Ancient History (Part-II)

Total Questions: 50

11. In ancient Indian Buddhist monasteries, a ceremony called Pavarana used to be held. It was the: [2002]

Correct Answer: (b) confession by monks of their offences committed during their stay in the monasteries during the rainy season
Solution:Pavarana is a Buddhist holy day celebrated on the full moon of the eleventh lunar month. It marks the end of the month of Vassa, sometimes called "Buddhist Lent." This day marks the end of the rainy season in some Asian countries like Thailand, where Theravada Buddhism is practiced. On this day, each monk (Pali: bhikkhu) must come before the community of monks (Sangha) and atone for an offense he may have committed during the Vassa.

12. The ancient Indian play Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutt has its subject on: [2002]

Correct Answer: (d) the court intrigues at the time of Chandragupta
Solution:The Mudrarakshasa ("The Signet of the Minister"), a historical play in Sanskrit by Vishakhadatta (4th century CE) narrates the ascent of the king Chandragupta Maurya to power in Northern India.

Vishakhadatta

  • Vishakhadatta was a great Gupta-era Sanskrit poet and playwright.
  • After Mahakavi Kalidas, Vishakhadatta was a well-known Sanskrit poet and playwright.
  • He flourished during or after the 6th century.
  • In his great historical drama Mudrarakshasa, which is his only surviving work, he mentions his father's name as Maharaja Bhaskar Dutta.
  • Apart from that, Vishakhadatta also wrote 'Devichandraguptam,' which is only found in fragments in Ramachandra and Gunachandra's Natya Darpan.
  • It also survived in the form of quotations in Sagaranandi's Nataka Lakshana Ratnakosha and King Bhoj's Shringar Prakash and Saraswati Kanthabharana.
  • Vishakhadatta was different from other playwrights.
  • When compared to both Kalidasa and Banabhatta in philosophical learning, his simple passages have a profound impact on readers.
  • He wrote two powerful plays in Sanskrit with beautiful language.

13. Emperor Harsha's southward march was stopped on the Narmada river by: [2003]

Correct Answer: (b) Pulakesin-II
Solution:Emperor Harsha's southward march was stopped on the Narmada river by Pulakesin II, the Chalukya king of Vatapi in northern Mysore.

Pulakesin II - Background

  • Pulakesin-II was the most powerful ruler of the Badami Chalukyas.
  • He was the first king to issue gold coins in South India.
  • Ereya is his birth name, and he was born to Kirtivarman-I.
  • He was too young when his father died, that’s why his paternal uncle MangalEsha was elevated to the throne (regent king).
  • We know about Pulakesin II from a prashasti called Aihole, which was written in Prakrit by his court poet Ravikirti.
  • He adopted the administrative structure of the Guptas in the north.
  • He is famous for defeating King Harsha on the banks of the Narmada.
  • He took the titles of Parmeshvara, Prithivivallabha, and Satyashraya and established himself as the supreme power in modern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
  • He also took on the title Dakshinapatheshwara, similar to Harsha’s Uttarpatheshwara.
  • He defeated Pallava king Mahendravarman I, but was defeated and killed by Mahendravarman’s son and successor, Narasimhavarman I.

14. Consider the following statements: [2003]

1. The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in the early medieval times.

2. The Cholas sent an expedition against Sailendra empire of South-East Asia and conquered some of the areas.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:The Chola kingdom of the Sangam period extended from modern Tiruchi district to southern Andhra Pradesh. Their capital was first located at Uraiyur and then shifted to Puhar. The Chola emperor launched a successful naval expedition against the sailendra kingdom. In the Battle of Venni Karaikal defeated the mighty confederacy consisting of the Cheras, Pandyas and eleven minor chieftains.

Karikala was a famous king of the Sangam Cholas. Pattinappalai portrays his early life and his military conquests.

Pulakesin II - Background

  • Pulakesin-II was the most powerful ruler of the Badami Chalukyas.
  • He was the first king to issue gold coins in South India.
  • Ereya is his birth name, and he was born to Kirtivarman-I.
  • He was too young when his father died, that’s why his paternal uncle Mangalesha was elevated to the throne (regent king).
  • We know about Pulakesin II from a prashasti called Aihole, which was written in Prakrit by his court poet Ravikirti.
  • He adopted the administrative structure of the Guptas in the north.
  • He is famous for defeating King Harsha on the banks of the Narmada.
  • He took the titles of Parameshwara, Prithvivallabha, and Satyashraya and established himself as the supreme power in modern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
  • He also took on the title Dakshinapatheshwara, similar to Harsha’s Uttarpatheshwara.
  • He defeated Pallava king Mahendravarman I, but was defeated and killed by Mahendravarman’s son and successor, Narasimhavarman I.

15. Mrichchhakatika' an ancient Indian book written by Shudraka deals with: [2003]

Correct Answer: (a) the love affair of a rich merchant with the daughter of a courtesan
Solution:Mrichchhakatika (The Clay Court) is a Sanskrit play written by Shudraka in 2nd C BC. It is about a young man named Charudatta, and his love for Vasantasena, a rich courtesan.

Shudraka

  • There is no historical record of a ruler named Shudraka (which literally means "little servant").
  • Shudraka was born in the Ashmaka area, according to Avanti-Sundari-Katha-Sara.
  • According to the Vividh-Tirtha-Kalpa, he was born at Pratishthana, which is in the same region.
  • Shudraka was one of the first dramatists to employ the local language, Maharashtri Prakrit, in a play.
  • According to the Skandapurana, Shudraka lived in the Kali year 3290, which corresponds to 188 CE, near to the Abhira era.
  • Shudraka invokes Shiva in his play, and the Abhira names (as revealed by their inscriptions) indicate that they were Shaivites.
  • Mrichchhakatika’s first four acts are nearly identical to the equivalent acts of Bhasa’s unfinished drama Charudattam.
  • One interpretation holds that the poet Mrichchhakatika just finished Bhasa’s play out of reverence, referring to himself as Bhasa’s "little servant."

16. Consider the following statements : [2003]

1. Vardhaman Mahavira's mother was the daughter of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka

2. Gautama Buddha's mother was a princess from the Koshalan dynasty

3. Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara, belonged to Benaras

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) 2 and 3
Solution:Vardhaman Mahavira's mother, Trishala was the sister (not the daughter) of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka.

17. Consider the following statements: [2003]

1. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga.

2. The last Sunga king, Devabhutí was assassinated by his Brahmana Minister Vasudeva Kanva who usurped the throne.

3. The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty was deposed by the Andhras.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:All statements are correct. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga in 185 BC. The last ruler of Kanva dynasty, Susharma was deposed by the Andhras and Satavahana dynasty came into being.

18. Consider the following statements: [2004]

1. The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.

2. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:Statement 1 is incorrect as fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kashmir during the reign of Kanishka under the presidentship of Vasumitra and Ashvaghosh.

Fa-Hien visited India during the reign of Chandra Gupta-II and not during Kanishka's reign. Statement 2 is incorrect as Harsha was not antagonistic to Buddhism when Hiuen-Tsang met him.

19. With reference to ancient Jainism, which one of the following statements is correct? [2004]

Correct Answer: (c) Jainiam enjoyed the patronage of the Kalinga king Kharavela in the first century BC.
Solution:Jainism spread in South India under the leadership of Bhadrabahu (not Sthalabahu). The Jainas who remained under the leadership of Bhadrabahu were called Digambaras (not Shvetambaras) after the first council held at Pataliputra (modern Patna) by Sthulbahu.

20. Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells? [2004]

Correct Answer: (c) Atharvaveda
Solution:Atharvaveda is a book of magical formula. It contains charms and spells to ward-off evil and disease.

Atharvaveda

  • It consists of charms and spells toward of disease and involves issues such as healing of illnesses, prolonging life, black magic and rituals for removing maladies and anxieties.
  • It is also known as Brahmaveda. Its associated priest i.e., Brahma is considered highest of all four Vedic priests.
  • It mentions the Vedic assemblies of Sabha and Samiti.
  • Unlike the other three Vedas, the "Atharva Veda" is not as concerned with sacred rituals, but addresses the daily problems of Vedic people, including philosophical discussions, cosmology, mythology, healing spells, and incantations for various purposes.
  • Atharva Veda derive the name from their authors, namely Atharvan, Angirasa and Bhrigu.
  • It is divided into 20 books, called kandas, and contains a total of 731 hymns. The hymns are written in a type of prose and address various aspects of life, including health, marriage, agriculture, and spirituality.
  • According to Patanjali, Atharvaveda had nine Shakhas, but the Samhita of the Atharvaveda is today available only in two rescensions - the Shaunaka and the Paippalada.
  • The Atharvaveda is believed to be the origin of Ayurveda, the Indian science of medicine.