General Studies On Indian History About Social and Cultural Uprising

Brahmo Samaj:
Founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828.
Criticized Sati Pratha, casteism and advocated widow remarriage.
He was opposed to Sanskrit system of education, because he thought it would keep the
country in darkness.
Other important leaders were Devendranath Tagore (father of Rabindranath Tagore) and
Keshap Chandra Sen.
Arya Samaj:
Founded by Swami Dayanand (or, Moolshankar) in 1875.
His motto was Go back to the vedas & India for the Indians. He disregarded Puranas,
idol worship, casteism and untouchability. He advocated widow remarriage.
Dayanands views were published in his famous work, Satyarth Prakash. He also wrote
Veda Bhashya Bhumika and Veda Bhashya.

Ramakrishna Mission:
Founded by Vivekanand (earlier, Narendranath Dutta) (1863 1902) in 1897, 11 years
after the death of his guru Ram Krishna Paramhans.
Vivekanand attended the Parliament of Religion at Chicago in 1893.
Irish woman Margaret Nobel (Known as sister Nivedita) popularized it.

Young Bengal Movement:
Founded by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-31). He was a teacher in Hindu College in
Calcutta.
He urged the students to live and die for truth. He also supported womens education and
their rights.

Veda Samaj:
Veda Samaj called Brahmo Samaj of South. Started by Sridharalu Naidu.
He translated books of Brahmo Dharma into Tamil and Telegu.

Dharma Sabha:
Initiated by Radhakant Deb in 1830.
Was opposed to reforms and protected orthodoxy, but played an active role in promoting
western education even to girls.

Lokahitawadi:
Started by Gopal Hari Deshmukh. Advocated western education and a rational outlook. He
advocated female education for the upliftment of women.
As a votary of national self-reliance, he attended Delhi durbar in 1876, wearing handspun
khadi cloth.

Servants of India Society:
Formed by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1915.
It did notable work in providing famine relief and in improving the condition of the tribal.

Radhaswami Movement:
Founded in 1861 by a banker of Agra, Tulsi Ram, popularly known as Shiv Dayal Saheb or
Swami Maharaj.
The sect preached belief in one supreme being, the Gurus supreme position and a simple
social life for the believers (the Satsangis).

Theosophical Society:
Founded by Westerners who drew inspiration from Indian thought and culture.
Madam H P Blavatsky laid the foundation of the movement in US in 1875. Later, Col.M.S.
Olcott of the US Army joined her.
In 1882, it was shifted to India at Adyar (Tamil Nadu).
Annie Besant was elected its president in 1907. She founded the Central Hindu College in
1898, which became Banaras Hindu University in 1916.

General Studies On Indian History About Jainism

Jainism founded by Rishabha.
There were 24 Tirthankaras (Prophets or Gurus), all Kshatriyas. First was
Rishabhnath (Emblem: Bull).
The 23rd Tirthankar Parshwanath (Emblem: Snake) was the son of King Ashvasena
of Banaras.
The 24th and the last Tirthankar was Vardhman Mahavira (Emblem: Lion). He was
born in kundagram (Distt Muzaffarpur, Bihar) in 599 BC.
His father Siddhartha was the head of Jnatrika clan.
His mother was Trishla, sister of Lichchavi Prince Chetak of Vaishali.
Mahavira was related to Bimbisara.
Married to Yashoda, had a daughter named Priyadarsena, whose husband Jamali
became his first disciple.
At 30, after the death of his parents, he became an ascetic.
In the 13th year of his asceticism (on the 10th of Vaishakha), outside the town of
Jrimbhikgrama, he attained supreme knowledge (kaivalya).
From now on he was called Jaina or Jitendriya and Mahavira, and his followers were
named Jains. He also got the title of Arihant, i.e., worthy.
At the age of 72, he attained death at Pava, near Patna, in 527 BC.
Mahavira preached almost the same message as Parshvanath and added one more,
Brahmcharya (celibacy) to it.

General Studies On Indian History About Buddhism

The Buddha:
The Buddha also known as Sakyamuni or Tathagata.
Born in 563 BC on the Vaishakha Poornima Day at Lumbini (near Kapilavastu) in
Nepal.
His father Suddhodana was the Saka ruler.
His mother (Mahamaya, of Kosala dynastry) died after 7 days of his birth. Brought
up by stepmother Gautami.
Married at 16 to Yoshodhara. Enjoyed the married life for 13years and had a son
named Rahula.
After seeing an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic, he decided to become
a wanderer.
Left his palace at 29 in search of truth (also called Mahabhinishkramana or The
Great Renunication) and wandered for 6 years.
Attained Enlightenment at 35 at Gaya in Magadha (Bihar) under the Pipal tree.
Delivered the first sermon at Sarnath where his five disciples had settled. His first
sermon is called Dharmachakrapracartan or Turning of the Wheel of Law.
Attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (identical with village Kasia in Deoria district
of UP) in 483 BC at the age of 80 in the Malla republic.
Buddhist Councils:
First Council: At Rajgriha, in 483 BC under the Chairmanship of Mehakassaapa
(king was Ajatshatru). Divided the teachings of Buddha into two Pitakas-Vinaya
Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka.
Second Council: At Vaishali, in 383 BC under Sabakami (King was
Kalasoka).Followers divided into Sthavirmadins and Mahasanghikas.
Third Council: At Pataliputra, in 250 BC under Mogaliputta Tissa (King was Ashoka)
In this, the third part of the Tripitaka was coded in the Pali language.
Fourth council: At Kashmir (Kundalvan), in 72 AD under Vasumitra (King was
Kanishka, Vice-Chairman was Ashwaghosha). Divided Buddhism into Mahayana and
Hinayana sects.
Buddist Literature: In Pali language.
Vinaya Pitaka: Rules of discipline in the Buddhist monasteries.
Sutta Pitaka: Largest, contains collection of Buddhas sermons.
Abhidhamma Pitaka: Explanation of the philosophical principles of the Buddhist
religion