Test: Important Question (Medieval India) - 1 - UPSC MCQ

Mundigak is an archaeological site in Kandahar province in Afghanistan. It is situated approximately 55 km northwest of Kandahar near Shāh Maqsud, on the upper drainage of the Kushk-i Nakhud River.

It was widely suggested that the Harappan people worshipped a Mother goddess symbolizing fertility. A few Indus valley seals displayed swastika sign which were there in many religions, especially in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Worship of the male phallus or lingam has been more extensive than worship of the yoni, and examples of its power as a fertility symbol can be seen throughout Indian culture. The worship of the yoni is the worship of the goddess, as well as the worship of women as living expressions of the goddess.
Plants, trees and animals were probably important to Indus people. The pipal or fig tree is shown on many seals, and is still a sacred tree for many Buddhists and Hindus. Hinduism also places importance on ritual bathing.
Amulets have been found in large numbers from the Indus Valley. Probably the Harappans believed that ghosts and evil forces were capable of harming them and, therefore, used amulets against them. The  Atharva Veda, which is associated with non-Aryan tradition, contains many charms and spells, and recommends amulets for warding off diseases and evil forces.
 

Proto Historic Period in India Bronze Age Indus Valley Harappan Civilisation

The earliest excavations in the Indus valley were done at Harappa in the West Punjab and Mohenjodaro in Sind. Both places are now in Pakistan. The findings in these two cities brought to light a civilization. It was first called the ‘The Indus Valley Civilization’. But this civilization was later named as the ‘Indus Civilization’ due to the discovery of more and more sites far away from the Indus valley. Also, it has come to be called the ‘Harappan Civilization’ after the name of its first discovered site.

Important Sites

Among the many other sites excavated, the most important are Kot Diji in Sind, Kalibangan in Rajasthan, Rupar in the Punjab, Banawali in Haryana, Lothal, Surkotada and Dholavira, all the three in Gujarat. The larger cities are approximately a hundred hectares in size. Mohenjodara is the largest of all the Indus cities and it is estimated to have spread over an area of 200 hectares.

Origin and Evolution

The archaeological findings excavated for the last eight decades reveal the gradual development of the Harappan culture. There are four important stages or phases of evolution and they are named as pre-Harappan, early-Harappan, mature-Harappan and late Harappan.

Farmers in the Indus valley were the first to spin and weave cotton. In 1929 archaeologists recovered fragments of cotton tetiles at Mohenjo-Daro, in what is now Pakistan, dating to between 3250 and 2750 BCE.

The correct option is A.
The options are correctly matched.

 Chanhu Daro is situated 130 kms south of Mohenjo-Daro in Sindh and there has been found a single mound. It was discovered by N G Majumdar in 1931
Kalibangan is a part of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, located in present Hanumangarh district. The site was discovered by Luigi Pio Tessitori, an Italian Indologist and linguist. After Independence in 1952, Amlānand Ghosh identified the site as part of Harappan Civilization and marked it for excavation.
First discovered in 1954, Lothal was excavated from 1955-1960 by S R Rao of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Surkotada is a small, 3.5 acre site northeast of Bhuj, in Gujarat. "The mound has an average height of five-to-eight metres (east-to-west) and was discovered by the author during the course of his explorations in Kutch in December, 1964,
The credit of discovery of the site of Banwali goes to the Archeologists of this department in the year 1981.

Burzahom, a combination of two words-burza (birch) and home (ghar or residential house)-is located about 10 kilometers in north-east of Srinagar, the capital city of Kashmir.
It was as early as in 1935 that De Terra, heading the Yale-Cambridge Expedition, went for a trial excavation at the Burzahom site.
The excavations found revealed that the inhabitants of Burzahom lived in pits dug below ground-level with stone tools and their sides were plastered with mud to give them strength and durability. These underground pits obviously were their choice to protect themselves from the blues of severe winter. Burzahom was the ideal habitat for the Burzahomis because, being on the shores of Dal Lake it provided fish in abundance, clean drinking water and adequate hunting grounds in the forest on northern plateau at the foothills of Mahadeva mountain.

The Rig-Veda is the only source to give us an idea of the geographical expanse of the Early Vedic period. When the early Rig Vedic hymns were written, the focus of Aryan culture was the region between the Yamuna and Sutudri (Sutlej) and along the upper course of the river Sarasvati. Hence the correct answer is option C.

Polyandry (/ˈpɒliˌændri, ˌpɒliˈæn-/; from Greek: πολυ- poly-, "many" and ἀνήρ anēr, "man") is a form of polygamy in which a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time. Polyandry is contrasted with polygyny, involving one male and two or more females.

Varuna, in the Vedic phase of Hindu mythology, the god-sovereign, the personification of divine authority was the ruler of the sky realm and the upholder of cosmic and moral law; a duty shared with the group of gods known as the Adityas , of whom he was the chief.

These are the several functional groups appeared as distinct castes and the social status of some of them such as tanners ,hide cleaners and the like declined.Their professions become separate castes like these.
These words were originated from Sanskrit. Vapta - Barber ( A person who cuts and style the hairs of people)
Tashta - When coming into this, it has a reference in Sun of gods book where God is an artist ,he is a carpenter and the words or names like Deva Tashta, Deva Tat.
Bishaka - Medicine man or doctor. one who treats the people and the injured soldiers in war time.
Karmara - Iron smith or Black smith ,One who makes and polish the tools and equipments.
Charmana - Tanner Persons who are involved in leather tanning works.
And it has some more professions like rathakra - maker of chariots , kulala - maker of pots,Ishukrit - maker of arrows, Dhanvakrit - maker of bows and mrigya - hunter.
 

C is the correct option. The assertion is true but reason given for that is not. The battle of ten kings was between Sudas, a Bharata king of the Tritsu family and the confederacy of ten well-known tribes- Puru, Yadu, Turvasa, Anu, Druhyu, Alina, Paktha, Bhalanas, Shiva and Vishanin. The former five are said to be Aryan tribe while the later 5 are said to be Non-Aryan tribes. 

The Nyāya Sūtras is an ancient Indian Sanskrit text composed by Akṣapāda Gautama, and the foundational text of the Nyaya school of Hindu philosophy.

Jaimini's Mimamsa is a ritualist (karma-kanda) counter-movement to the Self-knowledge (Atman) speculations of the Vedanta philosophy.

The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali are a collection of 196 Sanskrit sutras on the theory and practice of yoga. The Yoga Sutras were compiled sometime between 500 BCE and 400 CE by the sage Patanjali in India who synthesized and organized knowledge about yoga from much older traditions

Prajapati, (Sanskrit: “Lord of Creatures”) the great creator deity of the Vedic period of ancient India. In the post-Vedic age he came to be identified with the Hindu god Brahma.
During this period gods like Rudra, Vishnu and Prajapati were given special importance. Rudra, also known as Mahadeva, came to be known as Siva (benevolent) and Pasupati (Lord of ani­mals).
The Vedas are synonymous with truth and represent the ultimate knowledge that is God. They collectively represent a sacred tradition wherein transcendental matters pertaining to God, atma, evil and good, sin and retribution are discussed.
 

Reasons for the identification of life reflected in the later Vedic texts with the painted grey ware culture:
I. Material culture of the two corresponds:
- The material culture, including pottery and other artifacts, found in the later Vedic texts and the painted grey ware culture show similarities and correspondences. This indicates a connection between the two.
II. Geographical distribution of the two corresponds:
- The geographical distribution of the later Vedic texts and the painted grey ware culture also aligns. They are both found in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the Gangetic plains.
III. Chronological span of the two corresponds:
- The time period in which the later Vedic texts were composed and the painted grey ware culture flourished also match. Both are dated to the later Vedic period, which is roughly between 1000 BCE to 600 BCE.
IV. Both evolved locally:
- Both the later Vedic texts and the painted grey ware culture are believed to have evolved locally in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. They represent the cultural and social developments of the people living in that region during that time.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
A: I, II and III.

The fertile agrarian tract in the early Tamil country is denoted by the term "Murudan".
Explanation:
The term "Murudan" refers to the fertile agrarian tract in the early Tamil country. It is one of the five landscapes or regions described in ancient Tamil literature known as Sangam literature.
Here is a detailed explanation of each option:
A: Palai:
- Palai refers to the barren wasteland or desert region.
- It is not associated with fertile agriculture.
B: Murudan:
- Murudan refers to the fertile agrarian tract.
- It is associated with agriculture and cultivation.
- This region is characterized by lush green fields, rivers, and abundant natural resources.
C: Mullai:
- Mullai refers to the forested region, specifically the region with bamboo vegetation.
- It is not directly related to agriculture.
D: Neydal:
- Neydal refers to the coastal region or seashore.
- It is associated with fishing and maritime activities, not agriculture.
Therefore, the correct answer is B: Murudan, as it represents the fertile agrarian tract in the early Tamil country.

C is the correct option. The ,marked places are:
Muziris,
 Uraiyur,
 Puhar,and
 Arikamedu
 

Explanation:
The correct sequence of events in the history of South India is as follows:
I. Beginning of the megalithic culture
II. Expansion of the Mauryan rule
III. Sangam Age
IV. Pallava ascendancy
Now, let's break down the options and identify the correct sequence:
A: II, III, I, IV
- This sequence starts with the expansion of the Mauryan rule, which is incorrect.
B: II, I, III, IV
- This sequence starts with the beginning of the megalithic culture, which is correct.
- It is followed by the expansion of the Mauryan rule, which is also correct.
- The Sangam Age comes next, which is again correct.
- Finally, the sequence ends with the Pallava ascendancy, which is correct.
C: II, I, IV, III
- This sequence starts with the beginning of the megalithic culture, which is correct.
- It is followed by the expansion of the Mauryan rule, which is also correct.
- However, the Pallava ascendancy comes before the Sangam Age, which is incorrect.
D: I, II, III, IV
- This sequence starts with the expansion of the Mauryan rule, which is incorrect.
Therefore, the correct sequence is option B: II, I, III, IV.

Order of Deva Vrinda in Sangam literature:
The correct order of the Deva Vrinda (group of five gods) as described in the Sangam literature is as follows:
I. Murugan
II. Siva
III. Krishna
IV. Balaram
V. Indra
Explanation:
- The Sangam literature is a collection of Tamil literature from ancient South India, particularly from the Sangam period (3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE).
- The Deva Vrinda is a group of five gods mentioned in the Sangam literature.
- The correct order of the Deva Vrinda as per the Sangam literature is given as follows:
1. Murugan: Also known as Kartikeya or Subramanya, Murugan is the first god mentioned in the order.
2. Siva: Siva, the Hindu god of destruction and transformation, is mentioned as the second god in the order.
3. Krishna: Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, is mentioned as the third god in the order.
4. Balaram: Balaram, the elder brother of Krishna and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is mentioned as the fourth god in the order.
5. Indra: Indra, the king of gods in Hindu mythology, is mentioned as the fifth and final god in the order.
Therefore, the correct hierarchical order of the Deva Vrinda in the Sangam literature is III, I, IV, II, and V, which corresponds to option D.

Explanation:
The correct answer is option A: II Only.
Here's a detailed explanation:
- Buddhism did not reject Varna and Jati: False
- Buddhism rejected the caste system, which is closely related to Varna and Jati.
- It emphasized the idea of equality and believed that anyone, regardless of their social status, could attain enlightenment.
- Buddhism challenged the highest social ranking of Brahmin Varna: True
- Brahmins were considered the highest social class in the caste system, and Buddhism challenged this hierarchy.
- Buddhism rejected the idea of Brahmin supremacy based on birth and instead emphasized the importance of personal qualities and actions.
- Buddhism regarded certain crafts as low: False
- Buddhism did not consider any craft or occupation as inherently low or inferior.
- It believed that the value of an individual should not be determined by their occupation but by their spiritual development and moral conduct.
Therefore, only statement II is true, and the correct answer is option A: II Only.

Answer:

The doctrine that the human personality consists of five skandhas is associated with Buddha.

Explanation:

The doctrine of the five skandhas, also known as the five aggregates, is a fundamental concept in Buddhism. It explains the nature of human existence and the components that make up an individual's personality. The five skandhas are:

1. Rupa (Form): This refers to the physical body and its sense organs.


2. Vedana (Feeling): This refers to the sensations and feelings that arise from sensory experiences.


3. Samjna (Perception): This refers to the recognition and interpretation of sensory information.


4. Samskara (Mental Formations): This refers to thoughts, emotions, and mental constructs.


5. Vijnana (Consciousness): This refers to the awareness and cognition of objects and experiences.

The doctrine of the five skandhas is associated with the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who taught this concept as part of his teachings on the nature of existence and the path to liberation from suffering. The understanding of the five skandhas helps individuals realize the impermanence, insubstantiality, and interdependence of all phenomena, leading to the development of wisdom and the attainment of enlightenment.

The correct option is Option D.

The First Buddhist Council was held soon after the Mahaparinirvan of the Buddha, around 483 BC under the patronage of King Ajatshatru. It was presided by Mahakasyapa, a monk. The council was held in the Sattapani cave at Rajgriha.

The Second Buddhist Council was held at Vaisali (or Vaishali), an ancient city in what is now the state of Bihar in northern India, bordering Nepal under the patronage of King Kalasoka while it was presided by Sabakami. This Council probably was held about a century after the first one, or about 383 BCE.

The Third Buddhist council was convened in about 250 BCE at Asokarama in Pataliputra, supposedly under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka. This is however disputed, as mention of the council never appears in the Edicts of Ashoka.

The Fourth Buddhist Council of the Sarvastivada tradition is said to have been convened by the Kushan emperor Kanishka (r. CE 127-151), perhaps at Harwan, near Srinagar, Kashmir.

Explanation:
The sacred sites that are associated with the Jainas are as follows:
I. Arbudagiri: Arbudagiri is a sacred site located in the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan, India. It is considered to be a place of spiritual significance for Jains.
II. Satrunjayagiri: Satrunjayagiri, also known as Shatrunjaya, is a hill located in Palitana, Gujarat, India. It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Jains and is home to hundreds of Jain temples.
III. Chandragiri: Chandragiri is a sacred hill located in Karnataka, India. It is known for its Jain temples and is considered to be a significant pilgrimage site for Jains.
IV. Vrijayantagiri: Vrijayantagiri is a sacred hill located in Maharashtra, India. It is known for its Jain temples and is considered to be a place of spiritual importance for Jains.
Therefore, the correct answer is B: I and III.

The Chalukya Kingdom
The Chalukya Kingdom was known for wealthy merchants who professed Jainism and built Jaina temples. Here are some key points about the Chalukya Kingdom:
1. Introduction:
- The Chalukya Dynasty was a powerful dynasty that ruled over parts of present-day Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh in South India.
- They played a significant role in the history of South India from the 6th to the 12th century CE.
2. Wealthy Merchants:
- The Chalukyas had a prosperous economy that was supported by trade and commerce.
- Their kingdom was strategically located on major trade routes, which facilitated business activities.
- The merchants of the Chalukya Kingdom amassed great wealth through trade, making them influential in society.
3. Jainism:
- Jainism was one of the major religions practiced by the people of the Chalukya Kingdom.
- Many wealthy merchants professed Jainism and actively supported the construction of Jaina temples.
- They made significant contributions to the growth and development of Jainism in the region.
4. Jaina Temples:
- The Chalukyas were great patrons of art and architecture, and the construction of Jaina temples was one of their notable achievements.
- These temples were built with intricate carvings and sculptures, showcasing the architectural expertise of the time.
- The temples served as important religious and cultural centers for the Jain community.
In conclusion, the Chalukya Kingdom was known for its wealthy merchants who professed Jainism and actively supported the construction of Jaina temples. Their economic prosperity and patronage of Jainism led to the growth and development of this religious community in the region.

Explanation:
The question asks about the ruling powers in whose records the worship of Sakanda is mentioned. Let's analyze each ruling power mentioned in the options:
I. Satvahanas:
- The Satavahana dynasty was a ruling power in ancient India from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE.
- The worship of Sakanda is found mentioned in their records.
II. Yaudhayas:
- The Yaudheya kingdom was an ancient Indian kingdom that existed from the 5th century BCE to the 3rd century CE.
- There is no mention of the worship of Sakanda in their records.
III. Ikshavakus:
- The Ikshvaku dynasty was a ruling power in ancient India from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE.
- The worship of Sakanda is found mentioned in their records.
IV. Chedis:
- The Chedi kingdom was an ancient Indian kingdom that existed from the 6th century BCE to the 5th century CE.
- There is no mention of the worship of Sakanda in their records.
From the analysis, it is clear that the worship of Sakanda is mentioned in the records of the Satvahanas and Ikshavakus. Therefore, the correct answer is option D: III and IV.

The term Satvata Vidhi denotes — (D) Bhagvata ritual.

Significance of Kayavarohana in the history of Saivism:
Kayavarohana holds significant importance in the history of Saivism due to the following reasons:
1. Pasu-Pasavimokshana:
- Kayavarohana is associated with the concept of "pasu-pasavimokshana," which is one of the principal characteristics of the Pasupata sect.
- Pasu-Pasavimokshana refers to the liberation of the individual soul (pasu) from the cycle of birth and death and its merging with the universal soul (pasu) through spiritual practices.
2. Practice of the Pasupata Sect:
- The Pasupata sect, founded by Lakulisa, considered Kayavarohana as an essential ritual for its adherents.
- This sect is one of the oldest and most influential Shaivite sects in the history of Saivism.
3. Symbolic Importance:
- Kayavarohana is considered the birthplace of Lakulisa, the founder of the Pasupata sect.
- Therefore, it holds immense symbolic significance for the followers of this sect.
4. Ritualistic Practice:
- The Kayavarohana pilgrimage is undertaken by devotees to seek blessings and spiritual purification.
- The pilgrimage involves circumambulating the sacred hill of Kayavarohan, visiting temples, and participating in various rituals.
5. Historical and Cultural Heritage:
- Kayavarohana is an ancient site that has been associated with Saivism for centuries.
- Its historical and cultural significance makes it an important pilgrimage destination for Saivites.
In conclusion, Kayavarohana holds great significance in the history of Saivism due to its association with the Pasupata sect, the concept of pasu-pasavimokshana, and its status as the birthplace of Lakulisa. The pilgrimage to Kayavarohana is seen as a means of seeking spiritual liberation and connecting with the rich heritage of Saivism.

In the centuries before the Common Era, Vishnu became the Ishvara (supreme deity) of his worshipers, fusing with the Purusha-Prajapati figure; with Narayana, worship of whom discloses a prominent influence of ascetics; with Krishna, whom the Bhagavadgita identified with Vishnu in many forms; and with Vasudeva, who was worshipped by a group known as the Pancharatras.