Role of Art and Culture in UPSC and Other State PSC SSC & Banking GK

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Role of Art and Culture in UPSC and Other State
PSC SSC Banking GK Religions in India
Hinduism

• Introduction
• Art and Culture plays a vital role for Exams like
  IAS, State PSC, SSC and other similar
• competitive exams.
• India has been a land or spirituality, morality
  and faith. Many religions have thrived in India
  during same era. Even today people from different
  faiths and cults live together in India.
• Major religions in India are
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Buddhism
• Jainism
• Other religions in India are
• Sikhism
• Christianity
• Zoroastrianism
• Judaism
• Vedic Literature
• There are two categories

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• Shruti
• Samriti
• Shruti It means heard. It consists of
  revelation and unquestionable truth. The sacred
  text of Hinduism includes
• Vedas
• Brahmas
• Aryankas
• Upnishads
• Smiriti It means which is remembered. It
  includes
• Vedanga, Shad Darsana, Puranas, Itihasa Upveda,
  Tantras, Angamas, Upangas.
• Older Vedas excluding Atharveda are called Trey
  i.e. Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda.
• Essential features of the Vedas are
• Rigveda it includes hymns and Gayatri.
• Samaveda it is rhythmic compilation of hymns.
• Yajurveda it includes sacrificial and ritual
  prayers of yajnas.
• The two primary versions of Yajurveda are Shukla
  (White) and Krishna (Black).
• Atharveda it contains magic spells early
  traditions of healing and magic. It mentions of
  Dhanvantri , he is earliest medical person.

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• The 108 Upanishads are called Muktika.
• The First and largest Upanishad is called Virhat
  Aryanka. Its a discourse between Yajnavalyaka
  and Gargi on philosophical aspects of Dharma.
• Aum is contained in Chandyuga Upnishad.
• Katha Upnishad is a dialogue between Yama and
  Nachiketa (it contains questions about Atma and
  Parmatma).
• Hinduism
• Some features of Hinduism are
• It is one of biggest religions in India.
• The word Hinduism came from the word Hindu, which
  was used by western people to refer to people
  living across river Indus.
• In ancient India, Hinduism included various
  religious sacrifices and offerings and puja to
  please the Gods. As a result, Hinduism as a
  religion became very expensive and highly
  ritualistic.
• In medieval India, Hinduism went through Bhakti
  movement in North India where the Sanskrit texts
  were translated in vernacular languages by the
  saints and the message of Bhakti and God was
  delivered to the masses.
• In modern India, large scale change in the
  practices of Hinduism were brought. For example,
  derogatory practices like Sati, untouchability or
  child marriages were abolished. The Hinduism was
  influenced by the western ideas of equality,
  dignity and freedom of thought and expression.
• We learn about Hinduism through the Vedic
  literature.
• Basic component of Hindu Philosophy
• Karma

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Shaddarshana it has definite ideas and
philosophies about true nature of soul and cosmic
principle or Brahman i.e. ultimate
reality. Samkhya System Kapila wrote Samkhya-
Sutra. It doesnt recognize god. Some of the
features of Samkhya system are Prakriti(thought)
and Purusha(consciousness) Dukha, Karma,
discipline and liberation through real
knowledge. Yoga Patanjali wrote Yogasutra. Yoga
is considered as the union of two principal
entities. Some of the features of Yogasutra
are To control mind, body senses, self-control
(Yama), observation of rules (niyama), fixed
postures (asana) Breath control (pranayama),
choosing object (pratyahara), fix mind (dharna),
concentration (dhyana), mind and object
dissolution of self (samadhi). Nyaya Guatama
wrote Nyaya-Sutras. It was a proponent of
Logical thinking. Vaisheshika Kanada wrote
Vaisheshika. He gave the concept of smallest
particle called Kana. It contains realistic and
objective philosophy of universe. It talks about
five basic atomic elements Earth, water, air,
fire and ether. Purva Mimamsa Jamini wrote
it. It contains the analysis of interpretation,
application and use of text of Samhita and
Brahmana portions of Veda. According to it Vedas
are eternal. Uttar Mimamsa or Vedantic
Philosophy it implies philosophy of Upanishad.
It rejects the rituals and propounded philosophy
of atma-parmatma. It was written by Bhadrayana
but popularised by Adi Shankaracharya who also
wrote commentaries on Upanishads, Brahmasutra
and Bhagvad Gita.
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• Charvaka School It was founded by Brihaspati.
• It deals with materialistic philosophy.
• Also called Lokayata philosophy i.e. philosophy
  of the masses.
• It didnt believe in the Vedas.
• The whole universe is made of four elements
  therefore, leaves no trace after death. There is
  no world and death is the end and the ultimate
  pleasure.
• Due to its rejection of the Hinduism, it is
  called Nastik School.
• It doesnt recognize ether, God, soul and heaven
  as it cannot be perceived. Other traditions
  popular during the Ancient and the Medieval
  Period is
• Ajiwika
• It was popular during the same time as Buddhism
  and till 14th century. It was founded by Gosala
  Maskariputra.
• It believes in Niyati (destiny) i.e. everything
  which happens is pre-determined. It did not
  believe in Karma.
• Asoka built Lomus Caves in Barbara Hill near Bodh
  Gaya for them.
• Need of Reforms in Hinduism

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• Another member, Keshabchandra Sen advocated
  against child marriage, polygamy and caste
  system.
• Ramakrishna Mission
• It was established in 1897.
• It advocated supreme devotion to god.
• Its philosophy included Spread the Vedantic
  spirituality, strive for harmonious existence of
  all world religions and to consider the service
  to mankind as a service to god.
• Swami Vivekananda was a major follower.
• Unoreads presents to explore more subjects for
  preparations of competitive exams like UPSC
  (Civil Services, CAPF, etc.), SSC (CGL, CHSL,
  CPO, MTS, etc.), Banking (IBPS, SBI RBI, PO
• and SO and Clerk) and Railways Exams.