Page 48 - SST Class 06

Growth of New Ideas 7

q Indian philosophies q Upanishads
q Rise of Jainism and its teachings q Rise of Buddhism and its teachings

Introduction time, they became expensive and complicated
because the Brahmins introduced many rites and
India is enriched with new ideas from time to time
rituals, many of which were aimed at making
and the Upanishads, Jainism and Buddhism were
money. As a consequence, the common people
steps in this direction. They tried to eradicate the found it difficult to practise them. This resulted in
evils which prevailed then. These continue to exist
the laying down of new ideas in the form of
and remain relevant even today.
Upanishads, Jainism and Buddhism.
The Indian philosophy occupies an important place
There are a number of Upanishads. These were
in the world. It has accepted in its fold new ideas
written to complement the Vedas and to tell the
with open arms. This is the reason that new ideas real meaning of the Vedas. They dealt with all
have sprouted here from time to time and accepted
aspects of life. Different rishis (sages) wrote them.
by the people. Thus, a number of philosophies
The eleven Upanishads are considered the most
came into being in India.
important; these are—Isa, Kathak, Kena, Prasana,
Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya,
INDIAN PHILOSOPHIES
Chhandogya, Brhadaranyaka and Svetasvatara.
We can divide the Indian philosophies into two
chief types :
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1. Theist philosophies , that is, those philosophies
which believe in the authenticity of the Vedas. Most of the composers and writers of Upanishads
The Upanishads have laid down a number of were learned and scholarly, Brahmins.
philosophies, the Vedanta of which is the most The Vedanta philosophy, which was propounded
important. The Advaita Vedanta, as laid down by Shankaracharya, deals with the following
by Shankaracharya, is the most important aspects of life :
philosophy in this type.
q Brahman or the Supreme God
2. Atheist philosophies , that is, those philosophies
q Values of life
which do not believe in the authenticity of the
Vedas. There are six of them, the two most q The right way of living
important philosophies under this type are The Vedanta lays down the following principles :
Jainism and Buddhism.
q The Brahman (the Ultimate Reality or Supreme
UPANISHADS God) is the origin and end of the whole
universe. Everything exists in Him, originates
The Vedas are the primary source of all thoughts
in Hinduism. In the beginning, religious practices from Him and merges in Him.
were simple in nature, but with the passage of
Contemporary Social Science-6
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