Question : “Archaeology knows of no Aryans. Only literature knows of Aryans” Examine critically.
(2015)
Answer : The composers of the Rig Veda described themselves as Aryan. The Vedic literature talks about the political life, the social life, the economic life and the religious life of the Aryans. The texts also deal with details about the gods and goddesses of the Aryans and the assemblies like sabha and samiti.
It also mentions cattle rearing, agricultural activity, crafts like cart making, carpentry, metal working etc as their main occupations.
There are also references in the ....
Question : How far is it correct to say that changes in the post Vedic economy gave birth to new religious movement in India?
(2015)
Answer : The causes for the rise of religious reform movements are many. In fact, the rise of these movements is a result of several contemporary factors combined together. Let us have a review at those factors. The political, social and economic life of the Aryans in the sixth century B.C. was different from that of the Vedic period. The traditional concept of society could no longer meet the challenges posed by the new developments. The changing ....
Question : “The Upanishadic principles embody the epitome of the Vedic thought.” Discuss
(2014)
Answer : It is customary for historians of the philosophy and religion of India to commence their studies with the Veda, which is regarded as the earliest sacred text of ancient Indian culture.
The Upanishads represent the loftiest heights of ancient Indo-Aryan thought and culture.
They form the wisdom portion or Jnana-Kanda of the Vedas, as contrasted with the Karma-Kanda or sacrificial portion. In each of the four great Vedas--known as Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva--there is a large ....
Question : Evaluate various views regarding human settlements as gleaned from the Vedic sources.
(2013)
Answer : It is generally believed that they were not the original inhabitants of India. Many theories have been put forward in favor and against the argument. Some historians say that the original home of Aryans was Central Asia.
Others are of the opinion that their original home was in southern Russia (near the Caspian sea) or in the south-east Europe (in Austria and Hungary). German scholar Max-Muller thought that the original home of the Aryans was somewhere ....
Question : On the basis of contemporary sources assess the nature of banking and usuary in ancient India.
(2013)
Answer : Among the oldest known references to usury are to be found in ancient Indian religious manuscripts and Jain provides an excellent summary of these in his work on Indigenous Banking in India.The earliest such record derives from the Vedic texts of Ancient India (2,000-1,400 BC) in which the “usurer” (kusidin) is mentioned several times and interpreted as any lender at interest.
More frequent and detailed references to interest payment are to be found in the later ....
Question : Social norms for women in the Dharmashastra and Arthashastra tradition were framed in accordance with the Varnashrama tradition. Evaluate critically.
(2013)
Answer : The principle of Varnashrama Dharma is one of the basic principles of Hinduism. The Varnasrama system is peculiar to Hindus. It is a characteristic feature of Hinduism. It is also prevalent throughout the world according to Guna-Karma (aptitude and conduct), though there is no such distinct denomination of this kind, elsewhere.
The duties of the castes are Varna Dharma. The four castes are Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. The duties of the stages in life are ....
Question : “The varna concept may always have been largely a theoretical model and never an actual description of society.” Comment in the context of Ancient India.
(2013)
Answer : Varna is the term for the four broad ranks into which traditional Hindu society is divided. The four varnas are:
This quadruple division is the ancient division of society into “principal castes”; it is not to be confused with the much finer caste system in India based on occupation as ....
Question : Evaluate the contribution of the Puranas in disseminating secular knowledge among the masses in ancient India.
(2013)
Answer : The Puranas are ancient Hindu texts eulogizing various deities of the Hindu pantheon through divine stories. Although the Puranas share some of the traits of the great epics, they belong to a later period and provide a more definite and connected representation of the mythological fictions, and the historical traditions.
So far as secular laws are concerned, the Puranas can be identified by five characteristics they possess - history, cosmology, often with various symbolical illustrations of ....
Question : Discuss the Caurapancashika and Jain styles of painting. Can the Caurapancashika style truly be called the precursor of pothi format?
(2012)
Answer : The earliest example of miniature painting in India exist in the form of illustrations to the religious text on Buddhism executed under the Palas of the Eastern India and the jain texts executed in 11th and 12th C. Jains appear to have practiced miniature painting before 10th C. Jain painting were widely spread in western India. There were a number of religious establishments in Gujarat and Rajasthan where manuscripts could be copied and illustrated.
The distinguishing ....
Question : Assess the importance of Jain tenets and their relevance to humanity.
(2011)
Answer : Jainism realizes that various trials and tribulations are part of life and that we humans are prone to all kind of weaknesses.
In view of these facts, Jainism, provides a unique system to attain inner peace and happiness. Jainism propounded five tenets, they are:-
(i) Non-violence (Ahimsa)
(ii) Truthfulness (Satya)
(iii) Non-stealing (Asteya)
(iv) Non-possession (Aparigraha)
(v) Celibacy (Brahmacharya)
All these tenets still bears great relevance owing to their very important role in our day ....
Question : Evaluate the introduction of iron technology in the development of human history of ancient India.
(2011)
Answer : The middle gangetic basin has had an average annual rainfall between 114 and 140 cm. It was thickly forested around the 6-5 century B.C as can be inferred from references to the four great forests (Maha aranyas) and from the deviation of some modern place names, for example, Arrah is derived from ancient aranya (forest), Saran from Naimisharanya and Champaran from Champaranya.
The large-scale and spread of agriculture in an area under thick forest cover was ....
Question : Assess the role of guilds and trade organisation in the development of early Indian economy.
(2010)
Answer : Literary and epigraphic evidence show that Srenis or guilds formed an important feature of economic life of people in ancient India.
The Shreni was more in nature of group of professionals. Merchants or artisans who worked in an association.
Mahavastu and Milendpanho mention 75 different occupation many of which were transformed into guilds. The Jatakas mention the number of guilds as 18.
The growing importance of guilds is a attested by the fact that law-givers like Gautama and ....
Question : Describe the social life of the later Vedic people. How was it different from the Rig-Vedic life?
(2004)
Answer : The Vedic Age (1500 BC-600 BC) was precipitated by the migration of the Aryan people from northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. The Vedic Age saw the development of agricultural activities on a large scale in the upper Gangetic plains of India.Various Aryan tribes migrated to the Indian subcontinent in large hoards from what is present-day Iran through the famous Khyber Pass. They rapidly spread to the area known as the Saptsindhu (the land of ....
Question : Give a brief account of the social and economic conditions of the Later Vedic Aryans. What role did iron play in changing their political and economic life?
(1998)
Answer : Society : The growing importance assigned to the varna hierarchy is the most noticeable change. The Varna distinction could have been in the beginning primarily between the Arya and the Dasa : the Arya Varna probably divided into senior and junior lineages- the rajanya and the vis respectively. However, gradually the system widened to include the brahmanas on the one hand and the Shudras on the other. The brahmanas, the highest category become vitually synonymous ....
Question : Vedic rituals.
(1997)
Answer : The Aryans worshipped the grand and the terrible aspects of nature as gods so that they might grant them their prayers. Indra, Varuna, Agni etc., were their chief deities. But they never forgot that god is one. In fact the many were worshipped as manifestations of the one. They performed their worship in the open air. Chanting of hymns, in which all the members of the family took an active part, was an important feature ....
