Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics

In the hierarchy of sins (Mahapataka), the killing of a Brahmin (Brahmahatya) is consistently listed as the most heinous and primary sin in ancient Indian legal treatises.

Buddhist thinkers, particularly in texts like the Digha Nikaya (Agganna Sutta), proposed that kingship originated through a social contract between the people and the ruler to maintain order.

The Second Buddhist Council was held at Vaishali under the patronage of King Kalasoka and was presided over by the monk Sabbakami.

Historical records indicate that the Huna ruler Toramana was a follower of Jainism, while his son Mihirkula was known for his staunch Shaivite faith and persecution of Buddhists.

Hindu law is traditionally derived from the Smritis, which were composed by various seers and sages (Rishis) in ancient India.

Sources of classical Hindu law arose from the religious texts of the Dharmashastra and codified by Dharmashastra writers.

The First Ashrama - "Brahmacharya" or the Student Stage The Second Ashrama - "Grihastha" or the Householder Stage The Third Ashrama - "Vanaprastha" or the Hermit Stage The Fourth Ashrama - "Sannyasa" or the Wandering Ascetic Stage

In Hinduism, human life is believed to comprise four stages. These are called "ashramas" and every man should ideally go through each of these stages: The First Ashrama - "Brahmacharya" or the Student Stage The Second Ashrama - "Grihastha" or the Householder Stage The Third Ashrama - "Vanaprastha" or the Hermit Stage The Fourth Ashrama - "Sannyasa" or the Wandering Ascetic Stage

Varna system categorises society into four sections based on personality characteristics and activities:

1. Brahmin
2. Kshatriya
3. Vaishya
4. Sudra

The Hindu law applies: (a) to any person who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or developments, including a Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samaj; (b) to any person who is a Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh by religion, and (c) to any other person domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion, unless it is proved that any such person would not have been governed by the Hindu law or by any custom or usage as part of that law in respect of any of the matters dealt with herein if this Act had not been passed.

The sruits consists of four Vedas and six Vedangas.

The secondary and modern sources of Hindu law are as follows: (i) Justice, equity and good conscience (ii) Precedent (iii) Legislation

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