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UPPCS Ancient History Gap Sheet: Philosophy, Shaivism and Bhagavatism.
UPPCS has asked 21 of these. 3 have not been asked yet. Lock the first list, then read the second: it holds what UPPCS has not used yet.
First, the concept
Astika and nastika systems are distinguished by acceptance of Vedic authority, not simply by belief in a creator God. The six classical systems ask different questions about knowledge, matter, duty and liberation.
Devotional traditions connect a deity, symbol, teacher and text. Keep Shaiva Nayanars separate from Vaishnava Alvars, and treat later Vedanta schools as distinct interpretations rather than interchangeable names.
✅ Already asked (21)
Six systems
- Nyaya and logic · Associated with Gautama; examines valid knowledge and reasoning.
- Vaisheshika and categories · Associated with Kanada; classifies reality and develops atomism.
- Sankhya dualism · Associated with Kapila; distinguishes purusha from prakriti.
- Yoga discipline · Patanjali systematised Yoga; an eight-limbed path of discipline.
- Purva Mimamsa · Associated with Jaimini; interprets Vedic ritual and duty.
- Vedanta and Brahman · Draws on Upanishads and questions about Brahman and the self.
- Astika criterion · Acceptance of Vedic authority; Buddhism and Jainism are nastika in this classification.
- Charvaka materialism · Emphasises perception and rejects Vedic authority.
Deities and early evidence
- Ardhanarishvara image · Combines Shiva and Parvati in one form.
- Pashupata tradition · Lakulisha is associated with this Shaiva school.
- Varaha incarnation · Vishnu as a boar rescues the earth.
- Balarama's plough · Balarama or Sankarshana is represented with a plough.
- Heliodorus pillar · Besnagar near Vidisha; records devotion to Vasudeva by a Greek ambassador from Taxila.
- Agathocles deity coins · Indo-Greek coins depict Sankarshana and Vasudeva.
- Bhagavad Gita paths · Discusses action, knowledge and devotion as paths of spiritual life.
- Prasthanatrayi texts · Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Brahma Sutras.
- Krishna in Chandogya · Chandogya Upanishad mentions Krishna, son of Devaki.
Bhakti and Vedanta
- Nayanar devotion · Tamil Shaiva poet-saints devoted to Shiva.
- Alvar devotion · Tamil Vaishnava poet-saints devoted to Vishnu.
- Shankara's Advaita · Non-dual Vedanta; traditionally associated with four major mathas.
- Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita · Qualified non-dualism within Vaishnava Vedanta.
❌ Not asked yet (3)
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🔒 3 items not asked yet
Six systems: 3
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⚠️ Sankhya is an astika system even in its classical non-theistic form. Ramanuja taught Vishishtadvaita, while Shankara taught Advaita.
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