UPSC Prelims · General Studies

Ancient, medieval & culture

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Indian art and culture / Religion and philosophy

Puranic 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 worship and Sun temples; Ganapatya and Kaumara; Skanda-Murugan in the south; Jagannath cult of Puri
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