TS 6th Class Social 17th Lesson Questions and Answers Telangana – Religion and Society in Early Times

Telangana SCERT 6th Class Social Study Material Telangana 17th Lesson Religion and Society in Early Times Textbook Questions and Answers.

Religion and Society in Early Times – TS 6th Class Social 17th Lesson Questions and Answers Telangana

Question 1.
List some religious practices of the people of the following.
Answer:

Hunter-gatherers Society	Present day Society
1) They probably painted hunting scenes and danced to imitate them.	1) We find painting in temples.
2) They dressed themselves, wore masks and danced.	2) In festivals people dance, painting their body like animals.
3) They believed that forests and wild animals were sacred and had to be worshipped.	3) Cows and oxen are still worshipped.
4) Animals should not be killed except in need.	4) Aiimals are killed at will.
5) They believed life continues even after death.	5) Many people still believe life after death.

Question 2.
Write about the common characteristics /tenets of Buddhism and Jainism.
Answer:

Buddhism	Jainism
1) Condemned sacrifices.	1) Condemned sacrifices and rituals.
2) Emphasised on equality.	2) Emphasised on equality.
3) Rejected supremacy of Brahmins.	3) Rejected supremacy of Brahmins.
4) Relied non – violence.	4) Propagated non-violence.
5) Had well organised monastic order.	5) Had well organised monastic order.
6) We should follow middle path – not severe penance.	6) We should be austere and perform severe penance.

Discuss and Write :

Question 1.
How do you think can we express our thanks to nature ?
Answer:

Hunter gatherer’s believed that the forest and wild animals were sacred and had to be worshipped.
Farmers rear animals and also have close interaction with herders.
Our people have been worshipping several trees like Peepal, Neem, Jammi, Banyan and plants like Tulasi.
Potshreds from very ancient times have pictures of people leaves (tainted on them indicating that people had great regard for these trees.
Many farmer communities also worship animals like elephants, tigers, snakes, monkeys, etc.
It is believed that these practices have their origin in very ancient period.
Now in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also people celebrate some festivals to regard trees and animals “Nagula Chaviti”. It is the festival of worshipping snakes and also “Vana Samaradhana” for worshipping trees.
The famous festival “Pongal” is celebrated in three days Bhogi, Sankranti and KanumAnswer: Animals particularly cows and oxen are worshipped in these days.
Thus we express our thanks to nature.

Question 2.
We sometimes see people causing suffering to and terrorising animals. What do you think about this ? Do we have right to cause pain to any living being ?
Answer:

We sometimes see people cause suffering to and terrorising animals.
I think it is not fair on our part.
We do not have any right to cause pain to any living being.
Human beings domesticated many animals.
To gain total control over those domesticated animals people usually hurt and punish them.
We should be kind to animals.

Question 3.
Why did people worship dead ancestors and kept boulders on the buried sites ?
Answer:
Many people have a common belief, that is ‘Rebirth’. They believe that there is no end to the soul. The soul of the dead person would come again to the earth. So they worship their dead ancestors. In some areas the boulders are kept for seats arrangements to the travellers, in some areas they are kept for their recognition

Question 4.
Identify the megalith areas in the map of India and colour those areas.
Answer:

Question 5.
Write about the different religious customs that are practiced in your areAnswer:
Answer:
India is a land of deep rooted religious customs. Thus customs are nurtured and nour¬ished to maintain deeply held values. Different religious customs are practiced in our area by following things :

Offering prayers daily
Greeting others when we meet them
Putting marks on their fore head (Tilakdhavan) (Hindus)
Prostrating before their parents and elders
Offering dinners on auspicious days
Offering new clothes
Offering gifts on special occasions etc.

Question 6.
Read the para under the title ‘What is it that will never perish ?’ of Text Page 116 (150) and comment on it.

In those days, many people went to live in the forests in ashrams. In these ashrams, they meditated and pondered over several questions. They also had discussions with people who came to visit them and shared their teachings with others. People who lived in ashrams were called Rishis and Munis (sages). Several kings were also in the forefront of this kind of thinking.The views of these rishis and kings can be read in texts called the Upanishads.Yagnavalkya and Uddalaka Aruni were famed rishis of those, times.
Answer:
Many of our Indian Rishis and kings led their lives in Ashrams in forests and on mountains. They tried to know about ‘What is it that will never perish’. They performed meditation to know this. They discussed their experiences in meditations and they named it as ‘Atrna’. Atmas is a consciousness in the body of a person. It will never perish. Death and Birth are the two major events for the body only but not for the AnnAnswer: It has no begining, no ending. It is Sanathan.

I. Conceptual Understanding

Question 1.
What do you think Hunter-gatherers would pray for ? Who do you think they would pray to ?
Answer:

The two important parts of the religious lives of the hunter-gatherers were painting and dancing.
They probably painted hunting scenes or danced to imitate a hunting scene in the belief that this will give them a good hunt.
Sometimes they dressed themselves as animals, wore masks and danced.
All of them also danced hand in hard.
Hunter-gatherers believed that the forests and wild animals were sacred and had to be worshipped.
Animals should not be killed except in need.
They worshipped many animals too by drawing their pictures on caves.
The Chenchus of Nallamala hills to this day worship forest goddess called Garelamysamma or Gangamma by making offerings to her and by dancing.
They also worship Mallayya of Srisailam and Narasimha of Ahobilam. They believe that these gods had married chenchu girls and therefore were their sons-in-law.

Question 2.
What kind of change do you think would have come about in the religion of the early farmers and herders ?
Answer:

Archaeological excavations in early villages show that they probably worshipped ‘Mother Goddess’ or mother earth.
Mother Goddesses were worshipped in the form of small images, or simply in the form of a stone or a tree or a plant.
Shepherds in India today are known by different names across the country.
‘Dhangar’ in Maharashtra, ‘Kurubas’ in Karnataka and Kuruma/ Golla/ Yadava in TelanganAnswer:
They worship special dieties like Vitthoba in Maharashtra, Renuka, Yellamma, Mysamma, Pochamma etc., in Telangana and KarnatakAnswer:
Farmers rear animals and-also have close interaction with herders.
Hence both of them worship similar gods. A common mode of worship is the building of small shrines for these gods and goddesses in a corner of the village.
On special occasions festivals are organised in which animals like buffalo, ram, cock are sacrificed and cooked rice offerings are made by the entire community.
They usually pray for good harvest, freedom from disease, welfare of children etc.

Question 3.
What do you know about worshipping dead ancestors – the Megaliths of the Deccan ?
Answer:

The stone boulders are known as Megaliths. There were carefully arranged by people and were used to mark burial sites.
The practice of erecting megaliths began about 3000 years ago and was prevalent throughout the Deccan, South India, in the North-East and Kashmir.
While some megalithic burials can be seen on the surface, several are underground.
Sometimes, archaeologists find a circle of stone boulders or a single large stone standing on the ground.
These are the only indications that there are burials beneath. Sometimes, megaliths contain more than one skeleton.
These indicate that people, perhaps belonging to the same family, were buried in the same place though not at the same time.
All these burials have some common features. Generally, the dead were buried with distinctive pots, which are called Black and Red Ware.
Also found are tools and weapons of iron and sometimes, skeletons of horses, horse equipment and ornaments of stone and gold.

Question 4.
Define Parivrajakas.
Answer:
Parivrajakas: There were other seekers of truth who did not live permanently in any one place. They left their homes and wandered from village to village and forest to forest. Hence they were called parivrajakas (wanderers) or Bhikshus (mendicants or those who begged). Among these pariyrajakas, Vardhamana Mahavir, Gautama Buddha, Makhkhali Goshala and Ajita Keshkambalin became very famous.

Question 5.
What is it that will never perish ?
Answer:
In those days, many people went to live in the forests in ashrams. In these ashrams, they meditated and pondered over several questions. They also had discussions with , people who came to visit them, and shared their teachings with others. People who lived in ashrams like this were called Rishis and Munis (sages). Several kings too were in the forefront of this kind of thinking. The views of these rishis and kings can be read in texts called the Upanishads.

Yagnavalkya and Uddalaka Aruni were famed rishis of those times. The rishis were in search of something which would neither die nor be afflicted by sorrow. They called this indestructible being the Atma or Brahman. They believed that by understanding the atma or Brahman, immortality could be attained. In order to know the atma, one had to perform penance or tapasyAnswer:

Question 6.
Explain the ‘Great Middle Path’ of Buddhism.
Answer:
Great Middle Path of Buddhism:

According to Gautama Buddha, sorrow is caused by excessive craving and desire.
We can attain freedom from sorrow if we control our desires.
In order to gain control over our desires, we need to live a balanced and controlled life, and should not cause pain to any living being.
Buddha taught that one should avoid extremes-extreme penance or extreme , pleasure, but instead follow a middle path. That is why Buddhism is also called the ‘Great Middle Path’

Question 7.
Match the following :

1) Dancing	A) Great Middle Path
2) Megaliths	B) Hunter Gatherer Society
3) Gautama Buddha	C) Ancestor worship
4) Upanishads	D) Jainism
5) Ahimsa	E) Changeless reality
6) Mother Goddess	F) Vedic People
7) Yagnas	G) Early Farmers
8) Burning Festivals	H) Earliest Sacred book of Indian Subcontinent
9) Processions	I) Early Herders
10) The Vedas	J) Harappan cities

Answer:

1) Dancing	B	A) Great Middle Path
2) Megaliths	C	B) Hunter Gatherer Society
3) Gautama Buddha	A	C) Ancestor worship
4) Upanishads	E	D) Jainism
5) Ahimsa	D	E) Changeless reality
6) Mother Goddess	G	F) Vedic People
7) Yagnas	F	G) Early Farmers
8) Burning Festivals	I	H) Earliest Sacred book of Indian Subcontinent
9) Processions	J	I) Early Herders
10) The Vedas	H	J) Harappan cities

Question 1.
Name the Vedas and mention briefly the religion of the Vedas.
Answer:

The Vedas are the earliest surviving literature of the Indian subcontinent.
There are four Vedas. The Rig Veda, the Sarria Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Atharvana VedAnswer:
Of these the Rig Veda is the oldest and was composed about 3500 years ago. The vedas composed by Rishis consisted of hymns and prayers for welfare.
These hymns were in praise of various gods and goddesses. These gods were especially important.
There are many prayers in the Rig Veda to fray for cattle, children and horses. Historians who study the Vedas guess from there descriptions that the vedic people mainly reared animals like cows and horses.
They lived in the north western part of India iathe region between the Hindukush Mountains and the Yamuna River.
The vedic people lived in small Janas or tribal habitations, each with its own leader. The tribes also had some priests called Brahmins who performed the sacrifices and recited the hymns.
During there times the vedic hymns were compiled in the Yajur Veda and the Atharvana Veda.

Question 2.
In Vedic times how was the society be divided into castes ?
Answer:

It was during these times that we see the emergence of an idea that society should be divided into castes and women should be kept out of important roles.
The books mention four castes, the Brahmins who were considered the highest and were expected to conduct sacrifices and recite vedas.
The Kshatriyas who were next to them and were expected to rule over the others.
The Vaishyas who tended cattle and tilled the fields and gave gifts and tributes to the Brahmins and Kshatriyas; and
Finally, the Sudras who were lowest in the position and had to serve the other three castes.
These ideas were not accepted by all and many people argued against them.

Question 3.
How can one attain liberation from the cycle of birth and Death as per Vardhamana Mahavira ?
Answer:

Vardhamana Mahavira was born in a ganasanghAnswer: He left his family and home at the age of thirty (30) years.
And he became a ParivrajakAnswer: He was seeking an answer to this question. “How can we get rid of the cycle of birth and death in this world ?
After years of meditation and hard penance, Mahavira finally found an answer to his question.*
Mahavira taught the people that when we inflict sorrow on other living beings, we add to our load of sins.
Therefore, as far as possible we should avoid hunting any living thing, however small.
In order to become free from our burden of previous sins, we must be austere, put our bodies through a lot of hardship and perform penance. .
In this way, we can be freed of our sins and become liberated.
Mahavira kept wandering for spreading his teachings among the people.

Question 4.
Why is there sorrow in this world ? How can one attain freedom from sorrow ?
or
What did Gautama Buddha preach about this ?
Answer:

Like Mahavira, Gautama Buddha too was born in a ganasanghAnswer:
He found that people everywhere were miserable and in conflict with each other. He began to think, “How can we get rid of this misery.
Gautama also left his family and home in search of answers to such questions.
He became a Parivrajaka, and after years of penance and meditation, arrived at some answers to these questions.
According to Gautama Buddha, sorrow is caused by excessive craving and desire.
We can attain freedom from sorrow if we control our desires.
In order to gain control over our desires, we need to live a balanced and controlled life, and should not cause pain to any living being.
The teachings of Buddha came to be known as Buddhism

III. Information Skills

Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

There are many prayers in the Rig Veda to fary for cattle, children (especially sons) and horses. Historians who study the Vedas guess from these descriptions that theVedic people mainly reared animals like cows and horses.They lived in the north western part of India in the region between the Hindukush Mountains and the Yamuna River.

The Vedic people lived in small Janas or tribal habitations, each with its own leader. The tribes also had some priests called Brahmins who performed the sacrifices and recited the hymns.They were given gifts by the leaders and the ordinary people of the tribe. These tribes often had to fight with each other to control cows, pastures and water sources. Horses were yoked to chariots that were used in battles, that were fought to capture cattle.

Answer the following questions.

1) Where did the vedic people live ?
Answer:
They lived in the North Western part of India in the region between the Hindukush mountains and the Yamuna River.

2) Who performed the sacrifices ?
Answer:
Brahmins performed the sacrifices.

3) Why did the tribes fight with each other ?
Answer:
These tribes often had to fight with each other to control cows and pastures and water sources.

4) Which animals were used in battles ?
Answer:
Horses were used in battles, which were fought to capture cattle.

5) What did Historians study about Vedic people ?
Answer:
According to historians, the Vedic people mainly reared animals like cows and horses. They lived in the north western part of India in the region between the Hindukush Mountains and the Yamuna River.

IV. Reflection on Contemporary Issues and Questioning

Question 1.
Write about the “Mother Goddess”.
Answer:
Archaeological excavations in early villages show that they probably worshipped ‘Mother Goddess’ or mother earth. They probably believed that the crops and cattle would proper with her blessings. Mother goddesses were worshipped in the form of small villages, or simply in the form of a stone or a tree or a plant.

Question 2.
What do you think the Rishis are offering to the Gods ? What are they praying for ?
Answer:
The Vedas composed by Rishis consisted of hymns and prayers for welfare. There hymns were in praise of various gods and goddesses. Three gods were especially important: Agni, the god of fire; Indra, a warrior god; and Soma, a plant from which a special drink was prepared.

The hymns were recited mainly during the performance of yagnas or sacrifices during which offerings were made to the fire. There are many prayers in the Rig Veda for cattle, for children and for horses.

Question 3.
Who were Parivrajakas ? Who were very famous at that time ?
Answer:
There were other seekers of truth who didn’t live permanently in any one place. They left their homes and wandered from village to village and forest to forest. Hence they were called Parivrajakas or Bhikshus. Among these Parivrajakas Vardhamana Mahavir, Gautama Buddha, Makhkhali Goshala and Ajita Keshkambalin became very famous.

V. Mapping Skills

A) Map Pointing:

1. Locate the following modern towns and Harappa sites in the India Map.
1. Srinagar
2. Harappa
3. Mohenjodaro
4. Peshawar
5. Ranagundai
Answer:

B) Map Reading:
Observe the following map and found the cities of modern towns in the extent of Harappa culture.
Answer:

Answer the following questions:
1. Where were the several cities emerged ?
Answer:
Several cities emerged in the North West parts of the subcontinent in the plains

2. When were those cities emerged ?
Answer:
In 4600 years ago.

3. Name the cities belonged to Harappan culture / found by archaeologists.
Answer:
Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Lothal etc.

4. What were these cities inhabited ?
Answer:
These cities were inhabited by many kinds of crafts persons.

VI. Appreciation and Sensitivities

Question 1.
Appreciate the Teachings of Mahavira In order to become free from our burden of previous sins.
Answer:
Mahavira taught the people that when we inflict sorrow on other living beings, we add to our load of sins. Therefore, as far as possible we should avoid hurting any living thing, however small. In order to become free from our burden of previous sins, we must be austere, put our bodies through a lot of hardship and perform penance. In this way, we can be freed of our sins and become liberated.

Question 2.
Prepare an essay on various religious practices continuing since long time in your ar ea and present them in the Literary Association Meeting to be held in your school.
Answer:
In our area there are many religious practices continuing since long time. Among them worshipping of cows and oxen is one. Similarly Neem tree and snake are also worshipped here. The presentation of Bonalu and procession of Batukamma were aiso such practices from long time. Sacrifices of chicken, goat, etc. to powerful goddesses is also in continuation from long time. Books, machinery, etc. are also worshipped on the occasions like Vinayaka Chaviti and Dusserah festivals.

Project:

Question 1.
Draw pictures of different models of worship and prepare a small booklet on it for your school library.
Answer:
Student’s self exercise.

Question 2.
Visit different places of worship in your area Interact with the Head priest/ Religious Head with the following questionnaire and note down his/ her views and prepare documentation.
a) Why do people come to this place?
Answer:
People come here to offer prayers for their better positions, peace of mind etc.

b) How do they conduct worship here?
Answer:
They conduct worship with words and hyms.

c) What are your views on Moksha/ Salvation?
Answer:
‘Returning to our original home’ is moksha/salvation.

d) Do you think this kind of worship is indispensable/ essential for the mankind? How ?
Answer:
I think this is essential for mankind. The words come from thoughts and thoughts from mind. Mind becomes calm and peacefuljn prayers and temples. Thus this kind of worship helps the ‘Universal intelligence’ by giving good words and thoughts.

TS 6th Class Social 14th Lesson Notes – Religion and Society in Early Times

Ganasangha : Having many rulers at a time. They are called Rajas. The sanghas met in Assembly and took decisions.
Ash mounds : The animal herders of the Deccan have left behind the ‘ash mounds’ some archaeologists believe that there may be the remains of seasonal bonfire rituals just as people still do on Holi, Deepavali and Pongal festivals.
Mother Goddess : Archaeological excavations in early villages show that they probably worshipped ‘Mother Goddess’ or mother earth. They probably believed that the crops and cattle would prosper with her blessings. Mother Goddess were worshipped in the form of small images or simply in the form of a stone or a tree or a plant.
Pot shreds : Our people have been worshipping several trees like Peepal, Neem, Jammi, Banyan and plants like Tulasi. Pot shreds from very ancient times have pictures of people leaves painted on them indicating that people had great regard for these trees.
Hymns : These hymns were in praise of various gods and goddesses. These gods were especially important Agni, the god of fire, Indra, a warrior god, and Soma a plant from which a special drink was prepared. Most of the hymns were composed, taught and learnt by men. A few were composed by women.
Sacrifices : The gods were worshipped by means of sacrifice and prayers. Prayers were offered in the open air by chanting of hymns and performance of Yagnas and Homas.
Megaliths : The stone boulders are known as megaliths (literally big stones). These were carefully arranged by people, and were used to mark burialites. The practice of erecting megaliths began about 3000 years ago.
Penance : The Rishis believed that by understanding the atma or Brahman immortality could be attained. In order to know the atma one had to perform penance ortapasyAnswer:
Parivrajaka : There were other seekers of truth who didn’t live permanently in any one place. They left their homes and wandered from village to village and forest to forest. Hence they are called parivrajakAnswer:
Thripitikas : All the preachings of Buddha and his followers and compiled and are to be known as Pitikas, Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidamma are the three thripitikas.
Great Middle Path : The great middle path is the soul of Buddhism. Buddhism is neither too difficult nor too easy to follow. This way of preaching is called great middle path.

Mind Mapping: