History Lecture Notes: Ancient India and Religion

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the Religion of the Indian Subcontinent, Indus Valley Civilisation, Vedic Periods, Buddhism, Jainism, and the Mahajanapadas.

Ratnakara

The original name of sage Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana.

Vishrava

The name of the sage who was the father of Ravana.

Jambavant

The bear king present during both the churning of the ocean and Rama's war with Ravana.

Ahalya

The wife of Sage Gautama whose name means 'one without deformation' and who was liberated from stone by Rama's touch.

Jaya or Jayashastra

The original name of the Mahabharata, written by sage Vyas.

Krishna Dvaipayana

The name sage Vyasa was born with.

Vasusena

The birth name of Karna.

Bhishma

The name earned by Devavrata, meaning 'one who took a terrible oath,' after his vow of celibacy.

Barbarika

The son of Ghatotkacha who was granted the boon to watch the entire Kurukshetra war by Krishna.

Saptarishi

The Great $7$ sages: Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja, Gautama, Atri, and Kashyapa.

Ramcharitmanas

A version of the Ramayana written by Tulsidas in the Awadhi language.

Ramakien

The Thai version and National Epic of Thailand based on the Ramayana.

Meluhha

The name used by Mesopotamia to refer to the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Pasupathi shiva

A deity worshipped in the Indus Valley Civilisation, evidenced by seals, often associated with a lingam and yoni.

Lothal

A port city of the Indus Valley Civilisation in Gujarat featuring a unique dockyard with lock gates.

Daimabad

A site in Maharashtra near the river Pravara where bronze images of large animals like rhinos and elephants were found, showing a transition from the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Kalibangan

An excavation site in Rajasthan where findings included forts on mud, fire altars, and ploughed fields.

Dholavira

A site in Gujarat known for perfect town planning, a wooden signboard, water management, and reservoirs.

Swastika

The religious symbol associated with the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Cotton

The earliest produce of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Brick Ratio (Indus Valley)

The common ratio found in bricks was $4:2:1$.

Weight Ratio (Indus Valley)

The common ratio found in weights was $1:2:4:8$.

Rigveda

The oldest Vedic text comprising $10$ books or mandals and $1028$ hymns (suktas).

Purusha sukta

A hymn from the Rigveda that explains the origin of the four varna classes from Purusha's body parts.

Sabha and Samitis

Assemblies used for judicial, advisory, and political discussions during the Early Vedic Period.

Indra

The King of gods in the Vedic period, associated with lightning and rain, who defeated Vritra.

Sama veda

A collection of musical hymns containing melodies and chants modified from Rigvedic hymns.

Atharvaveda

A collection of charms and magic practices for healing and protection, forming the basis for Ayurvedic traditions.

Mundaka Upanishad

The source of the famous national motto 'Satyamev Jayate'.

Chandogya Upanishad

An Upanishad associated with the Sama veda that discusses the syllable 'Om' and teaches 'Tat Tvam Asi'.

Nishka

A unit of weight primarily for gold mentioned in the Rigveda.

Nyaya

A school of philosophy focused on logic founded by Gautam and detailed in the Nyaya Sutra.

Ashvamedha

A royal ceremony involving horse sacrifice to assert a king's power and dominance.

Upanayana

An initiation ritual into student life and Vedic studies for males of the upper three castes.

Gandharva Vivaha

A type of marriage characterized as a love marriage where the couple agrees to marry without family consent.

Theravada

A branch of Buddhism practiced in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia focusing on individual enlightenment.

Vinaya Pitaka

A Buddhist text containing monastic rules and regulations.

Sarnath

The location where Siddhartha Gautama gave his first sermon.

Tirthankara

A savior and spiritual teacher in Jainism; Rishabhadev was the first and Mahavir was the $24^{th}$.

Digambara

A sect of Jainism whose monks reject clothing as a possession and believe women cannot attain liberation directly.

Agamas

Sacred scriptures recognized by the Shvetambara sect, including $12$ Angas and $12$ Upangas.

Bimbisar

The founder of the Magadh empire from the Haryanka Dynasty.

Udayin

The son of Ajatshatru who established the city of Pataliputra at the confluence of the Ganga and Son rivers.

Karshapan

Punch-marked silver coins used as a standardized medium of exchange in the Magadh empire.

Mahapadma Nanda

The founder of the Nanda dynasty, known as 'Eka-rat' and the 'destroyer of all the kshatriyas'.

Battle of Hydaspes

The battle near the Jhelum River where Alexander defeated King Porus.

Spasas

The term for a spy in the administrative posts after the Later Vedic Period.

Assaka

The Mahajanapada located near the Godavari river with its capital at Podana.