Ancient Indian Philosophy and Religious Traditions
BPSC demand
Focus on clean school–thinker–key idea and site–event–tradition pairs. Do not force every tradition into one modern label. In prelims, the most common traps are orthodox versus heterodox, a thinker’s association, and Buddhist/Jain sacred geography in Bihar.
Philosophy at a glance
School
Traditional association / clue
Nyaya
Gautama; logic and valid knowledge.
Vaisheshika
Kanada; categories and atomism.
Samkhya
Kapila; purusha and prakriti.
Yoga
Patanjali; disciplined path and eight limbs.
Mimamsa
Jaimini; Vedic ritual interpretation.
Vedanta
Badarayana and Brahma Sutra tradition.
Heterodox traditions
Tradition
Safe clue
Buddhism
Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path; Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
Jainism
Mahavira is the 24th Tirthankara; ahimsa is central.
Charvaka/Lokayata
Materialist tradition; direct perception is given special importance.
Ajivika
Makkhali Gosala; doctrine of niyati (determinism).