Indian History and World History (Part-2)

Vedic Civilization

Total Questions: 27

21. The main collections of Vedic hymns are called ______. [S.S.C. Online Graduate Level (T-I) 18.08.2021 (Shift-I)]

(a) Pad
(b) Sutra
(c) Mukh
(d) Samhita

Correct Answer: (d) Samhita

Solution:The earliest known texts of India are the Vedas. The language of the Vedas is Vedic Sanskrit.

There are four Vedas:

Rig,
Yajur,
Sama and
Atharva.

These were initially memorised and passed orally by the Brahmins. The Vedic hymns are collected in one main text called Samhitas, which consists of the explanation for the social and religious importance of the rituals.

22. With reference to the Vedangas, which of the following terms denotes ‘Ritual’? [S.S.C. Online Graduate Level (T-I) 7.03.2020 (Shift-I)]

(a) Chhanda
(b) Vyakarana
(c) Shiksha
(d) Kalpa

Correct Answer: (d) Kalpa

Solution:Kalpa is called the arms of the Veda Purusha. It is for the proper application of the Vedic texts. The texts are clear, short and practical for ceremonies.

Vyakarana — It was used for the formation of the word. It also discusses the root and suffix of a word to study its meaning.

Nirukta — It gave the meaning to the usage of words.

Chandas — It was designed for the purpose of securing the proper reading and reciting of Vedic texts.

Jyotisha — It conveyed the knowledge of the heavenly bodies. It also gave some rules for calculating and fixing time for sacrifices.

23. Who among the following scholars is associated with the Tibet-home theory of the Aryans? [S.S.C. Online Graduate Level (T-I) 7.03.2020 (Shift-III)]

(a) MacDonell
(b) Max Muller
(c) Dayananda Saraswati
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Correct Answer: (c) Dayananda Saraswati

Solution:Swami Dayanand Saraswati wrote in Satyarth Prakash gave the Tibet home theory that Tibet was the original home of the Aryans.

Max Muller, in central Asian theory, propounded that central Asia was the original home of the Aryans. His opinion was that the information regarding the early Aryans could be gathered from two main sources.

They are Vedic literature and the Iranian scripture Zend-Avesta.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak put forward the Arctic region theory in which he propounded that the Arctic region was the original home of Aryans. His view was that the description of the natural phenomenon in Rigveda tallies with that of the region of the North-Pole.

24. Which of the following rivers was known as Purushni in the Vedic period? [S.S.C. Online Graduate Level (T-I) 9.03.2020 (Shift-II)]

(a) Sutlej
(b) Chenab
(c) Beas
(d) Ravi

Correct Answer: (d) Ravi

Solution:The Ravi River was known as Purushni in the Vedic period. The River Ravi is a transboundary river that connects northwest India and East Pakistan. This is one of the six rivers of the Punjab Indus basin (Punjab means “five rivers”).

Vedic Name	Modern Name	Location (Present-day)
Sarasvati	Lost river / Ghaggar-Hakra	Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan (now mostly dry)
Sindhu	Indus River	Pakistan, Ladakh
Ganga	Ganges River	Uttarakhand to Bay of Bengal (India)
Yamuna	Yamuna River	Uttarakhand to Uttar Pradesh
Sutudri	Sutlej River	Himachal Pradesh, Punjab
Vipasa	Beas River	Himachal Pradesh, Punjab
Parushni	Ravi River	Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Pakistan
Asikni	Chenab River	Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
Vitasta	Jhelum River	Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
Drishadvati	Possibly Chautang River	Haryana (tributary of lost Sarasvati)
Kubha	Kabul River	Afghanistan, Pakistan
Gomal	Gomal River	Afghanistan, Pakistan (mentioned later)
Krishnaveni	Krishna River	Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
Sarayu	Sarayu River (Ghaghra)	Uttar Pradesh
Sharayu	Ghaghra River	Himalayan foothills to Ganga in India

25. The veda which deals with the rituals is known as [S.S.C. Online Graduate Level (T-I) 3.09.2016 (Shift-III)]

(a) Rigveda
(b) Yajurveda
(c) Samaveda
(d) Atharvaveda

Correct Answer: (b) Yajurveda

Solution:“Yajus” means “sacrificial formula,” and Yajurveda is a book of sacrificial prayers. It contains the rituals of the Yajnas. It is estimated to have been composed between 1,400 and 1,000 BC.

Yajur Veda is a step-by-step guide about the right way of performing religion. The Yajurveda is a Veda of prose mantras. An ancient Vedic Sanskrit text is a compilation of rituals offering formulas that were chanted by a priest at the time of ritual.

The Vedic Literature - General Awareness and Knowledge - Bank Exams PDF Download

26. The Rigveda includes more than a thousand of hymns, what is called them? [S.S.C. JE Civil Exam 23.03.2021 (Shift-II)]

(a) Mandala
(b) Sukta
(c) Smriti
(d) Shruti

Correct Answer: (b) Sukta

Solution:The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well said”. These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses.

Three gods are significant: Agni, the god of fire; Indra, a warrior god; and Soma, a plant from which a special drink was prepared.

27. Rigveda is divided into how many ‘mandalas’ or books? [S.S.C. Online Constable GD 22.02.2019 (Shift-II)]

(a) 10
(b) 12
(c) 5
(d) 7

Correct Answer: (a) 10

Solution:The Rigveda is divided into 10 mandalas (books).

The first and tenth Mandalas are the shortest and the longest respectively.
The Gayatri mantra in Rig Veda is taken from Mandala 3.
Mandala 9 is completely devoted to Soma.
The 10th mandala contains the Purusha Sukta, which explains the 4 Varnas that were born from the Mouth, arms, thighs, and feet of the Brahma or Purusha.
Nasadiya Sukta, which talks about the origin of the Universe is in the 11th Mandala.

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