Art And Culture - Art, Architecture And Literature - Practice Test (1) - UPSC MCQ

The Citadels or Acropolis in Harappan civilization were built in the west part of thecity. It was occupied by the members of the ruling class. Below the citadel in each city laya lower town containing brick houses, which were inhabited by the common people. Great Bath was situated in the citadel mound and it served ritual bathing. It was built of burnt bricks. One of the most distinctive features of Harappan cities was the carefully planned drainage system. Roads and streets were laid out along an approximate "grid" pattern,intersecting at right angles. Thus only statement 3 is correct.

RigVeda to two popular assemblies called sabha and samiti which seem to have formed an essential feature of the government it wasthe samiti, which mainly dealt with policy decisions and political business, included common people. So statement 1 is incorrect. The sabha, less political in character, was amore select body of the Elders or Nobles. It was through these two assemblies that the will of the people on important matters of the rashtra was expressed. So statement 2 is incorrect also.

Ur, a settlement of peasants was thes mallest unit of administration in Chola empire. Nadu was group of villages and formed a larger unit. Hence, Statement 1 is wrong.

The villages in Chola empire enjoyed self government,the village assemblies like mahasabha performed various  administrative functions including dispensing justice and collecting taxes. They could also settle newlands and exercise ownership rights over them. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Muqaddams referred to village headmen and khuts were smaller landlord who enjoyed a high standard of life than ordinary peasants during Sultanate period.

• The Naqshbandi school of Sufis was an orthodox and revivalist movement which opposed the concept of unity of God and created beings. Hence, statement 1 is wrong.
• The school also opposed all those practices which were due to the influence of Hinduism such as the use of music in religious gatherings, excessive meditation, visiting tombs of saints etc. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

• The analogy of flame of a lamp which kindles other lamp before being extinguished was used to explain the process of transmigration of soul, which was different from other contemporary philosophies.
• In other religion and philosophy something is being transferred from one life to another. where as, in Buddhism transmigration nothing is transferred but, a new life arises as a chain of events.

During medieval period, withdrawal of royal patronage to painting under Aurangzeb led to the dispersal of artists to different places in the country. This helped in the development of the art of painting in Rajasthan and the Punjab hills giving rise to distinct schools of paintings - Rajasthani and Pahari Schools. Pala and Apabhramsa areancient schools of miniature painting.

• Some of the earliest bhakti movements were led by the Alvars (literally, those who are―immersed in devotion to Vishnu) and Nayanars (literally, leaders who werede votees of Shiva). They travelled from place to place singing hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods. During their travels the Alvarsand Nayanars identified certain shrines as abodes of their chosen deities. Very often large temples were later built at these sacred places.
• These developed as centres of pilgrimage. Singing compositions of these poet-saints became part of temple rituals in these shrines, as did worship of the saints‘  images.
• The most striking features of these traditions was the presence of women like Andal was a women Alvar and Karaikkkal Ammaiyar (Nayanar), a devotee of Shiva , adopted the path of extrame ascetism in order to attainher goal. These women renounced their social obligations , but did not join an alternative order or become nuns. Hence, only 3rd statement is incorrect.

• Many crafts persons and merchants formed associations known as shrenis. They provided training, procured raw material and distributed the finished product. They also served as banks, where rich men and women deposited money. This was invested, and part of the interest was returned or used to support religious institutions such as monasteries.
• Mandasor stone inscription (Madhya Pradesh) provides insights into nature of theseshrenis.

Lai Haraoba is one of the main festival performed in Manipur which has its roots inthe pre-Vaishnavite period. Lai Haraoba is the earliest form of dance which forms thebasis of all stylised dances in Manipur. Literally meaning - the merry making of the gods, it is performed as a ceremonial offering of song and dance. The principal performers are the maibas and maibis (priests and priestesses) who re-enact the theme of the creation of the world.

• Manipuri dance incorporates both the tandava and lasya. The cult of Radha and Krishna, particularly the raslila, is central toits themes but the dances, unusually, incorporate the characteristic cymbals (kartalor manjira) and double-headed drum (pungor Manipuri mrdanga) of sankirtan into thevisual performance.
• The lyrics used in Manipuri are usually from the classical poetry of Jayadeva, Vidyapati, Chandidas, Govindadas or Gyandas and maybe in Sanskrit, Maithili, Brij Bhasha or others.
• Hence, only statements 1 and 2 are correct.

• Akbar commissioned Gulbadan Begum( sister of Humayun) to chronicle the story of his father Humayun. It was written in Persian.
• Alamgir Nama , a history of the first 10 years of Aurangzeb's reign was compiled by Muhammad Kazim.
• Akbar Nama, a history of Akbar's reign was written by Abul Fazl.

Epigraphy "inscription", is the study of inscriptions, or epigraphs, as writing; it is the science of identifying graphemes, clarifying their meanings, classifying their uses according to dates and cultural contexts, and drawing conclusions about the writing and the writers.
 

Palaeography is the study of ancient and historical handwritings.
The inscriptions are the most important and reliable sources of Indian history. Inscriptions are the contemporary documents those are free from later interpolations as it is impossible to add something to it at a later period.

• Statement 3 is incorrect because till that date Mughal had not expanded their Empire in the South.
• Strain began to show within the imperial structure following Krishnadeva Raya‘s death in 1529. His successors were troubled by rebellious nayakas or military chiefs. By 1542 control at the centre had shifted to another ruling lineage, that of the Aravidu, which remained in power till the end of the seventeenth century. During this period, as indeed earlier, the military ambitions of the rulers of Vijayanagara as well as those of the Deccan Sultanates resulted in shifting alignments. Eventually this led to an alliance of the Sultanates against Vijayanagara.

• Vajji (a confederacy of eight republican clans, situated to the north of the river Ganga in Bihar) with its capital, Vaishali, so pair 1 is correct.
• Chedi, (covering the modern Bundelkhand area with its capital at Shuktimati), so pair 2 is incorrect.
• Ashmaka (between the rivers Narmada' and Godavari) with its capital at Potana, so pair 3 is also incorrect

Solution : 

The correct option is Option B.

• The RigVedic society comprised four varnas,namely Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. This classification of society was based on the occupation of individuals. So, statement 1 is correct.

• The teacher and priests were called Brahmanas; rulers and administrator kshatriyas; farmers, merchants and bankers vaisyas; and artisan and labourers as sudras. These vocations were followed by persons according to their ability and liking, and the occupations had not become hereditary as they become later on. So statement 2 is incorrect.

• Members of the same family took to different professions and belonged to different varnas.So, statement 3 is also incorrect.

It was written by Brahmagupta, it deals with zero number, denotes positive numbers as fortune and negative numbers as debt.

Sulh-i kul is an Arabic term literally meaning “peace with all,” “universal peace,” or “absolute peace,” drawn from a Sufi mystic principle.
The new religion developed by Akbar known as Din-i-Ilahi has its genesis in Sulh-i-kul doctrine.
Akbar took the Sufi mystic notion of sulh-i-kul and transformed it to become a principle denoting amity- within a culturally pluralistic India.

• From archeological finds it appears that the people of Indus valley were fashion conscious.
• Use of earring, Necklace, Lipstic, Face powder (cinnabar used for this), collyrium (eyeliner), Necklace and anklets were used by them.
• Different hairstyles and beard was also invogue.

• Nalanda university was one of the famous ancient university, which drew people fromall across the parts of South East Asia, china etc.
• In Nalanda university, all the three form of Buddhist doctrines were taught to the students with a strict entrance examination for students.
• Theravada: Theravada means the "Doctrine of the Elders," is the school of Buddhism that draws its scriptural inspiration from the Tipitaka.
• Mahayana: also known as the "great vehicle". They believed in the original teaching of Buddha without making any interpretations to it.
• Vajrayana: They made Buddhism tantracised by inclusion of tara with boddhi satvas.

• The deterioration in the position of women is quite perceptible in the Gupta age. The Svayamvara and Gandharva forms of marriage fell into disuse and the Arsa and Asura forms in which the bride had to be given with a price became popular.
• Widows could not marry again.
• Women had no right to real property.
• Therefore, all the given statements are correct.

• The Pandya kingdom occupied roughly the region of the modern districts of Tirunelveli, Ramnad and Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The capital of the kingdom was Madurai, The. Cholas occupied the delta of the Kaveri riverand the adjoining region So statement 1 is incorrect.
• Under the Pandyas, the capital Madurai and port city Korkai were great centres of trade and commerce. So statement 2 is correct. The Pandyan kingdom was very wealthy and prosperous. The traders profited from trade with the Roman Empire. Pandya kings evensent embassies to the Roman emperor Augustus and Trojan. So statement 3 is also correct.

Kutchi community celebrates its New Year on Aashadhi Beej, which falls in month of Ashada (July / August).

In the North West, the Kashmiri neolithic culture was distinguished by its dwelling pits, range of ceramics and variety of stone and bone tools and complete absence of the microliths. An important site is that of Burzahom, which means 'the place of birch' (North West of Srinagar). The placing of domestic dogs in the graves of the masters do not seem to be the practice with neolithic people in any other part of India. Burial practices were different in the different regions of the ancient India. Both the statements are correct. However almost complete extended burial practice obtainedin western India. In southern India it used tobe buried in east-west position. In fractional burial bones are found to be piled up.

The consolidation of a kingdom as vast as the Delhi Sultanate needed reliable governors and administrators. Rather than appointing aristocrats and landed chief tainsas governors, the early Delhi. Sultans, especially Iltutmish, favoured their special slaves purchased for military service, called bandagan in Persian. They were carefully trained to man some of the most important political offices in the kingdom. Since they were totally dependent upon their master, the Sultan could trust and rely upon them.

• There are three principal inscriptions on the Allahabad Pillar. It was first erected by Ashoka for the purpose of inscribing his edicts regarding the propagation of Buddhism.
• It was next made use of by Samudragupta and is the most important historical document of the classical Gupta age. Iteulogizes the achievements, conquests and personality of Samudragupta. It was composed by Harishena.
• It was then used by Jahangir tocommemorate his accession to the throne.
• At some point of time, the pillar was movedfrom its original location and installed within Akbar's Allahabad Fort in Allahabad, UttarPradesh.
• Therefore, d is the correct answer.

• For centuries maharis were the chief repositories of this dance. The maharis, who were originally temple dancers came to be employed in royal courts which resulted in the degeneration of the art form. Around this time, a class of boys called gotipuas were trained in the art, they danced in the temples and also for general entertainment. Many of today's gurus of this style belong to the gotipua tradition.
• Facial expressions, hand gestures and body movements are used to suggest a certain feeling, an emotion or one of the nine rasas.

Chakravartin were the Kings who tried to establish their authority from the Himalayas to down south and from east to western India. Ashoka and Samudragupta are often given this title as they extended their reach to very large areas.

• The subject matter of Ajanta paintings is almost exclusively Buddhist, excepting decorative patterns on the ceilings and the pillars. They are mostly associated with the Jatakas, collection of stories, recording the previous births of the Lord Buddha.
• Both Hindu and Buddhist literature refer to paintings of various types and techniques for example, Lepyacitras, lekhacitras and Dhulitcitras.
• The murals chiefly depict religious scenes from the life of the Buddha and the Buddhist Jataka stories but we also have secular scenes.

• "When India came into contacts with Central Asian ruler, the foreign princes patronized Sanskrit literature whose earliest specimen isfound in Junagarh inscription of Rudradaman in Kathiawar in about A.D. 50. The Kavya style refers to the indian epic poems written in sanskrit.
• Kushanas patronize Ashvaghosh who wrote Buddhacharita, biography of Buddha. He also composed Sanskrit kavya, Saundarnanda. Swapanvasavdatta was written by Bhas.
• Numerous Avadans were composed in whatis known as Buddhist hybrid Sanskrit topreach the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, Some of the important books are Mahavastuand the divyavadana. Avadanas refer to the legendary literary mateials centering on Buddha's explanations of events of present life by a person's worthy deeds in a previous life. Mahavastu is the most famous work classified as avadana."