The Northern India (800-1200 A.D.) MCQs for UPPSC (UP) Exam

Option A is correct

Builder of the Martanda Temple in Kashmir
The builder of the Martanda temple in Kashmir was Lalitaditya Muktapida. He was a powerful ruler of the Karkota dynasty who reigned over Kashmir during the 8th century.

Significance of Martanda Temple
The Martanda temple, also known as the Sun Temple, is one of the most important ancient temples in Kashmir. It is dedicated to the Hindu deity Surya, the Sun God, and is considered a masterpiece of Kashmiri temple architecture.

Lalitaditya Muktapida
Lalitaditya Muktapida was a great patron of art and architecture. During his reign, he undertook several ambitious building projects, including the construction of the Martanda temple. He was known for his military conquests as well as his patronage of the arts.

Legacy of Lalitaditya Muktapida
Lalitaditya Muktapida is remembered as one of the greatest rulers of Kashmir. His reign is considered a golden age in the history of Kashmir, marked by prosperity, cultural flourishing, and architectural marvels like the Martanda temple.
In conclusion, the Martanda temple in Kashmir was built by the renowned ruler Lalitaditya Muktapida, who left behind a lasting legacy of architectural splendor and cultural richness in the region.

Correct ans is C

Answer:

Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja was the first to wrest the control of Kanauj from Dharmapala.

Explanation:

- Kanauj was an important political center during the early medieval period.
- Dharmapala was the ruler of Kanauj in the 8th century.
- Pratihara rulers were one of the major powers in North India during that time.
- Vatsaraja was a powerful ruler of the Pratihara dynasty who reigned from 775 to 805 CE.
- He defeated Dharmapala and took control of Kanauj.
- This victory established the Pratihara dynasty as a major power in North India and they continued to dominate the region for several centuries.
- The Rashtrakutas were also a powerful dynasty during that time and they had conflicts with the Pratiharas over the control of Kanauj.
- Govinda III and Dhruva were two powerful Rashtrakuta rulers who had conflicts with the Pratihara rulers over Kanauj.
- But it was Vatsaraja who was the first to wrest the control of Kanauj from Dharmapala.

The factor that clearly brings out the feudal nature of regional states from 800 to 1200 A.D. is the practice of sub-infeudation.

Explanation:
- Sub-infeudation refers to the process in which a vassal would divide their land and grant portions of it to their own vassals, creating a hierarchical system of land ownership.
- This practice was prevalent during the feudal period, where the king or lord would grant land to a vassal in exchange for their loyalty and military service.
- The vassal would then sub-infeudate their land, granting smaller portions of it to their own vassals, who in turn would owe them loyalty and military service.
- This created a complex web of feudal relationships, with each vassal owing allegiance to their immediate superior and ultimately to the king or lord.
- The vassals held their land as a fief, which was a hereditary right, and they had the power to govern and collect revenue from their own vassals.
- The vassals were responsible for providing military support to their superior in times of war and maintaining law and order in their territories.
- In return, the vassals received protection and support from their superior, who had the authority to settle disputes and provide justice.
- This hierarchical structure of land ownership and loyalty clearly reflects the feudal nature of regional states during this period.

In contrast, the other options do not adequately capture the feudal nature of regional states during this time:
- Part of the revenue being sent to the king was a common practice in feudal systems, but it does not specifically highlight the sub-infeudation and hierarchical land ownership characteristic of feudalism.
- The idea of breaking the oath of loyalty to the king being regarded as an atrocious crime is a general characteristic of feudal systems, but it does not directly address the sub-infeudation aspect.
- The granting of land to officers and select holders like Brahmanas by the king is a practice that can be found in feudal systems, but it does not explicitly emphasize the sub-infeudation and hierarchical land ownership that define feudalism.

Therefore, option A, the practice of sub-infeudation, is the factor that brings out clearly the feudal nature of regional states from 800 to 1200 A.D.

Jayapala Vinayaditya
The Kashmir king who defeated and dethroned a king of Kanauj belonging to the Ayudha family was Jayapala Vinayaditya. This event took place during the rule of Lalitaditya Muktapida, who was a powerful ruler of the Kashmir Kingdom.

Lalitaditya Muktapida
Lalitaditya Muktapida was a renowned king of the Kashmir Kingdom who ruled from 724 to 761 AD. He was known for his military campaigns and conquests, expanding his kingdom's territory and influence.

Victory over King of Kanauj
During his reign, Lalitaditya Muktapida led a successful military campaign against the king of Kanauj, who belonged to the Ayudha family. Jayapala Vinayaditya, the king of Kashmir, emerged victorious in this conflict and dethroned the king of Kanauj.

Significance
This victory over the king of Kanauj further solidified the power and influence of the Kashmir Kingdom under the rule of Lalitaditya Muktapida. It also demonstrated the military might and strategic acumen of the Kashmiri forces during that period.
In conclusion, Jayapala Vinayaditya was the Kashmir king who defeated and dethroned the king of Kanauj belonging to the Ayudha family, under the rule of Lalitaditya Muktapida. This event showcased the strength and prowess of the Kashmir Kingdom during that era.

Founder of Hindu Shahi Dynasty

The Hindu Shahi dynasty was an important ruling dynasty in northwestern India between the 9th and 11th centuries A.D. The founder of this dynasty was Kalles, who was also known as Kallar or Kallaraja. He was the first ruler of the Shahi dynasty and established his rule in the Kabul Valley in the early 9th century.

Kalles was a descendant of the ancient Hindu king Porus, who had fought against Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C. He was also related to the famous Gupta dynasty of India, which had ruled during the Golden Age of Indian history.

Kalles' Reign

Kalles was a powerful ruler who expanded his kingdom by conquering neighboring territories. He established his capital at Kapisa, near modern-day Kabul, and built a magnificent palace there. He also constructed several temples and other public buildings.

During his reign, Kalles maintained friendly relations with the neighboring Arab caliphates and was a patron of the arts and sciences. He was known for his love of music and poetry and was a great admirer of the works of the famous Indian poet Kalidasa.

Kalles was succeeded by his son Bhima, who continued to expand the Shahi dynasty's territories. Under Bhima's rule, the Shahi dynasty reached its height of power and prosperity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kalles was the founder of the Hindu Shahi dynasty, which was an important ruling dynasty in northwestern India between the 9th and 11th centuries A.D. He was a powerful ruler who expanded his kingdom and was known for his patronage of the arts and sciences. His reign marked the beginning of a golden age in Indian history, which lasted for several centuries.

Amoghavarsha-I was one of the most famous Rashtrakuta rulers who ruled from 814 CE to 878 CE. He was a great patron of literature and encouraged the development of Sanskrit literature in his court.

The correct answer is option D, which means that Amoghavarsha-I was the author of Kavirajamarga and Ratnamalika.

Kavirajamarga:
• Kavirajamarga is a Sanskrit text written by Amoghavarsha-I in the 9th century CE.
• It is the earliest known work on literary criticism in Kannada and is considered as a landmark in the history of Kannada literature.
• The text deals with the principles of poetry, grammar, and rhetoric and provides guidelines for literary composition.

Ratnamalika:
• Ratnamalika is a collection of 21 Sanskrit poems written by Amoghavarsha-I.
• The poems are dedicated to various deities and are known for their lyrical beauty and philosophical depth.
• The poems are also significant for their contribution to the development of early medieval Indian poetry.

Sibakasindamani and Gita Govind are not attributed to Amoghavarsha-I. Sibakasindamani is a Tamil epic written by the Jain monk Tirutakkatevar in the 10th century CE, while Gita Govind is a Sanskrit poem written by the 12th-century poet Jayadeva.

Role of Jayachandra Gahadavala during Muhammad Gori's invasion of India

Background: Muhammad Gori was a ruler of the Ghurid dynasty who invaded India multiple times in the 12th century. His most significant invasion was in 1191 when he attacked the kingdom of Prithviraja Chauhan.

Statement: He did not ally himself with Prithviraja when Muhammad of Gori invaded India.

Explanation:

- Jayachandra Gahadavala was a king of the Gahadavala dynasty, which ruled over parts of present-day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the 12th century.
- When Muhammad Gori invaded India in 1191, Prithviraja Chauhan, the king of Delhi, was one of his main targets.
- Prithviraja sent messages to other kings in the region, including Jayachandra, seeking their help in repelling the invasion.
- However, Jayachandra did not respond to Prithviraja's call for help and did not ally himself with him against Gori.
- According to some historical accounts, Jayachandra may have even facilitated Gori's invasion by not guarding the important routes to Delhi, which allowed Gori's army to march unopposed.
- It is unclear why Jayachandra did not support Prithviraja, but some historians speculate that he may have had a rivalry with Prithviraja or may have wanted to expand his own territory by aligning with Gori.
- In any case, Jayachandra's decision not to support Prithviraja proved to be a costly mistake, as Gori defeated Prithviraja in the Battle of Tarain and established the Delhi Sultanate in India.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the correct statement about the role of Jayachandra Gahadavala during Muhammad Gori's invasion of India is that he did not ally himself with Prithviraja when Gori attacked. This decision may have been a result of personal rivalry or ambition, but it ultimately allowed Gori to conquer northern India and establish a new dynasty.