History~14 min read
Religion, art, architecture, performing arts
Philosophy schools, temple styles, classical dance/music, paintings.
- Six orthodox darshanas: Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa, Vedanta. Heterodox: Buddhism, Jainism, Charvaka, Ajivika.
- Buddhism: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path; councils (Rajagriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Kashmir); Hinayana/Theravada vs Mahayana vs Vajrayana.
- Jainism: 24 Tirthankaras (Rishabha to Mahavira); Triratna; Anekantavada, Syadvada; Digambara/Svetambara.
- Bhakti: Nayanars/Alvars (Tamil), Kabir, Nanak, Ravidas, Mirabai, Tulsidas, Chaitanya, Tukaram. Sufi silsilas: Chishti (Ajmer — Moinuddin), Suhrawardi, Qadiri, Naqshbandi.
- Temple: Nagara (north, shikhara), Dravida (south, vimana, gopuram), Vesara (Deccan, Chalukya/Hoysala). Rock-cut: Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Mahabalipuram.
- Classical dances: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya (8 recognised).
- Music: Hindustani (gharanas) vs Carnatic (trinity — Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Syama Sastri). Sitar, veena, mridangam, tabla.
- Paintings: Ajanta murals, Pala, Mughal miniatures, Pahari, Rajput, Tanjore, Madhubani, Warli, Company school, Bengal revival (Abanindranath).
Video Lectures & Explanations
Curated educational video lectures explaining this topic for UPSC EPFO