Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class Religion Book Solutions Chapter 5 General Introduction to Puranas, Upanishads and Shastras Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
PSEB Solutions for Class 12 Religion Chapter 5 General Introduction to Puranas, Upanishads and Shastras
Long Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
Discuss in brief but meaningful the salient features of Purana literature and its importance in Hinduism.
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Discuss the importance of Puranas in Hinduism.
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Give a brief account of important Puranas.
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Discuss in brief but meaningful the subject-matter of Puranas.
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Explain how Puranas were written?
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What is meant by Puranas? Give a brief account of the various Puranas.
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Write in brief about the Puranas.
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Give information about famous five Puranas.
Answer:
The Puranas are the ancient texts of the Hindus. The Purana means ancient. They have been written in Sanskrit. No definite period is given for their writing. These are not a creation of single century. They are described in the Atharvaveda, Upanishads and epics. There have been made changes in them from time to time and new chapters were added to them. The Puranas were given their final touch in the Gupta period. Hence the Puranas have been written by several writers.
The Puranas were called the Fifth Veda and the Shudras were given the permission to read them. The total number of Purans are 18. These Puranas have been divided into three parts. There Eire 6 PurEihas in each part and they Eire called Shiva, Vaishnava, and Brahman Pur ana.
These parts are as follows :
1. Shiva Purana :
- Vayu
- Linga
- Skanda
- Agni
- Matsya
- Kurma.
2. Vaishnava Purana :
- Vishnu
- Bhagvata
- Narada
- Garuda
- Padma.
3. Brahman Purana :
- Brahman
- Brahmand
- Brahmavaivrata
- Markandeya
- Bhavishya and
- Vamana.
The prevalent Vedic and Non-Vedic religious beliefs, myths and stories are compiled in the Puranas. Myths are those stories that have no proof, but they Eire very popular. Each Purana is divided into five parts. These parts are :
- Search: It describes about the creation of the world.
- Pratisarga: It gives a description about the development, destruction and recreation of the world.
- Vansh: It gives a description of the lineage of the famous kings and Rishis.
- Manzanar: It gives a description of the great battles fought on this earth and the important event in each of them.
- Vanshanucharita: It gives a description of the kings of great lineage and the feats of the Rishis.
What is worth remembering here is that we do not have the original Puranas with us. What we have with us today as the Puranas, may not necessarily have the. descriptions as per the above divisions. A brief description of the Puranas is as follows :
1. The Brahman Purana: It is also called the Adi Purana. It has 14,000 shlokas in it. Most of it describes the pilgramage places of India. Besides this, it also gives a description of Krishana, Rama, Surya, famous royal families, earth, hell,’ various castes and about Varna Ashrama system.
2. The Padma Purana: This is the biggest Purana. It has almost 55,000 shlokas in it. It describes the Srishti Khand, Bhumi KhEind, Swarga Khand and Pataal Khand. It gives a detailed description of the Vishnu Katha and Rama Katha. Besides these, this Purana also describes about the holy places and fasts. Several stories pertaining to myths Eire Eilso recorded in it.
3. The Vishnu Purana: This Purana has 23,000 shlokas in it.*It says that Vishnu is the supreme god. He alone has created the world and protects it. Famous among the stories given in it are the stories of Prahlad and Dhruva. It also describes the strange things about this world and the people of heaven. It gives a description of several famous lineages. In the fifth and last part, the various miraculous deeds of Krishna have been discussed.
4. The Vayu Purana : This Purana has 11,000 shlokas in it. It describes several stories associated with the glory of Shiva. For this reason, it is also called the Shiva Pursina. It describes several lineages. It has great historical importance because it is based on facts. It also gives the geographical description which is quite useful.
5. The Bhagvata Purana : Most popular among the Puranas associated with Lord Vishnu is the Bhagavata Purana. It gives a description of several stories associated with the life of Lord Krishna. It also says that Lord Buddha and the founder of Sankhya philosophy, Kapil are incarnations of Vishnu. This Purana is not very important from historical point of view.
6. The Narada Purana : This Purana consists of 25,000 shlokas. This Purana is related to the worship of Vishnu. It gives a detailed description of the prevalent ‘ education in ancient India. It does not give a description of the lineages.
7. The Markandeya Purana : There are 900 shlokas in this Purana. It gives a detailed description of the Vedic gods Indra, Surya and Agni etc. It also gives a description of several famous lineages.
8. The Agni Purana : This Purana has 15,400 shlokas. According to a belief, this Purana was narrated to Rishi Vashisht by Agni god himself. This Purana is associated with Shaivism. It throws ample light on several important subjects like war tactics, methods to perform the yajans, astrology, geography, law, grammar, medicine, fasts, donation, marriage etc. Undoubtedly, this Purana is like an encyclopaedia.
9. The Bhavishya Purana : This Purana has 14,000 shlokas in it. There are several stories related to the gods Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Surya. It also describes several ancient royal families and sages. Besides these, it also discusses several rituals which were performed at that time.
10. The Brahmavaivarta Purana : This Purana has 18,000 shlokas in it. This Purana tells Brahman as the creator of this universe. It gives a detailed description of Lord Krishna’s life. It also describes about Radha. In it, Ganesha has been called is an incarnation of Krishna.
11. The Linga Purana : This Purana has 11,000’shlokas in it. This Purana is associated with Shaivism. It describes about the incarnations of Shiva, fasts and holy places. It preaches to worship the linga as a form of Shiva.
12. The Varaha Purana: It has 10,700 shlokas in it. It giyes a detailed description of the worship of Vishnu in the incarnation of Varaha. It also gives a description related to Shiva, Durga and Ganesha.
13. The Skanda Purana : It was a large Purana. It describes 51,000 shlokas in it. This Purana is not available now. Information about it can be gathered from examples cited in the other texts. This Purana mainly describes about the worship of Shiva. Besides this, it gives useful information about the several holy places and temples of India.
14. The Vamana Purana : There are 10,000 shlokas in this Purana. Most of this Purana describes about the worship of gods like Shiva, Vishnu and Ganesha etc. It also describes several mythical stories.
15. The Kurina Purana : There are 18,000 shlokas in this Purana. It describes the worship of the Kurma incarnation of Vishnu. It gives a description of several mythical stories.
16. The Matsya Purana: It has 14,000 shlokas in it. This Purana is a conversation between a matsya (fish) and Manu. When this world was destroyed then this fish saved man. It gives a detailed description of several famous royal families. Besides these, there is a description of several fairs and pilgrimages.
17. The Garura Purana : There are 18,000 shlokas in this Parana. There is a description of the methods involved in the worhship of Vishnu. It gives important information about the yajnas, astrology, grammar, social science, physical education and ghosts and spirits. It gives detailed information about the last rites, sati system and pitra shradhs.
18. The Brahmanda Parana : There are 12,000 shlokas in this Pur ana. This Purana was read by Brahman. It gives a description about several dynasties and pilgramages. Importance of the Pur anas The Puranas present a detailed picture of the ancient Indian culture. The customs and traditions prevalent in Hinduism today are a gift of the Puranas. These Puranas throw ample light on the religious beliefs of the Hindus, the methods of worship of the gods and goddesses, fasts, shradhs, birth, marriage and rites performed at the time of death.
Idol worship and belief in incarnation is also a gift of the Puranas. These Puranas popularized the tradition of worship of forefathers further. People were inspired to donate. The description of the popular dynasties given in the Puranas proved to be quite useful historically.
The description of the pilgramages and temples gives us important infbrmation about the contemporary art. Besides these, the Puranas throw ample light on the social, economic and political condition of ancient India. Undoubtedly, it would be no exaggeration if the Puranas are called the encyclopaedia of Indian culture. Dr. R.C. Hazra has aptly remarked, “The Puranas have played a very important part in the life of the Hindus for more than two thousand years.
They have brought home to the common man the wisdom of the saints of the highest order without creating any discord. The authors of these works took every individual into consideration and made such prescriptions as would benefit him in.his social and religious life.”
Question 2.
Discuss in brief but meaningful the subject matter and importance of Upanishads.
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Give a brief account and importance and meaning of Upanishads.
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Discuss the contents of Upanishads and their importance.
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Explain the subject-matter of Upanishadls.
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Write a short note on the main teachings of the Upanishads.
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Discuss the main teachings of the Upanishads.
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What do you know about the main teachings of the Upanishads?
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What do you know about the main doctrines of the Upanishads?
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What is meant by Upanishads? Give a brief account of their main features.
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Give introduction about the Upanishads.
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Write about the m$dn teachings of the Upanishads. Name two earliest Upanishads.
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What is meant by Upanishads? Describe any two of them in brief.
Answer:
The Upanishads are considered as the true origin of Indian philosophy. Upanishads are those texts which incorporate in them the spiritual knowledge of the „ world of highest order just as pearls are held together in a string. The lustre o’f these pearls helps to eradicate the inner darkness of a person and, he is illuminated to such an extent that it outshines the light of the even sun. It would be no exaggeration to say that the Upanishads are the prime source of Indian philosophy. The word Upanishad is made from a combination of three words. The word ‘Up’ means near, ‘Ni’ means devotion and ‘Shad’ means to sit. Thus the word Upanishad’ means sitting beside with complete devotion.
In fact, Upanishad is such knowledge which a guru gives to his students secretly. The Upanishads are also called Vedanta because they are considered to be consequential part of the Vedas. Vedanta means the last knowledge. This means that there is no knowledge beyond or after Upanishads. The Upanishads were composed by different sages between 1000 B.C. and 300 B.C. The total number of all Upanishads is 108. Upanishads like Isha, Kena, Prashna, Mundaka, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chhandogya, Brihadaranyaka Shvetashvatara, Kaushitaki and Katha are considered the most important. The main teachings of the Upanishads are as follows :
1. Nature of Self : The word Self has been frequently used in the Upanishads because it is considered as the ultimate source of all knowledge. Self is the omnipresent living element. This element forms the basic foundation of all elements. This assumes a living form and resides in the hearts of all people. This is Brahman or the Atman (Absolute). For this reason, the Self is considered as the source of all light. According to the Upanishads, the Self is the only element about which there is no doubt. The Self is the determined strength. It is not transitory. It itself forms the basis of all transitory elements. For this reason, it is unchanging itself.
2. Nature of the Absolute : The word ‘Brahman’ is derived from an element of Sanskrit language called ‘Briha’ which means to grow or to proceed. From philosophical point of view, Brahman is an element which led to the creation of the visible world. Brahman is considered as an epitome of the power of man and nature. He is the master of unlimited powers because he himself is boundless. He is all pervading and the light of all lights. Despite being the basis of all virtues it is called Nirguna. He is the source of complete knowledge. It is impossible to describe his knowledge in words. Undoubtedly, he is the basic cause and foundation of the entire world.
3. Identity of Self and the Absolute : The sages have considered the Self and Brahman as a single entity in the Upanishads. They were considered as one basic element. For this reason, in the Upanishads, the words Self and the Absolute are used interchangeably at- several places. The distinction is only in words but not in meaning or element. There is only one primary element. He is sometimes called Self and sometimes called the Absolute. Just as a river joins the sea, so does the Self sublime with the Parmatman. Because the Self and the Absolute are one, therefore they cannot be differentiated. In brief, the Upanishadic philosophy looks like an ocean in a drop.
4. Creation of the World : There are several instances of the description of the creation of the world in the Upanishads. It tells that Brahman (the Absolute) created the world. Prior to the creation of the world, Brahman was present in its own Self. Then Brahman decided to express Himself in various forms. In this manner, began the creation of the world.
5. Belief in Karma Theory : The Upanishads believed in the Karma Theory. According to this, each person had to pay for his deeds (Karmas). The fruits of the deeds of the previous birth would have to be borne during the present birth. The fruits of the deeds of this birth would be borne in the next birth. The joys and sufferings of our lives depend upon our own deeds. Hence we should always indulge in good deeds and keep a distance from evil deeds. It is due to one’s ill deeds that a man gets separated from the Parmatman and continues to be a part of the vicious circle of transmigration.
6. Moral Virtues : The Upanishads have greatly emphasised on moral virtues. It is only when one adopts the moral virtues then he can swim across the ocean of this life. These virtues are :
- Always speak the truth.
- Love all beings.
- Think of others’ misery as one’s own.
- Keep distance from pride, greed and evil thinking,
- Do not indulge in stealing or robbing,
- Obey the tenets of religion.
- Do not show laxity towards the study of the Vedas, education, deities and forefathers,
- Be sincere towards social welfare,
- Respect your guru.
7. Maya : The Upanishads have thrown ample light on the principle of Maya. The world and its elements have been referred to as Maya. Ignorant men run after the attractive elements of this world. To acquire them, they do not hesitate to use even the worst meAnswer:Maya veils one’s intelligence and renders man to be trapped in the cycle of transmigration. An intelligent man understands the mystery of Maya and so does not fall a prey to this vicious Maya. Only such persons attain salvation (Moksha).
8. Moksha : The attainment of Moksha is the prime objective of a man’s life. Through Karma, a man is subjected to the sufferings of transmigration. The Atman inside the body is the partner to all joys and sufferings. Till the time, the Atman is trapped in the body, it cannot free itself of joys and sufferings. Ignorance is the prime cause of all bonds of man. When this ignorance is destroyed, man is freed from all bonds and he attains salvation.
Moksha is the last step of ladder of man’s knowledge upon reaching there, he achieves all. Nothing supersedes the joy of attaining Moksha. According to the Upanishads, Moksha can be attained only through knowledge. The famous historian Dr. S.N. Sen has aptly remarked, “The Upanishads are rich in deep philosophical content and are the bed¬rock on which all the latter philosophical development rests.”
Question 3.
Explain the meaning and nature of Self and the Absolute.
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What is the relationship between Self and the Absolute? Explain.
Answer:
A detailed information in context of the Self and Brahman has been given in the Upanishads. What is the Self? What is meant by Brahman? What is the form of these two and what is the relationship between these two, a brief description in this context is given as follows :
(A) Nature of Self
The word Self has been used quite often in the Upanishads because they are considered to be a storehouse of complete knowledge. Self is the omnipresent living element. This element is the basic foundation of all elements (both materialistic and non-materialistic). It takes the form of a living being and resides in all hearts. It is Brahman or the Absolute. For this reason, Self is called the flame of all flames. The form of Self has been described in the Upanishads in the following manner :
1. Self is Certain Being: According to the Upanishads, the Self is the only thing which cannot be put to doubt. Self is a certain being. It does not need to be proved because it is self evident. It is considered to be a basis of all materialistic and non- materialistic elements. No experience is without the Self being involved in it, but it does not experience. It is the witness to all experiences.
2. Self is Permanent: Self is permanent. It is not transitory. It is the basis of all temporary things. Hence, it cannot be changed. It is beyond all psychological actions
and hence it is not affected by worldly changes. In fact, it is the creator of all changes but lives in its past. Hence one cannot deny the permanence of Self.
3. The Doctrine of Five Layers : To understand the form of Self, the Taittiriya Upanishad gives the Doctrine of the Five Layers. These five layers are :
- Annamayi Kosh : It is a non-living and lifeless element. It comes at a materialistic level.
- Pranmayi Kosh : It comes at a living level. It includes all flora and fauna.
- Manomayi Kosh : It comes at a stage of consciousness. It is the objective of life.
- Vigyanmayi Kosh : It is at a level of self consciouness. In it consciousness develops logical intellect.
- Anandmayi Kosh : It is the true level of the Self. It destroys the spirit of diversity and differentiation.
The first four layers become a part of this pleasure (Anand) which is the last stage of their development. Hence the Doctrine of Five Layers proves that the Self is pure, living form of pleasure.
4. The Four Stages : The Mandukya Upanishad tries to explain the four stages of Self on the basis of consciousness. These four stages are :
- The Stage of Wakefulness : In this stage the heart experiences pleasure from things of the world with the help of his senses.
- The Stage of Dreams : In this stage consciousness presents several pictures (reflections) in itself.
- The Stage of beep Sleep : It is the stage of deep sleep. The pleasure experienced in this stage is not real.
- The Turiya Stage : It is a religious state. All ignorance gets destroyed here. The state of pleasure that the Self attains at this stage is indescribable.
(B) Nature of the Absolute:
The word ‘Brahman’ is derived from an element ‘Briha’ in Sanskrit language which means to grow, increase and sprout. It can thus give a philosophical conclusion that Brahman is that element that has created this visual world. Brahman is considered-: to be a form of a person and nature is considered to be a form of power. His powers are unlimited because he Himself is without boundation. He is considered to be omnipotent and the source of all fight.
He is Nirguna (Attributeless) despite being the basis of all forms. He is the storehouse of all knowledge. It is impossible to describe his knowledge in words. Undoubtedly, He is the root cause and basis of the entire universe. A brief description of the form of the Absolute is as follows :
1. Absolute is Qualified Essence: The Upanishads have referred to the sages as the form of the Absolute at several places. The Mundaka Upanishad talks about the form of the Absolute as being present everywhere south-north, west-east, above the sky and below the earth. The Absolute is the universe. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad states that initially there was the Absolute alone but when he attained form, it became omnipresent.
The Chhandogya Upanishad says that the Brahman reaches everyone through all actions, all desires, all fragrances and all tastes. In short, it implies that Absolute is all in one.
2. Absolute is Attributeless Essence : The Upanishads refer to the Absolute as the attributeless essence. It has no form, colour, shape etc. For this reason it can neither be seen nor can it be understood. The Mundaka Upanishad says that the Brahman is neither visible, nor receivable and without clan, eyes, ears, hands and feet etc. Shankar says that the Brahman is the cause of all the universe but it cannot be converted into it. It is the basis of all changes. Since the Absolute is nondescriptive, it has been described using the words ‘Neti, Neti’ (no end, no end).
3. Absolute is the Cause of World : The Upanishads call the Absolute as the cause of the world. According to the Taittiriya Upanishad, it is Brahman which leads to the creation of all things and because of which they continue to be in existence and in the end they become a part of it. The Chhandogya Upanishad calls the Absolute as ‘Tajlan’ which means that which originates from the Absolute, lives with the help of its support and in the end becomes an inseparable part of it. It implies that the Absolute gave an expression to this world and its origin and end is caused by the Absolute.
4. Absolute is the Source of Light: The Upanishads consider the Absolute as the source of light. The sun, moon, stars etc. give light as parts of the light of the Absolute. The light of the Absolute should not be considered to be a form of the materialistic light because the materialistic light can be seen with the eyes but the light of the Absolute can be seen only through the power of Yoga. The spiritual light of the Absolute is present in all the things of this worl’d.
5. Absolute is Existence : The Absolute is considered to be of existence according to the Upanishads. In philosophy, Absolute means existence. The Absolute is the basis of all existence. Wherever there is existence, it is because of the Absolute. The Absolute is not dependent on anything for its existence but it is considered to be the foundation of the existence of all creatures and elements. Consequently, the Absolute is considered to be the form of all truth.
6. Absolute is Bliss : The Absolute is called a bliss in the Upanishads. What is worth remembering here is that this bliss is not like the other pleasures of the world. It is limitless and endless like the sea of pleasure. It is due to the bliss of the Absolute that all creatures are bom in this universe. It is the cause of life of all creatures. Each creation experiences this pleasure on the basis of one’s potential. In the end, all the creatures get immersed in this pleasure. There is no end to this pleasure of the Absolute because it is the form of complete bliss.
Identity of Self and the Absolute:
The sages in the Upanishads have made no distinction between the Self and the Absolute. They considered it as one basic element. For this reason, they often use the terms Self and the Absolute interchangeably. The distinction is merely that of words but there is no distinction of meaning or element. The basic element of this world is only one. It is sometimes called Self and sometimes called the Absolute. Just as a river meets the sea and becomes a part of it, similarly the Self becomes a part of the Absolute. Because the form of Self and the Absolute is one, hence, they cannot be distinguished. In brief, looking for the ocean in one drop or one drop in the ocean is what the Upanishadic philosophy is all about.
Question 4.
Give a brief account of the main teachings of Bhagvadgita.
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Explain the basic teachings of Bhagvadgita.
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Discuss in detail the Karamayoga.
Answer:
The Bhagvadgita is a part of the Mahabharata. It is more popularly known by the name Gita. There are 18 chapters and 700 shlokas (verses) in it. The sermon of Gita was given by Lord Krishna to Aijuna before the battle of Mahabharata began. The ideology imparted by Gita was usually beyond the comprehension of the common man. The ideas of Gita have a magical impact on the common people. It is for this reason, that the Gita is dear to all the Hindus even today. Ramanuja (1017—1137) wrote a commentary on Bhagvadgita and interpreted its teachings.
It has been translated into many languages of the world. Its most popular English translation have been done by Edwin Arnold under the title, The Song Celestial. A brief description of the main teachings of the Gita is as follows :
1. God : The Gita calls the Parmatman (God) as the creator of all world. He is one. He is omnipotent and present in all creatures and objects. He is the creator, preserver and destroyer of all creatures. God is the basis of all knowledge, truth, joy, sorrow, violence, non-violence, courage, happiness, fame and disrespect etc. The tenth chapter of the Gita says, “I am the initiator of everything. Everything is borne out of me. Knowing this, the intelligent men with full devotion worship me.” God is immortal. He is free from the bonds of birth and death. He is the greatest of all.
2. Atman : According to the Gita, the body is not the Atman (soul). The circle of birth and death is related to the body and not the Atman. The Soul is the indestructible element. The water, wind, weapons etc. have no impact on the Atman. Neither does it bom, nor does it die. Just as a man removes his old and tattered clothes to wear new ones, similarly the Atman discards old bodies to enter into new ones.
3. Karamayoga : Karamayoga is a famous principle of the Gita. No creature can spend a single moment without Karma. A person who is able to control his senses and work selflessly is called Karamayogi and those persons who fall a victim to their senses and work to show off are called hypocrite. Except Karamayogi (Karma which does not desire of any fruits), the rest are all full of bonds. Hence, the Gita inspires a man to be a Karamayogi. According to the Gita, every Karma bears fruit which has to be borne by the person. It is never possible that a person performs an action and escapes its fruit. It is an inevitable principle. The fruits of one’s deeds lead one into the vicious circle of transmigration.
He bears the sufferings of fruit of the deeds of the previous birth and through new deeds, gathers the fruits of this birth to move on to the next birth. As a consequence of his deeds, man attains several stages of life, the highest being the Parampad which is his highest goal. Only through Karamayoga man can attain Parampad.
4. Bhaktiyoga : Bhaktiyoga is counted among the three main paths of the Gita. Bhakti is of several types :
- Prapti Bhakti : It is a kind of bhakti in which the devotee comes with a pious heart in the shelter of God and gets detached from the materialistic elements,
- Swarth Bhakti : Most of the bhakti in this world is purposeful. The reason for this is that some people resort to bhakti after they are hassled by troubles and they want to get rid of them,
- Jnana Bhakti: Such bhagats deeply study the Shastras to fulfil their desire of knowledge and by God’s grace are able to attain true knowledge,
- Nirguna Bhakti : This is a kind of bhakti in which God is considered omnipresent in all forms and thus he serves all the creatures.
- Saguna Bhakti : In this kind of bhakti, the devotee with a pure heart pays devotion to the idol of his god.
- Kirtan Bhakti : In this bhakti, the devotee constantly indulges in Kirtan in the name of God.
- Shravana Bhakti : This type of bhakti is for the less educated. For this reason, they cannot deeply study the Shastras. Consequently, they listen to the sermons of Shastras from the others and tread on the path of bhakti. All these forms of bhakti are considered as a source of Mukti (salvation).
5. Jnanayoga : According to the Bhagvadgita, the fire of knowledge reduces all the bonds of Karma to ashes. For this reason, there is no purer a thing than knowledge in this world. This knowledge is not limited to the knowledge of ordinary elements. It actually means pure knowledge of the Soul. This is called Jnanayoga. Of Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga and Jnanayoga, Jnanayoga receives prominence because without the knowledge of the Soul, a man can neither be a true Karamayogi nor can he be a true devotee.
After attaining human form, the creature who is not able to attain the knowledge of the Soul can never attain freedom from the bondage of cycle of Karma. Knowledge is the best way to attain salvation because knowledge sets the seed of Karma on fire and a burnt seed cannot give rebirth to a plant.
Question 5.
What do you know about the three paths shown in the Bhagwadgita for the benefit of mankind?
Or
Which are the three Yogas mentioned in the Bhagvadgita? Discuss.
Or
How many Yogas are referred to in the Bhagvadgita? Discuss in detail.
Or
Which are three Yogas mentioned in the Bhagvadgita? Discuss Bhaktiyoga.
Answer:
The Bhagvadgita or the Gita is one of the sacred texts of the Hindus. It gives a simple solution in clear words to all the problems of human life. The Gita does not suggest any one way of life for the attainment of salvation. It says that if every man’s behaviour is different from the other, then there ought to be different ways of reaching one’s ultimate goal. There are three ways of doing this Karamayoga, Bhaktiyoga and Jnanayoga. A man chooses his own path of life according to his nature and interest.
1. Karamayoga : Karamayoga is a famous principle of the Gita. No creature can spend a single moment without Karma. A person who is able to control his senses and work selflessly is called Karamayogi and those persons who fall a victim to their senses and work to show off are called hypocrite. Except Karamayogi (Karma which does not desire of any fruits), the rest are all full of bonds. Hence, the Gita inspires a man to be a Karamayogi. According to the Gita, every Karma bears fruit which has to be borne by the person. It is never possible that a person performs an action and escapes its fruit. It is an inevitable principle. The fruits of one’s deeds lead one into the vicious circle of transmigration.
He bears the sufferings of fruit of the deeds of the previous birth and through new deeds, gathers the fruits of this birth to move on to the next birth. As a consequence of his deeds, man attains several stages of life, the highest being the Parampad which is his highest goal. Only through Karamayoga man can attain Parampad.
2. Bhaktiyoga : Bhaktiyoga is counted among the three main paths of the Gita. Bhakti is of several types :
- Prapti Bhakti : It is a kind of bhakti in which the devotee comes with a pious heart in the shelter of God and gets detached from the materialistic elements,
- Swarth Bhakti : Most of the bhakti in this world is purposeful. The reason for this is that some people resort to bhakti after they are hassled by troubles and they want to get rid of them,
- Jnana Bhakti: Such bhagats deeply study the Shastras to fulfil their desire of knowledge and by God’s grace are able to attain true knowledge,
- Nirguna Bhakti : This is a kind of bhakti in which God is considered omnipresent in all forms and thus he serves all the creatures.
- Saguna Bhakti : In this kind of bhakti, the devotee with a pure heart pays devotion to the idol of his god.
- Kirtan Bhakti : In this bhakti, the devotee constantly indulges in Kirtan in the name of God.
- Shravana Bhakti : This type of bhakti is for the less educated. For this reason, they cannot deeply study the Shastras. Consequently, they listen to the sermons of Shastras from the others and tread on the path of bhakti. All these forms of bhakti are considered as a source of Mukti (salvation).
3. Jnanayoga : According to the Bhagvadgita, the fire of knowledge reduces all the bonds of Karma to ashes. For this reason, there is no purer a thing than knowledge in this world. This knowledge is not limited to the knowledge of ordinary elements. It actually means pure knowledge of the Soul. This is called Jnanayoga. Of Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga and Jnanayoga, Jnanayoga receives prominence because without the knowledge of the Soul, a man can neither be a true Karamayogi nor can he be a true devotee.
After attaining human form, the creature who is not able to attain the knowledge of the Soul can never attain freedom from the bondage of cycle of Karma. Knowledge is the best way to attain salvation because knowledge sets the seed of Karma on fire and a burnt seed cannot give rebirth to a plant.
Question 6.
What do you know about Nishkama Karma of Bhagvadgita?
Answer:
Karamayoga : Karamayoga is a famous principle of the Gita. No creature can spend a single moment without Karma. A person who is able to control his senses and work selflessly is called Karamayogi and those persons who fall a victim to their senses and work to show off are called hypocrite. Except Karamayogi (Karma which does not desire of any fruits), the rest are all full of bonds. Hence, the Gita inspires a man to be a Karamayogi. According to the Gita, every Karma bears fruit which has to be borne by the person. It is never possible that a person performs an action and escapes its fruit. It is an inevitable principle. The fruits of one’s deeds lead one into the vicious circle of transmigration.
He bears the sufferings of fruit of the deeds of the previous birth and through new deeds, gathers the fruits of this birth to move on to the next birth. As a consequence of his deeds, man attains several stages of life, the highest being the Parampad which is his highest goal. Only through Karamayoga man can attain Parampad.
Question 7.
Who gave the lesson contained in the Bhagvadgita and to whom? Of the three Yogas in the Gita, write about the Bhakti Yoga.
Answer:
The preachings given in the Bhagvadgita were given by Lord Krishna to Aijuna.
Bhaktiyoga : Bhaktiyoga is counted among the three main paths of the Gita. Bhakti is of several types :
- Prapti Bhakti : It is a kind of bhakti in which the devotee comes with a pious heart in the shelter of God and gets detached from the materialistic elements,
- Swarth Bhakti : Most of the bhakti in this world is purposeful. The reason for this is that some people resort to bhakti after they are hassled by troubles and they want to get rid of them,
- Jnana Bhakti: Such bhagats deeply study the Shastras to fulfil their desire of knowledge and by God’s grace are able to attain true knowledge,
- Nirguna Bhakti : This is a kind of bhakti in which God is considered omnipresent in all forms and thus he serves all the creatures.
- Saguna Bhakti : In this kind of bhakti, the devotee with a pure heart pays devotion to the idol of his god.
- Kirtan Bhakti : In this bhakti, the devotee constantly indulges in Kirtan in the name of God.
- Shravana Bhakti : This type of bhakti is for the less educated. For this reason, they cannot deeply study the Shastras. Consequently, they listen to the sermons of Shastras from the others and tread on the path of bhakti. All these forms of bhakti are considered as a source of Mukti (salvation).
Question 8.
What do you mean by Dharma Shastras? Write a note on the main Dharma Shastras.
Or
Which subjects have been touched in Dharma Shastras? Explain.
Or
What is Dharma Shastra? Explain any one of the Dharma Shastra.
Or
What is Shastra? Give brief description of any Hindu Scripture (Shastra).
Or
Write a brief note on Hindu Scriptures (Shastras).
Or
Describe the main features of Shastras.
Or
Explain the importance of Dharma Shastras.
Or
Describe Dharma Shastras.
Answer:
The Dharma Shastras Eire ancient texts of the Hindus. These are also called Smritis. Of these Dharma Shastras, the most famous are Manu’s Dharma Shastra or Manu Smriti. Besides this, the Smritis composed by Yajnavalkaya, Vishnu and Narda are also important. The historians disagree on the period of the composition of the Dharma Shastras. The common view is that they were created between 1st B.C. and Ith B.C. These Dharma Shastras are composed in Sanskrit. In these, the Vishnu Sihriti is composed in prose whereas the rest of the three Dharma Shastras are written in the form of a poem.
These Dharma Shastras render light on the religious, social, political and economic regulations of ancient India explicitly. Consequently, these Dharma Shastras are a valuable source for us to know about the condition of the people of that time. A brief description of the main Dharma Shastras is as follows :
1. Manu Smriti : Manu Smriti is also known by the name Manu Samhita. It was composed by Manu. Manu is considered as the world’s first law giver. In his compositions, he has given important information about the origin of Dharma and its sources. It clearly defines the roles of the Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The Brahmanas occupied the highest position in society whereas the Shudras were considered the lowest. In it, human life is divided into four ashramas i.e. Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa and the associated responsibilities and importance is also described in it.
In it, Manu has also described the rules that the kings should follow. According to this, the king should appoint a Council of Ministers to run the administration of the state. The king should least interfere in the local administration. Manu believed that we should respect and serve our parents, teachers and elders.
If they are angry with usr we should not lose our temper. Because we can never repay them for what they have done for us. A person who disrespects them should be fined with 100 pana. According to Manu, women should not be given the right to study the Vedas or the right to property. Their ideas should never be trusted. They should not be given freedom. He was in favour of early marriage. He opposed widow remarriage and Niyoga practices.
According to Manu, people should lead a simple and pious life. According to him, wicked and evil doers have to face several difficulties in hell. He was strictly against gambling. According to him, the government should fix the prices of goods. Besides these subjects, Manu has also given information about Yoga, Meditation, Transmigration and Moksha in his composition.
2. Yajnavalkya Smriti : Though Yajnavalkya Smriti is brief as compared to Manu Smriti but it is important in several aspects. The description in it is bound by principles and the language is lucid. It is considered to be composed between 100 B.C. and 300 B.C. Yajnavalkya Smriti is divided into three chapters. The first chapter deals with the values right from conception to marriage, the duties of a wife, the rights and duties of the four Vamas, the rules of charity, the rules for observing shradhas and the fruits of observing them, the appropriate qualities of a ruler and his ministers, judicial system and the penance for criminals and the tax system explicitly.
The second chapter gives the difference between Dharma Shastra and Artha Shastra. Rights to property, the rules relating to slavery, gambling, theft, rape, border disputes . are given in great details. The third chapter renders light on the last rites, period of sorrow, means of attaining purity, Atman, path to Moksha, evil doers, yogis, means to attain knowledge of the Atman, hell, objectives of remorse, killing of creatures etc.
The Yajnavalkya Smriti and Manu Smriti differ on certain issues. Manu on one hand has allowed a Brahmana to marry the daughter of a Shudra, on the other hand Yajnavalkya opposed it. Manu has criticised Niyoga whereas Yajnavalkya was in favour of it. Manu believed that the widows should have no right over property whereas Yajnavalkya was completely in favour of it. Manu was strictly against gambling whereas Yajnavalkya did not consider it bad. He was in favour of bringing it under the control of the government to obtain revenue. Yajnavalkya has provided important and useful information about biology and medical science in his Smriti.
3. Vishnu Smriti : This Smriti was composed between 100 A.D. and 300 A.D. It was written in the form of prose. In it some shlokas have been taken from Manu and Yajnavalkya’s Smritis. In Vishnu Smriti, the Aryan region has been described more explicitly than Manu Smriti. It covers almost the whole of India. It proves that during the period when Vishnu Smriti was composed, the Aryans had spread in the whole of India. The rulers were the focus of administration.
To expand their empires and protect their subjects was their prime duty. A Council of Ministers was appointed to help the king to run the administration efficiently, The ministers were appointed primarily on the basis of their abilities and loyalty towards the state. The smallest unit of administration was called Gram (village). To give fair justice to the subjects was the prime responsibility of the ruler. Vishnu Smriti gives a detailed description of the types of crimes and the punishments awarded for them.
The Manu Smriti describes that due to their highest position in society there should be no tax imposed on the Brahmans but the Vishnu Smriti favoured it. Vishnu Smriti was against gambling and considered it as a blot on society. It believed in the Varna system and Ashrama system prevalent in society. The Shudras too could become ascetics whereas according to the Manu Smriti they could not attain Sanyasa. During this period, the situation of women worsened.
This can be guaged from the fact that the Sati system began during this period. Vishnu Smriti emphasises on the fact that people should lead simple and pious life. They should not even speak to the crooked people. Vishnu Smriti also describes the coins namely yava, masha, swama, nishak, kishnal etc. It proves that trade at that time was not only conducted through the barter system but also by coins.
4. Narda Smriti : This Smriti was composed between 100. A.D. and 400 A.D. This Smriti has some shlokas from the Manu Smriti but it has its own qualities. The king appointed spies to keep him informed of the incidents of the kingdom. Kul, Shreni and Gana were institutions for social welfare. These institutions made their own policies and rules. The king interfered less in the internal affairs of these institutions. The Narda Smriti gives a detailed account of the judicial process of the state. The king was considered as the supreme justice of the state. His decisions were final.
If a thief was not caught, the king had to give an amount equivalent to the value of things lost from his treasury. Anyone who sheltered the thief or bought the stolen goods was considered equally guilty and deserved a punishment. Different punishments were awarded for different crimes. To be proved innocent, one had to go through seven tests which have been described in it.
Narda was in favour of bringing gambling under government control so that the government could earn some income from it. He was not in favour of a widow being given the property of her husband. He supported widow-remarriage and Niyoga traditions. He described the 15 kinds of slaves prevalent in society. Their duty was to serve the main three castes. They had no right to own property.
There was a system of partnership in business and the profit or loss was to be distributed proportionately among the partners. Narda has described the coins called dinar, pana and swama. He laid down some rules for the learning of students and artisAnswer:They had to go to the workshops of their masters to learn work. They could not leave their masters before the prescribed period of learning or else they were heavily penalised.
It is clear from the above mentioned description that the Dharma Shastras render great light on the various laws and traditions and customs. They are very important from historical point of view. Dr. R.C. Majumdar has aptly remarked, “The Dharma Shastras, also called Smritis, have played a very important part in Hindu life during the last two thousand years. Although the Vedas are regarded as the ultimate sources of dharma, in practice it is the Smriti works to which the Hindus all over India turn for the real exposition of religious duties and usages. They are also regarded as the only authentic sources of Hindu law and social customs.”
Question 9.
What is meant by Manu Smriti? What subjects have been discussed in it?
Or
What do you know about Manu Smriti? Explain.
Answer:
The Manu Smriti is counted^irst amongst the few in the Dharma Shastras. It is also called the Manava Dharma Shastra. It was composed between 200 B.G. and 200 A.D. There are 27,000 shlokas in it and there are 12 chapters in it. It is written in Sanskrit in poem form. Manu is considered to be the first law giver to the world. In his creation, Manu has thrown ample light on the religious, social, political and economic regulations of India, during the contemporary era. A brief description of these regulations is as given below :
1. Four Sources of Dharma : The biggest contribution of Manu towards Indian heritage is his information about the four sources of Dharma. According to him, Vedas are the first source of Dharma. They give the basic element to all the religions of the world. The second source is Smriti. Smriti implies all those things that are written on the basis of one’s memory power. Smriti is different from Shruti. Shruti includes those things which are directly heard from the Absolute.
Dharma Shastras come under Smriti and the Vedas come under Shruti. A person who obeys the laws given in the Shruti and Smriti, attains fame in one’s lifetime and becomes the recepient of extreme pleasure in the next birth. The third source is the recognised customs and traditions but they should be based on good behaviour. The fourth source is that which is followded by the Self but that too should be based on good behaviour.
2. Administrative Laws : The Manu Smriti renders a great significance to the role of the king. He was the chief of the state. He was considered to be a form of God. His main duty was to protect Dharma and his subjects. It was essential for his subjects to follow his orders. The king was absolute. He used to form a Council of Ministers comprising 7 or 8 ministers with the objective of running the administration properly. Mukhyamatya was the head of this council and he was usually a Brahmana.
It explicitly describes the capabilities of the ministers and their duties, rules of battle, taxes imposed by the king over his subjects. Manu was not in favour of imposing taxes on the Brahmanas. Even the handicapped were not taxed. For administrative convenience, every kingdom was divided into several administrative units. The smallest administrative unit was Gram (village) which was headed by the Gramini. The king hardly interfered in the local administration.
3. Judicial Administration : Manu contributed commendably towards the field of law. He was the first person who distinguished between the civil and criminal laws. He considered it to be the first duty of the king to give fair justice. The ruler established several courts in his kingdom. The Kul, Shreni and Gana were also given the right to establish their own courts. If not satisfied by the decision of the court, any appellant could plead before the ruler. Manu has described 18 types of crimes like default in repayment of loan, breach of trust, breaking one’s promise, stealth, robbery, defamation, succession relation, extra marital affairs, non-payment of dues, border disputes etc.
Different punishments have been fixed for different crimes. Manu was not in favour of awarding death sentence to the Brahmanas. To make the criminals commit their crimes, they were even made to go through a fire test or a water test. In brief, there was no branch of the modem law system that remained untouched by Manu.
4. Varna System : Manu was in favour of the*prevalent Varna system. According to him, the Brahmanas were bom out of the mouth of the Absolute, the Kshatryias emerged from his arms, the Vaishyas from the stomach and the Shudras from his feet. The Brahmanas had the highest position in society. Their main work was to study the Vedas and help others to study them, to perform yajnas for the benefit of others, giving and taking donations, to act as the judge and the chief advisor of the ruler. They were expected to lead a pious and simple life. The main work of the Kshatriyas was to protect people.
Besides this they had been asked to study the Vedas, perform yajnas and give gifts. The primary works of a Vaishya were trade- commerce, agriculture and cattle rearing. They too could study the Vedas. The work of the Shudras was to serve the above mentioned three castes selflessly. They were not allowed to study the Vedas.
5. The Four Ashramas : Considering human life span to be approximately of 100 years, Manu has divided it into 4 Ashramas of 25 years each. They were Brahmacharya Ashrama, Grihastha ashrama, Vanaprastha Ashrama and Sanyasa Ashrama. All these Ashramas were fixed for the above mentioned three castes. The first ashrma was Brahmacharya. In it a child attained knowledge from the age of 5 years to the age of 25 years. Grihastha Ashrama was from 25 to 50 years. In it man marries in order to
have children. He took complete responsibility of their rearing.
It was esssential for every family to have a son. Vanaprastha Asharma was from 50 to 75 years. In it a man left his home and went to the forest to lead the life of an ascetic. The fourth and the last ashrama was Sanyasa. It was from 75 to 100 years. In it a man lived like a Sanyasi and tried to attain salvation.
6. Views about Women: Manu was not in favour of giving independence to women. He was of the view that a woman should be taken care of by her father when unmarried, by her husband when married and by her sons if her husband dies. He said that women put men on the wrong path. He was not in favour of believing what women said. Manu had favoured child marriage. He said that women should get married between the age of 8 to 12 years. Manu opposed widow remarriage and the system of Niyoga.
According to Niyoga system, a widow could marry her brother-in-law to produce a son. Manu was not in favour of giving property rights to women. She could only obtain ‘Istree Dhan’ which she got with herself as dowry. Despite all the restrictions that were placed on women, Manu respected women greatly in the form of a housewife. He said, “God resides where women are respected, and if women are not respected, religious rites are futile”.
7. Some Other Views : Manu has advised people to lead a holy and pious life. He said that an evil person always lives in suffering. He considered liars as the greatest thieves. Such evil doers go straight to hell. He said that parents, teachers and elders should always be respected. Whoever does not do so, should be punished. Manu has also thrown light on the rules pertaining to commercial trade. In the words of A.A. MacDonell,“No work has enjoyed so great a reputation and authority, throughout India for centuries as the Manava Dharmashastra, also called the Manu Smriti.”
Question 10.
Write short notes on any two of the following :
- Puranas
- Upanishads
- Shastras.
Answer:
The Puranas are the ancient texts of the Hindus. The Purana means ancient. They have been written in Sanskrit. No definite period is given for their writing. These are not a creation of single century. They are described in the Atharvaveda, Upanishads and epics. There have been made changes in them from time to time and new chapters were added to them. The Puranas were given their final touch in the Gupta period. Hence the Puranas have been written by several writers.
The Puranas were called the Fifth Veda and the Shudras were given the permission to read them. The total number of Purans are 18. These Puranas have been divided into three parts. There Eire 6 PurEihas in each part and they Eire called Shiva, Vaishnava, and Brahman Pur ana.
These parts are as follows :
1. Shiva Purana :
- Vayu
- Linga
- Skanda
- Agni
- Matsya
- Kurma.
2. Vaishnava Purana :
- Vishnu
- Bhagvata
- Narada
- Garuda
- Padma.
3. Brahman Purana :
- Brahman
- Brahmand
- Brahmavaivrata
- Markandeya
- Bhavishya and
- Vamana.
The prevalent Vedic and Non-Vedic religious beliefs, myths and stories are compiled in the Puranas. Myths are those stories that have no proof, but they Eire very popular. Each Purana is divided into five parts. These parts are :
- Search: It describes about the creation of the world.
- Pratisarga: It gives a description about the development, destruction and recreation of the world.
- Vansh: It gives a description of the lineage of the famous kings and Rishis.
- Manzanar: It gives a description of the great battles fought on this earth and the important event in each of them.
- Vanshanucharita: It gives a description of the kings of great lineage and the feats of the Rishis.
What is worth remembering here is that we do not have the original Puranas with us. What we have with us today as the Puranas, may not necessarily have the. descriptions as per the above divisions. A brief description of the Puranas is as follows :
1. The Brahman Purana: It is also called the Adi Purana. It has 14,000 shlokas in it. Most of it describes the pilgramage places of India. Besides this, it also gives a description of Krishana, Rama, Surya, famous royal families, earth, hell,’ various castes and about Varna Ashrama system.
2. The Padma Purana: This is the biggest Purana. It has almost 55,000 shlokas in it. It describes the Srishti Khand, Bhumi KhEind, Swarga Khand and Pataal Khand. It gives a detailed description of the Vishnu Katha and Rama Katha. Besides these, this Purana also describes about the holy places and fasts. Several stories pertaining to myths Eire Eilso recorded in it.
3. The Vishnu Purana: This Purana has 23,000 shlokas in it.*It says that Vishnu is the supreme god. He alone has created the world and protects it. Famous among the stories given in it are the stories of Prahlad and Dhruva. It also describes the strange things about this world and the people of heaven. It gives a description of several famous lineages. In the fifth and last part, the various miraculous deeds of Krishna have been discussed.
4. The Vayu Purana : This Purana has 11,000 shlokas in it. It describes several stories associated with the glory of Shiva. For this reason, it is also called the Shiva Pursina. It describes several lineages. It has great historical importance because it is based on facts. It also gives the geographical description which is quite useful.
5. The Bhagvata Purana : Most popular among the Puranas associated with Lord Vishnu is the Bhagavata Purana. It gives a description of several stories associated with the life of Lord Krishna. It also says that Lord Buddha and the founder of Sankhya philosophy, Kapil are incarnations of Vishnu. This Purana is not very important from historical point of view.
6. The Narada Purana : This Purana consists of 25,000 shlokas. This Purana is related to the worship of Vishnu. It gives a detailed description of the prevalent education in ancient India. It does not give a description of the lineages.
7. The Markandeya Purana : There are 900 shlokas in this Purana. It gives a detailed description of the Vedic gods Indra, Surya and Agni etc. It also gives a description of several famous lineages.
8. The Agni Purana : This Purana has 15,400 shlokas. According to a belief, this Purana was narrated to Rishi Vashisht by Agni god himself. This Purana is associated with Shaivism. It throws ample light on several important subjects like war tactics, methods to perform the yajans, astrology, geography, law, grammar, medicine, fasts, donation, marriage etc. Undoubtedly, this Purana is like an encyclopaedia.
9. The Bhavishya Purana : This Purana has 14,000 shlokas in it. There are several stories related to the gods Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Surya. It also describes several ancient royal families and sages. Besides these, it also discusses several rituals which were performed at that time.
10. The Brahmavaivarta Purana : This Purana has 18,000 shlokas in it. This Purana tells Brahman as the creator of this universe. It gives a detailed description of Lord Krishna’s life. It also describes about Radha. In it, Ganesha has been called is an incarnation of Krishna.
11. The Linga Purana : This Purana has 11,000’shlokas in it. This Purana is associated with Shaivism. It describes about the incarnations of Shiva, fasts and holy places. It preaches to worship the linga as a form of Shiva.
12. The Varaha Purana: It has 10,700 shlokas in it. It giyes a detailed description of the worship of Vishnu in the incarnation of Varaha. It also gives a description related to Shiva, Durga and Ganesha.
13. The Skanda Purana : It was a large Purana. It describes 51,000 shlokas in it. This Purana is not available now. Information about it can be gathered from examples cited in the other texts. This Purana mainly describes about the worship of Shiva. Besides this, it gives useful information about the several holy places and temples of India.
14. The Vamana Purana : There are 10,000 shlokas in this Purana. Most of this Purana describes about the worship of gods like Shiva, Vishnu and Ganesha etc. It also describes several mythical stories.
15. The Kurina Purana : There are 18,000 shlokas in this Purana. It describes the worship of the Kurma incarnation of Vishnu. It gives a description of several mythical stories.
16. The Matsya Purana: It has 14,000 shlokas in it. This Purana is a conversation between a matsya (fish) and Manu. When this world was destroyed then this fish saved man. It gives a detailed description of several famous royal families. Besides these, there is a description of several fairs and pilgrimages.
17. The Garura Purana : There are 18,000 shlokas in this Parana. There is a description of the methods involved in the worhship of Vishnu. It gives important information about the yajnas, astrology, grammar, social science, physical education and ghosts and spirits. It gives detailed information about the last rites, sati system and pitra shradhs.
18. The Brahmanda Parana : There are 12,000 shlokas in this Pur ana. This Purana was read by Brahman. It gives a description about several dynasties and pilgramages. Importance of the Pur anas The Puranas present a detailed picture of the ancient Indian culture. The customs and traditions prevalent in Hinduism today are a gift of the Puranas. These Puranas throw ample light on the religious beliefs of the Hindus, the methods of worship of the gods and goddesses, fasts, shradhs, birth, marriage and rites performed at the time of death.
Idol worship and belief in incarnation is also a gift of the Puranas. These Puranas popularized the tradition of worship of forefathers further. People were inspired to donate. The description of the popular dynasties given in the Puranas proved to be quite useful historically.
The description of the pilgramages and temples gives us important infbrmation about the contemporary art. Besides these, the Puranas throw ample light on the social, economic and political condition of ancient India. Undoubtedly, it would be no exaggeration if the Puranas are called the encyclopaedia of Indian culture. Dr. R.C. Hazra has aptly remarked, “The Puranas have played a very important part in the life of the Hindus for more than two thousand years.
They have brought home to the common man the wisdom of the saints of the highest order without creating any discord. The authors of these works took every individual into consideration and made such prescriptions as would benefit him in.his social and religious life.”
The Upanishads are considered as the true origin of Indian philosophy. Upanishads are those texts which incorporate in them the spiritual knowledge of the „ world of highest order just as pearls are held together in a string. The lustre o’f these pearls helps to eradicate the inner darkness of a person and, he is illuminated to such an extent that it outshines the light of the even sun. It would be no exaggeration to say that the Upanishads are the prime source of Indian philosophy. The word Upanishad is made from a combination of three words. The word ‘Up’ means near, ‘Ni’ means devotion and ‘Shad’ means to sit. Thus the word Upanishad’ means sitting beside with complete devotion.
In fact, Upanishad is such knowledge which a guru gives to his students secretly. The Upanishads are also called Vedanta because they are considered to be consequential part of the Vedas. Vedanta means the last knowledge. This means that there is no knowledge beyond or after Upanishads. The Upanishads were composed by different sages between 1000 B.C. and 300 B.C. The total number of all Upanishads is 108. Upanishads like Isha, Kena, Prashna, Mundaka, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chhandogya, Brihadaranyaka Shvetashvatara, Kaushitaki and Katha are considered the most important. The main teachings of the Upanishads are as follows :
1. Nature of Self : The word Self has been frequently used in the Upanishads because it is considered as the ultimate source of all knowledge. Self is the omnipresent living element. This element forms the basic foundation of all elements. This assumes a living form and resides in the hearts of all people. This is Brahman or the Atman (Absolute). For this reason, the Self is considered as the source of all light. According to the Upanishads, the Self is the only element about which there is no doubt. The Self is the determined strength. It is not transitory. It itself forms the basis of all transitory elements. For this reason, it is unchanging itself.
2. Nature of the Absolute : The word ‘Brahman’ is derived from an element of Sanskrit language called ‘Briha’ which means to grow or to proceed. From philosophical point of view, Brahman is an element which led to the creation of the visible world. Brahman is considered as an epitome of the power of man and nature. He is the master of unlimited powers because he himself is boundless. He is all pervading and the light of all lights. Despite being the basis of all virtues it is called Nirguna. He is the source of complete knowledge. It is impossible to describe his knowledge in words. Undoubtedly, he is the basic cause and foundation of the entire world.
3. Identity of Self and the Absolute : The sages have considered the Self and Brahman as a single entity in the Upanishads. They were considered as one basic element. For this reason, in the Upanishads, the words Self and the Absolute are used interchangeably at- several places. The distinction is only in words but not in meaning or element. There is only one primary element. He is sometimes called Self and sometimes called the Absolute. Just as a river joins the sea, so does the Self sublime with the Parmatman. Because the Self and the Absolute are one, therefore they cannot be differentiated. In brief, the Upanishadic philosophy looks like an ocean in a drop.
4. Creation of the World : There are several instances of the description of the creation of the world in the Upanishads. It tells that Brahman (the Absolute) created the world. Prior to the creation of the world, Brahman was present in its own Self. Then Brahman decided to express Himself in various forms. In this manner, began the creation of the world.
5. Belief in Karma Theory : The Upanishads believed in the Karma Theory. According to this, each person had to pay for his deeds (Karmas). The fruits of the deeds of the previous birth would have to be borne during the present birth. The fruits of the deeds of this birth would be borne in the next birth. The joys and sufferings of our lives depend upon our own deeds. Hence we should always indulge in good deeds and keep a distance from evil deeds. It is due to one’s ill deeds that a man gets separated from the Parmatman and continues to be a part of the vicious circle of transmigration.
6. Moral Virtues : The Upanishads have greatly emphasised on moral virtues. It is only when one adopts the moral virtues then he can swim across the ocean of this life. These virtues are :
- Always speak the truth.
- Love all beings.
- Think of others’ misery as one’s own.
- Keep distance from pride, greed and evil thinking,
- Do not indulge in stealing or robbing,
- Obey the tenets of religion.
- Do not show laxity towards the study of the Vedas, education, deities and forefathers,
- Be sincere towards social welfare,
- Respect your guru.
7. Maya : The Upanishads have thrown ample light on the principle of Maya. The world and its elements have been referred to as Maya. Ignorant men run after the attractive elements of this world. To acquire them, they do not hesitate to use even the worst meAnswer:Maya veils one’s intelligence and renders man to be trapped in the cycle of transmigration. An intelligent man understands the mystery of Maya and so does not fall a prey to this vicious Maya. Only such persons attain salvation (Moksha).
8. Moksha : The attainment of Moksha is the prime objective of a man’s life. Through Karma, a man is subjected to the sufferings of transmigration. The Atman inside the body is the partner to all joys and sufferings. Till the time, the Atman is trapped in the body, it cannot free itself of joys and sufferings. Ignorance is the prime cause of all bonds of man. When this ignorance is destroyed, man is freed from all bonds and he attains salvation.
Moksha is the last step of ladder of man’s knowledge upon reaching there, he achieves all. Nothing supersedes the joy of attaining Moksha. According to the Upanishads, Moksha can be attained only through knowledge. The famous historian Dr. S.N. Sen has aptly remarked, “The Upanishads are rich in deep philosophical content and are the bed¬rock on which all the latter philosophical development rests.”
The Dharma Shastras Eire ancient texts of the Hindus. These are also called Smritis. Of these Dharma Shastras, the most famous are Manu’s Dharma Shastra or Manu Smriti. Besides this, the Smritis composed by Yajnavalkaya, Vishnu and Narda are also important. The historians disagree on the period of the composition of the Dharma Shastras. The common view is that they were created between 1st B.C. and Ith B.C. These Dharma Shastras are composed in Sanskrit. In these, the Vishnu Sihriti is composed in prose whereas the rest of the three Dharma Shastras are written in the form of a poem.
These Dharma Shastras render light on the religious, social, political and economic regulations of ancient India explicitly. Consequently, these Dharma Shastras are a valuable source for us to know about the condition of the people of that time. A brief description of the main Dharma Shastras is as follows :
1. Manu Smriti : Manu Smriti is also known by the name Manu Samhita. It was composed by Manu. Manu is considered as the world’s first law giver. In his compositions, he has given important information about the origin of Dharma and its sources. It clearly defines the roles of the Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The Brahmanas occupied the highest position in society whereas the Shudras were considered the lowest. In it, human life is divided into four ashramas i.e. Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa and the associated responsibilities and importance is also described in it.
In it, Manu has also described the rules that the kings should follow. According to this, the king should appoint a Council of Ministers to run the administration of the state. The king should least interfere in the local administration. Manu believed that we should respect and serve our parents, teachers and elders.
If they are angry with usr we should not lose our temper. Because we can never repay them for what they have done for us. A person who disrespects them should be fined with 100 pana. According to Manu, women should not be given the right to study the Vedas or the right to property. Their ideas should never be trusted. They should not be given freedom. He was in favour of early marriage. He opposed widow remarriage and Niyoga practices.
According to Manu, people should lead a simple and pious life. According to him, wicked and evil doers have to face several difficulties in hell. He was strictly against gambling. According to him, the government should fix the prices of goods. Besides these subjects, Manu has also given information about Yoga, Meditation, Transmigration and Moksha in his composition.
2. Yajnavalkya Smriti : Though Yajnavalkya Smriti is brief as compared to Manu Smriti but it is important in several aspects. The description in it is bound by principles and the language is lucid. It is considered to be composed between 100 B.C. and 300 B.C. Yajnavalkya Smriti is divided into three chapters. The first chapter deals with the values right from conception to marriage, the duties of a wife, the rights and duties of the four Vamas, the rules of charity, the rules for observing shradhas and the fruits of observing them, the appropriate qualities of a ruler and his ministers, judicial system and the penance for criminals and the tax system explicitly.
The second chapter gives the difference between Dharma Shastra and Artha Shastra. Rights to property, the rules relating to slavery, gambling, theft, rape, border disputes . are given in great details. The third chapter renders light on the last rites, period of sorrow, means of attaining purity, Atman, path to Moksha, evil doers, yogis, means to attain knowledge of the Atman, hell, objectives of remorse, killing of creatures etc.
The Yajnavalkya Smriti and Manu Smriti differ on certain issues. Manu on one hand has allowed a Brahmana to marry the daughter of a Shudra, on the other hand Yajnavalkya opposed it. Manu has criticised Niyoga whereas Yajnavalkya was in favour of it. Manu believed that the widows should have no right over property whereas Yajnavalkya was completely in favour of it. Manu was strictly against gambling whereas Yajnavalkya did not consider it bad. He was in favour of bringing it under the control of the government to obtain revenue. Yajnavalkya has provided important and useful information about biology and medical science in his Smriti.
3. Vishnu Smriti : This Smriti was composed between 100 A.D. and 300 A.D. It was written in the form of prose. In it some shlokas have been taken from Manu and Yajnavalkya’s Smritis. In Vishnu Smriti, the Aryan region has been described more explicitly than Manu Smriti. It covers almost the whole of India. It proves that during the period when Vishnu Smriti was composed, the Aryans had spread in the whole of India. The rulers were the focus of administration.
To expand their empires and protect their subjects was their prime duty. A Council of Ministers was appointed to help the king to run the administration efficiently, The ministers were appointed primarily on the basis of their abilities and loyalty towards the state. The smallest unit of administration was called Gram (village). To give fair justice to the subjects was the prime responsibility of the ruler. Vishnu Smriti gives a detailed description of the types of crimes and the punishments awarded for them.
The Manu Smriti describes that due to their highest position in society there should be no tax imposed on the Brahmans but the Vishnu Smriti favoured it. Vishnu Smriti was against gambling and considered it as a blot on society. It believed in the Varna system and Ashrama system prevalent in society. The Shudras too could become ascetics whereas according to the Manu Smriti they could not attain Sanyasa. During this period, the situation of women worsened.
This can be guaged from the fact that the Sati system began during this period. Vishnu Smriti emphasises on the fact that people should lead simple and pious life. They should not even speak to the crooked people. Vishnu Smriti also describes the coins namely yava, masha, swama, nishak, kishnal etc. It proves that trade at that time was not only conducted through the barter system but also by coins.
4. Narda Smriti : This Smriti was composed between 100. A.D. and 400 A.D. This Smriti has some shlokas from the Manu Smriti but it has its own qualities. The king appointed spies to keep him informed of the incidents of the kingdom. Kul, Shreni and Gana were institutions for social welfare. These institutions made their own policies and rules. The king interfered less in the internal affairs of these institutions. The Narda Smriti gives a detailed account of the judicial process of the state. The king was considered as the supreme justice of the state. His decisions were final.
If a thief was not caught, the king had to give an amount equivalent to the value of things lost from his treasury. Anyone who sheltered the thief or bought the stolen goods was considered equally guilty and deserved a punishment. Different punishments were awarded for different crimes. To be proved innocent, one had to go through seven tests which have been described in it.
Narda was in favour of bringing gambling under government control so that the government could earn some income from it. He was not in favour of a widow being given the property of her husband. He supported widow-remarriage and Niyoga traditions. He described the 15 kinds of slaves prevalent in society. Their duty was to serve the main three castes. They had no right to own property.
There was a system of partnership in business and the profit or loss was to be distributed proportionately among the partners. Narda has described the coins called dinar, pana and swama. He laid down some rules for the learning of students and artisAnswer:They had to go to the workshops of their masters to learn work. They could not leave their masters before the prescribed period of learning or else they were heavily penalised.
It is clear from the above mentioned description that the Dharma Shastras render great light on the various laws and traditions and customs. They are very important from historical point of view. Dr. R.C. Majumdar has aptly remarked, “The Dharma Shastras, also called Smritis, have played a very important part in Hindu life during the last two thousand years. Although the Vedas are regarded as the ultimate sources of dharma, in practice it is the Smriti works to which the Hindus all over India turn for the real exposition of religious duties and usages. They are also regarded as the only authentic sources of Hindu law and social customs.”
Short Answer Type Questions (Type 1):
Question 1.
Describe the salient features of Puranas Literature in brief but meaningful.
Or
What is meant by Puranas?
Answer:
The Puranas are the ancient texts of the Hindus. The Purana means ancient, ’hey have been written in Sanskrit. There have been made changes in them from me to time and new chapters were added to them. Hence the Puranas have been itten by several writers. The Puranas were called the Fifth Veda and the Shudras re given the permission to read them. The total number of Purans are 18. These Puranas have been divided into three parts. There are six Puranas in each part and they are called Shiva, Vaishnava and Brahman Purana.
Question 2.
What is discussed in the Puranas?
Answer:
The prevalent Vedic and Non-Vedic religious beliefs, myths and stories are compiled in the Puranas. Each Purana is divided into five parts. These parts are :
- Sarga : It describes about the creation of the world.
- Pratisarga : It gives a description about the development, destruction and recreation of the world.
- Vansh : It gives a description of the lineage of the famous kings and Rishis.
- Manvantar : It gives a description of the great battles fought on this earth and the important event in each of them.
- Vanshanucharita : It gives a description of the kings of great lineage and the feats of the Rishis.
Question 3.
Describe in brief but meaningfully the two popular Puranas.
Answer:
- The Brahman furana : It is also called the Adi Purana. It has 14,000 shlokas in it. Most of it describes the pilgrimage places of India. Besides this, it also gives a description of Krishna, Rama, Surya, famous royal families, earth, hell, various castes, Varna Ashrama system and about Shradhs.
- The Padma Purana : This is the biggest Purana. It has almost 55,000 shlokas in it. It describes the Srishti Khand, Bhumi Khand, Swarga Khand and Pataal Khand. It gives a detailed description of the Vishnu Katha and Rama Katha. Besides these, this Purana also describes about the holy places and fasts.
Question 4.
Describe the importance of Puranas Literature.
Answer:
The Puranas present a detailed picture of the ancient Indian culture. The customs and traditions prevalent in Hinduism today are a gift of the Puranas. These Puranas throw ample light on the religious beliefs of the Hindus, the methods of worship of the gods and goddesses, fasts, shradhas, birth, marriage and rites performed at the time of death. Idol worship and belief in incarnation is also a gift of the Puranas. These Puranas popularized the tradition of worship of forefathers further. People were inspired to donate. The description of the popular dynasties given in the Puranas proved to be quite useful historically.
Question 5.
What do you mean by the Upanishads?
Answer:
The Upanishads are those texts which describe knowledge. They are 108 in number and they were composed by different hermits between 550 B.C. to 100 B.C. These throw light on the indepth spiritual subjects. These try to tell what soul is and what is its relation to the Supreme Soul. They have tried to solve severa mysteries pertaining to life and death.
Question 6.
What is the nature of Self and Absolute according to the Upanishads?
Answer:
- Nature of Self: The word Self has been frequently used in the Upanisha because it is considered as the ultimate source of all knowledge. Self is the omniorese living element. This element forms the basic foundation of all elements. This assumes a living form and resides in the hearts of all people.
- Nature of the Absolute : The word ‘Brahman’ is derived from an element of Sanskrit language called ‘Briha’ which means to grow or to proceed. From philosophical point of view, Brahman is an element which led to the creation of the visible world. Brahman is considered as an epitome of the power of man and nature. He is the master of unlimited powers because he himself is boundless. He is all pervading and the light of all lights.
Question 7.
According to Upanishads ‘Brahma’ is formless. Elucidate.
Or
According to Upanishads Brahma is the creator of Universe. Discuss.
Answer:
Brahman is considered as an epitome of the power of man and nature. He is the master of unlimited powers because he himself is boundless. He is all pervading and the light of all lights. Despite being the basis of all virtues it is called Nirguna. He is the source of complete knowledge. It is impossible to describe his knowledge in words. Undoubtedly, he is the basic cause and foundation of the entire world.
Question 8.
What is meant by Moksha according to the Upanishads?
Answer:
According to the Upanishads, the attainment of Moksha is the prime objective of a man’s life. Through Karma, a man is subjected to the sufferings of transmigration. The Atman inside the body is the partner to all joys and” sufferings. Till the time, the Atman is trapped in the body, it cannot free itself of joys and sufferings. Ignorance is the prime cause of all bonds of man. When this ignorance is destroyed, man is freed from all bonds and he attains salvation. –
Question 9.
Write a short note on Bhagvadgita.
Answer:
The Bhagvadgita is one of the sacred texts of the Hindus. The Bhagvadgita is a part of the Mahabharata. It is more popularly known by the name Gita. There are 18 chapters and 700 shlokas in it. The sermon of Gita was given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna before the battle of Mahabharata began. The ideas of Gita have a magical impact on the common people. It is for this reason, that the Gita is dear to all the Hindus even today. It gives a simple solution in clear words to all the problems of human life.
Question 10.
Write a short note on the Karmayoga.
Answer:
Karamyoga is a famous principle of the Gita. No creature can spend a single moment without Karma. A person who is able to control his senses and works selflessly is called Karamayogi and those persons who fall a victim to their senses and works to show off are called hypocrite. Except Karamayoga (Karma which does not desire of my fruits), the rest are all full of bonds. Hence, the Gita inspires a man to be a laramayogi. Acce ding to the Gita, every Karma bears fruit which has to be borne by e person. It is never possible that a person performs an action and escapes its fruit.
Question 11.
What do you mean by Jnanayoga?
Answer:
According to the Bhagvadgita, the fire of knowledge reduces all the bonds of Karma to ashes. For this reason, there is no purer a thing than knowledge in this world. This knowledge is not limited to the knowledge of ordinary elements. It actually means pure knowledge of the Soul. This is called Jnanayoga. Knowledge is the best way to attain salvation because knowledge sets the seed of Karma on fire and a burnt seed cannot give rebirth to a plant.
Question 12.
What are the Dharma Shastras?
Answer:
The Dharma Shastras are ancient texts of the Hindus. Of these Dharma Shastras, the most famous are Manu’s Dharma Shastra or Manu Smriti. Besides this, the Smritis composed by Yajnavalkaya, Vishnu and Narda are also important. These Dharma Shastras are composed in Sanskrit.
Short Answer Type Questions (Type-2):
Question 1.
Describe the salient features of Puranas Literature in brief but meaningful.
Or
What is meant by Puranas?
Answer:
The Puranas are the ancient texts of the Hindus. The Pur ana means ancient. They have been written in Sanskrit. No definite period is given for their writing. These are not a creation of any single century. They are described in the Atharvaveda, Upanishads and epics. There have been made changes in them from time to time and new chapters were added to them. The Puranas were given their final touch in the Gupta period. Hence the Puranas have been written by several writers. The Puranas were called the Fifth Veda and the Shudras were given the permission to read them. The total number of Purans are 18. These Puranas have been divided into three parts. There are six Puranas in each part and they are called Shiva, Vaishnava and Brahman Purana.
These parts are as follows :
(1) Shiva Purana :
- Vayu
- Linga
- Skanda
- Agni
- Matsya
- Kurina.
(2) Vaishnava Purana :
- Vishnu
- Bhagvata
- Narada
- Garura
- Padma.
(3) Brahman Purana :
- Brahman
- Brahmand
- Brahmavaivrata
- Markandeya
- Bhavishya
- Vamana.
Question 2.
What is discussed in the Puranas?
Answer:
The prevalent Vedic and Non-Vedic religious beliefs, myths and stories are compiled in the Puranas. Myths are those stories of which there is no proof, but they are very popular. Each Purana is divided into five parts. These parts are :
- Sarga : It describes’ about the creation of the world.
- Pratisarga : It gives a description about the development, destruction and recreation of the world.
- Vansh : It gives a description of the lineage of the famous kings and Rishis.
- Manvantar : It gives a description of the great battles fought on this earth and the important event in each of them.
- Vanshanucharita : It gives a description of the kings of great lineage and the feats of the Rishis.
What is worth remembering here is that we do not have the original Puranas with us. What we have with us today as the Puranas, may not necessarily have the descriptions as per the above divisions.
Question 3.
Give a brief account of any five Puranas.
Answer:
(1) The Brahman Purana : It is also called the Adi Purana. It has 14,000 shlokas in it. Most of it describes the pilgrimage places of India. Besides this, it also gives a description of Krishna, Rama, Surya, famous royal families, earth, hell, various castes, Varna Ashrama system and about Shradhs.
(2) The Padma Purana : This is the biggest Purana. It has almost 55,000 shlokas in it. It describes the Srishti Khand, Bhumi Khand, Swarga Khand and Pataal Khand. It gives a detailed description of the Vishnu Katha and Rama Katha. Besides these, this Purana also describes about the holy places and fasts.
(3) The Vishnu Purana : This Purana has 23,000 shlokas in it. It says that Vishnu is the supreme god. He alone has created the world and protects it. It also describes the strange things about this world and the people of heaven. It gives a description of several famous lineages.
(4) The Vayu Purana : This Purana has 11,000 shlokas in it. It describes several stories associated with the glory of Shiva. For this reason, it is also called the Shiva Purana. It describes several lineages. It has great historical importance.
(5) The Bhagvata Purana : Most popular among the Puranas associated with Lord Vishnu is the Bhagavata Purana. It gives a description of several stories associated with the life of Lord Krishna.
Question 4.
Describe the importance of Puranas Literature.
Or
What are the main features of Puranas literature?
Or
Puranas are very important in Hinduisim. Discuss.
Answer:
The Puranas present a detailed picture of the ancient Indian culture. The customs and traditions prevalent in Hinduism today are a gift of the Puranas. These Puranas throw ample light on the religious beliefs of the Hindus, the methods of worship of the gods and goddesses, fasts, shradhas, birth, marriage and rites performed at the time of death. Idol worship and belief in incarnation is also a gift of the Puranas. These Puranas popularized the tradition of worship of forefathers further. People were inspired to donate.
The description of the popular dynasties given in the Purana?’ proved to be quite useful historically. The description of the pilgrimages and temples gives us important information about the contemporary art. Besides these, the Puranas throw ample light on the social, economic and political condition of ancient India. Undoubtedly, it would be no exaggeration if the Puranas are called the encyclopaedia of Indian culture.
Question 5.
What do you mean by the Upanishads?
Or
Describe the name of five Upanishads and their importance.
Or
Give informations about Upanishads literature.
Answer:
The Upanishads are those texts which describe knowledge. Since they are the last part of the Vedas, they are also called the Vedanta. They are 108 in number and they were composed by different hermits between 1000-500 B.C. These throw light on the indepth spiritual subjects. These try to tell what soul is and what is its relation to the Supreme Soul. They have tried to solve several mysteries pertaining to life and death. They throw ample light on subjects like Karma, Moksha, Maya and Transmigration. Dr. S.R. Goyal has rightly said, “The Upanishadic philosophy is rightly regarded as the source of all Indian Philosophy.”
Question 6.
What is the nature of Self and Absolute according to the Upanishads?
Answer:
1. Nature of Self: The word Self has been frequently used in the Upanishads because it is considered as the ultimate source of all knowledge. Self is the omnipresent living element. This element forms the basic foundation of all elements. This assumes a living form and resides in the hearts of all people. This is Brahman or the Parmatman
Or
According to Upanishads Brahma is the creator of Universe. Discuss.
Answer:
The word ‘Brahman’ is derived from an element of Sanskrit language called ‘Briha’ which means to grow or to proceed. From philosophical point of view, Brahman is an element which led to the creation of the visible world. Brahman is considered as an epitome of the power of man and nature. He is the master of unlimited powers because he himself is boufidless. He is all pervading and the light of all lights. Despite being the basis of all virtues it is called Nirguna. He is the source of complete knowledge. It is impossible to describe his knowledge in words. Undoubtedly, he is the basic Cause and foundation of the entire world.
Question 8.
What do you know about the Doctrine of Five Layers?
Answer:
To understand the form of Self, the Taittiriya Upanishad gives the Doctrine of the Five Layers. These five layers are :
- Annamayi Kosh : It is a non-living and lifeless element. It comes at a materialistic level.
- Pranmayi Kosh : It comes at a living level. It includes all flora and fauna.
- Manomayi Kosh : It comes at a stage of consciousness. It is the objective of life.
- Vigyanmayi Kosh : It is at a level of self consciousness. In it consciousness develops logical intellect.
- Anandmayi Kosh : It is the true level of the Self. It destroys the spirit of diversity and differentiation.
The first four layers become a part of this pleasure (Anand) which is the last stage of their development. Hence the Doctrine of Five Layers proves that the Self is pure, living form of pleasure.
Question 9.
What is meant by Moksha according to the Upanishads?
Answer:
According to the Upanishads, the attainment of Moksha is the prime objective of a man’s life. Through Karma, a man is subjected to the sufferings of transmigration. The Atman inside the body is the partner to all joys and sufferings. Till the time, the Atman is trapped in the body, it cannot free itself of joys and sufferings. Ignorance is the prime cause of all bonds of man. When this ignorance is destroyed, man is freed from all bonds and he attains salvation. Moksha is the last step of ladder of man’s knowledge. Upon reaching there he achieves all. Nothing supersedes the joy of attaining Moksha. According to the Upanishads, Moksha can be attained only through knowledge.
Question 10.
Write a short note on Bhagvadgita.
Answer:
The Bhagvadgita is one of the sacred texts of the Hindus. The Bhagvadgita is a part of the Mahabharata. It is more poularly known by the name Gita. There are 18 chapters and 700 shlokas in it.
The sermon of Gita was given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna before the battle of Mahabharata began. The ideology imparted by Gita was usually beyond the comprehension of the common man. The ideas of Gita have a magical impact on the common people. It is for this reason, that the Gita is dear to all the Hindus even today. It gives a simple solution in clear words to all the problems of human life. The Gita does not suggest any one way of life for the attainment of salvation.
It says that if every man’s behaviour is different from the other, then there ought to be different ways of reaching one’s ultimate goal. There are three ways of doing this : Karamayoga, Bhaktiyoga and Jnanayoga. A man chooses his own path of life according to this nature and interest.
Question 11.
Write a short note on the Karmayoga.
Answer:
Karamyoga is a famous principle of the Gita. No creature can spend a single moment without Karma. A person who is able to control his senses and works selflessly is called Karamayogi and those persons who fall a victim to their senses and works to show off are called hypocrite. Except Karamayoga .(Karma which does not desire if any fruits), the rest are all, full of bonds. Hence, the Gita inspires a man to be ,a Karamayogi. According to the Gita, every Karma bears fruit which has to be borne by the person. It is never possible that a person performs an action and escapes its fruit.
It is an inevitable principle. The fruits of one’s deeds lead one into the vicious circle of transmigration. He bears the sufferings of fruit of the deeds of the previous birth and through new deeds, gathers the fruits of this birth to move on to the next birth. As a consequence of his deeds, man attains several stages of life, the highest being the Parampad which is his highest goal. Only the Karamyoga can help man attain Parampad.
Question 12.
Give a brief account of the Bhaktiyoga.
Answer:
Bhaktiyoga is counted among the three main paths of the Gita. Bhakti is of several types :
(1) Prapti Bhakti : It is a kind of bhakti in which the devotee comes with a pious heart in the shelter of God and gets detached from the materialistic elements,
(2) Swarth Bhakti : Most of the bhakti in this world is purposeful. The reason for this is that some people resort to bhakti after they are hassled by troubles and they want to get rid of them.
(3) Jnana Bhakti: Such bhagats deeply study the Shastras to fulfil their desire of knowledge and by God’s grace are able to attain true knowledge.
(4) Nirguna Bhakti: This is a kind of bhakti in which God is considered omnipresent in all forms and thus. He serves all the creatures,
(5) Saguna Bhakti: In this kind of bhakti, the devotee with a pure heart pays devotion to the idol of his god.
(6) Kirtan Bhakti : In this bhakti, the devotee constantly indulges in Kirtan in the name of God.
(7) Shravana Bhakti: This type of bhakti is for the less educated. For this reason, they cannot deeply study the Shastras. Consequently, they listen to the sermons of Shastras from the others and tread on the path of bhakti. All these forms of bhakti are considered as a source of Mukti (salvation).
Question 13.
What do you mean by Jnanayoga?
Answer:
According to the Bhagvadgita, the fire of knowledge reduces all the bonds of Karma to ashes. For this reason, there is no purer a thing than knowledge in this world. This knowledge is not limited to the knowledge of ordinary elements. It actually means pure knowledge of the Soul. This is called Jnanayoga. Of Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga and Jnanayoga, Jnanayoga receives prominence because without the knowledge of the Soul, a man can neither be a true Karamayogi nor can he be a true devotee.
After attaining human form, the creature who is not able to attain the knowledge of the Soul can never attain freedom from the bondage of cycle of Karma. Knowledge is the best way to attain salvation because knowledge sets the seed of Karma on fire and a burnt seed cannot give rebirth to a plant.
Question 14.
Describe in brief but meaningful the salient features of Dharma Shastras.
Or
What are the Dharma Shastras?
Or
Describe Dharma Shastras.
Or
Describe the importance of Shastra literature.
Answer:
The Dharma Shastras are ancient texts of the Hindus. These are also called Smritis. Of these Dharma Shastras, the most famous are Manu’s Dharma Shastra or Manu Smriti. Besides this, the Smritis composed by Yajnavalkaya, Vishnu and Narda are also important. The historians disagree on the period of the composition of the Dharma Shastras. The common view is that they were created between 1st B.C. and 5th B.C. These Dharma Shastras are composed in Sanskrit.
In these, the Vishnu Smriti is composed in prose whereas the rest of the three Dharma Shastras are written in the form of a poem. These Dharma Shastras render light on the religious, social, political and economic regulations of ancient India explicitly. Consequently, these Dharma Shastras are a valuable source for us to know about the condition of the people of that time.
Question 15.
Write a short note on the Manu Smriti.
Or
Give information about Manu Smriti.
Answer:
Manu Smriti is also known by the name Manu Samhita. It was composed by Manu. Manu is considered as the world’s first law giver. In his compositions, he has given important information about the origin of Dharma and its sources. It clearly defines the roles of the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The Brahmanas occupied the highest position in society whereas the Shudras were considered the lowest. In it, human life is divided into four ashramas i.e. Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa and the associated responsibilities and importance is also described in it.
In it, Manu has also described the rules that the kings should follow. According to this, the king should appoint a Council of Ministers to run the administration of the state. The king should least interfere in the local administration. Manu believed that we should respect and serve our parents, teachers and elders. If they are angry with us, we should not lose our temper. Because we can never repay them for what they have done for us. According to Manu, women should not be given the right to study the Vadas or the right to property.
Question 16.
What do you mean by the Four Ashramas?
Answer:
Considering human life span to be approximately 100 years, Manu has divided it into four Ashramas of 25 years each. They were Brahmacharya Ashrama, Grihastha ashrama, Vanaprastha Ashrama and Sanyasa Ashrama. All these Ashramas were fixed for the above mentioned three castes. The first ashrma was Brahmacharya. In it a child attained knowledge from the age of 5 years to the age of 25 years. Grihastha Ashrama was from 25 to 50 years.
In it man indulged in marriage to produce children. He took complete responsibility of their rearing. It was essential for every family to have a son. Vanaprastha Asharma was from 50 to 75 years. In it a man left his home and went to the forest to lead the life of an ascetic. The fourth and the last ashrama was Sanyasa. It was from 75 to 100 years. In it a man lived like a Sanyasi and tried to attain salvation.
Question 17.
What views are given about women in’Manu Smriti?
Answer:
Manu was not in favour of giving independence to women. He was of the view that a woman should be taken care of by her father when unmarried, by her husband when married and by her sons once her husband dies. ‘He said that women put men on the wrong path. He was not in favour of believing what women said. Manu had favoured child marriage. He said that women should get married between the age 8 to 12 years. Manu opposed widow remarriage and the system of Niyoga. According to Niyoga system, a widow could marry her brother-in-law to produce a son.
Manu was not in favour of giving property rights to women. She could only obtain Tstree Dhan’ which she got with herself as dowry. Despite all the restrictions that were placed on women, Manu respected women greatly in the form of a housewife. He said, “God resides where women are respected, where women are not respected, religious rites are futile”.
Question 18.
What do you know about Yajnavalkya Smriti?
Answer:
Though Yajnavalkya Smriti is brief as compared to Manu Smriti but it is important in several aspects. The description in it is bound by principal and the language is lucid. It is considered to be composed between 100 B.C. and 300 B.C. Yajnavalkya Smriti is divided into three chapters. The first chapter deals with the values right from conception to marriage, the duties of a wife, the rights and duties of the four Varnas, the rules of charity, the rules for observing shradhas and the fruits of observing them, the appropriate qualities of a ruler and his ministers, judicial system and the penance for criminals and the tax system explicitly.
The second chapter gives the difference between Dharma Shastra and Artha Shastra, rights to property, the rules relating slavery, gambling, theft, rape, border disputes in great details. The third chapter renders light on the last rites, period of sorrow, means of attaining purity, Soul, path to Moksha, evil doers, yogis, means to attain knowledge of the Soul, hell, objectives of remorse, killing of creatures etc.
Question 19.
Write a short note on the Vishnu Smriti.
Answer:
The Vishnu Smriti was composed between 100 A.D. and 300 A.D. It was written in the form of prose. In it some shalokas have been taken from Manu and Yajnavalkya’s Smritis. In Vishnu Smriti, the Aryan region has been described more explicitly than Manu Smriti. It covers almost the whole of India. It proves that during the period when Vishnu Smriti was composed, the Aryans had spread in the whole of India. The rulers were the focus of administration. To expand their empires and to protect their subjects was their prime duty. A Council of Ministers were appointed to help the king to run the administration efficiently. The ministers were appointed primarily on the basis of their abilities and loyalty towards the state.
The smallest unit of administration was called Gram (village). To give fair justice to the subjects was a prime responsibility of the ruler. Vishnu Smriti gives a detailed description of the types of crimes and the punishments awarded for them. Vishnu Smriti was against gambling and considered it as a blot on society. It believed in the Varna system and Ashrama system prevalent in sociey. During this period, the situation of women worsened. This can be guaged from the fact that the Sati system began during this period.
Question 20.
What do you know about the Narda Smriti?
Answer:
This Smriti was composed between 100 A.D„,and 400 A.D. This Smriti has some shlokas from the Manu Smriti but it has its own qualities. The king appointed spies to keep him informed of the incidents of the kingdom. Kul, Shreni and Gana were institutions for social welfare. These institutions made their own policies and rules. The king interfered less in the internal affairs of these institutions. The Narda Smriti gives a detailed account of the judicial process of the state. The king was considered as the supreme justice of the state. His decisions were final.
If a thief was not caught, the king had to give an amount equivalent to the value of things lost from his treasury. Anyone who sheltered the thief or bought the stolen goods was considered equally guilty and deserved a punishment. Different punishments were awarded for different crimes. To be proved innocent, one had to go through seven tests which have been described in it. Narda was in favour of bringing gambling under government control so that the government could earn some income from it. He was not in favour of a widow being given the property of her husband. He supported widow-remarriage and Niyoga traditions. He described the 15 kinds of slaves prevalent in society.
Answer in One Word to One Sentence:
Question 1.
What is meant by the Puranas?
Answer:
The Puranas mean ancient/the oldest.
Question 2.
In which language were the Puranas written?
Answer:
Sanskrit.
Question 3.
Which is known as the fifth Veda?
Answer:
Puranas.
Question 4.
How many Puranas are there?
Or
Give the total number of Puranas.
Answer:
18.
Question 5.
In how many groups the Puranas have been classified?
Answer:
The Puranas have been classified in three groups.
Question 6.
Name the three groups of the Puranas.
Answer:
- Shiva Puranas,
- Vaishnava Puranas,
- Brahman Puranas.
Question 7.
Name any two famous Puranas.
Answer:
Shiva Puranas and Vaishnava Purana.
Question 8.
Mention any one Purana included in Shiva Puranas.
Answer:
Linga Purana.
Question 9.
Mention any one Purana included in Vaishnava Puranas.
Answer:
Vishnu Purana.
Question 10.
Mention any one Purana included in Brahama Puranas.
Answer:
Brahmanda Purana.
Question 11.
In how many parts each Purana has been divided?
Answer:
Five parts.
Question 12.
In what part of the Purana the origin of the world has been described?
Answer:
Sarga part.
Question 13.
Which part of the Purana is considered historically important?
Answer:
Fifth part.
Question 14.
Which is the oldest of the Puranas?
Answer:
Brahman Purana.
Question 15.
By what other name the Brahman Purana is known?
Answer:
Adi Purana.
Question 16.
How many shlokas are there in the Brahman Purana?
Answer:
14,000 shlokas.
Question 17.
Which is the largest Purana?
Answer:
Padama Purana.
Question 18.
How many shlokas Padama Purana has?
Answer:
55,000 shlokas.
Question 19.
Of how many shlokas Vishnu Purana contains?
Answer:
23,000 shlokas.
Question 20.
By what other name Vayu Purana is known?
Answer:
Shiva Purana.
Question 21.
Bhagvata Purana is related with which god?
Answer:
Bhagvata Purana is related with Vishnu.
Question 22.
How many shlokas Narada Purana contains?
Answer:
25,000 shlokas.
Question 23.
With which god Narada Purana is associated?
Answer:
Lord Vishnu.
Question 24.
Which Purana has the least number of shlokas’?
Answer:
Markandeya Purana.
Question 25.
How many shlokas Markandeya Purana contains?
Answer:
900 shlokas.
Question 26.
Name any two gods mentioned in the Markandya Purana?
Answer:
Question 27.
With which god Bhavishya Purana is associated?
Answer:
- Brahman,
- Vishnu,
- Shiva,
- Surya.
Question 28.
How many shlokas does Skanda Purana contain?
Answer:
51,000 shlokas.
Question 29.
With which god Skanda Purana is associated?
Answer:
Lord Shiva.
Question 30.
Between whom the dialogue goes on in Matsaya Purana?
Answer:
There is a dialogue between the Matsaya (Fish) and Manu.
Question 31.
With which god Garura Purana is associated?
Answer:
Lord Vishnu.
Question 32.
Mention any one subject of the Puranas.
Answer:
The origin of the world.
Question 33.
What is meant by Upanishad?
Answer:
To sit close with absolute reverence.
Question 34.
Why are the Upanishads called Vedanta?
Answer:
They are the finale of the Vedas.
Question 35.
In which language the Upanishads are composed?
Answer:
Sanskrit.
Question 36.
When were the Upanishads composed?
Answer:
During 550 to 100 B.C.
Question 37.
What is the total number of Upanishads?
Answer:
108.
Question 38.
Give the nunfber of main Upanishads.
Answer:
The main Upanishads are eleven.
Question 39.
Write the name of famous five Upanishads.
Or
Name any two Upanishads.
Answer:
- Isha,
- Kena,
- Katha,
- Prasma,
- Taittiriya.
Question 40.
Mention first two Upanishads.
Answer:
- Brihadaranyka,
- Chhandogya.
Question 41.
When were Brihadaranyka and Chhandogya Upanishads composed?
Answer:
During 550 to 450 BC.
Question 42.
Mention any two subjects of the Upanishads.
Answer:
- The nature of soul,
- The principle of Karma.
Question 43.
Is soul impermanent according to the Upanishads?
Answer:
No.
Question 44.
Mention two Upanishadic moral principles.
Answer:
- Always speak the truth,
- Love living beings.
Question 45.
What according to the Upanishads is the ultimate aim of life?
Answer:
To attain Moksha.
Question 46.
The Bhagvadgita forms a part of which epic?
Answer:
The Bhagvadgita is a part of Mahabharata.
Question 47.
In which language was the Bhagvadgita composed?
Answer:
It was composed in Sanskrit.
Question 48.
How many shlokas the Bhagvadgita contain?.
Answer:
700 shlokas.
Question 49.
What does Bhagvadgita mean?
Answer:
It means Divine Song.
Question 50.
Who gave the sermon to whom in the Bhagvadgita?
Answer:
Lord Krishna gave sermon to Aijuna.
Question 51.
How many Yogas are mentioned in the Bhagvadgita?
Answer:
Three Yogas have been mentioned in the Bhagvadgita.
Question 52.
What are the three Yogas mentioned in the Gita?
Answer:
They are Karamayoga, Bhaktiyoga and Jnanayoga.
Question 53.
Mention any one of Gita’s sermon.
Answer:
Man has to reap the fruit of his Karma.
Question 54.
How many type of Bhaktis are mentioned in the Bhagvadgita?
Answer:
The Gita mentions seven types of Bhaktis.
Question 55.
Mention any one types of Bhaktis expostulated in the Gita.
Answer:
Jnana Bhakti.
Question 56.
Who translated the Gita into English first of all?
Answer:
Edwin Arnold.
Question 57.
Who wrote commentary on the Gita?
Answer:
Ramanuja wrote commentary on the Gita.
Question 58.
What is meant by Dharma Shastras?
Or
What are the Dharma Shastras?
Answer:
They are the ancient law books of the Hindus.
Question 59.
Mention any one Dharma Shastras.
Answer:
Manu Smriti.
Question 60.
In which language Dharma Shastras were written?
Answer:
Sanskrit.
Question 61.
Which is the oldest Dharma Shastra?
Answer:
Manu Shastra.
Question 62.
Who is said to be the progenitor of mankind?
Answer:
Manu is believed to be the progenitor of mankind.
Question 63.
Who was the author of Manu Smriti?
Answer:
Manu.
Question 64.
By what other name Manu Smriti is known?
Answer:
Manava Dharma Shastra.
Question 65.
Which Dharma Shastra prescribes the duties of four varanas?
Answer:
Manu Smriti.
Question 66.
In how many Ashramas human life has been divided?
Answer:
Four Ashramas.
Question 67.
Mention any one Ashrama.
Answer:
Grihastha Ashrama.
Question 68.
Does Manu,Smriti allow the Shudras to read the Vedas?
Answer:
No.
Question 69.
How many sources of Dharma Manu Smriti mention?
Answer:
Four.
Question 70.
Mention any one source of Dharma as mentioned by Manu.
Answer:
The Vedas.
Question 71.
Which Dharma Shastra was against gambling?
Answer:
Vishnu Smriti.
Question 72.
Which Dharma Shastra favoured widow marriage.
Answer:
Narda Smriti.
Question 73.
What subjects have been discussed in Dharma Shastras?
Answer:
Rules of conduct and customs.
Fill in the Blanks:
1. The puranas means ……………
Answer:
ancient/the oldest.
2. The Puranas were written in ……………
Answer:
Sanskrit.
3. The Puranas are …………. in number.
Answer:
18.
4. Each Purana has been divided into …………… parts.
Answer:
five.
5. In …………… the origin of the the world has been’ described.
Answer:
Sarga.
6. The …………… gives a description of the lineage of the famous Kings and Rishis.
Answer:
Vanshanucharita.
7. The Brahman Purana is also known as …………….
Answer:
Adi Purana.
8. The biggest Purana was the …………… Purana.
Answer:
Padma.
9. The Vayu Purana is also called the …………… Purana.
Answer:
Shiva.
10. The Narada Purana contains …………….. Shlokas.
Answer:
25000.
11. The Garur Purana consists …………….. Shlokas.
Answer:
18000.
12. The ……………… Purana is the shortest of all the Puranas.
Answer:
Markandeya.
13. The Upanishads are also called …………..
Answer:
The Vedanta.
14. The Upanishads preached the principle of ……………. layers.
Answer:
five.
15. The Bhagvadgita is a part of the …………….
Answer:
Mahabharata.
16. The Bhagvadgita contains ……………. Shlokas.
Answer:
700.
17. Gita’s sermon was given by ……………..
Answer:
Lord Krishana.
18. ………….. Yogas have been mentioned in the Bhagvadgita.
Answer:
Three.
19. The Dharam Shastras were written in ……………..
Answer:
Sanskrit.
20. …………… is believed to be the progenitor of mankind.
Answer:
Manu.
21. Manu Smriti is also known as …………….. Dharam Shastra.
Answer:
Manava.
22. Manu Smriti does ……………… allow giving property rights and reading Vedas facility to women.
Answer:
not.
True Or False:
1. The Puranas were written in Sanskrit language.
Answer:
True
2. The Puranas were called the Fifth Veda.
Answer:
True
3. The Puranas are 10 in number.
Answer:
False
4. The Brahman Purana is the biggest Purana.
Answer:
False
5. The Padma Purana has 55000 shlokas in it.
Answer:
True
6. The Vayu Purana is also known as the Shiva Purana.
Answer:
True
7. The Bhagvata Purana is associated with the glory of Shiva.
Answer:
False
8. The Narada Purana is related to the worship of Vishnu.
Answer:
True
9. The Agni Purana was the shortest among the Puranas.
Answer:
False
10. The Bhavishya Purana has 14,000 shlokas in it.
Answer:
True
11. There are 51,000 shlokas in the Skanda Purana.
Answer:
True
12. The Matsya Purana is conversation between a fish and Manu.
Answer:
True
13. The total number of Upanishads is 108.
Answer:
True
14. The Upanishads were written in Pali language.
Answer:
False
15. The Upanishads give the Doctrine of Five layers.
Answer:
True
16. Bhagvadagita is a part of the Ramayana.
Answer:
False
17. The Bhagvadgita has 18 chapters.
Answer:
True
18. The Sermon of Gita was given by Lord Krishna to Aijuna.
Answer:
True
19. The Bhagvadgita has a belief in four Yogas.
Answer:
False
20. The ancient law texts of Hindus are called the Dharma Shastras.
Answer:
True
21. Manu Smriti was composed by Yajnavalkya.
Answer:
False
22. Manu is considered as the progenitor of mankind.
Answer:
True
23. The Narda Smriti was in favour of the widow’s marriage.
Answer:
True
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the total number of Puranas?
(a) 6
(b) 10
(c) 15
(d) 18
Answer:
(d) 18
2. In which language were the Puranas written?
(a) Hindi
(b) Punjabi
(c) Sanskrit
(d) English
Answer:
(c) Sanskrit
3. In how many groups the Puranas have been classified?
(a) 3
(b) 4
(c) 5
(d) 6.
Answer:
(a) 3
4. Which of the following is not a Shiva Purana?
(a) The Vayu
(b) The Vishnu
(c) The Skanda
(d) The Linga
Answer:
(b) The Vishnu
5. Which part of the Puranas contains description of the lineage of the famous kings and rishis?
(a) Vansh
(b) Vaushanu Charita
(c) Sarga
(d) Manvantar
Answer:
(a) Vansh
6. Which of the following is the oldest Purana?
(a) The Brahman Purana
(b) The Padma Purana
(c) The Vishnu Purana
(d) The Agni Purana
Answer:
(a) The Brahman Purana
7. Which of the following is the largest Purana?
(a) The Vishnu Purana
(b) The Skanda Purana
(c) The Vamana Purana
(d) The Padma Purana
Answer:
(d) The Padma Purana
8. What is the total number of shlokas in the Padma Purana?
(a) 15,000
(b) 23,000
(c) 51,000
(d) 55,000
Answer:
(d) 55,000
9. Which of the following is the smallest Purana?
(a) The Varana Purana
(b) The Vamana Purana
(c) The Padma Purana
(d) The Markandeya Purana
Answer:
(d) The Markandeya Purana
10. Which of the following Puranas contain the details of last rites?
(a) The Narada Purana
(b) The Vayu Purana
(c) The Garur Purana
(d) The Bhavishya Purana
Answer:
(c) The Garur Purana
11. What is the total number of Upanishads?
(a) 6
(b) 11
(c) 18
(d) 108
Answer:
(d) 108
12. Which of the following is not a Upanishad?
(a) Isha
(b) Kena
(c) Chhandogaya
(d) Skanda
Answer:
(d) Skanda
13. Who gave the sermon in the Bhagvadgita?
(a) Lord Krishna Ji
(b) Aijuna
(c) Lord Rama Ji
(d) Shiva
Answer:
(a) Lord Krishna Ji
14. The Bhagvad Gita is a part of which of the following texts?
(a) rrhe Ramayana
(b) The Mahabharata
(c) The Buddha Charita
(d) The Katha vathu
Answer:
(b) The Mahabharata
15. How many sMokas are there in Bhagvadgita?
(a) 500
(b) 700
(c) 800
(d) 900
Answer:
(b) 700
16. What are the ancient law texts called?
(a) Vedas
(b) Mahabharata
(c) Ramayana
(d) Dharam Shastras
Answer:
(d) Dharam Shastras
17. Which of the following is also known as Manava Dharma Shastra?
(a) Yajnavalkya Smriti
(b) Manu Smriti
(c) Vishnu Smriti
(d) Narada Smriti
Answer:
(b) Manu Smriti
18. Who is called Progenitor of mankind?
(a) Narada
(b) Vishnu
(c) Manu
(d) Yajnavalkya
Answer:
(c) Manu
19. Which of the following Puranas was against the freedom of women?
(a) Manu Smriti
(b) Narda Smriti
(c) Vishnu Smriti
(d) Yajnavalkya Smriti
Answer:
(a) Manu Smriti
