Test: The Making of Regional Cultures - UPSC MCQ

• Correct Answer: Rajasthan

• Rajasthan: Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan, which is located in the northern part of India.


• Historical Significance: Jaipur is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture.


• Tourist Destination: Jaipur is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with its magnificent forts, palaces, and colorful markets.


• Cultural Heritage: The city is also famous for its traditional arts and crafts, including block printing, pottery, and jewelry making.


• Festivals: Jaipur hosts various cultural festivals throughout the year, showcasing the region's music, dance, and cuisine.

The temple theatre of Kerala built by Chera borrowed stories from the Sanskrit epics. The Cheras drew upon Sanskritic traditions. The first literary works in Malayalam, dated to about the 12th century, are directly indebted to Sanskrit. The Lilatilakam, a fourteenth century text, dealt with grammar and poetics and was composed in Manipravalam - literally, diamonds and corals' referring to the two languages namely Sanskrit and the regional language.

Lilatilakam is a book written by A. R. Raja Raja Verma. It's a account which deals with the grammar and poetics of the old form of malyalam language called Manipravalam language spoken in Kerala. "Manipravalam" means ruby-coral. This language is a mixture of regional language of Kerala and Sanskrit it is clear in its name as "mani" means "ruby" in tamil and "pravalam" means coral in sanskrit.

Lilatilakam. Lilatilakam  is a 14th century Sanskrit-language treatise on the grammar and poetics of the Manipravalam language form, a precursor of the modern Malayalam language spoken in the Kerala state of India.

The correct option is C.
The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu, in Puri in the state of Odisha on the eastern coast.

A vihara usually refers to a Buddhist monastery that is inhabited by Buddhist monks. However, the term can have different meanings. For instance, in other religious texts, such as Hindu, Ajivika, and Jain, a vihara refers to a temporary dwelling place for wandering monks seeking refuge or rest during the rainy season.

• Animism: This is the attribution of a living soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena. It is a belief system that views everything in nature as having its own spirit or soul.

Animism is a concept found in many indigenous cultures around the world. It is the belief that everything in nature, including plants, rocks, rivers, and even weather patterns, has a spiritual essence or soul. This belief is rooted in the idea that all things are interconnected and that humans are just one part of a larger, living universe.

• Anemesm: This option is not a valid term and does not correspond to the concept described.


• Anemism: This option is incorrect. The correct term is "Animism."


• Amimesim: This option is also incorrect. The correct term is "Animism."

Therefore, the correct answer is Animism, which encompasses the belief in the spiritual essence of all living and non-living things in nature.

• King Anangabhima III: In 1230, King Anangabhima III dedicated his kingdom to the deity, showing his devotion and commitment to the divine.


• Proclaimed as Deputy of the God: Along with dedicating his kingdom, King Anangabhima III also proclaimed himself as the deputy of the god, signifying his role as a representative of the divine power on earth.


• Significance of the Act: By dedicating his kingdom and declaring himself as the deputy of the god, King Anangabhima III showcased his religious beliefs and reinforced his authority as a ruler chosen by the divine will.


• Historical Context: This act by King Anangabhima III reflects the strong influence of religion and spirituality in medieval societies, where rulers often sought divine approval and support for their reign.

Rajasthan was actually a group of small Riyasats. It came into existence in 1950.

James Tod was the first one to use the name Rajasthan. He mentioned it in his book 'Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India'.

Prior to that the land was called as Rajputana by the Britishers in 1800. The place was never untied so there is no defined boundary of Rajputana. As there were more Rajput kings, this leads to the name Rajutana.