Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics

The Dharmasutras are the first four texts of the Dharmashastra tradition and they focus on the idea of dharma, the principal guide by which Hindus strive to live their lives. The Dharmasutras are written in concise prose, leaving much up to the educated reader to interpret.

The Vedas are four and are listed as follows:

1. The Rig Veda
2. The Yajur Veda
3. The Sama Veda
4. The Atharva Veda

Shiksha: phonetics, phonology and morphophonology Kalpa: ritual Vyakarana: grammar Nirukta: etymology Chandas: metre Jyotisha: time measurement, forecasting movement of Sun, Moon and planetary movement, astronomy 

The Mitākṣarā is a legal commentary on the Yajnavalkya Smriti, best known for its theory of "inheritance by birth". It was written by Vijñāneśvara, a scholar in the Western Chalukya court, in the late eleventh and early twelfth century.

Smritis have two kinds: Dharma Sutras and Dharma Shastras. 

The Mitākṣarā is a legal commentary on the Yajnavalkya Smriti, best known for its theory of "inheritance by birth".

Correct Answer: dharmachakra

The Tolkappiyam is the oldest extant Tamil grammar text. It provides significant insights into the social and cultural life of the Sangam period, including the introduction of Aryan-influenced marriage rituals.

In Buddhist philosophy, the Arhant, Buddha, and Pratyeka Buddha are considered 'perfected beings' who have attained enlightenment. A Bodhisattva is one who is on the path to enlightenment but has deferred final Buddhahood to help others.

Both statements are historically accurate. The bhakti cults often mirrored the political structure of the time, where influence was strongest near the center of the deity's cult and faded as distance increased, similar to the tributary systems of medieval kings.

Pavarana is a Buddhist ceremony held at the end of the Vassa (rainy season retreat), where monks gather to invite their peers to point out any offenses they may have committed during the retreat.

According to the accounts of the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, Buddhism in India was divided into 18 sects during his visit in the 7th century.

In Daiva vivaha, the father gives his daughter away in marriage to a priest as part of a sacrificial ritual or fee for conducting a ceremony. Other forms like Brahma or Arsa have different customary conditions.

Mahaprajapati Gautami, the Buddha's foster mother, was the first woman to request ordination. After initial hesitation, the Buddha allowed the formation of the order of nuns (bhikkhunis) through her persistence.