NCERT Solutions Class 6th Social Science History Chapter – 6 New Questions and Ideas
| Textbook | NCERT |
| Class | 6th |
| Subject | Social Science (History) |
| Chapter | 6th |
| Chapter Name | New Questions and Ideas |
| Category | Class 6th History Notes |
| Medium | English |
| Source | Last Doubt |
| NCERT Solutions Class 6th Social Science History Chapter – 6 New Questions and Ideas Notes Why is it called karma?, Who is God of karma?, What are the 12 laws of karma?, Is karma made by God?, Does karma work in love?, Is Shani avatar of Shiva?, Which planet is Shani?, Does God believe in divorce?, Is karma a person?, Do Muslims believe karma?, What love karma means?, What are the 5 Laws of karma?, What is karmic love partner?, Who is 1st avatar of Shiva?, Who defeated Shani?, Is Shani god married? |
NCERT Solutions Class 6th Social Science History Chapter – 6 New Questions and Ideas
Chapter – 6
New Questions and Ideas
Notes
| The story of the Buddha • Siddhartha, also known as Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was born about 2500 years ago. • He belonged to a small Gana known as the Sakya gana and was a kshatriya. • When he was a young man, he left the comforts of his home in search of knowledge. • He wandered for several years and meditated for days on end under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, where he attained enlightenment. • After that, he was known as the Buddha or the Wise One. • He then went to Sarnath, near Varanasi, where he taught for the first time. • He spent the rest of his life travelling on foot, going from place to place, teaching people, till he passed away at Kusinagar. |
| Buddha’s Teaching (i) The Buddha taught that life is full of suffering and unhappiness which is caused because we have cravings and desires. (ii) The Buddha taught in the language of the ordinary people, Prakrit, so that everybody could understand his message. |
| Upanishads – Various thinkers tried to find answers to difficult questions. These thinkers were of the view that there was the atman or the individual soul and the Brahmin or the universal soul. Upanishads give much importance to Brahmin, the universal soul. • These were part of the later Vedic texts. • Upanishad literally means ‘approaching and sitting near’. • They described the atman or the individual soul and the Brahman or the universal soul that ultimately, were one. • Most Upanishadic thinkers were men, especially Brahmins and rajas. • There were also few women thinkers such as Gargi, who was famous for her learning, and participated in debates held in royal courts. • Poor people rarely took part in these discussions. • One famous exception was Satyakama Jabala, who was named after his mother, the slave woman Jabali. • He had a deep desire to learn about reality, was accepted as a student by a brahmin teacher named Gautama, and became one of the best-known thinkers of the time. • Many of the ideas of the Upanishads were later developed by the famous thinker Shankaracharya. |
| Jainism – Jainism was founded by Vardhamana Mahavira of the Vajji Gana-sangha. He left home at the age of 30 and went to live in the forest. For many years, he led a hard and lonely life but finally attained enlightenment. • The last and 24th tirthankara of the Jain’s, Vardhamana Mahavira was the most famous among all thinkers. • He was a kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis, a group that was part of the Vajji sangha. • Followers of Mahavira, who were known as Jainas, had to lead very simple lives, begging for food. • They had to be honest and were especially asked not to steal. • Jainism was supported mainly by traders. • Over hundreds of years, Jainism spread to different parts of north India, and to Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. • The teachings of Mahavira and his followers were transmitted orally for several centuries. • They were written down in the form in which they are presently available at a place called Valabhi, in Gujarat, about 1500 years ago. |
| The sangha – Both Mahavira and Buddha felt that only those who gave up worldly life and became monks could gain true knowledge. They set up organisations called Sanghas where these monks spent much of their time on religious studies and meditation. • Both the Mahavira and the Buddha felt that only those who left their homes could gain true knowledge. • They arranged for them to stay together in the sangha, an association of those who left their homes. • Men and women who joined the sangha led simple lives. • They meditated for most of the time and went to cities and villages to beg for food during fixed hours. • That is why they were known as bhikkhus and bhikkhunis. • The rules made for the Buddhist sangha were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka. |
| Monasteries – fain and Buddhist monks went from place to place, and therefore, the need for more permanent shelters was felt. As a result, monasteries were built, which were known as Viharas. • Both Jaina and Buddhist monks went from place to place throughout the year, teaching people. • Many supporters of the monks and nuns, and they themselves felt the need for more permanent shelters and so monasteries were built. • These were known as viharas. • The land on which the vihara was built was donated by a rich merchant or a landowner, or the king. • The local people came with gifts of food, clothing and medicines for the monks and nuns. |
| The system of ashramas • Around the time when Jainism and Buddhism were becoming popular, brahmins developed the system of ashramas. • Here, the word ashrama does not mean a place where people live and meditate. • It is used instead for a stage of life. Four ashramas were recognised: brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and samnyasa. • Brahmin, kshatriya and vaishya men were expected to lead simple lives and study the Vedas during the early years of their life (brahmacharya). • Finally, they had to give up everything and become samnyasins. • The system of ashramas allowed men to spend some part of their lives in meditation. • Generally, women were not allowed to study the Vedas, and they had to follow the ashramas chosen by their husbands. |
| Four Ashramas – In Upanishadic times, the life of an upper-caste man was divided into four stages called Ashramas. These were Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa. Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya men were expected to lead their lives according to them, but this was not followed rigidly. |
| Ahimsa – The Jain rule of ‘ahimsa’ means not hurting or killing living beings. According to Mahavira, each living being “longs to live”. |
| Atman – The individual soul which remains permanent in the universe even after we die was called ‘atman’ by the thinkers. |
| Buddhism – The religion founded by the Buddha (Gautama/Siddhartha) was Buddhism. |
| Jainism – The religion founded by Vardhamana Mahavira is called Jainism. |
| Karma – Our actions have been referred to by Buddha as ‘Karma’. Buddha said our ‘Karma’ – good or bad – affect us both in this life and the next life. |
| Tanha – The desire for more things have been described by the Buddha as thirst or ‘tanha’. |
| Upanishads – The Upanishads were part of the later Vedic texts. The word literally means ‘approaching and sitting near’. |
| Viharas – The monasteries where monks lives were called ‘Viharas’. |
| Around 2500 years ago (about 500 BC) – Upanishadic thinkers preached. |
| Around 2500 years ago (about 500 BC) – Mahavira and the Buddha preached. |
| Around 1500 years ago (about 500 AD) – the Jaina texts were written down. |
Question. 1. What was the atm of the thinkers in society?
The thinkers wanted to understand the ongoing changes in society and to try to find out the true meaning of life.
Question. 2. What did the Buddha do after his enlightenment?
The Buddha went to Samath and taught for the first time. He spent the rest of his life travelling and teaching people.
Question. 3. What was the ‘Karma’ according to the Buddha?
‘Karma’ refers to our actions—good or bad.
Question. 4. How did the Buddha connect to everyone in society?
The Buddha used Prakrit so that everyone could understand his teachings.
Question. 5. What sort of people became Upanishadic thinkers?
The Upanishadic thinkers consisted of men, especially ‘brahmins’ and ‘rajas’. There were exceptions, however.
Question. 6. What did Mahavira do to attain enlightenment?
Mahavira left home at the age of thirty. Then he spent twelve years in the forest and led a hard and lonely life. Then he got enlightenment.
Question. 7. State two basic rules of Jainism
(a) The Jains had to beg for food.
(b) They were to be absolutely honest.
(b) They were to be absolutely honest.
Question. 8. Name the book which gives the rules of the Buddhist ‘Sangha’.
The Vinaya Pitaka gives the rules made for the Buddhist ‘Sangha’.
Question. 9. Who all joined the ‘Sangha’?
Those who joined the ‘sangha’ included ‘Brahmins’, Kshatriyas’, merchants, labourers, slaves, etc.
Question. 10. How did monks take shelter in the rainy season?
The monks got temporary shelters built during the rainy season, or they lived in caves.
| NCERT Solutions Class 6th History All Chapter Notes |
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