Ancient India
Harappan Civilization was discovered in 1920‐1922
when two of the most important sites were excavated.
These were Harappa on the banks of river Rawi in
Punjab and Mohenjodaro on the banks of the river Indus
in Pakistan.
The “Great Granary” measuring 169 feets × 35 feets is
the most remarkable structure found in Harappa.
when two of the most important sites were excavated.
These were Harappa on the banks of river Rawi in
Punjab and Mohenjodaro on the banks of the river Indus
in Pakistan.
The “Great Granary” measuring 169 feets × 35 feets is
the most remarkable structure found in Harappa.
Mohenjodero is derived from a sindhi word which
means “mound of the dead”. It was excavated by Mr. R.
D. Banerjee in 1922 in the Larkana district of Pakistan
Black‐bangles as the name Kalibanga indicated was found
in Kalibanga.
Lothal was excavated in 1957 by Mr. S.R. Rao. It is located
in Gujrat on the coastal flat of Gulf of Cambay. An
artificial brick dockyard was found here which sewed as
the main sea port for the people of Indus Valley
civilization
At Banwali large quantity of barley & mustard was found.
Dholavira is the latest and one of the two largest
Harappan settlement in India the other one in Rakigarhi
in Haryana
The towns were based on ‘Grid pattern’ street & lones
cutting across one another at right angles dividing the
city into number of rectangular blocks.
The city was divided into too parts, the “CITADEL” a
fortified area which housed important civic & religious
public buildings including granaries and residences
Rig Veda is the oldest of all the Vedas, contains 1017
Suktas; contains 11 Balakhilya which makes total
number of Suktas 1028; it also contains 10 “Mandals”.
The mandalas II to VI are discribed to Gritsamada,
Viswamitra, Vamadeva, Arti, Bhardwaja & Vasistha
The Mandalas I, VIII, IX & X are latest mandalas.
Sam Veda is collection of hyms taken from Rig Veda & set
to tunes for the purpose of singing.
Yajur Veda is collection of rituals for performing different
sacrifies. It consists of 40 chapters & recited by a priest
known as Adhavaru. It is divided in two parts Krishna
Yajurveda & Sukla Yajurveda.
The Altharva Veda is collection of magic, spell &
charms, it contains many popular supertitions and also
contains non Aryan elements.
During the sixth century BC Indian history saw the
establishment of first territorial kingdom and second
phase of urbanization and development in India. During
the period 16 major mahajanpadas emerged. Some of
them are given below:
Mahajanapada Capital
Mallas – Kushinagar, Pawa
Magadha – Rajgir, later Patliputra
Anga – Champa
Vajji – Vaishali
Kashi – Varanasi
Koshala – Shravasti
Vasta – Kaushambi
Avanti – Ujjain
Shurasena – Mathura
Matsya – Viratnagar
Gandhara – Taxila
Chedi – Suktimati
Bimbisara founded the Magadha Empire who belongs to
Haryanka Dynasty. Bimbisara was married to chellana,
princess of the lichchavi family of Vaishali Bimbisara also
married Khema of the royal house of Madra in Punjab.
Bimbisara defeated Brohamadatta of Anga and annexed
the kingdom.
Both Buddhist and Jains claim that Ajatshatru was
follower of their religicn. According to the Mahavamsa he
constructed several chaityas and viharas. He was
instrumental in convening the first Buddhist council at
Rajgriha.
Mahapadma Nanda was the powerful ruler of Nanda
dynasty who uprooted the Kshatriya dynasties in the
North India. During this period only Alexander invaded
India.
Jainism
According to jains tradition there were twenty four
Tirthankaras (prophets or gurur) or ford makers across
the stream of existence. The first was Rishabhanath and
the last (twenty fourth) was Mahavira Varhamana
Mahavira’s original name was Vardhamana, he was born
at Kundagrama in a suburb of Vaisali. Kunda grama is
presently known as Basukunda and is situated in
Muzzaffarpur district (Bihar)
Mahavira was married to Yashoda and had a daughter
(Priyadarsa) whose husband, Jamali, became the first
disciple of Mahavira.
Mahavira is also known as Arhant and Kina (conqueror).
Nirgantha (free of fetters). His fellowers were named
Jain.
Mahavira attained Kaivalya (death) in 468 BCE at the age
of 72 at Pava near Rajegriha. The place is said to be
Pavapuri (Bihar). Sudharman became the head of the
Jain Sangha after him.
Main Tenets of Jainism As preached by Mahavira
The Principle of Jainism, as preached by mahavira, can be
summed up as follows
Mahavira refected the authority of the Vedas and the
Vedic rituals.
Mahavira did not believe in the existence of God.
He advocated an austere and simple life with the ultimate
aim to attain Kaivalya (Nirvana or Moksha).
Mahavira believed in Karma and the trans migration of
soul (atma).
According to Jainism the world consits of two elements:
Jiva (conscious being) and atma (the unconscious).
Tirthankaras (prophets or gurur) or ford makers across
the stream of existence. The first was Rishabhanath and
the last (twenty fourth) was Mahavira Varhamana
Mahavira’s original name was Vardhamana, he was born
at Kundagrama in a suburb of Vaisali. Kunda grama is
presently known as Basukunda and is situated in
Muzzaffarpur district (Bihar)
Mahavira was married to Yashoda and had a daughter
(Priyadarsa) whose husband, Jamali, became the first
disciple of Mahavira.
Mahavira is also known as Arhant and Kina (conqueror).
Nirgantha (free of fetters). His fellowers were named
Jain.
Mahavira attained Kaivalya (death) in 468 BCE at the age
of 72 at Pava near Rajegriha. The place is said to be
Pavapuri (Bihar). Sudharman became the head of the
Jain Sangha after him.
Main Tenets of Jainism As preached by Mahavira
The Principle of Jainism, as preached by mahavira, can be
summed up as follows
Mahavira refected the authority of the Vedas and the
Vedic rituals.
Mahavira did not believe in the existence of God.
He advocated an austere and simple life with the ultimate
aim to attain Kaivalya (Nirvana or Moksha).
Mahavira believed in Karma and the trans migration of
soul (atma).
According to Jainism the world consits of two elements:
Jiva (conscious being) and atma (the unconscious).
Jira acts, feels and wills. It suffers and dies. Atma is
external and is born and reborn. Mahavira believed that
the soul is immortal.
external and is born and reborn. Mahavira believed that
the soul is immortal.
Man undergoes through successive births depending on
his Karma, in the present or previous births on account
of karmas good or bad, the soul creates its own present
or future
The ultimate aim of Jiva should be to get rid of the cycle of
birth and rebirth and attain nirvana.
The only way to nirvana his through the three Jevels
(Triratna)‐Right faith, Right knowledge and Right
conduct.
The three main jewels of Jainism were Right faith (Samyak
darshana), knowledge (Jana) and conduct (charitra).
Jains lay great emphasis on equality. Mahavira accepted
the caste system yet he said that man may be good or
bad according to his karma and not on account of his
birth.
Five vows / main teachings prescribed by Mahavirs:
a)Ahimsa (non‐violence) violence should not be caused
by words, thoughts and actions.
b)Satya‐one should speak the truth and only the truth.
c)Asateya (Non‐stealing) stealing in any form is bad.
d)Aparigraha (Non‐Possession) Wealth and property in
any form should not be accumulated and
e)Brahmacharya (Chartity) all kinds of passions,
emotions and desires must be put under control
First Jain Council was held in Patliputra under the
leadership of Sthulabahu in the beginning of the third
century BC.
his Karma, in the present or previous births on account
of karmas good or bad, the soul creates its own present
or future
The ultimate aim of Jiva should be to get rid of the cycle of
birth and rebirth and attain nirvana.
The only way to nirvana his through the three Jevels
(Triratna)‐Right faith, Right knowledge and Right
conduct.
The three main jewels of Jainism were Right faith (Samyak
darshana), knowledge (Jana) and conduct (charitra).
Jains lay great emphasis on equality. Mahavira accepted
the caste system yet he said that man may be good or
bad according to his karma and not on account of his
birth.
Five vows / main teachings prescribed by Mahavirs:
a)Ahimsa (non‐violence) violence should not be caused
by words, thoughts and actions.
b)Satya‐one should speak the truth and only the truth.
c)Asateya (Non‐stealing) stealing in any form is bad.
d)Aparigraha (Non‐Possession) Wealth and property in
any form should not be accumulated and
e)Brahmacharya (Chartity) all kinds of passions,
emotions and desires must be put under control
First Jain Council was held in Patliputra under the
leadership of Sthulabahu in the beginning of the third
century BC.
Second council was held at Valabhi in the 512 BC.
Gautam Buddha and Buddhism
Gautama or Siddhartha was born at Lumbinivan in 563
BC. on the Vaisakha Purnima day in the royal grove at
Lumbini, near Kapilavastu.
The Rummindei Pillar inscription of Ashoka marks site of
Buddha’s birth.
He married Yasodhara. He had son named Rahul
Teachings of Buddha / Main Doctrines of Buddhism
He declared that everything was transitory or
impermanent
His teachings are based on the four noble truths that the
world is full of sorrow (dukkha); that there are cause of
sorrow (dukkha‐Samudava); that this sorrow can be
stopped (dukkha‐niradha); and the path leading to the
cessation of sorrow (dukkha‐nirodha magaminipratiped)
Gautam Buddha and Buddhism
Gautama or Siddhartha was born at Lumbinivan in 563
BC. on the Vaisakha Purnima day in the royal grove at
Lumbini, near Kapilavastu.
The Rummindei Pillar inscription of Ashoka marks site of
Buddha’s birth.
He married Yasodhara. He had son named Rahul
Teachings of Buddha / Main Doctrines of Buddhism
He declared that everything was transitory or
impermanent
His teachings are based on the four noble truths that the
world is full of sorrow (dukkha); that there are cause of
sorrow (dukkha‐Samudava); that this sorrow can be
stopped (dukkha‐niradha); and the path leading to the
cessation of sorrow (dukkha‐nirodha magaminipratiped)
The way to nirvana (emancipates), in Buddhism, or the
path that leads to cessation of suffering, higher wisdom
and peace of mind, is known as the noble eight feed path.
Buddha could it the middle path (Majjhima margga) as it
avoided both the extremes of gross luxury and grim
austerity.
path that leads to cessation of suffering, higher wisdom
and peace of mind, is known as the noble eight feed path.
Buddha could it the middle path (Majjhima margga) as it
avoided both the extremes of gross luxury and grim
austerity.
The Eightfold paths are:
1)Right understanding, free from superstition and
delusion
2)Right Thoughts, high and worthy of the intelligent
earnest man
3)Right speech, kind, open, truthful
4)Right action, peaceful, honest, pure
5)Right livelihood, bringing hurt or danger to no living
thing
6)Right effort, in self‐training and in self control
7)Right Mindfulness, the active, watchful mind
8)Right concentration, earnest thought on the deep
1)Right understanding, free from superstition and
delusion
2)Right Thoughts, high and worthy of the intelligent
earnest man
3)Right speech, kind, open, truthful
4)Right action, peaceful, honest, pure
5)Right livelihood, bringing hurt or danger to no living
thing
6)Right effort, in self‐training and in self control
7)Right Mindfulness, the active, watchful mind
8)Right concentration, earnest thought on the deep
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