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INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES
D.A.V.V
2017-19
Lecture Notes of Dr P.N. Mishra :
Sources of Indian Ethos in Management
Edited By: Prepared By :
Amrata Ropeta
Arushi Pandit
Arvind Patidar
Jayant Verma
Kuldeep Birla
Pranav Nigam
Smriti Mishra
Stuti Arora
Pranav Nigam
S Smriti Mishra
Sources of Indian Ethos in Management
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Table of Content
Introduction …………………………………………………………1
Vedas and Its Samhitas………………………………………………6
Shashtras……………………………………………………………14
Brahmana…………………………………………………………...16
Puranas…………………………………………………………...…19
Smriti…...………………………………………………...................23
Buddhism…..……………………………………………………….25
Ramayana……...…………………………………………………....31
Mahabharata………………………………………………...………33
Shrimad Bhagavt Geeta………………………………………..……35
Mahaveer and Guru Granth………………………………………….37
Kabir and Rahim…………………………………………………….41
Ramcharitmanas……………………………………………………..42
Local Idioms and Phrases…………………………………………....40
Folk Songs and Folk Tales…………………………………………..41
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Introduction:
“It is already becoming clear that a chapter which had a western beginning in
business management will have to have an Indian ending, when the world adopts rich
thoughts of Indian ethos and wisdom, if it is not to end in the self-destruction of the
human race”. – Arnold Toynbee, Nobel Laureate
Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines Ethos as “the set of beliefs, ideas, etc.
about social behaviour and relationship of a person or group”
while Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines it as “the moral ideas and attitudes
that belong to a particular group or society”. Ethics is the part of philosophy that talks
about good and evil but today rarely any business school would have left which does not
provide lessons on Ethics. Some philosophers call ethics the "Science of Morality",
morality is what someone thinks or feels is good or bad. However, other philosophers
believe that ethics is subjective. This means that they think what is right for me is
whatever
I say is right. This means that ethics is just a person's own morality. These philosophers
do not think that ethics is the same for all people. There might be social, organization and
personal ethics. Here, our concern is Indian Ethics whose foundation is presented below:
Foundation of Indian Ethos:
1) Know Yourself: Who are you? All of us are part of supreme power (GOD) and
hence all of us have all the divine qualities like integrity, patience, courage and
loyalty, forgiveness, service attitude etc., so If we try to develop
ourselves by improving our qualities we will not only make ourselves happy but
also the society be live in.
2) Holistic Approach to Life: We should behave in the same way, which we expect
from others. Efficiency and effectiveness in an organization will increase only
when there is co-operation team spirit and positive energy in employees.
3) Sewa Or Service Attitude: The person should have altitude of service providing
and at the same time have only i.e. smile on face.eg: organization should be service
oriented not only profit oriented will happen automatically , provide best possible
service to your entire customer.
4) Self Sacrifice: Self-sacrifice refers to sacrifice of self-ego. We should be ready
to sacrifice for others.
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5) Team Spirit: Treat work as YAJNA – together i.e.
T- Together
E- Everyone,
A- Achieves,
M-More
6) Present Moment: Think only about what is there in front of you at present as we
cannot change the past or predict future. So have total focus and dedication present
in current situation Do not take unnecessary stress of work, take it as a play.
7) Perfection In Work: Bhagwad Gita emphasizes on while doing our present
duty we should use our wisdom and perform with utmost concentration.
Indian Ethos in Management:
Indian management is slowly emerging to promote equally excellence and spiritual
enrichment both in individual and collective life.
The salient ideas and thoughts of Indian ethos in management revealed by our
scriptures are:
1) “Atmano Moksharathan, Jagat hitaya”
All work is an opportunity for doing good to the world and thus gaining
Materially and spiritually in our lives.
2) “Archyet Dana Manabhyam”
Worship people not only with material things but also by showing respect to their
Ever present divinity within.
3) “Atmana Vindyate Viryan”
Strength and inspiration for excelling in work comes from the divine, God within,
through prayer, holy readings and unselfish work.
4) “Yogah karmasu kaushalam. Samatvam yoga uchyate”
He who works with calm and even mind achieves the most
5) “Yahishi Bhavana yasya siddhi bhavati tadrishi”
As we think, so we succeed, so we become. Attention to means ensures the end.
6) “Parasparam bhavayantah shreyah param bhavapsyathah”
By mutual co-operation, respect and fellow feeling, all of us will enjoy the highest
Good both material and spiritual.
7) “Tesham sukhm tesham shanty shaswati”
Infinite happiness and infinite peace comes to them, who see the Divine in all
Beings.
8) “Paraspar Devo Bhav”
Regard the other person as a divine being. All of us have the same consciousness
However, our containers are different.
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Following are the Important Sources of Indian Ethos in Management
Vedas ( वेद ):
“The author of the great epic Mahabharata, Veda Vyas was the first and greatest
Acharya of Sanatan Dharma. He is credited for classifying the four Vedas, who
composed the 18 Puranas and recited the great Mahabharata. In fact, the Mahabharata is
often called as the fifth Veda.”
The Vedas are the foundational scriptures of humanity. Vedas are referred to as
‘SHRUTI’ Which means something that is heard. It includes elements such as liturgical
material as well as mythological accounts, poems, prayers, and formulas considered to
be sacred by the Vedic religion.
The origin of the Vedas can be traced back as far as, when a large group of nomads
called the Aryans, coming from central Asia, crossed the Hindu Kush Mountains,
migrating into the Indian subcontinent. This was a large migration and used to be seen
as an invasion. Scholars, however, do not unanimously accept this invasion hypothesis,
today. All we know for certain, mainly through linguistic studies, is that the Aryan
language gained ascendency over the local languages in the Indian sub-continent. The
language of the Vedas is only Sanskrit which can be called as Vaidik, an ancestor of
most of the modern languages spoken today in South Asia and Europe.
Authorship of The Vedas :
We do not know much about the authors of these texts: In Vedic tradition the
focus tends to be on the ideas rather than on the persons, which may allow one to look
at the message without being influenced by the messenger. Vedic literature is religious
in nature and as such tends to reflect the worldview, spiritual preoccupations, and social
attitudes of the intellectual class of ancient India. According to a view, the vedas were
first composed sometime in the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent -
present day Pakistan and northwest India - and they were transmitted orally over many
generations before eventually being committed to writing. Like the Homeric epics, parts
of the Vedas were composed in different periods. The oldest of these texts is the Rig-
Veda, but it is not possible to establish precise dates for its composition. According to
one view, the entire collection was completed by the end of the second millennium
BCE.
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Contents of the Vedas
The Vedas are made up of four compositions, and each veda in turn has four parts
which are arranged chronologically.
The Samhita are the most ancient part of the Vedas, consisting of hymns of
praise to God.
The Brahmana are rituals and prayers to guide the priests in their duties.
The Aranyakas concern worship and meditation.
The Upanishads consist of the philosophical teachings
Difficulties in Understanding Vedas There is a communication gap between knowers of Vedic Scholars and Modern
Scholars.
Those who know Veda’s, they have little knowledge of modern science and
Modern scholars who know modern science have little knowledge of Veda’s.
Fortunately, there is a small class or group of scholar who have knowledge of
modern subject and working knowledge of Veda’s, they are highly motivated
and working hard to receive the vedic knowledge .
The Samhita
Rig-Veda Samhita is the oldest of the four Veda’s and consists of 1028 hymns of
praising the ancient gods.
Yajur-Veda Samhita is used as a handbook by priests performing the Vedic
sacrifices to sustain the operations so that no problem may arose.
Sama-Veda Samhita consists of chants and tunes for singing at the sacrifices.
Atharva-Veda Samhita according to one view preserves many traditions which
pre-date the Aryan influence and consists of spells, charms and magical formulae.
The Upanishads
The Upanishads were so called because they were taught to those who sat down
beside their teachers. (upa=near, ni=down, shad=sit). These texts developed from
the Vedic tradition, but largely reshaped Hinduism by providing believers with
philosophical knowledge.
The major Upanishads were largely composed between 800-200 BCE and are partly
prose, partly verse. Later Upanishads continued to be composed right down to the
16th century. Originally they were in oral form.The early Upanishads are concerned
with understanding the sacrificial rites.
Central to the Upanishads is the concept of brahman
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Upvedas :
The supplementary texts of the four Vedas are called Upavedas or "sub-Vedas"
(up means subsidiary). There are four Upvedas. Ayurveda (the medical science) is
related to Rigveda; Dhanurveda (science of defense and war and the making of its
related appliances) is related to Yajurved; Gandharvaveda(science of music, both
singing and instrumental) is related to Samveda; and Tantraveda( the science of
instrument making )is related to Atharvaveda.Only, the Ayurveda, is still in
existence but not all of its books are available.
Types of Vedas and Their Upvedas
1. Rig Veda
The Rig Veda is the oldest of the Vedas. All the other Vedas are based upon it and
consist to a large degree of various hymns from it. It consists of a thousand such
hymns of different seers, each hymn averaging around ten verses. The Rig Veda is
the oldest book in ancient Sanskrit or any Indo-European language. Its date is
debatable. Many scholars who have understood the astronomical references in the
hymns, date the Rig Veda as before 4000 B.C., perhaps as early as 12,000. Modern
western scholars tend to date it around 1500 B.C., While the term Vedic is often
given to any layer of the Vedic teachings including the Bhagavad Gita, technically it
applies primarily to the Rig Veda.
The Rig Veda is the book of Mantra. It contains the oldest form of all the Sanskrit
mantras. It is built around a science of sound which comprehends the meaning and
power of each letter. Most aspects of Vedic science like the practice of yoga,
meditation, mantra and Ayurveda can be found in the Rig Veda and still use many
terms that come from it.
While originally several different versions or rescensions of the Rig Veda were
said to exist, only one remains. Its form has been structured in several different
ways to guarantee its authenticity and proper preservation through time.
Ayurveda, Upveda of Rig Veda offers a unique blend of science and philosophy
that balances the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components
necessary for holistic health.
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Some interesting facts about the Rig Veda –
1. The Rig Veda is the oldest text in any Indo-Europian language and it might have
originated as early as 1700 BC, According to one view before the existence of most
religions.
2. It is a collection of Vedic age Sanskrit hymns that were passed down orally
through many generations, before eventually being written down.
3. Many verses of the Rig Veda are still used as very important Hindu prayers and
during rituals.
4. The Rigveda contains many secrets and explanations about the origin of the world,
the greatness of the Gods and a lot of advice for living a fulfilling and prosperous
life.
5. The Rig Veda is divided into 10 books or mandalas, which consist of 1028 hymns
called sukta that were supposed to be used in rituals.
6.Indra is the main deity mentioned in the Rig Veda .
7. The fire God Agni, the sky God Varuna, and the Sun God Surya were some of
the other main deities who were prominent in the Rig Veda alongside older Aryan
deities.
8. Rudra, the God of storms and mountains as mentioned in the Rig Veda is the
origin for Lord Shiva, the Hindu God.
9. Lord Vishnu who is one of the Trimurti of Hindu Gods was also a deity, as
mentioned in the Rig Veda. .
10. According to the Rig Veda, the Universe originated from Prajapati, the earliest
God and the principle source of creation.
11. Rig Veda had the original concept of the caste system .
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Ayurveda
Ayurveda is the oldest surviving complete medical system in the world. It is
from its ancient Sanskrit roots - ‘ayus' (life) and ‘ved' (knowledge) – and
offered a rich, and comprehensive outlook to a healthy life, Its origins,
according to one view go back nearly 5000 years, According to one’s view. It
was expounded and practiced by the same spiritual rishis, who laid the
foundations of the Vedic civilisation in India, by organising the fundamentals of
life into proper systems.
The main source of knowledge in this field therefore remain the Vedas, the
divine books of knowledge.The fourth of the series, namely Atharvaveda it
dates back to around 1000 BC, According to one’s view .// Of the few other
treatises on Ayurveda that have survived, the Most famous are Charaka Samhita
and the Sushruta Samhita which concentrate on internal medicine and surgery
respectively. The Astanga Hridayam is a more concise compilation of earlier
texts that was created about a thousand years ago.
As per the Ayurveda imponderable, indescribable and extremely subtle, The
primordial energy –flows from pure existence it is the creative force of all
action,. Matter and energy are so closely related that when energy takes form,
we tend to think of it in terms of matter only. And much modified, it ultimately
leads to the manifestation of our familiar mental and physical worlds.
To use Ayurveda in daily life, one has neither to accept nor even understand this
philosophy. But it does provide a deeper insight into how Ayurveda works
towards betterment of your health.
Ayurveda, therefore, is not simply a health care system but a form of lifestyle
adopted to maintain perfect balance and harmony within the human existence,
from the most abstract transcendental values to the most concrete physiological
expressions. “Based on the premise that life represents an intelligent co-
ordination of the Atma (Soul), Mana (Mind), Indriya (Senses) and Sharira
(Body). That revolves around the five dense elements that go into the making of
the constitution of each individual, called Prakriti. Which in turn is determined
by the vital balance of the three physical energies - Vata, Pitta, Kapha and the
three mental energies - Satwa, Rajas, Tamas”.
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2. The Sama Veda
The Sama Veda is the Veda of music and musical instruments. It consists of
various hymns of the Rig Veda put to a different and more musical chant.
Hence the text of the Sama Veda is a reduced version of the Rig Veda.
Its secret is in its musical annotation and rendering. The Sama Veda represents
the ecstasy of spiritual knowledge and the power of devotion. The Rig Veda is
the word, the Sama Veda is the song or the meaning. The Rig Veda is the
knowledge, the Sama Veda its realization. Hence the two always go together
like husband and wife.
The Samaveda comprises two major parts. The first part include four melody
collections (gāna, गान) and the second part three verse "books" (ārcika, आर्चिक).A
melody in the song books corresponds to a verse in the arcika books.The Gana
collection is subdivided into Gramageya and Aranyageya, while the Arcika
portion is subdivided into Purvarcika and Uttararcika portions. The Purvarcika
portion of the text has 585 single stanza verses and is organized in order of
deities, while Uttararcika text is ordered by rituals.The Gramageya melodies are
those for public recitations, while Aranyageya melodies are for personal
meditative use such as in the solitude of a forest.Typically, the Purvarcika
collection were sung to melodies described in the Gramageya-Gānas index, and
the rules of how the verses mapped to verses is described in the Sanskrit texts
such as the Puspasutra.
Just like Rigveda, the early sections of Samaveda typically begin with Agni and
Indra hymns but shift to abstract speculations and philosophy, and their meters
too shifts in a descending order.The later sections of the Samaveda, states
Witzel, have least deviation from substance of hymns they derive from Rigveda
into songs. The purpose of Samaveda was liturgical, and they were the
repertoire of the udgātṛ or "singer" priests.
Gandharva Veda – The Power of Sound and Healing Music
The Gandharva Veda is the Upaveda of the Sama Veda, which is associated
with musical rhythms, intonation and different ways of chanting the mantras.
The Gandharva Veda gives elaborate details of how different sounds and
rhythms, also called ‘Ragas’, are connected to and affect different aspects of this
Creation. For example there are different Ragas that are connected to and invoke
different states of mind or emotions. There are also specific Ragas for specific
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times of the day and even for specific seasons or times of the year. They are thus
as it were a translation of the rhythms that are present in Nature into the rhythms
of music and sound. And it is amazing to know that such profound knowledge
was already made available to us thousands of years ago.
Another aspect of this knowledge that can be found in the Gandharva Veda is
the different sounds and rhythms that are connected to different species and
animals. It not only talks about the sounds these animals make and how the
development of the full spectrum of sounds is connected to the process of
evolution of various species, it also talks about the different rhythms that are
connected to various animals.
The Power of Sound and Music
One example that can still be found in some places is the snake charmers, that
claim to subdue and ‘control’ snakes through certain musical melodies or rhythms
played on a type of flute. Nowadays snakes are often made to ‘dance’ using other
techniques while the ‘charmer’ pretends that it is because of the music, maybe
because this knowledge was also usually kept secret, and only given to the
deserving few, but it does seem to remind one of a past where these things were
actually possible. It also makes one wonder about stories told in other parts of the
world of people who were able to control other animals, such as rats and mice,
by simply playing the right melodies on a flute.
3. The Yajur Veda :
Yajurveda is a compound Sanskrit word, composed of yajus (यजसु)् and veda (वेद).
It translates yajus as "religious reverence, veneration, worship, sacrifice, a
sacrificial prayer, formula, particularly mantras muttered in a peculiar manner at
a sacrifice".Veda means "knowledge". Johnson states yajus means "(mostly)
prose formulae or mantras, contained in the Yajur Veda, which are muttered".
The Yajurveda (Sanskrit: यजवेुद, yajurveda, from yajus meaning "prose mantra"
and veda meaning "knowledge") is the Veda of prose mantras. An ancient Vedic
Sanskrit text, it is a compilation of ritual offering formulas that were said by a
priest while an individual performed ritual actions such as those before the
yajna fire.Yajurveda is one of the four Vedas, and one of the scriptures of
Hinduism. The exact century of Yajurveda's composition is unknown, and
estimated by some scholars to be around 1200 to 1000 BCE contemporaneous
with Samaveda and Atharvaveda.
The earliest and most ancient layer of Yajurveda samhita includes about 1,875
verses, that are distinct yet borrow and build upon the foundation of verses in
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Rigveda.The middle layer includes the Satapatha Brahmana, one of the largest
Brahmana texts in the Vedic collection.The youngest layer of Yajurveda text
includes the largest collection of primary Upanishads, which influenced to
various schools of Hindu philosophy. These include the Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad, the Isha Upanishad, the Taittiriya Upanishad, the Katha Upanishad,
the Shvetashvatara Upanishad and the Maitri Upanishad.
The Following paragraph will give some idea on things which are talked in
Yajur Veda-
“As fire, which is one, on entering creation, conforms its own form to the form of
each being, so also the One, the atman within all beings, assumes all forms, yet exists
outside. As the wind, which is one, on entering creation, conforms its own form to the
form of each being, so also the One, the atman within all beings, assumes all forms, yet
exists outside. As the sun, the eye of the whole world, is not touched by external blemishes
seen by the eye, so the One, the atman within all beings, is not touched by the sufferings of
the world. He remains apart. The One, the Controller, the atman within all beings, the One
who makes his own form manifold - the wise who perceive him established in themselves
attain - and no others - everlasting joy.” --- Krishna Yajur Veda
Dhanurveda
The Indian subcontinent is home to a variety of war styleground, strategies
weapon.
Sanskrit terms for "martial art" include dhanurveda (from dhanus "bow" and
veda "knowledge", literally the "science of archery" in Puranic literature, later
applied to martial arts in general) śastravidyā (from vidyā "learning ,
knowledge" and śastra "sword, weapon"), literally "knowledge of the sword".
The Vishnu Purana text describes dhanurveda as one of the traditional eighteen
branches of "applied knowledge" or upaveda. The historical form of wrestling
is called mallayuddha in the north and malyutham in the south.
In contemporary India, major martial arts styles practiced are Kalaripayattu in
Kerala, Southern India (an umbrella term for diverse armed and unarmed
styles), and Pehlwani wrestling in Northern India. Notable regional styles
include thang-ta from Manipur and gatka from the Panjab region.
Indian epics contain accounts of combat, describing warriors such as Bhima.
The Mahabharata describes an intense prolonged battle between Arjuna and
Karna using bows, swords, trees, rocks and fists. Another unarmed battle in
the Mahabharata describes two fighters boxing with clenched fists and fighting
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with kicks, finger strikes, knee strikes and headbutts. In the 3rd century,
elements from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, as well as finger movements in the
nata dances, were incorporated into martial arts.
Dhanurveda and Agni Purana
The earliest extant manual of dhanurveda is in the Agni Purana (dated to
between the 8th and the 11th century), The dhanurveda section in the Agni
Purana spans chapters 248-251. It divides the art into five parts, viz.
yantra-mukta (projectile weapons such as the sling or the bow),
pāṇi-mukta (hurling weapons such as the javelin),
mukta-sandharita or muktāmukta (weapons that can be used for either
hurling or thrusting, such as the spear),
hasta-śastra or amukta (melee weapons that do not leave the hand, such
as the sword),
bāhu-yuddha (unarmed fighting).
4). Atharva Veda
The Atharva Veda is the last of the Vedas. It has not always been accepted as a Veda,
which are often spoken of as three. It still contains many hymns from the Rig Veda
but also has some more popular magic spells which are outside of the strictly ritual-
knowledge orientation of the other Vedas.
Like the Rig Veda it is a collection of hymns but of a more diverse character, some
very exalted like the Rig Veda others of more common nature. As such it gives us a
better idea of the life of common people in Vedic times.
Atharvan is also an important figure in the Zoroastrian religion. Atar is the Persian
name for fire and the Atharvan is the fire priest. The deities of the Atharva Veda are
also the same as the Rig Veda although Rudra-Shiva assumes a more visible role. The
language is a little simpler and less variable in its forms.
The core text of the Atharvaveda falls within the classical Mantra period of Vedic
Sanskrit, during the 2nd millennium BC - younger than the Rigveda, and roughly
contemporary with the Yajurveda mantras, the Rigvedic Khatami, and the
Samaveda.There is no absolute dating of any Vedic text including the
Atharvaveda.The dating for Atharvaveda is derived from the new metals and items
mentioned therein; it, for example, mentions iron (as krishna ayas, literally "black
metal"), and such mentions have led some scholars to the estimate that the
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Atharvaveda hymns were compiled in the early Indian Iron Age, c. 1200 to 1000 BC,
corresponding to the early Kuru Kingdom.
The Atharvaveda Samhita contains hymns many of which were charms, magic spells
and incantations meant to be pronounced by the person who seeks some benefit, or
more often by a sorcerer who would say it on his or her behalf.The most frequent
goal of these hymns charms and spells were long life of a loved one or recovery from
some illness. In these cases, the affected would be given substances such as a plant
(leaf, seed, root) and an amulet .Some magic spells were for soldiers going to war
with the goal of defeating the enemy, others for anxious lovers seeking to remove
rivals or to attract the lover who is less than interested, some for success at a sporting
event, in economic activity, for bounty of cattle and crops, or removal of petty pest
bothering a household. Some hymns were not about magic spells and charms, but
prayer qua prayer and philosophical speculations.
Shashtras :
Through the Shastras or Vedangans are only six, which have been
described above. However, there are many popular text which goes by
the name of Shastra.
Shiksha Shashtra : This auxiliary discipline has focussed on the letters of the
Sanskrit alphabet, accent, quantity, stress, melody and rules of euphonic
combination of words during a Vedic recitation, form where all the text and
things are evolved for the use of read and written knowledge. Shiksha is the
oldest and the first auxiliary discipline to the Vedas, maintained since the Vedic
era. It aims at construction of sound and language for synthesis of ideas, in
contrast to grammarians who developed rules for language deconstruction and
understanding of ideas This field helped preserve the Vedas and the Upanishads
as the canons of Hinduism since the ancient times, and shared by various Hindu
traditions
Chhanda: This auxiliary discipline has focussed on the poetic meters, including
those based on fixed number of syllables per verse, and those based on fixed
number of morae per verse. The Chandas, as developed by the Vedic schools,
included both linear and non-linear systems.The system was organized around
seven major metres, according to Annette Wilke and Oliver Moebus, called the
"seven birds" or "seven mouths of Brihaspati", and each had its own rhythm,
movements and aesthetics wherein a non-linear structure (aperiodicity) was
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mapped into a four verse polymorphic linear sequence. Sanskrit metres include
those based on a fixed number of syllables per verse, and those based on fixed
number of per verse.
Vyakarana : It means "explanation, analysis", and also refers to ancient
Vedangas, or ancillary science connected with the Vedas – the scriptures of
Hinduism. Vyakarana is the study of grammar and linguistic analysis in
Sanskrit language. Vyakarana means "separation, distinction, discrimination,
analysis, explanation" of something the Vedic field of language analysis,
specifically grammatical analysis, grammar, linguistic conventions which
creates, polishes, helps a writer express and helps a reader discriminate accurate
language .
Nirukta : It is the explanation of words, particularly those that are archaic and
have ancient uses with unclear meaning. This auxiliary discipline has focussed
on linguistic analysis to help establish the proper meaning of the words, given
the context they are used in. Nirukta is the systematic creation of a glossary and
it discusses how to understand archaic, uncommon words. The field grew
probably because almost a quarter of words in the Vedic texts composed in the
2nd-millennium BCE appear just once. Vyakarana deals with linguistic analysis
to establish the exact form of words to properly express ideas, while Nirukta
focuses on linguistic analysis to help establish the proper meaning of the words,
given the context they are used in.
Kalpa : This field focussed on standardizing procedures for Vedic rituals, rites
of passage rituals associated with major life events such as birth, wedding and
death in family, as well as discussing the personal conduct and proper duties of
an individual in different stages of his life. The scope of these texts included
Vedic rituals, rites of passage rituals associated with major life events such as
birth, wedding and death in family, as well as personal conduct and proper
duties in the life of an individual Most Kalpasutras texts have experienced
interpolation, changes and consequent corruption over their history, and
Apasthamba Kalpasutra ancillary to the Yajurveda may be the best preserved
text in this genre.
Jyotisha : The science of tracking and predicting the movements of
astronomical bodies in order to keep time. It refers to ancillary science
connected with the Vedas – the scriptures of Hinduism. This field of study was
concerned with fixing the days and hours of Vedic rituals.
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Brahmans
“ Upanishad and Aranayak are the broader umbrella of brahman and they can be
put into different class”
The word is derived from the root ‘Brh’’ which means to grow or to evolve. In
the beginning it means sacrifice, then prayer and then it required its present
meaning of ultimate reality which evolves itself as this world. The Brahmans are
the first specimen of praise in the world. They are the prose commentaries on
various Vedic hymns. They are called liturgies. For example, Rigveda has two
Brahmana’s – Aitareya and knishitaki.
They contain rules and regulations for the sacrificial rituals while also explain the
meaning of hymns and chants and it also explain the Vedas in orthodox way.
They explain the hidden meaning behind the hymns and are ritualistic in nature.
They are expressions of the cause (hetu), etymology (nirvachana), censure
(ninda), doubt (sanshay) and injuction (vidhi). The Brahman is the changeless
essence which upholds the universe also indwells the human spirit. This
identification of the brahman (supreme self) with atman (individual self) is a
basic premise of the Upanishads, the ways through which this unity can be
realised, the central concern of its teachings.
Brahman is the truth and it is within us. Throughout the various Upanishads, it is
maintained that brahman is unknowable and indescribable. Nevertheless, the
desire to know the brahman comes from the very presence of brahman within us.
It is the working of this presence within us that we wish to know, and it is by
giving heed to this presence that we may know. Brahman resides in the spirit of
man, and can only be known through spiritual experience, not by logic. Its
revelation or realisation comes the moment the experiencer, experience and
experienced presence blend into one single whole, melting away the barriers that
separate the subject and the object. This moment of realisation is actually the
attainment of self-knowledge, the realisation of the unity of brahman (the
universal Self) with atman (the individual self). To merge into that essence and
attain unity with the all-encompassing and all-pervading Oneness is to shine forth
as brahman. This is the end of the spiritual journey, the realisation that ‘I am
brahman’, ‘Thou art brahman’, ‘Everything is brahman’, Brihadaranyaka and
other Upanishads repeatedly assert. This the highest knowledge, the realisation
of the self as one with eternity and infinity, unconditioned and self-existent,
beyond space and time, beyond causation.
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Upanishads
“Upanishad means To sit near Whom?
Answer: - Sit near Self, Sit near work”.
Upanishad, also spelled Upanishad, Sanskrit Upaniṣad (“Connection”), one of
four genres of texts that together constitute each of the Vedas, the sacred
scriptures of most Hindu traditions. Each of the four Vedas—the Rigveda,
Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda—consists of a Samhita (a “collection”
of hymns or sacred formulas); a liturgical prose exposition called a Brahmana;
and two appendices to the Brahmana—an Aranyaka (“Book of the
Wilderness”), which contains esoteric doctrines meant to be studied by the
initiated in the forest or some other remote place, and an Upanishad, which
speculates about the ontological connection between humanity and the cosmos.
Because the Upanishads constitute the concluding portions of the Vedas, they
are called Vedanta (“the conclusion of the Vedas”), and they serve as the
foundational texts in the theological discourses of many Hindu traditions that
are also known as Vedanta. The Upanishads’ impact on later theological and
religious expression and the abiding interest they have attracted are greater than
that of any of the other Vedic texts.
The Upanishads form the core of Indian philosophy. They are an amazing
collection of writings from original oral transmissions, which has been aptly
described by Shri Aurobindo as "the supreme work of the Indian mind". It is
here that we find all the fundamental teachings that are central to Hinduism —
the concepts of 'karma' (action), 'samsara' (reincarnation), 'moksha' (nirvana),
the 'atman' (soul), and the 'Brahman' (Absolute Almighty).The Upanishad are
composed during Mughal Age.
They also set forth the prime Vedic doctrines of self-realization, yoga, and
meditation. The Upanishads are summits of thought on mankind and the
universe, designed to push human ideas to their very limit and beyond. They
give us both spiritual vision and philosophical argument, and it is a strictly
personal effort that one can reach the truth.
Meaning of 'Upanishad'
The term 'Upanishad' literally means, "sitting down near" or "sitting close to",
and implies listening closely to the mystic doctrines of a guru or a spiritual
teacher, who has cognized the fundamental truths of the universe. It points to a
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period in time when groups of pupils sat near the teacher and learned from him
the secret teachings in the quietude of forest 'ashrams' or hermitages. In another
sense of the term, 'Upanishad' means 'Brahma-knowledge' by which ignorance
is annihilated. Some other possible meanings of the compound word
'Upanishad' are "placing side by side" (equivalence or correlation), a "near
approach" (to the Absolute Being), "secret wisdom" or even "sitting near the
enlightened".
Time of Composition
Some Historians and Indologists have put the date of composition of the
Upanishads from around 800 - 400 B.C., though many of the verse versions
may have been written much later. In fact, they were written over a very long
period and do not represent a coherent body of information or one particular
system of belief. However, there is a commonality of thought and approach.
The Main Books
Although there are more than 200 Upanishads, only thirteen have been
identified out as presenting the core teachings. They are the Chandogya, Kena,
Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Katha, Mundaka, Taittriyaka, Brihadaranyaka,
Svetasvatara, Isa, Prasna, Mandukya and the Maitri Upanishads. One of the
oldest and longest of the Upanishads, the Brihadaranyaka says:
"From the unreal lead me to the real!
From darkness lead me to light!
From death lead me to immortality!"
The crux of the Upanishads is that this can be achieved by meditating with the
awareness that one's soul ('atman') is one with all things, and that 'one' is
'Brahman', which becomes the 'all'. Thirteen known Upanishads were composed
from the middle of the 5th century through the 2nd century bc. The first five of
these—Brihadaranyaka, Chandogya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, and Kaushitaki—
were composed in prose interspersed with verse. The middle five—Kena,
Katha, Isa, Svetasvatara, and Mundaka—were composed primarily in verse.
The last three—Prasna, Mandukya, and Maitri—were composed in prose.
Who wrote the Upanishads?
The authors of the Upanishads were many, but they were not solely from the
priestly caste. They were poets prone to flashes of spiritual wisdom, and their
aim was to guide a few chosen pupils to the point of liberation, which they
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themselves had attained. According to some scholars, the main figure in the
Upanishads is Yajnavalkya, the great sage who propounded the doctrine of 'neti-
neti', the view that "truth can be found only through the negation of all thoughts
about it".
Other important Upanishadic sages are Uddalaka Aruni, Shwetaketu, Shandilya,
Aitareya, Pippalada, Sanat Kumara. Many earlier Vedic teachers like Manu,
Brihaspati, Ayasya, and Narada are also found in the Upanishads.
The human being is the central mystery of the universe holding the key to all
other mysteries. Indeed, human beings are our own greatest enigma. As the
famous physicist, Niels Bohr once said, "We are both spectators and actors in
the great drama of existence." Hence the importance of developing of what is
known as the "science of human possibilities." It was such a science that India
sought and found in the Upanishads in an attempt to unravel the mystery of
human beings.
How was Upanishad taught –
Before beginning the spiritual studies, such as Upanishads, it is customary that
the teacher and the students recite a Shaanti-Mantra together to invoke the
blessings of God, and to create an atmosphere, conducive to undertaking such a
study so that the mind is at rest, peaceful, ready to concentrate and alert. This
Shaanti mantra (hymn for peace) is found in Kathopanishad and Svetaasvatara
Upanishad from Krishna Yajur Veda:
“Om, Saha naavavatu, Saha nau bhunaktu,
Saha veeryam karavaavahai, Tejasvinaavadheetamastu,
ma vidvishaavahai, Om, Shaantih, Shaantih, Shaantihi.”
Important understandings of Upanishad: - Maha Vakyas from Upanishads:
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1. Aham Brahmaasmi = I am Brahman (Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad – Sukla
Yajur Veda)
2. Ayamaatmaa Brahma = This Atman is Brahman (Maandookya Upanishad –
Atharva Veda)
3. Pragnaanam Brahma = Brahman is pure consciousness (Aitareya Upanishad
– Rig Veda)
4. Tat Tvamasi = That thou art = You are that Supreme Brahman (Chhaandogya
Upanishad – Sama Veda)
These four mahavakyas (great sentences) are considered the quintessence of the
Vedas.
The Aranyaka :-
Aranyaka literally means the forest therefore aranyakas are also known as
forest books.It deals with the mysticsm and symbolism of sacrifice and priestly
philosophy.The aranyaks contains traditional material between the mythology
and the rituals of samhitas and brahmans on one hand,and the philosophical
Upanishads on the other.They lay emphasis on meditation and are opposed to
sacrifices and many of the rituals.Their stress is on moral values.
The Aranyakas (Sanskrit āranyaka आरण्यक) are part of the Hindu śruti, the four
Vedas; they were composed in late Vedic Sanskrit typical of the Brahmana’s
and early Upanishads; indeed, they frequently form part of either the
Brahmana’s or the Upanishads.
Aranyakas are generally called the ‘forest books’ as they were studied in
forests away from the villages and towns. They mainly deal with the spiritual
life. They were meant
for the elderly people as they had passed out of Grihastha Ashram. They are
the concluding portions of the Brahmana’s. The Aranyakas deals with the
philosophy and
mysticism and not with the rituals. The philosophical portions of the
Brahmana’s have been separated in order to guide and use for the hermits
living in the jungles or forests.
The Aranyakas are ritualistic, treating of special ceremonies either
omitted or dealt with only in part in the Brahmana’s, and hence are
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considered to be supplemental to the latter.
Only four Aranyakas are presently known to exist: the Aitareya (Rig-
Vedic) forming part of the Aitareya-Brahmana; the Kausitaki (Rig-
Vedic) whose third and final chapter is the Kanusitaki Upanishad; the
Taittiriya, of ten books, belonging to the Yajur-Veda; and the Brihad
(Yajur-Veda) which forms a part of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
attached to the Satapatha-Brahmana
Puranas
Mythology consists of tales called Puranas that convey the truths of Vedas and
Dharma Shastras in such a way an innocent child or an illiterate can understand
the religion very well. Puranas literally mean ‘indeed the old is new’. There are
eighteen Puranas. 18 Puran and 18 Up-Puran .The major ones are stated below:
* LORD VISHNU (Predominating Deity)
1.Vishnu Purana - 23,000 verses. Stories of various devotees; A description of
varnasrama; the six angas of the Veda; A description of the age of Kali; It
describes the Sveta Varaha Kalpa. It narrates the stories of Dhurva, Prahlada
and Bharata.
2. Naradiya Purana - 25,000 verses. This Purana contains a synopsis of
everything; it describes Jagannatha Puri, Dwaraka, Badrinatha, etc.
3. Padma Purana - 55,000 verses. Contains the glory of Srimad Bhagavatam; the
stories of Rama, Jagannatha, Matsya, Ekadasi, Bhrgu, etc.
4. Garuda Purana - 19,000 verses. Subject of Bhagavad-gita; Reincarnation;
Visnusahasranam; It describes the Tarsya Kalpa.
5. Varaha Purana - 24,000 verses. Describes different vrata; Lord Vishnu's
glories.
6. Bhagavata Purana - 18,000 verses. Most popular describing Vishnu’s ten
avatars.
* LORD BRAHMA (Predominating Deity)
1. Brahmanda Purana - 12,000 verses. Describes the Vedangas; Describes the
Adi Kalpa.
2. Brahmavaivarta Purana - 18,000 verses. Contains the glories and pastimes of
Radha and Krishna.
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3. Markendeya Purana - 9,000 verses. Stories of Rama and Krishna.
4. Bhavisya Purana - 14,500 verses. Contains the glories of devotional service;
Prediction of Lord Chaitanya.
5. Vamana Purana - 10,000 verses. Contains the story of Lord Trivikrama.
6. Brahma Purana - 10,000 verses.
* LORD SHIVA (Predominating Deity)
1. Matsya Purana - 14,000 verses. Temple construction; Describes Vamana and
Varaha Kalpas.
2. Kurma Purana - 17,000 verses. Contains the conversation between Krishna
and the Sun-god; Danvantari; Describes the Laksmi Kalpa.
3. Linga Purana - 10,000 verses.
4. Siva Purana - 24,000 verses.
5. Skanda Purana - 81,000 verses.
6. Agni Purana - 15,400 verses.
Smriti :
Smriti (Sanskrit: स्मरृ्ि, Smrti,) literally "that which is remembered," refers to a
specific body of Hindu religious scripture, and is a codified component of
Hindu customary law. Smriti also denotes non-Shruti texts and is generally seen
as secondary in authority to Shruti.
Later Vedic literature which is also called the Smriti literature deals with the
laws and usage of customs of various classes. They also throw light on the
status of women. Smriti literature consists of Sutras, Vedangas and Upavedas,
Puranas, Epics and Dharam Shastras.
They are morals (DHARMA SHASTRAS) handed down by human authors.
There are 18 known smritis.
Here are the 18 smritis. The Smritis which talk about the code of conduct has
known to be changing over time to suit the times.
1. Angirasa Smriti
2. Vyaasa Smriti
3. Apaastamba Smriti
4. Daksha Smriti
5. Vishnu Smriti
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6. Yagyavalkya Smriti
7. Likhita Smriti
8. Samvartta Smriti
9. Shanka Smriti
10. Brihaspati Smriti
11. Atri Smriti
12. Kaatyaayana Smriti
13. Paraashara Smriti
14. Manu Smriti
15. Aushanasa Smriti
16. Harita Smriti
17. Gautama Smriti
18. Yama Smriti.
Ramayana:
Valmiki Ramayana is considered as a marvelous epic and the first written
literature in the Indian context. Over the centuries, several authors have explored
various dimensions of Ramayana ranging from philosophy, spirituality, politics,
economics, sociology, culture, literature, poetry and others. However
management does not seem to be a popular subject of analysis from the
Ramayana, although Valmiki Ramayana is pregnant with several lessons for
managers
.
Rama, “Epitome of virtue”
Sticking to some core values which are skipped in righteousness eventually leads
to success. The main protagonist, Rama, is depicted in Ramayana as an epitome
of virtue. He is an ideal king, an ideal son and pragmatic person. He sets high
ethical standards in warfare and invariably sides with dharma.
A random example of all successful business houses which have been around for
more than a century now – Siemens and Tatas, for instance- is ample proof that
ethics in business do pay dividends in the long run.
Here are few corporate lessons can be learnt from Ramayana and how they can
be applied in corporate world..
Team motivation is vital
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Jamvant motivating hanuman is a classic example of a good
manager helping his personnel to realize their potential and acting
accordingly.
SWOT Analysis
The SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities and threats) analysis
is one of the most important aspects of modern day management. First you
need to ascertain the goals, or job to be done. Then, get mentally prepared
for it and have right plan. And then, analyze the strength and weakness of
the competitor and what threats and opportunities are there in the business.
Value your subordinates
A good manager is the person who can get his work done from the
rival managers. A good manager listens to what his subordinates have to
say and tries to keep them together especially when the organization needs
them the most. But Ravana’s mismanagement was responsible for
Vibhishan leaving him.
Importance of communication
The cause of mortal enmity between brother Sugriva and Bali
originated in a terrible miscommunication. The turn of events helped Rama
to do his bit. Lesson is to beware of miscommunication at any stage.
Apart from these number of other lessons could be learnt from the oldest epic
Ramayana.
Valmiki
Positive Transformation
Worry for good society
Power of good society
Ramo vigrahavan dharmaha
Chaturvida purusharthas
Ravana
Negative transformation
Lack of self control
Lack of critical thinking
Arishad vargas
Making enemies
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Vishvamitra
Positive transformation-egotism to bhrahmrishi
Supremacy of destiny
Virtues of teacher
The Ramayana
According to one’s view, the Ramayana is one of India's best known tales.
It tells the story of Prince Rama who was sent into exile in the forest with his
wife, Sita, and his brother, Lakshamana.
Sita was abducted by the evil demon Ravana but ultimately rescued by Prince
Rama with the help of the Monkey God, Hanuman.
The story is written in 24,000 couplets.
The symbolism of the story has been widely interpreted but basically is the
story of good overcoming evil. Many people have said that it is a story about
dharma or duty.
The Vedas, being in the form of words, were orally taught by the sages to disciples in
Gurukula through the correct intonation of these words. Even now they are passed on to
the interested students in Veda Patashalas by learned pundits. Many philanthropists
support Veda Patashalas to maintain the Vedic traditions.
The Vedas classify all human pursuits into four common ends, known as purusharthas:
1. Dharma=ethics/righteousness .
2. Artha=securities/wealth
3. Kama=desires
4. Moksha=liberation
Thus, Vedas form basis of Indian Culture and they are regarded as a treasure for Indian
culture.
“When the Supreme Brahman decided to create the universe, Brahma was given the
portfolio for creation and with it the necessary energy to get ahead in this task. Brahma
thus became the recipient of the Vedas which are believed to be the very breath of the
Lord. The Vedas are primarily in the form of sound, symbolically and synoptically
contained in the primordial sound, the Omkara or Pranava. Hence Veda Sabdhas are
sensitive to vibrations and when uttered properly will have the desired effect. Just as
medicine fails to be effective if the other dietary restrictions prescribed by the doctor are
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not followed, the Veda mantras become efficacious only when all other criteria such as
spiritual discipline and proper enunciation are followed meticulously”.
-The Hindu , March 06, 2010
Next important epic is Mahabharat. It is said that whatever is not there in
Mahabharata cannot be found anywhere in the world. Written in Sanskrit
language by Lord Ganesha and compiled by maharishi Vedvyas Mahabharata
gives us some intricate management lessons which are even relevant today.
Vedvyas was a contemporary of the grandsire Bhisma and had a firsthand
knowledge of most of the events described in the epic.
Research scholars feel that the original; work of called Jaya, written by
Vyasa to commemorate the victory of Pandava princes over the wicked
Kauravas, might have been a much smaller work comprising about 8800
verses.
This was subsequently revised and enlarged into Bharata, a work of 24000
verses, by Vaisampayana, a disciple of Vyasa, and recited during the
sarpayaga (serpent sacrifice) of Janameyaja, the great grandson of the
Pandavas hero Arjuna.
The final edition came to us is the work of Suta Ugrasravas , son of
Lomaharsana and was recited at the Sattrayaga (a kind of sacrifice)of the
sage Saunaka in the Naimisa forest.
It is this that has been called Mahabharata, due to the immense size and
its dealing with the story if people of the race descended from the ancient
Bharat, culminating in the war.
Management lessons from Mahabharata:
Background
Pandavas: Were exiled for 13 years. Have no kingdom. Their main strength both
in terms of political and financial power depends on their friends and relatives:
the Pancalas, The Yadavas, the Magadhas and the Chedis.
Kauravas:
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In power for 13 years, Duryodhan has been a benevolent king. There is no
guarantee that the subjects really miss the Pandavas. Not only have they the
wealth and power of hastinapur, but also that of Indrapastha, the Kingdom that
the Pandavas had taken such labors to build and which had surpassed the hastina
of old in all degrees. Karna had gone for the nationwide conquering on behalf of
Duryodhana. They are the national sovereigns.
Motivation
Kauravas:
“Without war, will concede not a needle-prick of earth” – Duryodhana
Duryodhana was completely focused on the War. It was his moment of
truth. He had unsurped a kingdom, and he meant to keep it. He had resorted to
any means, foul or fair to get the Kingdom, which he believed to be rightfully his,
and was in no mood to give it up.
Pandavas:
“We fight over kingdom as dogs over a piece of meat”- Yudhishthira
The Pandavas had been humiliated, their wife insulted, their kingdom taken. But
still they wanted to avoid the War. The three elder Pandavas were against the war.
They even went as far as making an offer that they will stop the war in exchange
of 5 villages.
Preparation
Kauravas:
o Karna went on nationwide military mission, subdued the different
Kingdoms and acquired wealth. But it meant a loss in terms of both men
and money and creation of new enemies.
Pandavas:
o Though in exile they turned their attention to improving over their
weakness.
o Arjuna set out on a mission to acquire Duivyastras.
o Bhima met his brother Hanuman and got a blessing of enhanced strength.
o Yudhishthira acquired teachings from the various wide rishis, and also
learnt the Game of Dice from Gandharva Chatrasena, lest he was
challenged to yet another Dice game. It’s said that he had become
undefeatable in game of dice.
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Turn your weakness into strength.
Other management lessons from Mahabharata:
Seize every opportunity-
Look out for opportunities outside your scope of work. Never hassle yourself too
much with the motive of defeating your competitor.
Win Allies-
Five brothers won against a hundred. How do you think Pandavas did that? The
relationship they established over the years paid off. You may be busy focusing
on your own growth at present, but you must start reaching out to people and
making allies.
Distribute Work-
The more people you have, working towards different goals, the more output is
going to be. One man leadership didn’t work for Kauravas and there is no way it
is going to work for you.
Commitment-
Once you are up for challenge, do not back out. Had pandavas fretted about being
negligible in number in comparison to the Kauravas, they would have never even
tried.
Note :
Managerial Learning in Surplus:
Our epics and holy books have been great source of information and inspiration
for the last many centuries. In addition to individuals and groups, various
organizations have been seeking guidance for improving different functionalities
and activities and effective management of human resources. Some of these
famous epics that contribute the most to ethos in management are:
Mahabharat
a
Ramcharitmanas
Ramayana
Bhagavad-
Gita
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Various management lessons can be learnt from these books and can be applied
in corporate practical world. There are a number of books, journals and articles
available which talks about various management theories. They focused
management as an “Art” and “Science” of life.
But the way before modern days’ management gurus gave their theories,
principles and concepts of management the great writers like Tulsidas, Valmiki
had explained them in the ancient Hindu literature.
“Now as management students can we apply these morals of great epics to the
management???”
The answer is yes!!!
Arthashastra :
The Arthashastra (IAST: Arthaśāstra) is an ancient Indian treatise on
statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, written in Sanskrit.Likely to
be the work of several authors over centuries, Kautilya, also identified as
Vishnugupta and Chanakya, is traditionally credited as the author of the text.
The latter was a scholar at Takshashila, the teacher and guardian of Emperor
Chandragupta Maurya. However, scholars have questioned this identification.
Composed, expanded and redacted between the 2nd century BCE and 3rd
century CE, the Arthashastra was influential until the 12th century, when it
disappeared. It was rediscovered in 1905 by R. Shamasastry, who published it
in 1909. [The first English translation was published in 1915.
The title "Arthashastra" is often translated to "the science of politics", but the
book Arthashastra has a broader scope. It includes books on the nature of
government, law, civil and criminal court systems, ethics, economics, markets
and trade, the methods for screening ministers, diplomacy, theories on war,
nature of peace, and the duties and obligations of a king. The text incorporates
Hindu philosophy, includes ancient economic and cultural details on
agriculture, mineralogy, mining and metals, animal husbandry, medicine,
forests and wildlife.
The Arthashastra explores issues of social welfare, the collective ethics that
hold a society together, advising the king that in times and in areas devastated
by famine, epidemic and such acts of nature, or by war, he should initiate public
projects such as creating irrigation waterways and building forts around major
strategic holdings and towns and exempt taxes on those affected. The text was
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influential on other Hindu texts that followed, such as the sections on king,
governance and legal procedures included in Manusmriti
Shrimad Bhagavad-Gita
Shrimad Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita or "Song of the Lord" is part of the sixth book of the
Mahabharata, the world's longest poem.
Composed between 500 BCE and 100 CE, According to one’s view the
Mahabharata is an account of the wars of the house of Bharata.
It is one of the most popular Hindu texts and is known as a smriti text (the
remembered tradition). This is considered by some to be of less importance
than shruti (the heard text, such as the Vedas). It has, nevertheless, an
important place within the Hindu tradition.
The Bhagavad Gita takes the form of a dialogue between prince Arjuna and
Krishna, his charioteer.
Arjuna is a warrior, about to join his brothers in a war between two branches of
a royal family which would involve killing many of his friends and relatives.
He wants to withdraw from the battle but Krishna teaches him that he, Arjuna,
must do his duty in accordance with his class and he argues that death does not
destroy the soul.
Krishna points out that knowledge, work and devotion are all paths to salvation
and that the central value in life is that of loyalty to God.
Bhagavad-Gita is a conversation between Arjuna, a supernaturally gifted
warrior about to into battle, and Krishna, his charioteer. In the course of giving
Arjuna all manner of spiritual and material advice, Krishna explains Karma, the
self, the Supreme Self, the purpose of yoga, the difference between our self and
our material body, how our environment affects our consciousness, and how to
attain the perfection of life.
The Gita appears as a central chapter in Mahabharata, the history of greater
India. It is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important books
of Vedic literature.
Management lessons from Bhagavad-Gita:
“If you don’t fight for what you want, don’t cry for what you lost”
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Work Commitment and Efficiency-
deZ.k;s okf/kdkjLrs ekaW Qys’kq dnkpuA~
ekaW deZQygsrqHkqZ` ekars laUxksLRodeZf.kAA
The true essence of “Karma” lies in these two lines. Every manager should focus
on their work without anticipating the result or outcome. You should not
concentrate so much on the final product and just enjoy the process of reaching
there. We get swayed away by our vision and rely on its success too much. We
forget it is pivotal to enjoy the whole process rather than just hoping for
something that you know anyway is uncertain.
Adaptation to Change and Innovation-
oklkafl th.kkZfu ;Fkk fogk; uokfu x`gkfr fujksijkf.kA
rFkk “kfjjkf.k la;fr uokfu nsghAA
It is easy to say versatility and adaptation are the keys to success. But the biggest
lesson for any entrepreneur is learning to adapt to changes quickly. Learn to adapt
innovate and implore new opportunities. Pave your journey like a traveler, who
is not attached to the city or any place but enjoys experience of all.
Controlling-
dzks/kkr~ Hkofr lEeksg% lEeksgkr~ Le`fr foHkze%A
Le`fr Hkza’kkr cqf) uk”k% cqf)uk”kr~ iz.k”;frAA
It is imperative for all managers to have control over their anger. With anger goes
away our ability to reason and we tend to become delusional. The individual gets
carried away from his goals in the state of anger. Therefore it is very important
for a manager to learn anger management skills.
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Equanimity of Mind-
;ksxk% LFkkr~ dq: dekZf.k laxe rRo /kuat;%A
flf) vfl/;ks% leks HkqRo leRoe~ ;ksxk mP;rsAA
One should do his one’s duty efficiently and with single minded devotion, without
any fear of success or failure in his or her work. A person’s mind should be at
peace and ease while doing such work without any fear of success or failure.
Buddhism, Mahavir and Guru Granth Sahib
“TEACHING OF BUDDHISM”
“I teach because you and all beings want to have happiness and want to
avoid suffering. I teach the way things are.”
– The Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha, was born into a royal family in what is
now Nepal, close to the border with India. Growing up, the Buddha was
exceptionally intelligent and compassionate. Tall, strong, and handsome, the
Buddha belonged to the Warrior caste. It was predicted that he would become
either a great king or spiritual leader. Since his parents wanted a powerful ruler
for their kingdom, they tried to prevent Siddharta from seeing the unsatisfactory
nature of the world. They surrounded him with every kind of pleasure. He was
given five hundred attractive ladies and every opportunity for sports and
excitement. He completely mastered the important combat training, even
winning his wife, Yasodhara, in an archery contest.
Suddenly, at age 29, he was confronted with impermanence and suffering. On a
rare outing from his luxurious palace, he saw someone desperately sick. The
next day, he saw a decrepit old man, and finally a dead person. He was very
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upset to realize that old age, sickness and death would come to everyone he
loved. Siddharta had no refuge to offer them.
The next morning the prince walked past a meditator who sat in deep
absorption. When their eyes met and their minds linked, Siddhartha stopped,
mesmerized. In a flash, he realized that the perfection he had been seeking
outside must be within mind itself. Meeting that man gave the future Buddha a
first and enticing taste of mind, a true and lasting refuge, which he knew he had
to experience himself for the good of all.
Doctrine Of Buddhism
1-The Truth of Suffering, or Misery (Duhkhasatya, ), that life is
suffering, including birth, disease, old age, and death;
2- The Truth of the Cause (Samudayasatya), that suffering is caused by desire
(tr.s.n.â) and by ignorance (avidyâ), which ultimately depend on each other.
This is the doctrine of Dependent Origination
3-The Truth of Cessation (Nirodhasatya), that suffering can be ended if its
causes, desire and ignorance, are removed. Again, in the Mahâyâna, we get the
notion that desire can be transformed rather than abolished, which strictly
speaking leaves us as part of the cycle of Dependent Origination; and
4-The Truth of the Way (Mârgasatya, ), which is the Middle
Way between the extremes of asceticism and indulgence. I might expect the
"Middle Way" to be , madhyamârga
Jainism
Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma, is one of the most ancient
religious traditions of the Indian subcontinent with its origin rooted in
prehistoric times. Although it is now reduced to a minority religion in India and
elsewhere, there was a time when it dominated most parts of India and enjoyed
patronage from some of the most prominent rulers of ancient India.
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Chandragupta Maurya, the first well known emperor of India, became a
follower of Jainism in the last phase of his reign and ended his life by fasting in
the true tradition of a Jain monk
Although it yielded place to Brahmanism and Buddhism, it left an indelible
impression on the canvass of Indian religious life. There is no exaggeration in
saying that it was not Buddhism but Jainism which lives in the core of Hinduism
in the form of some vital concepts and practices that are too difficult to ignore.
According to Jain beliefs, its doctrine is ancient and eternal. It is passed on to
humanity in each time cycle and becomes lost over a period of time. It reappears
again through the teachings of purified and enlightened beings known as
thirthankaras.
According to Jain tradition, the first to come upon earth in this time cycle to
reintroduce the ancient dharma was Rishabhanatha also known as Adinatha, the
first in the line of 24 thirthankaras who were destined to manifest upon earth.
Parshvanatha (877-777 BC) and Vardhaman Mahavira were the two in the
succession. Jainism played a significant role in the religious tradition of India.
Perhaps there is no other tradition in the country that left its impression so much
as Jainism upon the religious way of life which we now distinguish as the
Sanatana Dharma or more popularly Hinduism. Jainism stresses the spiritual
independence and equality of all life with a particular emphasis on non-violence,
which is now an essential component of Hindusim. Self-control (vrata) and
vigorous asceticism are the means by which Jains attain moksha or liberation
from the cycle of rebirth. It is in the rigors of the practice and the degree of
seriousness with which the ideals of asceticism are followed where Jainism stands
apart from both Hinduism and Buddhism
Lord Mahavir
Bhagwan Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. Mahavir was the 24th
and last Tirthankara of Jainism. He was born in 599 BC near Vaishali in
Kundagrama. Mahavira belonged to Jnantrik Dynasty. He got enlightened under
a Sal Tree. He got kaivalya (death) on the bank of Rijupalika River. Diwali, was
the nirvana day of Lord Mahavira . Name of his mother was Trishala who was
siter of the King Chetak of Lichchavi. Sudharaman was the chief of Jainism
after death of Mahavira. Final compilation of Mahavira teachings took place in
5th or 6th century AD. Jain works were compiled in Vallabhi.
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Doctrain Of Jainism
Triratna i.e. Three Gems of Jainism.
The aim of existence is to attain through the triratna of
1. Samyak Shradha /Viswas (Right faith) : It is the belief in Thirathankaras.
2. Samyak jnan (Right knowledge) : It is the knowledge of the Jain creed.
3. Samyak Karma / Acharana (Right action / conduct) : It is the practice of the
5 vows of Jainism.
Pancha Mahavaratas i.e. Five Vows of Jainism.
VOWS OF JAINISM
There are five vows of Jainism:
• Ahimsa (Non-violence)
• Satya (truth)
• Achaurya or Asteya (non-stealing)
• Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
• Aparigraha (Non-attachment to temporal possessions)
Ramcharitmanas
Ram +charit(character)+manas(lake): Ramcharitmanas
Ramcharitmanas is the story of leaders and their sacrifices. It is the story of
different kind of characters and their different style of behavior, attitude,
communication and leadership style. The qualities of Rama which is mentioned
in by Goswami Tulsidas in Ramcharitmanas, can convert an individual to leader.
There are many stanzas in this book, where we find leadership concepts and its
traits, and whole story explains these traits beautifully.
Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem written in Awadhi dialect of Hindi,
composed by 16th century Indian bhakti poet Goswami Tulsidas. It literally means
“lake of the deeds of Rama”. Tulsidas was acclaimed in his lifetime to be a
reincarnation of Valmiki, the composer of the original Ramayana in Sanskrit.He
is also considered to be the composer of the Hanuman Chalisa, a popular
devotional hymn dedicated to Hanuman ji,the divine devotee of lord Rama. The
name is a compound of two Sanskrit words: Tulasī, which is an Indian variety of
the basil plant considered auspicious by Vaishnavas (devotees of god Vishnu and
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his avatars like Rama), and Dāsa, which means slave or servant and by extension,
devotee. Tulsidas, which means a servant of the plant Tulsi.
A couplet of Sundara Kanda of Ramcharitmanas clearly advises us to ignore the
advice of a paid deputy, a doctor and a teacher who speak positively out of fear
or expectation of gain. A king who acts upon such motivated advice loses his
kingdom, his body and his righteousness as well.
When lord Rama decides to accept vibhishana in his fold, he does not simply
order the same, but he consults all the seniors advice before arriving at a decision.
Leadership traits could be learnt from this epic poem. Tulsidasji describe and talk
with various concepts of leadership and he is ready to discuss on various points.
We should review this great epic in the true light so we can the real trait of
leadership , ricky ponting-Australian cricket captain made a statement after lots
of criticism in Sydney Test match “We are the number one, we are so powerful
due to this reason we don’t know who can be our Role model”. Ramcharitmanas
is the answer for all those who are powerful and leading a great team. Every leader
should behave like Ram not Ravana.
You may be powerful, may be number one and even you can conquer
the world, but if you are not polite you are not benign, you are not ready to
forgive others not ready to respect others. Later or sooner time will come then
world will be against you and defeat is certain. So behave like Ram for a stable
and successful win.
Panchtantra
For more than two and a half millennia, the Panchatantra tales have
regaled children and adults alike with a moral at the end of every story.
Some believe that they are as old as the Rig Veda. There is also another
story about these fables. According to it, these are stories Shiva told his
consort Parvati. The present series is based on the Sanskrit original.
A king, worried that his three sons are without the wisdom to live in a
world of wile and guile, asks a learned man called Vishnu Sharman to
teach them the ways of the world.
Since his wards are dimwits, Vishnu Sharman decides to pass on wisdom
to them in the form of stories. In these stories, he makes animals speak
like human beings. Panchatantra is a collection of attractively told stories
about the five ways that help the human being succeed in life. Pancha
means five and tantra means ways or strategies or principles. Addressed
to the king's children, the stories are primarily about statecraft and are
popular throughout the world.
Hitopedasha Tales
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The Hitopadesha is a remarkable compilation of short stories. Composed by
Narayana Pandit, Hitopadesha had its origin around a thousand years ago. In
Indian Literature, the Hitopadesha is regarded more or less similar to the
Panchatantra. In the vein of Panchatantra, the Hitopadesa was also written in
Sanskrit and following the pattern of prose and verse. Hitopadesh tales are
written in reader-friendly way, which also contributed to the success of this best
seller after ‘Bhagwad Gita’ in India. Since its origin, Hitopadesa has been
translated into numerous languages to benefit the readers all over the world.
The term ‘Hitopadesha’ is a joint effort of two terms, ‘Hita’ (welfare/
benefit) and ‘Upadesha’ (advice/ counsel). As the term suggests, the
Hitopadesha is a collection of tales that counsel and advice for the
welfare and benefit of everyone. Imparting morals and knowledge,
Hitopadesha is one amongst the most widely read Sanskrit book in India.
The Hitopadesh is still very much popular children story book that
actually help them to develop into responsible and mature adults. Here
are provided some popular stories from Hitopadesha.
Jataka Tales
The Jataka tales date back to the third century BC and are considered the
oldest form of story-narrating practice. Lack of literacy in those days
necessitated the appointment of Jataka storytellers known as Jataka
bhanakas. The Jataka bhanakas would travel far and wide to propagate the
message of kindness, compassion, generosity, non-violence, self-sacrifice,
charity, refrainment from greed etc. through these stories. The Buddha
himself used jataka stories to explain concepts like kamma and rebirth and
to emphasize the importance of certain moral values.
The Jataka tales depict the Buddha in several of his births in the form of
animals. These stories, though simple, are high on moral content
considered good for one's emotional, moral and spiritual health. The
Buddha is the protagonist and the central character in each of these stories.
Over a couple of thousand years old, the Jataka tales are just as relevant in
content in the modern times. Perhaps, even more so. Living in fragmented
and nucleus families, children grow up on a staple diet of violence and
other negative traits they pick up from the TV. They do not have the luxury
of having the good ol' granny to educate them with moral teachings
imparted by such stories. In cultures where joint family systems are in
practice, one would find children well endowed with moral bearings and
emotional strength.
Guru Granth Sahib
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Guru Granth Sahib or Adi Sri Granth Sahib Ji (Punjabi ਗੁਰ ੂਗਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ; also
called the Adi Granth or Adi Guru Darbar) is more than just a scripture of
the Sikhs, for the Sikhs regard and respect the Granth (holy book) as
their living Guru. The revealed holy text spans 1430 pages and contains the
actual words spoken by the founders of the Sikh religion (the Ten Gurus of
Sikhism).
Guru Granth Sahib was bestowed the Guruship by the last of the human
form Sikh Masters, Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708. Before passing away, Guru
Gobind Singh Ji decreed that the Sikhs were to regard the Granth Sahib as their
next and everlasting Guru. Guru Ji said – “Sab Sikhan ko hokam hai Guru
Manyo Granth” meaning “All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as
Guru”. So today, if asked, the Sikhs will tell you that they have a total of 11
Gurus. (10 Gurus in human form, and the eternal shabad Guru, the Guru Granth
Sahib).
Unique amongst the world's major religious scriptures, while compiling the
Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Gurus incorporated not only their own writings,
but also included the writings of other contemporary saints from Hinduism and
Islam (including saints belonging to the lowest strata of untouchables in the
Hindu Caste System), who believed in the unity of God and denounced
superstition and caste. Further, the composition and compilation of the Guru
Granth Sahib was performed by the Sikh Gurus themselves, rather than being
performed by their adherents and followers, an aspect that has
been highlighted by historian-scholars while discussing the authenticity of the
preachings of the different teachers and prophets of the world, as known to
mankind today.
When one visits a Gurdwara (a Sikh temple), the Guru Granth Sahib forms the
main part of the Darbar Sahib or Main Hall. The holy book is placed on a
dominant platform and covered in a very beautiful and attractively coloured fine
cloth. The platform is always covered by a canopy, which is also decorated in
expensive and very attractive coloured materials. The text in which the Granth
is written is a script called Gurmukhi (literally "From the Guru's mouth"), which
is considered a modern development of the ancient language called Sanskrit.
Learning Of Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib provides unique and unequalled guidance and advice
to the whole of the human race. It is the torch that will lead humanity out
of Kaljug, (the dark era) to a life in peace, tranquillity and spiritual
enlightenment for all the nations of the World. The main message can be
summaried as:
All Peoples of the World are Equal
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Women as Equals
One God for All
Speak and Live Truthfully
Control the Five Vices
Live in God's Hukam
Practise Humility, Kindness, Compassion, Love, etc. .
Some other Sources of Indian Ethos -
Kabir,
Rahim
Folk songs , says and Idioms
Local Languages and the list goes on…
Kabir
Kabir (Hindi: कबीर) was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose
writings influenced Hinduism's Bhakti movement and his verses are found in
Sikhism's scripture Adi Granth. His early life was in a Muslim family, but he
was strongly influenced by his teacher, the Hindu bhakti leader Ramananda.
Kabir is known for being critical of both Hinduism and Islam, stating that the
former was misguided by the Vedas and the latter by the Quran, and questioning
their meaningless rites of initiation such as the sacred thread and circumcision
respectively. During his lifetime, he was threatened by both Hindus and
Muslims for his views. When he died, both Hindus and Muslims he had inspired
claimed him as theirs.
Kabir suggested that True God is with the person who is on the path of
righteousness, considered all creatures on earth as his own self, and who is
passively detached from the affairs of the world. To know God, suggested
Kabir, meditate with the mantra Rāma, Rāma.
“पोथी पढ़ि पढ़ि जग मुआ, पंडित भया न कोय,
ढाई आखर प्रेम का, प़ेि सो पंडित होय।“
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Kabir's legacy survives and continues through the Kabir panth ("Path of
Kabir"), a religious community that recognises him as its founder and is one of
the Sant Mat sects. Its members are known as Kabir panthis.
Rahim
Khanzada Mirza Khan Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana (17 December
1556 – 1627) (Urdu: عبدالرحيم خان خانان), also known as Rahim (رحيم) was
a poet who lived during the rule of Mughal emperor Akbar. He was one
of the nine important ministers (dewan) in his court, also known as the
Navaratnas. Rahim is known for his Urdu couplets and his books on
astrology. The village of Khan Khana, which is named after him, is
located in the Nawanshahr district of the state of Punjab, India.
Abdul Rahim was known for his strange manner of giving alms to the
poor. He never looked at the person he was giving alms to, keeping his
gaze downwards in all humility. When Tulsidas heard about Rahim's
behaviour when giving alms, he promptly wrote a couplet and sent it to
Rahim:-
"ऐसी दनेी देंन ज्यूँ, कित सीखे हो सैन
ज्ों ज्ों िर ऊंच््ो िरो, त््ों त््ों कनचे नैन"
"Why give alms like this? Where did you learn that? Your hands are as high as
your eyes are low"
Realizing that Tulsidas was well aware of the reasons behind his actions, and
was merely giving him an opportunity to say a few lines in reply, he wrote to
Tulsidas saying:-
"दनेहार िोई और ह,ै भेजत जो कदन रैन
लोग भरम हम पर िरे, तासो कनच ेनैन"
"The Giver is someone else, giving day and night. But the world gives me the
credit, so I lower my eyes."
His two sons were killed by Akbar's son Jehangir because they were not in
favour of Jehangir's accession to the throne at Akbar's death.
He is considered a Persophile.
Local Idiom’s and Phrases
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These Idioms share cultural and historical information and broadens people’s
understanding and manipulation of a language. Among the various definitions
of idioms are: (1) the language peculiar to a people, country, class, community
or, more rarely, an individual; (2) a construction or expression having a
meaning different from the literal one or not according to the usual patterns of
the. It is the second definition that best suits the focus of this paper. Idioms
include all the expressions we use that are unique to Our Self , including cliches
and slang. Prepositional usage is also a common part of idiomatic expressons
but this paper addresses idioms as used in figurative language.
For Examples :
अपने मुुँह ममयाुँ ममट्ठू बनना - (स्वयं अपनी प्रशंसा करना ) - अच्छे आदममयों को अपने मुहुँ ममयाुँ ममट्ठू बनना शोभा नह ं देता ।
अक्ल का चरने जाना - (समझ का अभाव होना) - इतना भी समझ नह ं सके ,क्या अक्ल चरने गए है ?
अपना हाथ जगन्नाथ:- स्वंय के द्वारा ककया गया कायय ह महत्वपूर्य होता है. सौ सुनार की एक लुहार की :- एक महत्वपूर्य कायय कई अनगयल कायों से ज्यादा
सट क होता है. सौ चहेू खा के बबल्ल चल हज को :- धतूय व्यक्क्त द्वारा धधकावे का ककया गया
अच्छा कायय सर सलामत तो पगडी हजार:- व्यक्क्त बाधाओं से मुक्त हो जाये तो अन्य वस्तुओं
की परवाह नह ं करनी चाढहए. अतं भला सब भला:- यढद कायय का अतं अच्छा हो जाये तो पूरा कायय ह सफल हो
जाता है. अधजल गगर छलकत जाय:- मुखय व्यक्क्त ज्यादा धचल्लाता है, जबकक ज्ञानी शांत
रहता है. ना नों मन तेल होगा ना राधा नाचगेी:- कारर् समाप्त हो जाने पर पररर्ाम स्वतः
ह समाप्त हो जायेंगे. नांच ना जाने आुँगन टेढा:-स्वंय की अकुशलता को दसूरों पर थोपना.
Whereas Phrases are used In everyday speech, a phrase may be any group of
words, often carrying a special idiomatic meaning; in this sense it is roughly
synonymous with expression. In linguistic analysis, a phrase is a group of
words (or possibly a single word) that functions as a constituent in the syntax of
a sentence, a single unit within a grammatical hierarchy. A phrase typically
appears within a clause, but it is possible also for a phrase to be a clause or to
contain a clause within it. For Example :
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Folk Songs and Folk Tales
India is a land of cultural diversities. Every region in India has its own
form of folk music. This rich tradition of folk music is very much alive in
not just rural India, but also in some metros. Though one may say that
music has acquired a totally different definition with the arrival of pop
culture and new age cinema, there are many who would beg to differ. The
realm of traditional folk music in India is very large and it is basically a
countryside representation of the urban Indian society. Many people tend
to mix up Indian folk music with tribal music. There is a huge difference
between thee two genres of music. Read on to know about folk music of
India.
Folk music is very different from classical music as well. To begin with,
it is not taught in the same way as classical music is taught. Classical
music usually requires a student devoting their entire life perfecting the
forms of this music. Folk music is more like a daily ritual without
affecting the daily lives of people. People learn it since their childhood
and grow up on these songs. One can always carry on with their daily life
routine while listening to or singing folk music. Most of the songs are
sung in small village functions like weddings, births, etc. It has many
forms including bhangra, lavani, dandiya and Rajasthani..
Folk music also uses a number of instruments. The refined versions of
these instruments are used for classical music. For instance the "Tabla",
which is a very important instrument of classical music, is used in a crude
form like daf, dholak or nal. The cruder versions of Sitar or Sarod are
used in folk music, which are known as ektara, dotar, saringda, rabab and
santur. Not all regions use the same instrument. In fact, the same
instrument may not even be called by the same name every where. Most
of these instruments are made of easily available material like bamboo,
clay pots, empty coconut shells, etc. Most of the folk music in India is
dance oriented and many popular forms of dance like Dandiya, Lavani,
Garba, etc. are danced along the tunes of popular folk music. They are
very enjoyable, as most of them very catchy tunes.
The folklores and folktales have been an eternal part of every culture
since ages. When it comes to Indian folk tales, the country of diverse
religions, languages and cultures has a complete range of tales and short
stories. Indian folklore has a wide range of stories and mythological
legends, which emerge from all walks of life. The interesting stories
range from the remarkable ‘Panchatantra’ to ‘Hitopadesha’, from ‘Jataka’
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to ‘Akbar-Birbal’.
Not only this, the great Indian epics like ‘Ramayana’, ‘Mahabharata’ and
‘Bhagvad Gita’ are full of didactic stories inspired from the lives of great
souls. Being full of moralistic values, Indian folklore makes perfect
stories for children, who are required to be, instilled with right values. All
these ancient stories have been passed from generation to generation,
creating bondage of traditional values with present-day generation.