Ancient History (Part-II)

Total Questions: 50

41. With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school: [2013-11]

1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of soul.

2. Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:Sankhya yoga believes that self-knowledge leads to liberation. Almost all the rest of philosophies of India adopted Sankhya as its main base. Sankhya yoga also believes in rebirth. According to Sankhya darshan each purusha experiences bhoga, apavarga and takes birth repeatedly until kaivalya.(moksa).
This is the oldest school of philosophy. Samkhya’s tendency of thought pervades all the literature of ancient India, including the Srutis, Smritis and Puranas.
According to tradition, the first work of the Samkhya School is the Samkhya-sutra. The Samkhya is a dualistic realism philosophy.
Theory of Causation: The Samkhya metaphysics, especially its doctrine of Prakriti, rests mainly on its theory of causation, known as satkarya-vada.
It accepts only three types of knowledge (pramana):
Pratyaksha: Perception
Anumana: Inference
Shabda: Hearing.

42. Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism? [2013-1]

Correct Answer: (a) The extinction of the flame of desire
Solution:The concept of Nirvana was originally explained by Lord Buddha (566-486 BC). The word 'Nirvana' comes from the root meaning 'to blow out' and refers to the extinguishing of the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion. When these emotional and psychological defilements are destroyed by wisdom, the mind becomes free, radiant, and joyful and he who has realized the Truth (Nirvana) is the happiest being in the world. He is free from all complexes and obsessions. He does not repent the past nor does he brood over the future. He lives fully in present. He appreciates and enjoys things in life in the purest sense without self projections. He is free from the thirst of becoming and the illusion of self.

43. Which of the following characterizes/characterize the people of Indus Civilization? [2013-11]

1. They possessed great palaces and temples.

2. They worshipped both male and female deities.

3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.

Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:Indus valley people did not possess great palaces and temples rather the civilization was noted for its cities built of brick, roadside drainage system and multistoried houses. Indus valley people were peace loving. They were never engaged in any war. However speculations have been rife that some tectonic forces destroyed the civilization. Some historians are of the view that invasion of Aryans, sea level changes, earthquakes might have brought the civilization to its end therefore people employing horse drawn chariots in warfare is not true. In view of large number of figurines found in Indus valley, some scholars believe they worshipped mother goddess symbolizing fertility. They worshipped a father God who might be a progenitor of the race and was a probably a prototype of Siva as the Lord of the Animals.

Indus valley seals show swastika, animals which is suggestive of their religious beliefs.

44. Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine? [2013-11]

1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance.

2. Every object, even the smallest particle has a soul.

3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended. "Swadhyay Paramam Tap" According to Jain doctrines Penance washes away all the blemishes and purges the soul of all karmic matter. Also, according to Jainism, Karma is the bane of the soul. Karma not only encompasses the causality of transmigration but it is also conceived as an extremely subtle matter which infiltrates the soul, obscuring its natural, transparent, pure qualities.

45. With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements: [2013-11]

1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.

2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.

3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) 3 only
Solution:The Barbara rock cut caves are the oldest rock cut caves. They were originally made for the Ajivikas during the Mauryan period (322-185 BCE). The Ellora caves were built between 5th century and 10th century. There were 34 caves out of which 12 were Buddhist caves, 17 were Hindu caves and 5 were Jain caves at Elora.

The proximity of the caves clearly demonstrates the religious harmony prevalent at that period of time.

46. The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? [2013-1]

1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery.

2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.

3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Solution:The tradesmen had to pay light duties at ferries and barriers. After paying the revenue they could go to and fro to barter their merchandise. The punishment for social offences according to the traveller's account, were to cut off the nose, or an ear or a hand.

Minor offences were dealt with fines. And to determine guilt or innocence, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments which were used.

47. In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called 'Tribhanga' has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose? [2013-11]

Correct Answer: (a) One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neck.
Solution:The pose 'Tribhanga' is the favourite posture of Lord Krishna. We have often seen Lord Krishna standing in tribhanga posture before his cow 'Kamdhenu' or whenever he is playing his flute. He is often called Tribhana Murari.

48. Consider the following historical places: [2013-11]

1. Ajanta Caves

2. Lepakshi Temple

3. Sanchi Stupa

Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?

Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Solution:Ajanta Caves have mural paintings in caves 1, 2, 16 and 17. Some of the paintings were commissioned by Harisena of Vakataka dynasty. The theme of the paintings was Jataka tales.

Lepakshi Temple is renowned for being one of the best repositories of mural paintings of the Vijaynagar kings. Sanchi Stupa has many beautiful sculptures but not mural paintings.

49. With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs: [2014-11]

List-I (Famous work of Sculpture)List-I (Site)
1. A grand image of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers belowAjanta
2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rockMount Abu
3. "Arjuna's Penance"/"Descent of Ganga" sculpted on the surface of huge boulders Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?Mamallapuram
Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Solution:1 is correctly matched because Parinirvana of the Buddha in Cave 17 of Ajanta, with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below, is one of the grandest and yet most delicately expressive scenes ever made in stone.

2 is wrong because huge image of Varaha Avatar of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deepand chaotic waters, sculpted on rock is found in Mamallapuram. 3 is right because Arjuna's Penance "Descent of Ganga" sculpted on the surface of huge boulders is found in Mamallapuram.

50. With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs: [2014-11]

List-I (Famous work of Sculpture)List-I (Site)
1. Tabo monastery and temple complexSpiti Valley
2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple, NakoZanskar Valley
3. Alchi temple complexLadakh
Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Solution:Tabo monastery and temple complex is in Spiti Valley and Alchi temple complex is in Ladakh. Lhotsava Lhakhang, Nako is in Himachal Pradesh. Zanskar Valley is in Jammu and Kashmir.
Buddhism arose in the 6th century BCE in the Gangetic plain during a time of second urbanisation and social changes in India. As Buddha's teachings resonated with people discontented with Vedic rituals and caste system, Buddhism quickly spread across northern India. Political and economic support by merchants and artisans fostered Buddhist growth. Further, under the Mauryas, Buddhism expanded both in India and outside. Doctrinal debates within Buddhism led to the emergence of major schools like Theravada and Mahayana.
Buddhism started to decline due to many socio-political factors. Its decline started with the Gupta dynasty, and by the 12th century CE, it almost disappeared in India; however, it continued to thrive in other Asian countries.