India Revisited PDF

Essence of India is "unity and diversity". A nation can't be focussed on one religion only. (Important). There are gaps and holes that need to be filled on the lines of Indian culture only. Legacy. - Post independence mindset for stability. That propelled the creation of a stream of doctors a...

Essence of India is "unity and diversity". A nation can't be focussed on one religion only. (Important). There are gaps and holes that need to be filled on the lines of Indian culture only. Legacy. - Post independence mindset for stability. That propelled the creation of a stream of doctors and engineers. That mindset exists even when we have actual stability. This applies for not only jobs but also dietary habits. - Also starvation changes your body for generations. People's body adapt to storing more fat which causes internal change in genes which is passed down and people may metabolise less and store more in case they face a drought again. Like a scare shock. Q. why can't we have a Eurocentric approach? \- Eurocentric approach for the last 7 decades \- Supremacy of church in Europe. Church and state separation issues Q. Etymology of Bharat? A. Son of Shakuntala. Sarveshu, vedeshu\_\_\_\_\_ ten bharatam muchyate (shlok) Where everything thrives (understand a bit) that land is Bharat Any land is known by its rivers. Rushabhavati: Bengaluru's river Hindukush: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ibn Battuta named the mountain range: Hindukush (mountain of the Hindus. Crossing the mountain one could find the land of Hindus). - 640 AD- Huan Tseng to India. Si Yuki: his record (Chinese name) - Came through Gobi, through the backdoor of India - Bamiyan buddha: part of the Silk route. Taxes collected there. After it is the "Yindustan" (Huan Tseng) - Indica by Megasthenes. Europeans wanted trade - Dark ages in Europe. (Write a bit more) A map of the world with black text Description automatically generated Essence of India is "unity and diversity". A nation can't be focussed on one religion only. (Important). There are gaps and holes that need to be filled on the lines of Indian culture only. Legacy. - Post independence mindset for stability. That propelled the creation of a stream of doctors and engineers. That mindset exists even when we have actual stability. This applies for not only jobs but also dietary habits. - Also starvation changes your body for generations. People's body adapt to storing more fat which causes internal change in genes which is passed down and people may metabolise less and store more in case they face a drought again. Like a scare shock. Q. why can't we have a Eurocentric approach? \- Eurocentric approach for the last 7 decades \- Supremacy of church in Europe. Church and state separation issues Q. Etymology of Bharat? A. Son of Shakuntala. Sarveshu, vedeshu\_\_\_\_\_ ten bharatam muchyate (shlok) Where everything thrives (understand a bit) that land is Bharat Any land is known by its rivers. Rushabhavati: Bengaluru's river Hindukush: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ibn Battuta named the mountain range: Hindukush (mountain of the Hindus. Crossing the mountain one could find the land of Hindus). - 640 AD- Huan Tseng to India. Si Yuki: his record (Chinese name) - Came through Gobi, through the backdoor of India - Bamiyan buddha: part of the Silk route. Taxes collected there. After it is the "Yindustan" (Huan Tseng) - Indica by Megasthenes. Europeans wanted trade - Dark ages in Europe. (Write a bit more)  ### IKS - Difference between medium and text. Somebody knowing chemistry in English doesn't mean the person is well-versed with English literature - Tamil: Sangam literature (siddha medicine, Tolkappiyam,, Silpattikara (about rajas ) - Kannada: Siribhuvallaya by Kumudendu Muni, A Jain monk. Written in NUMERIC SCRIPT. 6,00,000 verses. More than Ramayana, Mahabharata and puranas combined. Assigned a number to every Kannada letter. Deals with maths, chem, physics, astronomy, medicine, history - Telugu: Andhrashabdchintamani (Nannayya Bhattaraka- 11^th^ century). Linguistic text. - Marathi: Sahdev Bhadli by Bhadli (a woman) in 12^th^ century on astronomy - Braj/ Hindi: saatshatak (Pol.sc.), Nakhshikh (Health), Nayikabhed (Acting) by Chhatrapti Sambhaji (Son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17^th^ century) - Malayalam: Kerala school of mathematics (Yukti Bhasha), Prashna Marga, Commentary on Arthashastra (Bhashakautilyam) Myth Fact -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IKS is written by Hindus Depends on what you define as Hindu. Geographically, correct, but religiously it's wrong. IKS is only based in Sanskrit Examples of texts above IKS is ancient Indian knowledge is whatever is based/ rooted in Indian culture and Indian territory Indian thought process is driven by blind beliefs and dogmas rooted in a religious context Healthy tradition of arguing and counter- arguing in a highly professional, rational & objective manner. Fight over vyakarans, philosophies which led to the development of new stuff. IKS is mainly spiritualism Includes empirical sciences, linguistics, astronomy, health sciences, mathematics, poetry, metallurgy etc. only Darsana (one shastra) deals with spiritualism It is written by Brahmanas Krishnadevrai, bhadali, sri krishna, sambhaji, guru nanak, Nagarjuna, Kabir. Only by men Bhadli, Apala, Viswavara, Gargi and Ghosa all women Has answers to all problems in life Find ideas to solve today's problems. Modern problems require modern solutions. vegetarianism is good Depends on the climate, weather etc. of the place 7^th^ chapter in intro to IKS book ### Thanjavur temple - Architecture: Vastu Sastra - Art - Storytelling - Mining - Interlock method - Physics - Music pillars: musical notes, frequency of waves, Gandharva veda - Other than Hindus who have contributed on IKS ### India's contribution to the world Post 10^th^ century no carved temples or places as such. City of Kashi oldest at least as back as 10000 years - Sanchi stupa oldest from during buddha's time. no pillars and strengthened by gravity. Around 3^rd^ century BCE built - Wide centre of gravity - Badami caves Karnataka: carved out. Also has Nataraja. - Simhapadastambha: Pallava dynasty. Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram and tamilnadu. 7^th^ CE. - Any construction of religious importance Pre 10 CE was rock cut not man- made - Hampi note. NATARAJA - Propagated by Chola - Patron of all arts. Including vyakarana. - Bhujangahtrasita : moving his leg away from the snake. Bhujanga (snake also) - The Tao of physics: "every molecule etc., everything is a dance of shiva. I have visualised it" - Apasmara beneath the Nataraja: a dwarf who represents who represents spiritual ignorance and nonsensical speech IRON PILLAR - Mehrauli, qutub minar premises - Never rusts - One single piece - Script is Ashokan Brahmi & the inscription is justified - Wutz steel and not rusting iron produced in India - Past one decade, rock cut temples are more prominent - Metal mirror from Kerala - K'taka rivers government offers Suhag ka saman to the rivers in full flow. Indian society - *Knowledge is not concentrated with the Brahmins* - *Construction, inscriptions required knowledge. Not possible that brahmanas made everything.* - *So claim that brahmins only have the knowledge is wrong.* - Agriculture in India was deliberately messed up. Introducing MNCs and all which give out seeds, pesticides, fertilisers etc. - Coimbatore: parts produced of cars, planes etc. many engineering units. - Hooghly replicates the devices made internationally - TATA 1^st^ public air transport. Air India from Indian Airlines. Air india was in losses. Now, 700 new planes in the fleet. - Government should not hamper indigenous systems. - Indian languages originated from Brahmi ### Arts: - 3 elements of art: satya, shiva, sundar - Happiness is the goal. Generate bliss in the heart of connoisseurs. - 64 types of arts in the Vaatsyayana Kaamasootra (4 BCE) - Music is an art form that touches both the erudite and an innocent or an ignorant. - Dakshinadi and Uttaraadi music (Carnatic and Hindustani) - Instrumental also good in India - 9 types of Rasa (shringaar, veera, karuna, adhbut, Raudra, haasya, bhayanak, bheebatsa (disgusting), shaant) and tastes Madhura, Amala, Lavan (salt), Katu (Spicy), Kshaya (Gooseberry) - Bharat muni natya shastra (1 century BCE) - Scene in a movie rasa but of naturally it occurs, no rasa generated. - Vibhavas: stimulants of emotions - Anubhavas: physical experience - Vyabhichara rasa: supporting the main act, transitory emotions. ### MUSIC - Mayur: Shadjam - Cow: Ri rishabha - Ajaa (Goat): Gandhaar - Carouch bird: Madhyama - Cuckoo: Pancham at spring - Horse: Dha - Elephant: Nishaad 1. Padya 2. Gadya 3. Nataka 4. Champoo: combination of prose and poem - Shardapeeth (Mata Sarasvati): in PoK, Neelum Valley - Avalokardheshwara Buddha: 4^th^ century BCE. Ajanta Cave painting. - Gandharv Buddha: under Buddha - Kangada Painting - Thanjavur painting. Sharp edges in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore etc. - Raja Ravi Verma. We shouldn't let generalisations that aren't present in our daily life get to us by the views/ thoughts of those trying to divide. Eg: Brahmanical Gods, mythology etc. You create your perception and concepts. Greek mythology may be a myth for me but not Indian because Indian is in my experience. Depends on what you' re living in and what is sensical and useful for you. 02/09/24 Konark, Sun - 16 treatments of the Gods (shodashaupchara): akin to guests. Treating gods like humans (guests) - Arghya and paaghya : wash feet and face - Drink water/ tea/ coffee: paaniya - More arghya - aachmani - Snana (abhishekha) - Shudha vastra dharana - Anulepana, - Food - Kumkum etc. (mangalkavya) - Aarti - Entertainment (nritya, music, raamlila, yakshagana \[coastal k'taka\]etc.) - Toorpavekut: shadow puppetry. 1835: Macaulay: English education bill Prior, skills were passed on & that was enough. Gurukuls: near temple premises. 11-12 years, student dedicated living life and also education near that guru. Also, srs. Taught jrs. Basically, how to a meaningful and prosperous life. Life comes from life only. 06/09/24 Temples not necessarily rocks or anything. God isn't the creator in Hinduism. God he himself became this. Creation - Hills considered sacred. Maihar, Sabarimala, nandi hills, Kailash etc. - Bharat is an exploratory system - Moksha may also change with temperament. Humans need names, shapes and somethings to understand things that is why abstract things may be tough to understand. Humans only need naam and roopa. Name and reference/ referents. Referring to Gods. That is why creator & creation aren't different to us. Ophiolatry: Snake worship [Temples:] [Shikhara is the topmost part of vimana. Bhitti to shikhara is the vimana. ] 1. [Nagara style:] Northern India, Himalayas to Vindhyas. Nagara temples are square, cruciform, and curvilinear. Nagara temples purest in Orissa. 2. [Dravida:] Peninsular India. Rectangular, vary in size. Around 5 subcategories. 3. [Vesara:] Mix. Also called chalukya temples. Vesara has different vimana shape. [No temple is 100% either. It can be mix of both. ] Brihadeshwara temple, Thanjavur: 100% Dravida. IGENCA: Amritapuram temple [Hoysala] - Star shaped - Pyramid vimana. When 3 garbhagrihas (1 per God) called trikoota. Not dependent on shikhara - Constructed on 4-5 feet jagati - Stone carvings - Pradakshina patha - Ceilings have carvings - Shreekarastambha (whole temple depiction on one of the pillars. It is also very shiny.) by Hoysalas - Rudrakantastambha: 11 faced - Vishnukantastamha: 4 faced - Hoysala: 1500 temples. They have a star shaped basement/ roof. - Hoysala pillars are monolithic. - Malika: protective pillar, fortification, inside which is a shala with beautiful redundant carved pillars. - Jagati: A bit elevated platform on which temple is there. (It is not necessary tho) - Shyalabhanjjika or shilabalika: stone dancing girl carved in temples. - Vidhyashankara temple, Shringeri - Guru Vidyaranaya: Vijayanagara dynasty is his brainchild. Tapas dedicated to Mata Bhuvneshwari, she is the divine consort of Vishnu and Shiva. Also the kuldevi of Karnataka. Guru vidyaranya meditated in Hampi. Hampi is where Karnataka rajya established under Vijaynagara. They didn't call themselves Vijayanagara, called Karnataka rajya. - Adhishthana: On which temple construction stands - Upahan - Bhitti: Temple walls to protect the inner area & for embellishment. - Vimana: above the bhitti till almost top - Then shikhra (or amalaka) - Then kalasha the smallest at top or stupi. - THE 6 COMPONENTS OF ANY TEMPLE , irrespective of the style. - Water tanks known as Kalyani (pushkarni) may be present - Pandavas got Indraprastha. Mayaa (devshilpa) was the architect that built Indraprastha. 7^th^ century CE text by Mayaa on architecture. - Naaradiya shilpasar. - Producing knowledge means that the basic needs are met. Therefore, the Indian society was well- fulfilled and prosperous that is why so many texts have been produced. - Trade was central. Cholas & Pallavas sailed to the South- East Asia and established trade. Ship- making and navigation system required. - Krishna relocated to Dwarka from Mathura due to 17 Jarasandh attacks. Started trade from Gujarat. - Organic (can't be suddenly assimilated into the system) vs synthetic states - BLOOD DIAMOND - Temples: seashore temples in Tamilnadu helped ships from china to come to the shore. Eg: in Mahabalipuram - Rigveda: ancient most available piece of literature to humanity. - Vaivatsamanu: 1^st^ quarter of kalyug. - 1 kalpa: 4 yugas - Raja Raja Chola's statue in 2 places only, one is in Devanahalli, Chikkabalapuram, near the temple. - 1^st^ ever Kannada temple - Dhyanalinga: all the 7 chakras while jyotirlinga has 3-4 chakras - Shipbuilding: ships stitched together. Huge increase in maritime power during Mauryan and Gupta periods - After Gupta period: ships had single, double, treble and four masts. - Silk routes: many routes from java to china to india to Persia, arabia, somalia, Egypt to mediterranean sea. - Chinese silk is known for quality and longevity. - Caravans (saartha) used to move along the silk routes. Kind of like an entire village. - The golden route by \_\_\_ - Earliest traditions are Vedic 4 segments in every veda - Samhita - Brahmana - Karmkanda (rituals) - Upanishad (knowledge) - Adwaita philosophy - Adi Shankaracharya: systemised philosophy of Adwaita - Established 4 pithas in different directions of India - Unified india. - 4 mahavakyas from vedas or Upanishads. South india: In Shringeri (tattva masi), aham brahmasmi, pragnyanam bramha, ayamatma brahma. The brahma cannot be understood since it has no attributes. - Sourced form vedas and Upanishads - - Vishishtha philosophy - Ramanujan: 10^th^ century - Commented on sutras of Vyasa from vishishta Adwaita philosophy - Sourced form vedas and Upanishads - Dwaita philosophy - Madhavcharya: 11^th^ century - Sourced form vedas and Upanishads - Buddha - Buddhists did not consider veda as a Pramana. - Purified himself over time. - Buddhist: you think you are the same, but no you keep on changing constantly. Shanabhangurvaad. - *Every philosophy in India believes in rebirth.* 13^th^ century 'Sarvadarshan Sangraha' except Charvaka Siddhanta: Charvaka holds direct perception, empiricism, and conditional inference as proper sources of knowledge, embraces philosophical skepticism and rejects ritualism. Didn't believe in rebirth. Senses radiate outward. Made to understand the objects outside. They are lokayakta sect. For a society/ system, we need to work in self- discipline and abstain from the Charvaka's siddhanta to preserve the society. If any public outrage happens, very tough for the system to control it. Therefore, public system works on self- discipline. Central idea of every school: this sansara is dukha. Reality comes in the next realm. That is why God is not the central focus of any philosophy. Astika siddhanta and sankhya school of philoshphy also do not have any central idea of God. GIPA YT channel: how Buddha is not different from Upanishads. *[Major thought of Indian schools is introspection. Self- introspection. Look inside. ]* Chandragupta Maurya embraced Jainism. At the end did the sallekhanavrata (gradual death) ### India's mosaic of multiplicity - 2000 distinct ethnic groups, more than 1,600 dialects etc. - India has had no binaries in terms of ANYTHING. - PRATIBHASAK satya - Paramarthik satya - For operational purposes, we have a world of objects. - Not tolerance etc. it is co- existence. Respect for personal space and privacy. - Family is the basic element of Indian society. - Depiction of family in ads - Nuclear vs joint families. - Agriculture mainly joint family trait - As family infrastructure changes, societal structure changes. And India is not adapted for that. - Overall world population and India population both has been increasing. - Smaller families have broken economy unlike any invader. - Human beings moved out of natural conditioning and established a family and then a society. - Female economy: look after gold and silver (stree dhana: female wealth is the ornaments and it is only with her until her daughter/ DIL. No one has a say over it including husband/ king/ anyone. - Government and MNCs (FMCG companies) are all pervasive - Also affects economy ### Ancient Mathematics - Concepts from Advaita Vedanta: Heisenberg said that it overlaps with his uncertainty principle, quantum stuff etc. - Ganita is used in daily life somehow - Jyotisha also includes astronomy. Astrology is 'falita jyotisha'. Jyotisha is the science of illuminated bodies. Eg: planets and stars. Using maths. Around 800 BCE. To know time for some rituals. To know DOB - Kalpa sutra gave sulbasutras which prescribed ancient geometry - Brahmasphuta- Siddhanta: formulae for quadrilaterals and all by Brahmgupta - Main branches of maths 1. Arithmetic: Vyaktaganitam 2. Algebra: avyaktaganitam/ bijaganitam 3. geometry: from the sulbasutras (jyaamiti) 4. Trigonometry: Golaganitam and grahaganitam 5. Analysis: rate of change. Eg: Calculus As early as 12^th^ century text such as Siddhantashiromani Need chandas (rhyming) fro maths too; make it easy to learn. 1. Ancient & early classical period ( starting from Vedic. Prior to 500CE) 2. Later classical period (500-1250 CE) 3. Medieval (1250-1850) 4. Modern India (Ramanujan era) *Vedic altars: area of all 3 structures is the same irrespective of shape* [Sulbasutras (800 BCE)] [7.5 purusha: purusha as a unit. Using] a rope (rajju) [Irrational numbers & all used too.] Pythagoras and rational right angled triangle used. - They performed yagyas to bring benefits. [To determine the directions] - Shanku. Basically, place a pin and then see its shadow over different times. East sun rises. Proof: upapatti (in Maths) - Logical arguments presented to substantiate stuff put in a particular context - They had different theorems Bhaskaracharya Bhoodhasankhya system, kata\_\_\_ system ### Mesopotamia - Written more important than speech - Cunniform script - Akkdian, Sumerian ### Purushartha - Purusha means man. Artha means meaning or purpose. - Purushartha: loosely translated as purpose of human life. - Prayonjanam: something that you want to achieve - Dharma: separate entity. Dharma is very subtle in nature. Overall idea is the binding force of the universe. It is the highest value. - System is interconnected units with way of operation and processing. Family and communities are man- made infra. Holding the system is important. - Rules of the operating system for managing this system. : dharma. - Deviation from the rules: adharma - Dharma can keep changing depending on where you are and who you are because of the existence of a person in many different layers in the society. - Dharmasankat - Where to prioritise what is dharmabuddhi. - Artha (resources to fulfil desires): knowledge is also considered Artha. Means of existence of mankind is Artha. - Kama: fulfilment of desires. - Moksha: final state with no desires - [Trivarga]: dharma, kama and Artha, the 3 purusharthas we need to live in the society. Mentioned in vedas, Aranyaka, Upanishads. Moksha is known as [Apvarga ] - Sources: Kamasutra, dharmashastra, arthashastra, mokshasutra (vedant philosophies and other schools of thought.) - Itihaas: loose translation is history. Basically, Ramayana and Mahabharata. - An iota of happiness can make one surmount pain - Although happiness is what we chase all our worldly happiness is momentary. The question is how to be happy/ what is the goal of life. - What is the world made up of?? What does the world operate on? - Indian philosophy: recurring life and the life is perishable. - If humans are at the top of the evolution pyramid, then they must own up some liabilities associated with it. Sources: - Vedas, Aranyaka, Upanishads - Smritis: Manu, Yajnavalkya, Apastambha, Gouthama, Dharmashastra - Epics: Ramayana and Mahabharat. - Philosophical traditions. - The senses cannot perceive themselves. Eye cannot look inside itself. Senses radiate outward--- - Understand the world to understand self - Samkhya: Prakriti (Jada)and Purusha (Chetna). Realising that the purusha is different from Prakriti. Purusha alone doesn't work, Prakriti makes Purusha active. Prakriti dances Purusha does work: world created - Thoughts differ jeeva and ajeeva - Yamaniyamasana: Yoga Sutra- Samadhi is the ultimate reality. Nullification of mind: samadhi. - Vaishesiki: remove sufferings---moksha as chain of sufferings stop us from getting moksha. Says although matter appears differently, the tatva is the same. Gives nishraeyasam. 1/6 th of dust particles: atom. 2 parmanus/anus: dvenuka. 3 dvenukas: Trasaren - Meemamsa: A desire to measure. Attaining swarga by performing obligations of Ved is Moksh. - Knowing the true from of self is Moksh- Adwaitha Vedanta - Different kinds of Moksha acc. To Dwaitha Vedanta. - The body is impermanent: just a medium for the karma of the aatma. Because the aatma cannot carry out karma. - Decays everyday, every moment, the growth is apparent and comes back: shariram. - Vyakti means someone who is expressed on the timeline of start to infinity. - Universe is time and space. Anything above the timeline is comprehendible. Whatever happens in the net of timeline is vyakt. Death means the vyakt is not seen on the timeline and is known as avyakt. Avyakt is bound to become vyakt after some time. Anything is made of 3 gunas. Tamas is omnipresent, no effort to make it. Tamas and rajas combination for life. Even space is mostly tamas. Where the other 2 also flourished: life is created. Charvaka: Nothing beyond life, death is moksha (Charu+ vaka: beautiful and convincing arguments. Speak sense. Like paresh rawal in OMG. Only speak of tangible life. But tarka \[logic\] is a 2- edged sword) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nirvana: liberation from Dukha of Samsaara is moksha (Buddhism) Jainism: Nirvana is Moksha Sikkhism:Breaking the chain of birth and death in Moksha Self, family, society. ### Medicine - Inoculation for smallpox in Bengal 1730s. from British letters. - India is the land of vaccination from where we got vaccination - Sushruta: father of surgery, father of plastic surgery also. - Joseph Constantine Carpue (British) saw rhinoplasty. Reconstruction of the nose of a man named Cowasjee. Cowasjee had been mutilated by the forces of Tipu Sultan during the Third Anglo-Mysore War for working for the British. Used skin of forehead or cheek. - No anaesthesia: used opium - The procedures are described in two well-known early Indian medical works, the Suśruta Saṃhitā, thought to date to the middle of the first millennium BCE, and the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā, believed to date from the sixth century CE. - Sushruta created 70-80 tools for surgery from metals. - Probable that the Suśruta Saṃhitā was translated into Arabic in the later 8th century CE on the orders of the Vizier Yahya ibn Khalid. Sushruta Smahita Charak Samhita (more of precautions) Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (mostly precautions) - Jaipur foot - Women warrior named Vishafala (Rig Veda) loses her leg in war. Aswini kumars replaced her legs with iron legs - Founders: Ramchandar Sharma and P.K. Sethi in 1965. 1.45 million amputees have used it. Cheaper and more flexible - Roots of Ayurveda by Dominique Wujastyk 1:3 ratio of treatment to cautions in Ayurvedic texts. Health Pitta: metabolism, warmth, vision. Kapha: moisture, stability, joints firmness, coolness. Vaata: Movement, blood, eyelashes movement etc. 13 urges that should not be stopped or they could be very dangerous. For digestion: agni in stomach (acid), not too high or too low. Senses should be also pleasant (prasanatma indriya) Content Presentation 150 words in 7 minutes, 150-10, 250-15 marks Intro Body Conclusion Diagram in the middle Asked ONLY WRITTEN Vision IAS: Topper's copy