Ancient History (Part-III)

Total Questions: 54

41. With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: [2022-11]

Historical person Known as
1. AryadevaJaina scholar
2. DignagaBuddhist scholar
3. NathamuniVaishnava scholar

How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?

Correct Answer: (c) Only two pairs
Solution:Option (c) is correct: Pair 1 is wrong: ARYADEVA-BUDDHIST SCHOLAR Pair 2 is correct: Dignaga was an Indian Buddhist scholar. Pair 3 is correct: Sri Ranganathamuni, popularly known as Sriman Nathamuni was a Vaishnava scholar.

Aryadeva was a key figure in the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism, a disciple of Nagarjuna. Dignaga was an important 5th-century Buddhist scholar and logician, credited with establishing the first system of Buddhist logic and epistemology. Nathamuni (also known as Sriman Nathamuni) was a significant Vaishnava acharya who systematized the philosophy and practices of his tradition by collecting and compiling the Nalariya Divya Prabandham, the hymns of the Alvars.

42. According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct? [12022-11]

1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.

2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.

3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Solution:The 13th chapter of Arthashastra discusses the rules related to slaves and labours. According to this chapter, 2 and 3 options are correct. Option No. 1 has not been discussed of chapter 13th of Arthashastra. So, option (b) is correct. But, the official answer key released by UPSC is (b). Hence only 2 and 3 are correct statements.
Kautilya’s Arthashastra is an ancient Indian Sanskrit treatise on politics, economics, military tactics, and statecraft. Tradition has stated that the text's creator is Kautilya, also known as Vishnugupta and Chanakya. The latter was Chandragupta Maurya's instructor and guardian while he was a student at Takshashila. The text was probably created by a number of authors over several years. Kautilya’s Arthashastra was written, revised, and expanded between the second and third centuries C.E., and it had an impact until the 12th century when it vanished. R. Shamasastry rediscovered it in 1905 and published it in 1909.

43. With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as [2023-11]

Correct Answer: (b) ports
Solution:These are port cities. The premier Chola port was Puhar (also known as Kaveripumpattinam), the major Pandya port was Korkai, while Tondi and Muchiri were the important ports in the Chera kingdom.

44. Which one of the following explains the practice of Vattakirutal" as mentioned in Sangam poems? [2023-11]

Correct Answer: (d) A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death
Solution:The answer is (d). Vattakirutal is a practice mentioned in Sangam poems in which a defeated king commits ritual suicide by starving himself to death.

Vatakkiruttal, also Vadakiruthal and vadakiruttal, was a Tamil ritual of fasting till death. It was especially widespread during the Sangam age. The Tamil kings, in order to save their honour, and prestige, were prepared to meet their death facing North ('Vatakkiruttal') and never would they turn their back in battle.

45. In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasanghikas, located? [2023-11]

Correct Answer: (a) Andhra
Solution:The answer is (a). Dhanyakataka was located in the region of Andhra, which is present-day Andhra in continuation. Pradesh, India. It was an important center during Satvahan Empire.
  • Dhanyakataka, also known as Dharanikota, was an ancient city located in present-day Andhra Pradesh, India. It was an important Buddhist center during the ancient and medieval periods.
  • Dhanyakataka was founded in the 5th century BCE by the Satavahana dynasty. The Satavahanas were a powerful dynasty that ruled over much of South India from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. Dhanyakataka was the capital of the Satavahanas from the 1st to the 3rd centuries CE.
  • Dhanyakataka was a major center of Buddhist learning and culture. The city was home to a number of monasteries and universities, including the Dharmagupta Vihara, which was one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in India. Dhanyakataka was also a major center of Buddhist art and architecture. The city was home to a number of temples and stupas, including the Great Stupa at Amaravati, which is one of the most important Buddhist monuments in India.
  • Dhanyakataka declined in importance after the fall of the Satavahanas in the 3rd century CE. The city was sacked by the Pallavas in the 6th century CE and was eventually abandoned.

46. With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements [2023-1]

1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.

2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics.

3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) Only two
Solution:St 1 is wrong. Some stupas were erected even in Pre-Buddhist era. St 2 and St 3 are right.

A Stupa is a dome-shaped sacred monument containing relics of the Buddha or other sacred objects. It holds religious and symbolic significance in Buddhist architecture. Originating in India before the 5th century BCE, stupas evolved from simple burial mounds into sacred Buddhist monuments, becoming central to Buddhist worship and practice.

The term stupa is mentioned in Rigveda (estuka), Atharvaveda, and other texts, referring to structures raised on the ground. The Pali term “thupa” signifies a conical heap or shrine containing a relic.

47. With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs: [2023-11]

Literary work Author
1. DevichandraguptaBilhana
2. Hammira-MahakavyaNayachandra Suri
3. Milinda-PanhaNagarjuna
4. NitivakyamritaSomadeva Suri

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: (b) Only two
Solution:
  • The correct answer is (b). Only two of the above pairs are correctly matched.
  • St 1 wrong. Devichandragupta was written by Viśākhadatta, not Bilhana. .
  • St 2 right. Hammira-Mahakavya was written by Nayachandra Suri, so this pair is correctly matched. .
  • St 3 wrong. Milinda-Panha was written by Nägasena. Nagasena also known as Nagarjuna.
  • St 4 right. Nitivakyamrita was written by Somadeva Suri, so this pair is also correctly matched.
  • Therefore, only two of the above pairs are correctly matched

48. "Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects." [2023-11]

The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?

Correct Answer: (b) Jainism
Solution:The correct answer is (b), Jainism. Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that teaches that all living beings, including animals, plants, and even inanimate objects, have a soul. This belief is known as ahimsa, or nonviolence, and it is one of the core tenets of Jainism.

49. Consider the following pairs: [2023-1]

SiteWell Known for
1. BesnagarShaivite cave shrine
2. BhajaBuddhist cave shrine
3. SittanavasalJain cave shrine

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: (b) Only two
Solution:
  • The answer is (b). Besnagar is known for the Heliodorus Pillar, a Vaishnavite shrine, not a Shaivite shrine.
  • St 2 right Bhaja is known for the Bhaja Caves, a Buddhist shrine. .
  • St 3 right Sittanavasal is known for the Sittanavasal Caves, a Jain shrine. Therefore, only two of the pairs are correctly matched.

50. Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa? [2024-11]

Correct Answer: (b) Madhyama-vyayoga
Solution:
  • Option (c) is correct: Madhyama-vyayoga is a Sanskrit play attributed to Bhasa who was a famous Sanskrit poet. The play revolves around the characters from the Mahabharata, focusing on an episode involving Bhima and his son Ghatotkacha.
  • Option (a) is wrong: Kavyalankara by poet and literary theorist Bhamaha. It is a treatise on poetics and aesthetics, discussing various aspects of literary ornamentation and style.
  • Option (b) is wrong: Natyashastra by sage Bharata Muni.
  • Option (d) is wrong: Mahabhashya by grammarian Patanjali. Hence, Option (c) is the correct answer.