UPSC · Prelims and Mains
Ancient and Medieval History, Art and Culture
← Religion and philosophyPuranic Hinduism: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shakti and pilgrimage
- Vasudeva-Krishna and Narayana merge into Vaishnavism; avatara doctrine (Varaha, Narasimha); Heliodorus Garuda pillar at Besnagar (Vidisha), not a cave shrine
- Shaivism: Pashupata (Lakulisha), Kalamukha and Kapalika, Kashmir Shaivism (Trika), Nath and Siddha traditions, Virashaiva; Nataraja
- Shakti worship, Devi Mahatmya, Shakta pithas (Kamakhya), Chausath Yogini temples (Mitaoli, Hirapur, Bheraghat), tantra
- Surya and other cults
- Pilgrimage: Char Dham, twelve Jyotirlingas (Somnath, Kedarnath, Rameshwaram), Kumbh cycle; Somnath's history: Al-Biruni's description, Mahmud (1025), rebuilt 1951 and installed by President Rajendra Prasad
- Shift from yajna to puja and temple worship, bhakti in Puranas, agamas, festivals and processions
