UNIT-3RD

TOPICS

➢ PRE VEDIC AND VEDIC RELIGION

➢ BUDDHISM AND JAINISM
➢ SIX SYSTEM INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
➢ SHANKARACHARYA
➢ VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL DOCTRINES
➢ OTHER HETERODOX SECTS
➢ BHAKTI MOVEMENT
➢ SUFI MOVEMENT
➢ SOCIO RELIGIOUS REFORM MOVEMENT OF 19 TH CENTURY
➢ MORDEN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

TOPIC-1

PRE VEDIC AND VEDIC RELIGION

The word “Veda” means knowledge, wisdom, or vision.

PRE VEDIC

The pre-Vedic age or Vedic age is term coined by European archaeologist. But as
per Indian History, there is not any statement regarding pre-Vedic. Because Vedas
were from the very beginning of existence, for around 1,96,08,53,118 years. The
Vedic Religion was the historical predecessor of modern Hinduism. The Vedic
Period refers to the time period from approximately 1750-500 BCE, during which
Indo- Aryans settled into northern India, bringing with them specific religious
traditions.
The word Hindu is an eponym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest
religion in the world, many practitioners refer to their religion as Sanātana
Dharma (Sanskrit: सनातन धर्म, )

VEDIC RELIGION

Vedism was a sacrificial religion involving the worship of numerous male

divinities (and a few goddesses), most of whom were connected with the sky and
natural phenomena. The priests who officiated at that worship were drawn from the
Brahman social class.

Some of the other important Vedic gods are:

1. Soma – the Moon

2. Ishwara – the Supreme soul and ruler
3. The Asvins – the twin gods of medicine
4. Varuna – the god of oceans
5. The Maruts – the storm
6. Mitra – the protectors and the guardian of Truth;
7. Ushas – goddess of dawn
8. Vayu – the lord of the winds
9. SURYA – impeller, power of the Sun;

TOPIC-2

BUDDHISM AND JAINISM

BUDDHISM-

Buddhism is a faith that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (“the Buddha”) more
than 2,500 years ago in India. With about 470 million followers, scholars consider
Buddhism one of the major world religions. Buddhism is the world's fourth-
largest religion with over 520 million followers, or over 7% of the global
population, known as Buddhists. Buddhism encompasses a variety of traditions,
beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings attributed to the
Buddha and resulting interpreted philosophies.

Founder of Buddhism
 Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism who later became known as
“the Buddha,” lived during the 5th century B.C.

Gautama was born into a wealthy family as a prince in present-day Nepal.

Although he had an easy life, Gautama was moved by suffering in the
world.

Types of Buddhism

Today, many forms of Buddhism exist around the world. The three main
types that represent specific geographical areas include:

• Theravada Buddhism: Prevalent in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos

and Burma
• Mahayana Buddhism: Prevalent in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea,
Singapore and Vietnam
• Tibetan Buddhism: Prevalent in Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, Bhutan, and
parts of Russia and northern India.

Dharma

Buddha’s teachings are known as “dharma.” He taught that wisdom,

kindness, patience, generosity and compassion were important virtues.

Specifically, all Buddhists live by five moral precepts, which prohibit:

• Killing living things

• Taking what is not given
• Sexual misconduct
• Lying
• Using drugs or alcohol

Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths, which Buddha taught, are:

• The truth of suffering

• The truth of the cause of suffering
• The truth of the end of suffering
• The truth of the path that frees us from suffering
Eightfold Path

The Buddha taught his followers that the end of suffering, as described in
the fourth Noble Truths, could be achieved by following an Eightfold
Path.

In no particular order, the Eightfold Path of Buddhism teaches the

following ideals for ethical conduct, mental disciple and achieving
wisdom:

• Right understanding
• Right thought
• Right speech
• Right action
• Right livelihood
• Right effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right concentration

JAINISM-

Its founder is often, inaccurately, identified as the sage Vardhamana OR

MAHAVIR JAIN.

Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation
and bliss is to live lives of harmlessness and renunciation. ... The three guiding
principles of Jainism, the 'three jewels', are right belief, right knowledge and right
conduct. The supreme principle of Jain living is non violence (ahimsa). Jainism,
Indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment
through disciplined nonviolence to all living creatures.

• True Faith
• Right Knowledge
• Pure Conduct

tirthankaras, Stage/14 steps which are based on the scriptures and the Five Vows:
• Stage 1: The soul languishes in darkness, ignorant of its true nature, and a
slave to passions and illusion.

• Stage 2: The soul catches a glimpse of truth but is too mired in illusion to
retain it.
•
• Stage 3: The soul recognizes its own bondage and tries to break free but is
still bound to attachments and illusion and falls backwards to Stage 1.

• Stage 4: The soul, having recognized its bondage, yearns to break free again
but is suppressing, rather than eliminating, its attachments and so remains
bound.

• Stage 5: The soul has a flash of enlightenment and understands it must take
the Five Vows and adhere to them in order to free itself from bondage.

• Stage 6: The soul is able to restrain its attachments and passions to a degree
through the discipline of the Five Vows.

• Stage 7: The soul overcomes spiritual lethargy and is strengthened through

meditation and observance of the Five Vows. Self-awareness grows as well
as a grander vision of the nature of the soul itself and reality.

• Stage 8: Hurtful karma is discarded, self-control perfected, and deeper

understanding achieved.

• Stage 9: More karmic debt is eliminated through conscious living and

greater spiritual insight is attained.
• Stage 10: At this stage, one has eliminated attachments almost completely
but is still attached to the concept of one's body-as-one's-self. This is
understood as “greed for a body”, which one must overcome in order to
progress.

• Stage 11: Here, one works on eliminating the identification of the self with
the body and releasing all other attachments. One recognizes the transient
nature of those people and objects one is attached to and releases them.

• Stage 12: All of the karma-producing passions have been eliminated at this
point, including one's attachment to the body.

• Stage 13: Recognizing fully the nature of reality and of the soul, one
engages in deep meditation to withdraw from all activity which might result
in karma-producing passions and backsliding to an earlier stage.

• Stage 14: As one approaches death, one is freed from all karmic debt and
experiences the liberation of moksha, complete understanding, wisdom, and
total freedom from bondage. The soul is freed and will never be incarnated
again on the earthly plane to experience suffering and death.

TOPIC-3
SIX SYSTEM INDIAN PHILOSOPHY

The Six Systems of Indian Philosophy by Friedrich Max Müller is a goldmine of

comprehensive account of six major systems of Indian philosophical thought.
 TOPIC-4

SHANKARACHARYA

The word Shankaracharya, is composed of two parts, Shankara and Acharya.

Acharya is a Sanskrit word meaning "teacher", so Shankaracharya means "teacher
of the way of Shankara.

Shankaracharya (शङ्कराचार्य) is a commonly used title of heads of monasteries

called mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition of Hindu Dharma. The title derives
from Adi Shankara, teachers from the successive line of teachers dating back to
him are known as Shankaracharyas.
Adi Shankara set up four monasteries known as Mathas or Peeth, in the North,
South, East and West of India, to be held by realized men who would be known as
Shankaracharyas. They would take on the role of teacher and could be consulted
by anyone with sincere queries of a spiritual nature.

TOPIC-5

INDIAN PHILOSOPHY AND VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL DOCTRINES

Indian philosophy refers to philosophical traditions which developed in the Indian

subcontinent. Modern scholars generally divide the field between "Hindu
Philosophy" (also known as "Vedic Philosophy") and non-Hindu traditions such
as Buddhist Philosophy and Jain Philosophy. This division is generally derived
from traditional Indian classifications.

1) Hindu Philosophy

2) Non-Hindu Philosophy

(i) Buddhist Philosophy

Buddhist philosophy refers to the philosophical investigations and systems of

inquiry that developed among various Buddhist schools in India .

The Buddhist path combines both philosophical reasoning and meditation.[2] The
Buddhist traditions present a multitude of Buddhist paths to liberation,

(ii) Jain Philosophy

Jain philosophy refers to the ancient Indian philosophical system found

in Jainism. One of the main features of Jain philosophy is its dualistic metaphysics,
which holds that there are two distinct categories of existence, the living, conscious
or sentient being (jiva) and the non-living or material (ajiva).

PHILOSOPHICAL DOCTRINES-
A philosophical doctrine is a particular theory, principle, position, system, code
of beliefs or body of teachings. These are the famous “-isms” of Philosophy.

Doctrine (from Latin: doctrine, meaning "teaching, instruction") is a codification

of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as
the essence of teachings in a given branch of knowledge or in a belief system.

SOME PHILOSOPHICAL DOCTRINES-

THERE ARE 43 DOCTRINES IN ALLOVER WORLD SOME ARE

EXPLAINED BELOW-

Nihilism – The view that life has no meaning, purpose, and value. Nihilists reject
religious and moral principles. Moral Nihilism, moreover, is the ethical view that
there are no objective moral facts and that no act or behaviour can ever be declared
good or bad in the objective sense.

Existentialism – The view that emphasizes the individual person as a free agent
who determines her own development through acts of the will.

Idealism – The view that the mind is all that exists and that the external world is
either an illusion created by the mind or is mental itself.

Intellectualism – The view that knowledge is wholly or mainly derived from pure
reason, that the intellect is superior to the individual’s will, and that the intellect is
basis for human decisions and behavior.

Fideism – The view that faith is independent of reason and that reason is
unnecessary for the justification of religious belief. This is opposed to a more
evidential based faith that seeks to provide arguments and justifications for belief
in God through revelation and natural theology.

Materialism – The view that only material matter exists and that all things are
composed of material interactions and phenomena. On this view the supernatural
does not exist.
Monism – The view that everything is one. It is a view held by some in the
philosophy of mind, namely, that mental states and the physical brain are one. It is
also the religious doctrine that only one supreme being exists.

Naturalism – The view that only nature and the natural world exists. Arguably the
majority of atheists (see above) are naturalists.

Physicalism – The view that all things that exist can be reduced to their physical
properties or is nothing more than its physical properties.

Positivism – The view that the only knowledge is that which can be scientifically
verified and is capable of logical or mathematical proof. Often espoused in
contemporary Scientism.

Rationalism – The view that knowledge is not only derived from observation but
also through deductive reasoning and intuition.

TOPIC-6

OTHER HETERODOX SECTS

The Schools of Indian Philosophy that do not accept the authority of Vedas are by
definition unorthodox (nastika) systems. From this Hindu point of view, there are
six major schools of orthodox (astika) Indian Hindu philosophy-

• Nyaya,
• Vaisheshika,
• Samkhya,
• Yoga,
• Mīmāṃsā
• Vedanta

Five major heterodox (nastika) schools-

The heterodox schools of Indian Philosophy are discussed below:

1. Jain- According to Jainism, Nirvana or liberation is obtained through three
jewels:
• Right Philosophy,
• Right Knowledge and
• Right Conduct (Tri-ratna)

Right conduct implies 5 abstinences:

• not to lie,
• not to steal,
• not to strive for luxury and not to strive for possessions,
• Not to be unchaste and not to injure (Ahimsa).

2. Buddhist-
It is a system of beliefs based on the teachings of Siddhartha
Gautma. Buddhism is a non-theistic philosophy whose tenets are not
especially concerned with the existence or non-existence of God.

3. Ajivika (fatalism)-
First disciple of Vardhaman Mahavira. According to him every object of the
universe is coordinated with fate and destiny. This philosophy believed in
Karma, Fatalism and extreme passivity. It was very popular during the time
of Mauryan Emperor.

4. Ajananas.
Believed in ignorance t is impossible to attain knowledge and even if
possible, it is useless.

5. Charvaka
Eat, Drink, Make merry. There is no ‘other’ world. There is no God or
 Bramha. Man is at the center of universe, he should eat, consume and
enjoy sensual pleasures.

TOPIC-7

BHAKTI MOVEMENT

• The meaning of the term Bhakti is analogous to but different from Kama.
• Kama connotes emotional connection, sometimes with sensual devotion and
erotic love.
• Bhakti, in contrast, is spiritual, a love and devotion to religious concepts or
principles, that engages both emotion and intellection.
• Karen Pechelis states that the word Bhakti should not be understood as
uncritical emotion, but as committed engagement.
• Bhakti movement in Hinduism refers to ideas and engagement that emerged
in the medieval era on love and devotion to religious concepts built around
one or more gods and goddesses.
• Bhakti movement preached against the caste system using the local
languages so that the message reached the masses. One who
practices bhakti is called a bhakta.

• The Bhakti movement refers to the theistic devotional trend that emerged in
medieval Hinduism and later acted as the de facto catalyst to the formation
of Sikhism.

• It originated in eighth-century south India (now Tamil Nadu and Kerala),

and spread northwards. It swept over east and north India from the 15th
century onwards, reaching its zenith between the 15th and 17th century CE.

• The Bhakti movement regionally developed around different gods and

goddesses, and some sub-sect were

Vaishnavism (Vishnu)
Shaivism (Shiva)
 Shaktism (Shakti goddesses)
Smartism

• Bhakti movement preached using the local languages so that the message
reached the masses.

• The movement has traditionally been considered as an influential social

reformation in Hinduism, and provided an individual-focused alternative
path to spirituality regardless of one's birth or gender.
• The Bhakti movement began with the aim of reforming Hinduism.
Contemporary scholars question this traditional view and whether the Bhakti
movement ever was a reform or rebellion of any kind.

• They suggest Bhakti movement was a revival, reworking and

recontextualization of ancient Vedic traditions. Bhakti refers to passionate
devotion .

• Scriptures of the Bhakti movement include the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavata

Purana .

TOPIC-8
 SUFI MOVEMENT

The Sufi movement was a socio-religious movement of fourteenth to sixteenth

century. The exponents of this movement were unorthodox Muslim saints who had
a deep study of vedantic philosophy and Buddhism of India. They could see the
Indian religion from very near and realized its inner values.

The term Sufi derived from Arabic word Safa which has two distinct meaning -
One who wear woollen clothes; and Symbolises purity and sacredness. The Sufi
Mysticism is associated with the liberal interpretation of Quran
called Tarikat. Shariat is the conservative interpretation of Quran. It is believes
that Haq (God) and Khalaq (Soul) are the same.

List of Sufi order, founder and principle:

Order Founder Principle

Chisti Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Keep aloof from royal court.
Popularised music recitations
called Sama (Mehboob-i-ilahi)

Suhrawadi Sheikh Shihabuddin Suhrawardi Accepted royal Service

Qadri Sheikh Nizamat Ullah Relies strongly upon adherence

to the fundamentals of Islam.

Naqshbandi Khwaja Pir Mohammad Orthodox Sect. Mujaddid opposed

Shia, philosophy of Wahadat-ul-
Shahdud , wrote ‘Red-i-Khafid’
arrested by Jhangir

Firdausi Sheikh Sarfudin Yahya Branch of Suhrawardi

Rashaniya Miyan Bayazid Ansari (Pir Wrote the bookKhai-ul-Byan
(Akbar’s reign) Roshan)

Mahadawi Mullah Mohammad Mahdi Opposed orthodox muslims

Risi Nuruddin Noorani (Wali) Oposed orthodox muslims

Qalandaria Abu Wali Qalander Wandering monks were called

Darveshes
Shattari Abdullah Shattari Claimed direct contact with God

TOPIC-9

SOCIO RELIGIOUS REFORM MOVEMENT OF 19 TH CENTURY

Basically, there were two kinds of reform movements in the 19th century in India:

Reformist-

These movements responded with the time and scientific temper of the modern era.

Revivalist-

These movements started reviving ancient Indian traditions and thoughts and
believed that the western thinking ruined Indian culture and ethos.

BRAHMO SAMAJ (Reformist)

Founded in 1828 in Calcutta by pioneer social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(1772 – 1833), the movement fought against idol worship, polytheism, caste
oppression, unnecessary rituals and other social evils like Sati, polygamy, purdah
system, child marriage, etc. The society also strove for women’s rights like widow
remarriage and education of women. It also fought attacked prevailing
superstitions among Hindus.

ARYA SAMAJ (Revivalist)

Founded in 1875 in Bombay by Swami Dayanand Saraswati, this society strove
against idolatry, polytheism, rituals, priesthood, animal sacrifice, child marriage
and the caste system. It also encourages the dissemination of western scientific
knowledge.

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

It promoted the study of ancient Hindu, Buddhist .It promoted the concept of
universal brotherhood as expounded in the Upanishads and Vedas. It laid stress on
occultism.

RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

This mission was founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1892 in Belur near Calcutta
to promote the teachings of Vivekananda’s Guru Ramakrishna Paramahansa. It
opposed the caste system and un-touch ability. It focused on the universality of all
religions and propagated Vedanta.

SATYASHODHAK SAMAJ

This society was founded by Jyotirao Govindrao Phule on 24 September 1873 in

present-day Maharashtra. It campaigned against idolatry and the caste system. It
advocated rational thinking and rejected priesthood.

YOUNG BENGAL MOVEMENT

He criticized the prevailing religious practices of orthodox Hinduism. He also

inspired free-thinking and propagated the spirit of liberty, equality and freedom.

ALIGARH MOVEMENT (Reformist)

This movement was started by Sir Sayyid Ahmed Khan in the 1860’s in Aligarh,
Uttar Pradesh. It focused on spreading western scientific education among the
Muslim masses in India.

WIDOW REMARRIAGE ASSOCIATION

This was founded by Vishnu Shastri Pandit and Mahadev Govind Ranade in
Bombay in 1861. It promoted widow remarriage and campaigned against child
marriages, the heavy cost of marriages and custom-like the shaving of widow’s
head, etc.

DEOBAND MOVEMENT

This was started in 1867 in Deoband in UP by theologians, Muhammad Qasim

Nanawatawi and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi. It was an anti-British movement that
aimed at the uplifting the Muslims through educational efforts.

TOPIC-10

MORDEN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

Hinduism in India

Hinduism – the most widely followed religion in India – can be interpreted

diversely. Pinpointing what constitutes Hinduism is difficult, with some suggesting
that it is an umbrella term that encompasses various religions and traditions within
it. Nonetheless, Hinduism in all its forms has been particularly influential in Indian
society.

Social Structure

One influential component of Hinduism impacting India is the large-scale caste

system, known as the ‘varna’ system. The varna caste system represented the
Hindu ideal of how society ought to be structured. This form of organisation
classified society into four ideal categories: brahmin (priestly
caste), kshatriya (warrior, royalty or nobility caste), vaishya (commoner or
merchant caste) and shudra (artisan or labourer caste).

Islam in India
Islam is the second most followed religion in India, influencing the country's
society, culture, architecture and artistry. The partition of the subcontinent in 1947
led to mass emigration of roughly 10 million Muslims to Pakistan and nearly as
many Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan into India. This event changed the
demographics of both countries significantly and is continually felt throughout
India.

Sikhism in India

Originating in India, Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that promotes devotion to a

formless God. The religion is centered on a tenet of service, humility and equality,
encouraging its followers to seek to help those less fortunate or in need.

Buddhism in India

Buddhism originated as a countermovement to early Hinduism by presenting a

universal ethic rather than basing ethical codes on an individual’s caste. The core
doctrine of Buddhism, known as the ‘Four Noble Truths’, teaches that one can be
liberated from the suffering that underpins the cycle of death and rebirth by
practicing the ‘Noble Eightfold Path’.

Jainism in India

Jainism also originated as a countermovement that opposed some of the teachings

and doctrines of early Hinduism.

Christianity in India

Christianity is the third most followed religion in India, mostly concentrated in the
far south and Mumbai. The most prominent denomination of Christianity in India
is Roman Catholicism, but there are also localized Christian churches (such as the
Church of North India and the Church of South India). Converts to Christianity
have come mainly from traditionally disadvantaged minorities such as lower castes
and tribal groups.