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Saturday, 14 November 2026

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / JAINISM / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / JAINISM / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

· Vardhamana Mahavira was believed to have been in 540 BC in Kundala Grama in Vaishali the capital of Vajji. Now it is in Mussafar district in Bihar

· He belonged to Jnatrika Kshatriya clan

· Mahavira’s family was connected with the royal family of Magadha

· The word ‘Jaina’ was originated from the word ‘Jina’ which means conqueror

· Jainism speaks about 24 thinthankaras. Mahavira was the 24^th Thirthankara, who is considered as the founder of Jainism

· Rishabha was the first Thirthankara. Neminath and Parswanatha were the 22^nd and 23^rd Thirthankaras respectively.

· Bhagavatapurana, Vishnupurana, Vayupurana etc…, mentions about Rishabhadeva

· Sidhartha, ruler of Nanda dunasty which ruled Kundalapuri, was the father of Vardhmana Mahavira

· Mahavira’s mother was Trissala and Yasodha was his wife

· Mahavira’s first disciple was Jameli

· Mahavira also known as ‘Vaishalia’ as he was born in Vaishali

· He got Kaivalya at the age of 42 under a Sal tree on the bank of river Rajpalika near Village Jimbhrikagrama

· At first Mahavira followed the practice of an ascetic group called Nirgrandhas, which earlier led by Parswanath.

· Makhali Gosala was a companion of Mahavira. Who later founded the Ajivika sect

· Mahavira attained Nirvana at the age of 72 at Pavapuri near Rajagriha in 468 BC

· Jains observe the day of his nirvana as Deepavali

· Gautama Indrabhuti is considered as his first disciple

· Jain sacred texts are called Angas

· Jain texts were written under Bhadrabahu in BC 296

· Jain texts were written in the Prakrit language of Ardhamagadhi

· ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharma’ is the sacred hymn of Jainism

· Ahimsa, Satya, Asateya, Aparigriha and Brahmacharya are the five major principles of Jainism

· Brahmacharya is the principle added by Mahavira

· Mahavira taught the three Jewels of Jainism (Triratna) – Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct

· The Jains repudiated the authority or infallibility of the vedas. The Jains rejected the concept of Universal soul or a supreme power as the creator and sustainer of the Universe.

· Jainism does not condemn the Varna system. Mahavira believed that all individuals irrespective of caste can strive for liberation through good deeds and living

· First Jain council was held at Pataliputra in the fourth century BC under the leadership of Stulabahu

· Second Jain Council was held at Vallabhipur in third century BC under the leadership of Aryaskandil Nagarjuna Suri.

· Third Jain Council was held at Vallabhipur in Gujarat in 5^th Century AD under the leadership of Devardhi Kshamasramana

· Jainism was divided into two sects Swetambaras and Digambaras after the first Jain Council

· Digambaras are sky-clad or naked and swetambaras are clad in white.

· Gomateshwara statue is situated in Sravana belgola

· ‘Syad Vada’ is a Jain philosophy of Knowledge

· Kharavela of Kalinga gave patronage to Jainism

· Mahavir Jayanti and Rakshabandan are the festive occasions of Jainism

· Temple on the Mount Abu in Rajasthan is a famous centre of Jain worship

· Jain temple at Sravanabelgola in Hassan district in Mysore is known as ‘Kasi of the Jain’.

· Names of Rishabhadeva and Arishtanemi are also mentioned in the Rigveda

· Chandragupta Maurya the founder of the Mauryan Empire, abdicated the throne towards the end of his life, accepted Jainism reached Sravanabelgola and died there.

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / JAINISM / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / EPICS / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / EPICS / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

· Hinduism has two epics Ramayana and Mahabharata

· Mahabharata was written by ‘Vyasa’. Mahabharata is also known as Jayasamhita, Satasahasri Samhita and the fifth veda

· Mahabharata has 117000 hymns in it

· Mahabharata is divided into 18 Purvas, an appendix Harivamsa is considered as 19^th Purva

· 12^th Purva is the largest and 7^th is the smallest

· It describes the 18 days battle of Kurukshetra

· Stories of Sakuntalam, Pralayam, Ramcharitam, Rishyasringan, Satyan Savitri, Nala and Damayanthi etc…, are included in the Mahabharata

· Valmiki is the author of Ramayana

· Ramayana has 24000 hymns and is divided into Sevan Skandas (Kandas)

· Bhagavatgita is included in the Bhishma Purva of Mahabharata. It is divided into 18 chapters and has about 700 hymns

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / EPICS / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / LATER VEDIC PERIOD / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / LATER VEDIC PERIOD / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

· The period assigned to Later Vedic Phase is 1000 BC to 600 BC

· Later Vedic people used particular type of pottery called Painted Grey Ware (PGW)

· The Later Vedic Aryans were familiar with two seas, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

· Rice became the staple diet of Indian people during the Later Vedic Period

· The term ‘Rashtra’ which indicates territory first appeared in the later vedic period

· Origin of Kingship is found in Aitareya Brahmana

· Mention about the Varnashranadhrama is found in the Jabla Upanishad

· The Doctrine of Trimurti is found in the Maitrayani Upanishad

· Purohita Senani amd Vrajapati were the important functionaries who assisted the king in day-to-day administration.

· The officer who enjoyed authority over the pasture land was called Vrajapati

· The king’s power increased during the Later Vedic Period

· First law giver of ancient India was Manu. He wrote ‘Manusmrithi’

· Manusmrithi was translated into English by William Jones

· Shyma Shastri translated Arthasastra into English

· Aryans used iron for the first time India

· Horse, Iron, Sugarcane, Pulses etc… reached India by the coming of Aryans

· The God who occupied supreme position in the Later Vedic Period was Prajapati

· Rudra was regarded as preserver and protector of the people

· Each Tribal republic was headed by Ganapati or Jyeshtha

· Max Muller was the first person to speak of ‘Aryans’ as a race.

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / LATER VEDIC PERIOD / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / VEDIC AGE / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / VEDIC AGE / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES

· Vedic Age is the period of Aryans in India from 1500-500 BC

· Most Probable Home of the Aryans is Central Asia. This theory is of Max Muller

· The word Aryan literally means high born, nut it generally refers to language

· The word ‘Veda’ is derived from the word ‘vid’ which means knowledge.

· Vedas are the oldest literacy works of mankind. Vedas are four in number, they are Rig Veda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharva Veda. Rig veda is the oldest veda.

· Vedas are collectively known as Sruti

· Vedangas are collectively known as Smriti

· Vedangas are six in number. They are:

Ø Siksha - Phonetic

Ø Kalpa - Ritual

Ø Vyakarana - Grammar

Ø Nirukta - Etymology

Ø Chhanda - Metrics

Ø Jyotisha - Astronomy

· There are 1028 hymns in Rigveda. It is divided into 10 Mandalas (Chapters).

· Rig Vedic Hymns sung by priests were called Hotris

· ‘Sruti’ literature belonged to the Sathyayuga, Smriti belonged to Treatayuga, Puranas belonged to Dwaparayuga and Thanthra literature belonged to Kaliyuga

· Kritayuga (Sathayuga) Treatayuga, Dwaparayuga and Kaliyuga are the four ages of traditional Hindu thought

· Rigveda starts with the line ‘Agnimele Purohitam’

· Famous Gayatri Mantra is contained in the Rigveda (It is believed to have composed by Vishwamitra)

· ‘Soma’ was an intoxicating drink mentioned in the 9^th Mandala of the Rig Veda

· Mention of the word Varna is found in Rigveda

· The fourfold division of the society is found in the 10^th Mandala of the Rigveda

· Mention of the word ‘Sudras’ – Rigveda (10^th Mandala)

· The 10^th Mandala of Rigveda contain the Purusha Sukta hymn which tells about the origin of cast system

· The most important functionary who assisted the Vedic king was Purohita

· Monarchy was the normal form of Government in the vedic period

· Mention about the origin of Universe is found in the Rig Veda (10^th Mandala)

· Bali was a tax, which the king used to collect from the people of the Vedic period

· Yajurveda deals with sacrifices and rituals.

· Yajurvedic hymns are meant to be sung by priests called ‘Adhavaryu’

· Yajurveda is derived into two: Sukla Yajurveda (White Yajurveda) and Krishna Yajur Veda (Black Yajurveda)

· Sama Veda deals with Music

· Sama Vedic hymns are meant to be sung by priests called Udgatri

· Atharva veda is a collection of spells and incantations. Ayurveda is a part of Atharva Veda, which deals with medicine

· Mention of the ‘Gotra’ is found in the Atharvaveda

· The saying, “War begins in the minds of men” is from Atharva Veda

· Upanishads are 108 in number. Upanishads are philosophical works

· Upanishads are known as the Jnanakantas of Vedas

· The words ‘Sathyameva Jayate’ have been taken from ‘Mundaka Upanishad’

· Brahdaranya Upanishad was the first to give the doctrine of Transmigration of Soul and Karma

· Puranas are the part of Smriti literature. They are 18 in number 6 vishnupuranas, 6 sivapuranas and 6 Brahmapuranas

· Bhagvatapurana is divided into 18 skandas. The 10^th skanda mentions about the childhood of Sri Krishna

· Skandapurana is considered as the largest purana

· Brahmapurana is also known as Adipurana

· Adhyatma Ramayana is included in the Brahmantapurana

· Cattle was the chief measure of wealth of the vedic period

· Rigvedic tribe was referred to as Jana

· Many clans (vis) formed a tribe

· The basic unit of society was kula or the family and Kulapa was the head of the family.

· ‘Visah’ was a cluster of gramas

· Important tribal assemblies of the Rig Vedic period were Sabha, Samiti, Vidhata and Gana

· The Aghanya mentioned in many passages of Rigveda applies to cows

· The Rigvedic religion was primitive animism

· Indra was the greatest God of Aryans and Agni occupied second position

· Varuna was God of water and Yama was the Lord of dead

· Savitri was a solar diety to whom the famous Gayatri Mantra is attributed to

· Prithvi was Earth Godess

· The battle of ten kings mentioned in the Rig Veda was fought on the division of water of river Ravi. It was fought on the banks of River Ravi (Purushni)

· Indra was known as Purandara

· The people called Panis, during the Vedic period were cattle breeders

· The Vedic God in charge of truth and moral order was Varuna

· Indra played the role of the Warlord. He is also considered as the rain god

· The two priests who played a major part during the rig Vedic period were Vasishta and Visvamitra.

KERALA PSC / INDIAN HISTORY / VEDIC AGE / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / KERALA PSC PRELIMINARY / NOTES