UPSC Prelims · General Studies

Ancient, medieval & culture

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Indian art and culture / Religion and philosophy

Puranic Hinduism: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shakti and pilgrimage

Vasudeva-Krishna and Narayana merge into Vaishnavism; avatara doctrine (Varaha, Narasimha); Heliodorus Garuda pillar at Besnagar (Vidisha), not a cave shrine
Shaivism: Pashupata (Lakulisha), Kalamukha and Kapalika, Kashmir Shaivism (Trika), Nath and Siddha traditions, Virashaiva; Nataraja
Shakti worship, Devi Mahatmya, Shakta pithas (Kamakhya), Chausath Yogini temples (Mitaoli, Hirapur, Bheraghat), tantra
Surya worship and Sun temples; Ganapatya and Kaumara; Skanda-Murugan in the south; Jagannath cult of Puri
Pilgrimage: Char Dham, twelve Jyotirlingas (Somnath, Kedarnath, Rameshwaram), Kumbh cycle; Somnath's history: Al-Biruni's description, Mahmud (1025), rebuilt 1951 and installed by President Rajendra Prasad
Shift from yajna to puja and temple worship, bhakti in Puranas, agamas, festivals and processions

Where to study

Theme 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings, pp. 1-33 (printed 82-114)
Theme 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings, 10. New Religious Traditions: The growth of Puranic Hinduism (Vasudeva-Krishna, Vishnu's avatars), pp. 23-25 (printed 104-106)
Theme 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings, 10. New Religious Traditions (Shiva, the linga); 11. Can We 'See' Everything?, pp. 23-26 (printed 104-107)
Theme 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings, 10. New Religious Traditions (the goddess, Durga), pp. 23-27 (printed 104-108)
Theme 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings, 10. New Religious Traditions: Building temples (from sacrifice to image worship and temples), pp. 23-25 (printed 104-106)

Lesson 7 The Guptas, 7.2 Samudragupta (an ardent follower of Vaishnavism), p. 113 (printed 109)
Lesson 10 Advent of Arabs and Turks, Mahmud's Military Raids (Somnath), pp. 166-167 (printed 162-163)
Lesson 9 Cultural Development in South India, Bhakti and the Arts (temple ritual, hymns and music), p. 158 (printed 154)

Theme 6 Bhakti-Sufi Traditions, 1. A Mosaic of Religious Beliefs and Practices; 2. Poems of Prayer (Nayanars, Shaiva traditions), pp. 2-8 (printed 141-147)
Theme 6 Bhakti-Sufi Traditions, 1. A Mosaic of Religious Beliefs and Practices (goddess cults, tantric worship), pp. 2-4 (printed 141-143)

ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture, Central India (Chausath Yogini temple, Morena; yogini cult), p. 8 (printed 75)
ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture, West India; East India (Sun temples at Modhera and Konark), pp. 8-13 (printed 75-80)

ch. 7 The Making of Regional Cultures, Rulers and Religious Traditions: The Jagannatha Cult, pp. 2-3 (printed 80-81)