Short & Long Questions: New Ideas and Religions | Footprints Class 6: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Short Answer Questions

Q1: What is the meaning of the word 'Upanishad'?
Ans: The word 'Upanishad' means 'at the feet of the guru or teacher' in Sanskrit.

Q2: Who were some of the authors of the Upanishads?
Ans: The Upanishads were authored by learned Vedic seers and saints like Yajnavalkya, Aruni, Shandilya, and Aitareya.

Q3: Name two women mentioned in the Upanishads who participated in debates.
Ans: Gargi and Maitreyi were two women mentioned in the Upanishads who participated in debates.

Q4: What were the main reasons for the decline of Vedic religion during the Later Vedic Period?
Ans: The rigid caste system, inequalities, conflicts, and the inaccessibility of religious texts in Sanskrit to common people were some of the reasons for the decline of Vedic religion.

Q5: What were the main teachings of Mahavira?
Ans: The main teachings of Mahavira were non-violence (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satya), non-stealing (Asteya), non-possession (Tyaga), and celibacy (Brahmacharya).

Long Answer Questions

Q1: Explain the emergence of new religions like Jainism and Buddhism.
Ans: New religions like Jainism and Buddhism emerged due to reasons such as the rigid caste system, inequalities, conflicts, and the inaccessibility of religious texts to common people. These religions offered teachings that emphasized non-violence, equality, and a simple way of living, which attracted many followers.

Q2: Describe the life and teachings of Vardhamana Mahavira.
Ans: Vardhamana Mahavira was born in 599 BCE near Vaishali in Bihar. He was deeply moved by the suffering of people and left home at the age of 30 in search of truth and enlightenment. After 12 years of meditation and austerity, he achieved perfect knowledge. Mahavira taught principles like non-violence, equality, and achieving the highest spiritual state through the Three Jewels of Jainism.

Q3: Explain the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path in Buddhism.
Ans: The Four Noble Truths are the foundational teachings of Buddhism. They state that suffering exists, has a cause (desire), can be ended, and can be eliminated by following the Eight-fold Path. The Eight-fold Path consists of right understanding, attitude, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. It provides a guide to living a balanced and ethical life.

Q4: Compare and contrast the lives of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha before they attained enlightenment.
Ans: Both Mahavira and Gautama Buddha were born into princely families and felt a deep sense of compassion. However, Mahavira practiced extreme austerity for 12 years before attaining enlightenment, while Buddha initially practiced severe penances for six years before adopting the Middle Path. Their paths to enlightenment were different.

Q5: Explain the organization and residence of followers in Jainism and Buddhism.
Ans: Followers in Jainism and Buddhism were encouraged to leave their homes to focus on attaining true knowledge. They lived together in groups called 'sangha.' Both men and women were allowed to join, and they led simple lives, begging for their food. They were called monks (bhikkus) and nuns (bhikkunis). The rules for Buddhist monks and nuns were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka. Initially, they were itinerant, but later, they built monasteries or viharas for year-round residence.