERIODS:
• VEDIC PERIOD (1500 BCE TO 600 BCE): CHARACTERIZED BY THE COMPOSITION OF THE VEDAS AND
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE.

• EPIC AND PURANIC PERIOD (600 BCE TO 200 CE): MARKED BY THE CREATION OF THE EPICS
(RAMAYANA AND MAHABHARATA) AND PURANAS, WHICH ENRICHED CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL
NARRATIVES.

• CLASSICAL PERIOD (200 CE TO 1200 CE): A PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANT PHILOSOPHICAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND
ARTISTIC ADVANCEMENTS. KEY TEXTS IN AYURVEDA, MATHEMATICS, AND ASTRONOMY WERE
COMPOSED.

• MEDIEVAL AND MODERN PERIOD (1200 CE ONWARDS): CONTINUATION AND ADAPTATION OF

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE FACE OF CHANGING POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPES.

5. UNIQUE ASPECTS OF IKS

• INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH: IKS INTEGRATES MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES, PROVIDING A HOLISTIC
PERSPECTIVE ON KNOWLEDGE.

• SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL DIMENSIONS: IT EMPHASIZES THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF PHYSICAL,

MENTAL, AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING.

• SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES: TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS INCLUDE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL,

MEDICINAL, AND ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICES.

• UNIVERSAL APPEAL: THE PRINCIPLES OF IKS HAVE A GLOBAL RELEVANCE AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
UNIVERSAL VALUES AND PRACTICES.

• CONTINUITY AND ADAPTATION: IKS HAS SHOWN RESILIENCE AND ADAPTABILITY, PRESERVING ANCIENT
WISDOM WHILE EVOLVING WITH MODERN CONTEXTS.

6. IMPORTANCE OF ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE

• CULTURAL CONTINUITY: ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE PRESERVES THE CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL HERITAGE
OF CIVILIZATIONS, PROVIDING A SENSE OF IDENTITY AND CONTINUITY.
 • FOUNDATION FOR MODERN SCIENCES: MANY MODERN SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES HAVE ROOTS IN ANCIENT
KNOWLEDGE, CONTRIBUTING TO ADVANCEMENTS IN VARIOUS FIELDS.

• HOLISTIC HEALTH PRACTICES: ANCIENT MEDICINAL SYSTEMS LIKE AYURVEDA AND TRADITIONAL
CHINESE MEDICINE OFFER HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
• SUSTAINABLE LIVING: ANCIENT PRACTICES OFTEN EMPHASIZE SUSTAINABILITY AND HARMONY WITH
NATURE, PROVIDING VALUABLE LESSONS FOR CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES .

• PHILOSOPHICAL INSIGHTS: ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS OFFER PROFOUND PHILOSOPHICAL INSIGHTS

INTO THE NATURE OF EXISTENCE, ETHICS, AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR, ENRICHING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF
LIFE.

UNIT – 2

1. EXPLAIN 4 VEDAS
THE FOUR VEDAS ARE THE FOUNDATIONAL TEXTS OF HINDUISM, COMPOSED IN ANCIENT SANSKRIT. THEY FORM
THE BEDROCK OF VEDIC LITERATURE AND ARE REVERED AS THE OLDEST SCRIPTURES OF HINDU PHILOSOPHY,
RITUALS, AND MYTHOLOGY.

• RIGVEDA: THE OLDEST OF THE FOUR, RIGVEDA CONSISTS OF HYMNS DEDICATED TO VARIOUS DEITIES. IT
IS DIVIDED INTO TEN BOOKS CALLED MANDALAS AND CONTAINS PRAISES AND RITUALS FOR SACRIFICES.

• SAMAVEDA: KNOWN FOR ITS MUSICAL ASPECT, SAMAVEDA IS A COLLECTION OF MELODIES AND CHANTS
USED IN SACRIFICIAL RITES. IT SERVES AS A LITURGICAL TEXT FOR PRIESTS.

• YAJURVEDA: THIS VEDA FOCUSES ON THE PROCEDURES FOR RITUALS AND SACRIFICES. IT INCLUDES
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AND MANTRAS FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF YAJNAS (SACRIFICIAL CEREMONIES).

• ATHARVAVEDA: ATHARVAVEDA CONTAINS HYMNS, SPELLS, AND INCANTATIONS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE. IT
COVERS TOPICS LIKE HEALING, PROTECTION, AND DOMESTIC RITUALS.

2. VEDANGAS - SIKSA, VYAKARANA, NIRUKTA, CHANDAS, KALPA, JYOTISA

• SIKSA: CONCERNED WITH PHONETICS AND PRONUNCIATION, SIKSA ENSURES THE CORRECT
ARTICULATION OF VEDIC HYMNS AND MANTRAS.

• VYAKARANA: THE STUDY OF GRAMMAR AND LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS. PANINI’S ASHTADHYAYI IS A SEMINAL
TEXT IN VYAKARANA.

• NIRUKTA: FOCUSES ON ETYMOLOGY AND INTERPRETATION OF VEDIC WORDS. IT PROVIDES

EXPLANATIONS FOR DIFFICULT VEDIC TERMS.

• CHANDAS: THE STUDY OF METER AND POETIC STRUCTURE. IT ENSURES THE RHYTHMIC AND MELODIC
QUALITY OF VEDIC VERSES.

• KALPA: DEALS WITH RITUALS AND CEREMONIES. IT PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR PERFORMING VEDIC
RITUALS.

• JYOTISA: INVOLVES ASTRONOMY AND ASTROLOGY. IT DETERMINES AUSPICIOUS TIMES FOR VEDIC
RITUALS.
3. SUBCLASSIFICATION OF VEDAS OR 4 DIVISIONS OF EACH VEDA
EACH VEDA IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR PARTS, CATERING TO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF VEDIC KNOWLEDGE:
• SAMHITAS: COLLECTIONS OF HYMNS AND MANTRAS USED IN RITUALS.
• BRAHMANAS: PROSE TEXTS THAT EXPLAIN THE RITUALS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.
• ARANYAKAS: TRANSITIONAL TEXTS THAT BRIDGE THE RITUALISTIC BRAHMANAS AND PHILOSOPHICAL
UPANISHADS. THEY ARE MEANT FOR FOREST DWELLERS.
• UPANISHADS: PHILOSOPHICAL TEXTS THAT EXPLORE METAPHYSICAL CONCEPTS AND THE NATURE OF
REALITY. THEY FORM THE BASIS OF VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY.

4. WHAT IS VEDANGAS? EXPLAIN ANY TWO VEDANGAS

VEDANGAS ARE SIX AUXILIARY DISCIPLINES THAT AID IN THE UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETATION OF THE
VEDAS. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE PROPER RECITATION AND COMPREHENSION OF VEDIC TEXTS.
• SIKSA: FOCUSES ON PHONETICS AND PRONUNCIATION. IT ENSURES THE CORRECT ARTICULATION OF
VEDIC HYMNS, PRESERVING THEIR SOUND QUALITY AND MEANING.
• VYAKARANA: THE STUDY OF GRAMMAR. IT PROVIDES THE RULES AND STRUCTURES FOR CONSTRUCTING
SENTENCES, CRUCIAL FOR MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY AND CLARITY OF VEDIC TEXTS.

5. INTRODUCTION TO VEDAS
THE VEDAS ARE THE OLDEST AND MOST AUTHORITATIVE SCRIPTURES OF HINDUISM. COMPOSED IN ANCIENT
SANSKRIT, THEY ARE DIVIDED INTO FOUR MAIN TEXTS: RIGVEDA, SAMAVEDA, YAJURVEDA, AND ATHARVAVEDA.
EACH VEDA COMPRISES FOUR PARTS: SAMHITAS, BRAHMANAS, ARANYAKAS, AND UPANISHADS, COVERING
HYMNS, RITUALS, PHILOSOPHICAL DISCOURSES, AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR DAILY LIFE. THE VEDAS FORM THE CORE
OF VEDIC LITERATURE AND CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE HINDU RITUALS, PHILOSOPHY, AND CULTURE.

6. EXPLAIN ALL VEDANGAS

• SIKSA: PHONETICS AND PRONUNCIATION, CRUCIAL FOR CORRECT RECITATION OF VEDIC HYMNS.
• VYAKARANA: GRAMMAR, PROVIDES THE RULES FOR CONSTRUCTING VEDIC SENTENCES.
• NIRUKTA: ETYMOLOGY, EXPLAINS THE MEANINGS AND ORIGINS OF VEDIC WORDS.
• CHANDAS: PROSODY, ENSURES THE METER AND RHYTHM OF VEDIC VERSES.
• KALPA: RITUALS, OFFERS GUIDELINES FOR PERFORMING VEDIC CEREMONIES.
• JYOTISA: ASTRONOMY AND ASTROLOGY, DETERMINES AUSPICIOUS TIMES FOR RITUALS.
7. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF UPANISHAD? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF UPANISHAD?
UPANISHAD MEANS "SITTING DOWN NEAR" OR "SITTING CLOSE TO THE TEACHER." THE UPANISHADS ARE
PHILOSOPHICAL TEXTS THAT EXPLORE THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS OF EXISTENCE, REALITY, AND THE SELF. THEY
AIM TO IMPART SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM, FOCUSING ON CONCEPTS SUCH AS BRAHMAN (THE
ULTIMATE REALITY) AND ATMAN (THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL). THE PURPOSE OF THE UPANISHADS IS TO GUIDE
INDIVIDUALS TOWARDS SELF-REALIZATION AND LIBERATION (MOKSHA).
8. WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF VEDANGAS IN CONTEXT TO VEDIC REPOSITORY?
THE VEDANGAS ARE CRUCIAL FOR THE PRESERVATION, INTERPRETATION, AND PROPER RECITATION OF THE VEDAS.
THEY PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY AND UNDERSTANDING OF
VEDIC TEXTS. BY STUDYING THE VEDANGAS, SCHOLARS CAN ENSURE THAT THE VEDAS ARE TRANSMITTED
ACCURATELY AND COMPREHENDED DEEPLY, PRESERVING THEIR CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL HERITAGE.

UNIT – 3
1. JAINA SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY
THE JAINA SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY IS ROOTED IN THE TEACHINGS OF MAHAVIRA, THE 24TH TIRTHANKARA. IT
EMPHASIZES NON-VIOLENCE (AHIMSA), NON-POSSESSIVENESS (APARIGRAHA), AND TRUTH. JAIN PHILOSOPHY
DIVIDES THE UNIVERSE INTO LIVING (JIVA) AND NON-LIVING (AJIVA) ENTITIES AND BELIEVES IN THE CYCLE OF
BIRTH, DEATH, AND REBIRTH (SAMSARA), WHICH CAN BE TRANSCENDED THROUGH STRICT ETHICAL PRACTICES
AND SELF-DISCIPLINE, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO LIBERATION (MOKSHA).

2. BAUDDHA SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY

THE BAUDDHA OR BUDDHIST SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ON THE TEACHINGS OF GAUTAMA BUDDHA. IT
FOCUSES ON THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS AND THE EIGHTFOLD PATH AS THE MEANS TO OVERCOME SUFFERING
(DUKKHA). BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY EMPHASIZES IMPERMANENCE (ANICCA), THE NON-SELF (ANATTA), AND THE
CYCLE OF BIRTH, DEATH, AND REBIRTH (SAMSARA). ACHIEVING NIRVANA, A STATE OF LIBERATION FROM
SUFFERING, IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL.

3. STEPS OF ASTANGA YOGA

ASTANGA YOGA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE EIGHTFOLD PATH OF YOGA, IS OUTLINED BY PATANJALI IN THE YOGA
SUTRAS. THE EIGHT STEPS ARE:
1. YAMA: ETHICAL DISCIPLINES (E.G., NON-VIOLENCE, TRUTHFULNESS).
2. NIYAMA: PERSONAL OBSERVANCES (E.G., PURITY, CONTENTMENT).
3. ASANA: PHYSICAL POSTURES.
4. PRANAYAMA: BREATH CONTROL.
5. PRATYAHARA: WITHDRAWAL OF THE SENSES.
6. DHARANA: CONCENTRATION.
7. DHYANA: MEDITATION.
8. SAMADHI: STATE OF SUPERCONSCIOUSNESS OR ABSORPTION.
4. EXPLAIN JAINA SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY
THE JAINA SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY CENTERS AROUND THE TEACHINGS OF THE TIRTHANKARAS, WITH MAHAVIRA
BEING THE MOST PROMINENT. JAINISM IS CHARACTERIZED BY ITS STRICT ADHERENCE TO NON-VIOLENCE
(AHIMSA) AND ASCETIC PRACTICES. IT DIVIDES REALITY INTO LIVING (JIVA) AND NON-LIVING (AJIVA)
COMPONENTS AND VIEWS THE WORLD AS ETERNAL, WITHOUT A CREATOR GOD. KARMA IS SEEN AS A MATERIAL
SUBSTANCE THAT BINDS THE SOUL AND LEADS TO CYCLES OF REBIRTH. LIBERATION (MOKSHA) IS ACHIEVED
THROUGH RIGHT KNOWLEDGE, RIGHT FAITH, AND RIGHT CONDUCT, INCLUDING NON-VIOLENCE, TRUTH, AND
NON-ATTACHMENT.

5. EXPLAIN BAUDDHA SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY

THE BAUDDHA OR BUDDHIST SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY, FOUNDED BY GAUTAMA BUDDHA, REVOLVES AROUND
UNDERSTANDING AND OVERCOMING SUFFERING (DUKKHA). THE CORE TEACHINGS ARE THE FOUR NOBLE
TRUTHS:
1. THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING (DUKKHA).
2. THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING (TANHA OR CRAVING).
3. THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING (NIRODHA).
4. THE PATH LEADING TO THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING (MAGGA).
THE EIGHTFOLD PATH, WHICH INCLUDES RIGHT UNDERSTANDING, INTENTION, SPEECH, ACTION, LIVELIHOOD,
EFFORT, MINDFULNESS, AND CONCENTRATION, IS THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO ACHIEVING NIRVANA, THE STATE OF
LIBERATION FROM THE CYCLE OF BIRTH AND DEATH.

6. CHARVAK SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY

THE CHARVAK SCHOOL, ALSO KNOWN AS LOKAYATA, IS A MATERIALISTIC AND ATHEISTIC SCHOOL OF THOUGHT IN
ANCIENT INDIA. CHARVAKAS REJECT THE NOTION OF AN AFTERLIFE, KARMA, AND THE SOUL. THEY BELIEVE THAT
PERCEPTION IS THE ONLY VALID SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND THAT THE MATERIAL WORLD IS THE ONLY REALITY .
THIS SCHOOL EMPHASIZES LIVING A LIFE FOCUSED ON PLEASURE AND AVOIDANCE OF PAIN, ADVOCATING A
HEDONISTIC APPROACH TO LIFE.

7. STEPS OF ASTANGA YOGA

THE EIGHTFOLD PATH OF YOGA (ASTANGA YOGA) IS:
1. YAMA: ETHICAL DISCIPLINES SUCH AS NON-VIOLENCE (AHIMSA), TRUTHFULNESS (SATYA), NON-
STEALING (ASTEYA), CELIBACY OR SELF-RESTRAINT (BRAHMACHARYA), AND NON-POSSESSIVENESS
(APARIGRAHA).
2. NIYAMA: PERSONAL OBSERVANCES INCLUDING PURITY (SAUCHA), CONTENTMENT (SANTOSHA),
AUSTERITY (TAPAS), SELF-STUDY (SVADHYAYA), AND SURRENDER TO A HIGHER POWER (ISHVARA
PRANIDHANA).
3. ASANA: PHYSICAL POSTURES THAT PROMOTE PHYSICAL HEALTH AND STEADINESS.
4. PRANAYAMA: CONTROL OF BREATH TO REGULATE ENERGY FLOW.
5. PRATYAHARA: WITHDRAWAL OF THE SENSES FROM EXTERNAL OBJECTS.
6. DHARANA: CONCENTRATION OF THE MIND ON A SINGLE POINT.
7. DHYANA: SUSTAINED MEDITATION.
 8. SAMADHI: THE STATE OF DEEP ABSORPTION AND UNION WITH THE OBJECT OF MEDITATION.
8. NON-VEDIC SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY
NON-VEDIC SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY INCLUDE SYSTEMS OF THOUGHT THAT DO NOT BASE THEIR TEACHINGS ON
THE VEDAS. PROMINENT NON-VEDIC SCHOOLS ARE:

• BUDDHISM: FOUNDED BY GAUTAMA BUDDHA, FOCUSING ON THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS AND THE
EIGHTFOLD PATH TO ACHIEVE NIRVANA.
• JAINISM: FOUNDED BY MAHAVIRA, EMPHASIZING NON-VIOLENCE, TRUTH, AND ASCETIC PRACTICES FOR
LIBERATION.

• CHARVAKA: A MATERIALISTIC SCHOOL THAT DENIES THE AFTERLIFE AND FOCUSES ON SENSORY
PERCEPTION AS THE ONLY SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE.

9. VEDIC SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY - SAMKHYA, YOGA, NYAYA, VAISHESHIKA, PURVA MIMAMSA, AND VEDANTA
• SAMKHYA: DUALISTIC PHILOSOPHY DIVIDING REALITY INTO CONSCIOUSNESS (PURUSHA) AND MATTER
(PRAKRITI).
• YOGA: BASED ON PATANJALI’S YOGA SUTRAS, IT EMPHASIZES MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE TO
ATTAIN SPIRITUAL INSIGHT AND TRANQUILITY.

• NYAYA: FOCUSES ON LOGIC AND EPISTEMOLOGY, SEEKING VALID KNOWLEDGE (PRAMANA) THROUGH
LOGICAL REASONING AND DEBATE.

• VAISHESHIKA: ANALYZES REALITY BASED ON ATOMISM, CATEGORIZING ALL OBJECTS AND PHENOMENA
INTO A SET OF CATEGORIES (PADARTHAS).

• PURVA MIMAMSA: CONCENTRATES ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE VEDAS, ESPECIALLY THE

RITUALISTIC PORTIONS, TO UNDERSTAND DHARMA (DUTY AND ETHICS).

• VEDANTA: EXPLORES THE PHILOSOPHICAL TEACHINGS OF THE UPANISHADS, PARTICULARLY CONCERNING

THE NATURE OF REALITY, BRAHMAN, AND THE SELF (ATMAN).

10. DEVELOPMENT AND FEATURES OF INDIAN PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM

INDIAN PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS DEVELOPED THROUGH CONTINUOUS INQUIRY AND DEBATE, EVOLVING OVER
CENTURIES. KEY FEATURES INCLUDE:

• DIVERSE APPROACHES: INCORPORATING BOTH THEISTIC AND ATHEISTIC PERSPECTIVES.

• INTERCONNECTED DISCIPLINES: INTEGRATION OF PHILOSOPHY, SCIENCE, AND SPIRITUALITY.
• EMPHASIS ON ETHICS: FOCUS ON MORAL CONDUCT AND RIGHTEOUS LIVING.
• QUEST FOR LIBERATION: CENTRAL AIM OF ATTAINING MOKSHA OR NIRVANA.
• SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS: USE OF LOGICAL METHODS AND CATEGORIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE.
11. EXPLAIN ANY 2 VEDIC SCHOOLS
 • SAMKHYA: THIS DUALISTIC PHILOSOPHY POSITS TWO FUNDAMENTAL REALITIES: PURUSHA
(CONSCIOUSNESS) AND PRAKRITI (MATTER). SAMKHYA AIMS TO SEPARATE THE SELF (PURUSHA) FROM
MATERIAL NATURE (PRAKRITI) THROUGH KNOWLEDGE, LEADING TO LIBERATION.

• YOGA: COMPLEMENTARY TO SAMKHYA, YOGA, AS EXPOUNDED BY PATANJALI, FOCUSES ON PRACTICAL

TECHNIQUES FOR CONTROLLING THE MIND AND BODY. IT OUTLINES THE EIGHTFOLD PATH (ASTANGA
YOGA) TO ACHIEVE SPIRITUAL INSIGHT AND UNION WITH THE DIVINE.
12. EXPLAIN ANY 4 VEDIC SCHOOLS
• NYAYA: EMPHASIZES LOGICAL REASONING AND EPISTEMOLOGY. IT SEEKS TO ESTABLISH VALID
KNOWLEDGE (PRAMANA) THROUGH METHODS LIKE PERCEPTION, INFERENCE, COMPARISON, AND
TESTIMONY.

• VAISHESHIKA: PROPOSES ATOMISM, CATEGORIZING REALITY INTO SIX TYPES OF SUBSTANCES. IT PROVIDES
A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSICAL AND METAPHYSICAL WORLD THROUGH DISTINCT
CATEGORIES (PADARTHAS).

• PURVA MIMAMSA: FOCUSES ON THE RITUALISTIC ASPECTS OF THE VEDAS, AIMING TO INTERPRET AND
PRESERVE VEDIC RITUALS. IT EMPHASIZES DHARMA AND PROPER CONDUCT THROUGH RITUAL ACTIONS .

• VEDANTA: BUILDS ON THE UPANISHADS' TEACHINGS, PARTICULARLY CONCERNING THE NATURE OF

BRAHMAN (THE ULTIMATE REALITY) AND ATMAN (THE SELF). ADVAITA VEDANTA, FOR EXAMPLE, POSITS
NON-DUALISM, ASSERTING THE ONENESS OF ATMAN AND BRAHMAN.

13. EXPLAIN ANY 2 NON-VEDIC SCHOOLS

• BUDDHISM: FOUNDED BY GAUTAMA BUDDHA, BUDDHISM REJECTS THE AUTHORITY OF THE VEDAS AND
EMPHASIZES THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS AND THE EIGHTFOLD PATH TO OVERCOME SUFFERING AND
ACHIEVE NIRVANA.

• JAINISM: FOUNDED BY MAHAVIRA, JAINISM FOCUSES ON NON-VIOLENCE (AHIMSA), TRUTH, AND

ASCETICISM. IT TEACHES THE SEPARATION OF THE SOUL (JIVA) FROM MATERIAL BONDS (KARMA) TO
ACHIEVE LIBERATION (MOKSHA).