Chapter-1
1. Indian Knowledge System: An Overview
Book
Sl. No. Question (s)
Reference
1. What is the current status of IKS in India? Briefly explain the
reasons for its current status.
2. Do you think ancient knowledge is useful for a society? Support
your answer with suitable arguments.
3. Define the term 'Indian Knowledge System. Briefly explain what
you understand by each word in this term.
4. Outline the broad classification of the IKS repository. How do the
categories in the classification framework differ from one another?
5. What do you understand by the term 'Caturdaśa-vidyāsthāna'?
Briefly explain the various components of this framework.
6. Comment on the statement, "The components of 'Caturdaśa-
vidyāsthāna' are all related to the Vedas".
7. Briefly state the salient features of IKS when viewed from a
historicity point. What are the areas of key contributions?
8. Indian knowledge repository pre-dated several of the Western works
in several areas. Do you agree with the statement? Prepare a note
either supporting the statement or otherwise.
9. Comment on the statement, "The oral tradition employed by ancient
Indians necessitated use of some unique methods to represent the
knowledge".
Chapter-2
The Vedic Corpus
Book
Sl. No. Question (s)
Reference
1. What do you understand by the term 'Veda'? Why is the Veda called
'apauruşeya'?
2. What are the four Vedas? What is the basis on which these have been
classified?
3. Describe the organisation of a Yajña. Who is involved and what are
their roles?
4. How is the knowledge further classified and arranged in each of the
Vedas?
5. Prepare a one-page note outlining the salient features of Rgveda
Samhită
6. What are some of the major areas in which Atharvaveda has
contributed?
7. What are the key differences between the Samhita (Mantra) portion
and the Brahmana portion of a Veda?
8. What are the key contributions found in the Brahmaņas of
Samaveda?
9. What is the meaning of the word 'Upaniṣad'? What is the purpose of
Upaniṣads?
10. Comment on the statement, "There are several useful perspectives
that one can derive from the Vedic corpus". Do you agree with this
statement? Prepare a note with supporting arguments.
11. What is the relevance of Vedangas in the context of the Vedic
repository?
12. Comment on the statement, "Vyakarana and Nirukta address the
same issue of analysing words and their meanings".
13. Why is Šikśā considered an important Vedānga? What role does it
play in the oral tradition of the Vedic preservation?
14. What are the building blocks of a chandas? Explain the main forms
of chandas deployed in a Vedic repository.
15. What do you understand by the term 'sulba-sūtra'? What is the use
of it?
16. Distinguish between grhya-sūtra and dharma-sūtra
17. Why do the Vedic people need Jyotişa?
18. Briefly outline the salient features of life during Vedic times. Are
there any useful ideas to imbibe in our modern-day living?
Chapter-3
Philosophical Systems
Book
Sl. No. Question (s)
Reference
1. Outline the salient features of Indian philosophical systems.
2. What do you understand by the terms 'Vedic and Non-Vedic' schools
of philosophy?
3. What are some of the common features of the Vedic schools of
philosophy? What are their main differences?
4. Prepare a one-page note each, enumerating the commonalities and
differences between the following schools of philosophy:
(a) Sämkhya and Yoga
(b) Nyaya and Vaišeşika
(c) Pūrva-mimämsä and Vedānta
5. Briefly describes the salient aspects of the following schools of
philosophy:(a) Samkhya, (b) Yoga, (c) Nyāyā, (d) Vaiśeşika, (e)
Pūrva-mimämsä
6. What do you understand by the term 'Puruşa and Prakrti'?
7. Explain the term 'Aştānga-yoga.
8. What are the key differences and commonalities among the three
schools of Vedanta?
9. What is the role of karma-yoga, bhakti-yoga, and jñāna-yoga
according to the three Vedanta schools?
10. Comment on the statement, "Cārvāka school of philosophy has
taken a different approach compared to other philosophical
systems".
11. Prepare a one-page note outlining the salient features of the Jaina
school of philosophy.
12. Compare and contrast the Jaina school of philosophy with that of
the Buddhist school.
13. What are the key recommendations of the Buddhist school of
philosophy to attain liberation?