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Chapter 7 of the Class 6 Social Science revision notes discusses India's ancient cultural roots, highlighting the significance of the Vedas, Vedic society, and various schools of thought such as Buddhism and Jainism. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of these traditions and their impact on India's cultural identity, including folk and tribal traditions that have evolved alongside major philosophical movements. The document illustrates how these diverse elements contribute to a cohesive yet varied cultural heritage.

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Satish KumarTripathi
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19 views

cbse-class-6-social-science-history-chapter-7-notes

Chapter 7 of the Class 6 Social Science revision notes discusses India's ancient cultural roots, highlighting the significance of the Vedas, Vedic society, and various schools of thought such as Buddhism and Jainism. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of these traditions and their impact on India's cultural identity, including folk and tribal traditions that have evolved alongside major philosophical movements. The document illustrates how these diverse elements contribute to a cohesive yet varied cultural heritage.

Uploaded by

Satish KumarTripathi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Revision Notes for Class 6 Social Science

Chapter 7 – India's Cultural Roots

Indian culture is ancient, with roots and branches spreading across millennia. Its core
includes various aspects like art, literature, science, religion, and governance. These branches
are unified by a common trunk, reflecting a diverse yet cohesive cultural heritage. Some
roots trace back to the Indus Valley Civilization, and many schools of thought have shaped
India’s unique identity. Understanding these early schools helps us better appreciate the
essence of India.

The Vedas and Vedic Culture


a. What are the Vedas?
The word "Veda" comes from the Sanskrit word for "knowledge" (vid). There are four
Vedas: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sāma Veda, and Atharva Veda. These ancient texts, some of
the oldest in the world, consist of hymns and prayers originally recited orally. The Ṛig Veda,
the oldest, was composed between the 5th and 2nd millennium BCE and has been passed
down orally for over 100 generations with little change.
● Vedic hymns were composed of rishis (male sages) and rishikas (female sages) in
early Sanskrit.
● These hymns, written in poetic form, addressed various deities like Indra and
Sarasvati and were believed to uphold truth and order in both human life and the
cosmos.
● The rishis and rishikas viewed these deities as aspects of a single divine reality.
● The Ṛig Veda emphasises key values such as truth and unity among people.

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b. Vedic society

Early Vedic society was organized into different clans, or "janas," such as the Bharatas,
Purus, and Kurus, each linked to a specific region in northwest India. The Vedas mention
terms like raja (king), sabha, and samiti for governance and gatherings but provide limited
details on their exact structure. The texts also list various professions including agriculturist,
weaver, potter, and priest.

c. Vedic schools of thought

Vedic culture involved complex rituals (yajna) for deities like Agni, focusing on prayers and
offerings for well-being. The Upaniṣhads expanded Vedic ideas, introducing concepts like
rebirth and karma, and proposing that everything is part of a divine essence called brahman.
They also introduced the concept of ātman, the Self, which is one with brahman, highlighting
the interconnectedness of all things. This period saw the rise of schools of thought like Yoga,
which aimed to realise Brahman in one's consciousness, laying the foundation for Hinduism.

Buddhism

Other schools of thought emerged that challenged Vedic authority, such as Buddhism.
Around 2,500 years ago, Siddhārtha Gautama was born in Lumbini (now Nepal). At age 29,
he ventured outside his palace and encountered suffering for the first time. This led him to
leave his royal life, and family, and seek answers as an ascetic. After meditating under a tree
in Bodh Gaya (now Bihar), he achieved enlightenment, discovering that ignorance and
attachment are the roots of suffering. Siddhārtha became known as the Buddha, or ‘the
enlightened one,’ and began teaching his insights, including the principle of ahimsa, meaning
'non-hurting' or 'non-injury.'

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Jainism

Jainism, another significant school of thought, emerged around the same time as Buddhism
but is believed to have ancient roots. Prince Vardhamāna, born near Vaiśhālī in modern-day
Bihar in the early 6th century BCE, left his royal life at 30 to seek spiritual knowledge. After
12 years of ascetic practice, he attained supreme wisdom and became known as Mahavira,
meaning ‘great hero.’ He taught principles like ahimsa (non-violence), anekāntavāda (the
idea that truth has many aspects), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness). These teachings
emphasize the interconnectedness of all living beings and advocate for minimal attachment
to material possessions. Mahavira's teachings reflect the deep interdependence observed in
nature, as confirmed by modern science.

Folk and Tribal Roots

Cultural Documentation: India’s cultural roots are documented in texts and rich oral
traditions, such as the Vedas, passed down through practice rather than writing.

Types of Traditions:

● Folk Traditions: Transmitted by common people.


● Tribal Traditions: Passed down by specific tribes.

Interaction with Major Schools of Thought: Folk and tribal traditions have interacted with
major schools of thought, leading to shared deities, concepts, legends, and rituals.

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Examples of Interaction:

● Jagannath Worship: Originally a tribal deity, now widely worshipped in Puri.


● Adaptation of Hindu Deities: Many tribal communities have their versions of Hindu
deities and epics like the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa.

Shared Concepts:

● Sacred Nature: Elements such as mountains, rivers, and trees are considered sacred
in both folk, tribal, and Hindu traditions.
● Deity Worship: Tribes often worship deities linked to natural elements.

Example of Tribal Beliefs: The Toda tribals of the Nilgiris view over thirty mountain peaks
as sacred residences of gods and avoid pointing to them with a finger.

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