Historical people, Temples, places and books

Eminent Personalities of Ancient India

• Alexander : he was the ruler of Macedonia in Greece. He attacked India in 326 BC and captured upto river Bias.
• Ajatasatru : Son of Bimbisara. He established the city of Pataliputra.
• Arien : Greek historian who wrote about Alexander's Indian invasion.
• Ashwaghosh : Buddhist monk who initiated Kaniskha to Buddhism wrote Buddha charita, Sutralankar and Sandaranand.
• AmarSimha : Sanskrit scholar in the court of Chandragupta who wrote Amarakosha.
•  Aryabhatta : He analysed the reasons for Solar and Lunar eclipses and declared that the Earth is round. Wrote Aryabhattiyam.
• Bimbisar : Founded the Magadhan Empire or Haryanka dynasty. He was the first influential king of ancient India.
• Banabhatta : Court poet of Harshavardhana and author of Harsha Charita and Kadambari.
• Charak : He was an Ayurvedic expert wrote Charak-Samhita and established the Aitereya branch of Ayurvedic medicines.
• Amoghavarsha : He was a famous Rashtrakuta ruler.
• Dhanananda : He was a powerful king of Magadha. Alexander did not go forward to invade Magadha only after hearing his reputation.
• Darius I : The ruler of Iran (Persia) who invaded India in 6th century BC.
• Gautami Putra Shatakarni : He was the mostfamous Satavahana king in 2nd Century.
• Harisena : He was the writer of Pryaga Prashasti or Allahabad Pillar Inscription.
• Kharavel : Ruler of Kalinga in I century AD. The Famous Hathigumbha inscription belonged to him.
• Kanishka : (I century AD) : Most powerful Kushan king. Started Shaka Era. Organised fourth Buddhist council at Kundalvan near Kashmir.
• Karikala : Chola ruler who founded the city of Puhar (Kaveri patanam) in I century BC.
• Kautilya : also known as Vishnugupta or Chanakya. He wrote Arthasasthra, which is compared to 'The prince' of Machiavelli.
• Kalidas : Famous Sanskrit poet who wrote, Raghuvamsa, Kumara Sambhavam, AbhigyanaShakuntalam, Vikramorvashiyam andMalavikagnimitram. He also wroteMeghadootam and Ritusamharam.
• Kamban : A Tamil poet of 11th century who wrote Ramayan in Tamil.
• Mihir Bhoja : Famous Prathihara ruler of 9th century.
• Kalhana - Famous Kashmiri poet and historian.He wrote Raja Tarangini.
• Marco Polo : Venitian Traveller to India in 13^th century.
• Menander : He came to India as a foreign aggressor in II Century BC.MilindaPanho, a book written by Nagasena, is about him.
• Nagarjuna : Famous Buddhist monk. He popounded the philosophy known as Madhyamika.
• Makkali Gosala : Philosopher of 6th Century BC. He was the founder of Ajivika sect.
• Mihirkula : Huna conqueror defeated by Yashodharma.
• Skand Gupt : Last mighty Gupta ruler.
• Shushrut : He was a doctor of Ayurvedic medicine. He started the Dhanwantri branch and was an expert in Plastic Surgery.
• Pulikeshin II. Most powerful king of Chalukyas of Vatapi who defeated Harshavardhana in North and Mahendravarman of South.
• Pushya Mitra sunga : He killed the last Mauryan ruler and laid the foundation of Sunga dynasty in 185 BC.
• Pliny : He was a Roman historian who wrote the Natural History. He wrote about the Mauryas of India.
• Panini : Sanskrit scholar specially of Grammar. He wrote Ashtadyayi.
• Varahamihira : He was famous astronomer who wrote Brihat Samhita.
• Sankaracharya : He was born in Kaladi in Kerala. He propagated Advaita Philosophy.

Six systems of Indian Philosophy

• Samkya- Sage Kapila
• Yoga- Patanjali
• Vaisheshika- Kannada
• Nyaya- Akshapada (Gautama)
• Mimamsa- Jaimini

Symbols of Buddha

• Birth- Lotus and Bull
• Renunciation-Horse
• Enlightenment -Bodhitree
• First Sermon -Dharma Chakra
• Nirvana (Death)-Foot prints

Famous Eras

• Vikram Era -58 BC
• Saka Era - 78 AD
• Gupta Era- 320 AD
• Hijra Era -622 AD
• Kollam Era-825 AD
• Illahi Era -1583 AD

Historically Important Places

• Ayodhya- Birth place of Sri Rama (UP)
• Amber Palace- Rajasthan
• Aghakhan Palace- Pune (Maharashtra) (Gandhi and Kasturba were kept in prison here)
• Kedarnath- Holy place of Hindus (Utharanchal)
• Amarnath- Pilgrim centre (Kashmir)
• Elephanta caves- Near Mumbai
• Ellora Caves- Maharashtra - 34 cavetemples (Hindu, Buddha - Jaina)
• Rajgir- Jain Temple in Bihar
• Golden Temple- Amritsar - Harmandir Sahib of Sikhs
• Golgumbus- Bijapur (Karnataka) Tomb of Muhammed Adil Shah
• Tanjore- Capital of Cholas - Brihadveswara Temple
• Charminar- Hyderabad (Monument of Plague eradication)
• Konark Temple- Orissa (Sun Temple)
• Qutab Minar- Delhi
• Khajuraho- Near Bhopal (M.P.) 80 temples
• Mahabalipuram- Centre of Pallava architecture (Tamil Nadu)
• Kurukshetra- Battle of Mahabarata (in Haryana)
• TajMahal- Agra (UP) Built by Shah Jahan
• Sanchi- Buddhist Stupa (Madhya Pradesh)
• Haridwar- Holy Place of Hindus (Uttaranchal)

Books on Sciences

• Chandra Vyakaran- Chandragomin
• Amar Kosh - Amar Singh
• Niti Shastra - Kamandak
• Kamasutra - Vatsya yana
• Panchasiddhantika- Varahamihira
• Ashtanga Hridaya - Vaghbhatta
• Hastyaurveda-  Pulkapya
• Sankhyakarika- Iswarkrishna

Temples and Builders

• Kailas Temple at Ellora - Krishna I
• Chunnakesava Temple, Belur- Vishnuvardhana
• Rathas at Mahabilipuram-  Narashimhavarman I
• Brihadeswara Temple, Tanjavur- RajaRaja Chola
• Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram- Narasimha VarmanII
• Lingaraja Temple, Bhavaneswar - Eastern Gangarubs
• Karjuraho Temples- Chandellas
• Rajarajeshwara Temple, Tanjavur- Raja raja I
• Meenakshi Temple at Madhurai- Nayaka Rulers
• Shiva Temple at Tanjavur- Raja Raja Chola