Category 8 · Art & Culture

Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

17 micro topics in Art & Culture for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Pre-Vedic Religion; Hinduism; and 15 more.

8.1

Pre-Vedic Religion

Pre-Vedic religion means the beliefs of Indian communities before the Vedic age, known from burials, figurines, seals and rock art. In the Harappan civilisation, about 2600 to 1900 BCE, the evidence points to mother goddess worship…
8.2

Hinduism

Hinduism is a continuously evolving family of beliefs and practices with no single founder or single scripture. It grew from Vedic religion, with sacrifice to Indra, Agni and Varuna, through the Upanishads, which stress Brahman and…
8.3

Buddhism (Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Tripitaka)

Buddhism is an Indian religion and philosophy founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, who was born at Lumbini in the Sakya clan around 563 BCE, attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, gave his first sermon at Sarnath…
8.4

Buddhist Councils (First to Fourth)

The four Buddhist Councils were assemblies of monks held to fix the Buddha's teachings and settle disputes. The First, at Rajagriha around 483 BCE under Ajatashatru and Mahakassapa, compiled the Vinaya and Sutta. The Second, at…
8.5

Jainism (Tirthankaras, Anekantavada, Agamas)

Jainism is an Indian religion of non-violence and self-discipline that holds there are 24 Tirthankaras, the first being Rishabhanatha, the 23rd Parshvanatha and the 24th Vardhamana Mahavira. Mahavira, born near Vaishali in Bihar around 540 BCE,…
8.6

Jain Councils

The Jain Councils were assemblies of monks that gathered and fixed the teachings of Mahavira. The First Jain Council met at Pataliputra around 300 BCE under Sthulabhadra, after a long famine in Magadha, and compiled the…
8.7

Sikhism

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in Punjab by Guru Nanak (1469 to 1539), born at Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, and carried on by nine more Gurus down to Guru Gobind Singh. It teaches…
8.8

Islam

Islam is a monotheistic religion founded by the Prophet Muhammad (about 570 to 632 CE) in Arabia, based on the Quran and the Hadith, with five pillars: Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj. It reached India…
8.9

Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible. In India it is among the oldest outside faiths: tradition holds that the apostle St Thomas reached the Malabar…
8.10

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is an ancient monotheistic religion of Iran founded by the prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster), who taught the worship of Ahura Mazda, the wise lord, and the struggle between truth (Asha) and falsehood (Druj). Its scripture is…
8.11

Judaism

Judaism is the monotheistic religion of the Jewish people, based on the Torah and the Tanakh, with worship of one God, observance of the Sabbath and law as given to Moses. In India it has an…
8.12

Philosophy in India – Six Schools (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta)

The six schools of Indian philosophy, called Shad Darshana or Astika systems because they accept the authority of the Vedas, are Nyaya of Gautama, Vaisheshika of Kanada, Sankhya of Kapila, Yoga of Patanjali, Purva Mimamsa of…
8.13

Vedanta Sub-Schools (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita)

Vedanta is the school based on the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras, and its three main sub-schools are Advaita, Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita. Advaita, or non-dualism, was taught by Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth…
8.14

Charvaka/Lokayata School

The Charvaka or Lokayata school is the materialist and sceptical school of ancient India, traditionally linked with the sage Brihaspati and a teacher named Charvaka. It accepts only pratyaksha, or direct perception, as a valid means…
8.15

Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti Movement was a medieval devotional movement that stressed personal love for God over ritual and caste. It began in Tamil Nadu between the sixth and ninth centuries CE with the Vaishnava Alvars, who composed…
8.16

Saints of Bhakti Movement (Kabir, Ramanuja, Chaitanya, Meera Bai, Basavanna)

Five major saints of the Bhakti Movement are Kabir, Ramanuja, Chaitanya, Meera Bai and Basavanna. Ramanuja of Sriperumbudur taught Vishishtadvaita and wrote the Sri Bhashya. Basavanna of Karnataka, a minister of the Kalachuri king Bijjala in…
8.17

Sufism (Chishti, Suhrawardi Silsilas)

Sufism is the mystical tradition of Islam that seeks direct love and union with God through devotion, music, poverty and service. Sufi saints, called pirs, lived in hospices called khanqahs and organised their followers in orders…

Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism?

Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism has 17 micro topics in Art & Culture: Pre-Vedic Religion; Hinduism; Buddhism (Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Tripitaka); Buddhist Councils (First to Fourth); Jainism (Tirthankaras, Anekantavada, Agamas); Jain Councils; Sikhism; Islam; Christianity; Zoroastrianism; Judaism; Philosophy in India – Six Schools (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta); Vedanta Sub-Schools (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita); Charvaka/Lokayata School; Bhakti Movement; Saints of Bhakti Movement (Kabir, Ramanuja, Chaitanya, Meera Bai, Basavanna); Sufism (Chishti, Suhrawardi Silsilas).

Is Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism important for UPSC Prelims?

Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism is a part of the UPSC Prelims Art & Culture syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 17 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.