UGC NTA NET/JRF Exam, INDIAN CULTURE, JUNE-2025

To arrange the events in chronological order, we need to identify the approximate dates of each:
A. Ceylonese embassy to Samudragupta: This event took place during Samudragupta's reign (c. 335-375 CE), when the Ceylonese king Meghavarna sent an embassy to India.
C. Travels of Fa-Hien in the Gupta Empire: Fa-Hien, the Chinese monk, visited during the reign of Chandragupta II (c. 399-414 CE).
E. Birth of astronomer Aryabhatta: Aryabhatta was born in 476 CЕ.
D. Foundation of Lhasa by Srong-TsanGampo: Srong-Tsan-Gampo, the Tibetan ruler, founded Lhasa and promoted Buddhism around 630 CE.
B. I-tsing at Nalanda: I-tsing (Yijing) arrived in India and studied at Nalanda between 673-695 CЕ. So the correct chronological sequence is:
A → C→E→ D → B.

To arrange the references to coins or exchange media in chronological order (earliest to most recent), let's look at each term historically:
E. Nishka: One of the earliest forms of currency, mentioned in Rigveda. It was not a coin but a gold ornament or piece used as a medium of exchange in Vedic times (before 1000 BСE).
D. Kahapana: Refers to punch-marked coins used widely in Mauryan period (from 6th century BCE onwards).
B. Die-struck Indo-Greek coins: First introduced by Indo-Greek rulers like Menander around 2nd century BCE, using Hellenistic techniques of coin-striking with images and legends.
A. Dinaras: Introduced by the Guptas, especially Samudragupta, in the 4th century CE, modeled after Roman gold coins.
C. Cowries: Used as a small-value currency for daily exchange, especially during the medieval and later periods, though in some tribal societies, cowries remained in use even longer.
Correct chronological order:
ED → В → А → С.

To correctly arrange the events related to Indus Valley excavations in chronological order, let's identify the years in which these individuals made their contributions:
B. A. Cunningham discovered a Harappan seal - 1872-73: Although he didn't recognize its significance, Cunningham was the first to document a Harappan seal, marking the earliest known reference to Indus remains
D. Dayaram Sahani's excavation at Haraрра - 1921: He conducted the first formal excavation at Harappa, recognizing it as part of an ancient urban culture.
A. John Marshall excavated Mohenjodaro - 1922 onwards: As Director-General of ASI, Marshall led systematic excavations at Mohenjodaro and announced the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization in 1924.
C. Madho Sarup Vats excavated Harappa - 1924-25: Не continued excavations at Harappa following Sahani's initial work.
E. Mortimer Wheeler excavated Harappa - 1946: He led further excavations and introduced stratigraphic methods, enhancing archaeological understanding of the site.
Correct chronological order:
BD → A → C → E.

To arrange the events in chronological order, let's assign approximate historical dates to each:
B. Reign of Chandragupta II - с. 375-415 СЕ
A. Visit of Fa-Hien – c. 399-414 CE, during the reign of Chandragupta II
C. Aryabhatta - born in 476 CE, active around 500 CE, during the Gupta period D. Varahamihira - flourished around 550 CЕ, one of the prominent astronomers of the later Gupta age
E. Hsuan-Tsang in India – 630-645 CE, visited during Harsha's reign Chronological order: B→ A → C→ D E.

To arrange the political positions of the Gupta Empire from highest to lowest in hierarchy, let's understand the role of each title:
A. Maharajadhiraja - The Emperor or sovereign ruler, the supreme authority in the Gupta political system.
C. Kumaramatya - High-ranking officials or ministers, often hereditary, assisting in central administration.
E. Uparika - Provincial governor, appointed by the emperor to govern a Bhukti (province).
B. Vishayapati - District officer, head of a Vishaya (district), working under the Uparika.
D. Gramika - The village headman, responsible for local administration at the village level.
Correct hierarchical order (top to bottom):
AC→ Е → B → D.

The Matsya Purana, like many Puranic texts, lists numerous avataras (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu, including major and minor ones, not limited to the classical Dashavatara list. Some of the figures mentioned are mythological, while others are semi-legendary kings or sages later deified. Let's place the following in chronological order as per Matsya Purana:
C. Narayana - A primordial form of Vishnи, often considered the earliest or cosmic form.
A. Narasimha - The 4th avatara in the classical Dashavatara list, where Vishnu appears as a man-lion to slay the demon Hiranyakashipu.
E. Vamana - The 5th avatara, where Vishnu takes the form of a dwarf Brahmin to subdue King Bali.
D. Dattatreya - A sage and yogic form of Vishnu (also associated with Brahma and Shiva); appears later in the Purana narrative tradition.
B. Mandhatri - A legendary king mentioned in Puranic genealogies; not typically counted among the major avataras, but sometimes described as being partially divine.
Correct order as per the Puranic chronology:
CA→E→ D → В.

In Sanskrit literary tradition, particularly in Carita Kavyas (narrative poetry focused on heroic or biographical themes), the narrative structure often follows an idealized five-stage sequence. These stages reflect the progression of action and intent in the development of the storyline.
Let's understand each stage:
B. Prarambha - The beginning or initiation of the action.
A. Prayatna - The effort or attempt made by the hero after initiating the action. D. Praptyasa - The expectation of success, arising from the efforts.
E. Niyatapti - The certainty of attainment, when success seems assured.
C. Phalagama - The final result or attainment of the objective.
Correct sequential order: B → A→ D→ E → С.

Let's examine each term and its relevance to temple architecture:
A. Vimana - Yes. Refers to the tower or spire above the sanctum (garbhagriha) in South Indian (Dravidian) temple architecture.
B. Ardhamandapa - Yes. The entrance porch or half-hall leading to the mandapa, part of temple layout.
C. Mimamsa - No. A philosophical school focused on ritual interpretation of the Vedas, not related to architecture.
D. Bhashya - No. Means commentary, especially on philosophical or religious texts.
E. Nirguna - No. Refers to the formless concept of divinity in Bhakti philosophy, not architectural.
Therefore, only A and B are directly associated with temple architecture.

Let's use the dates you've given:
B. Parvati-Parinaya - 7th century CE by Banabhatta (court poet of Harsha, r. 606-647 CE).
A. Hammirmada-Mardana - Early 13th century by Jayasimha Suri (victory of Vaghela minister Tejapala over Iltutmish).
C. Pratap Rudra-Kalyan - Late 13th to early 14th century by Vidyanatha (praising Kakatiya Prataparudra II, r. 1289–1323 CE).
D. Shrikrishna-Vijaya - Between 1473 and 1480 СE by Maladhar Basu.
E. Lalita Madhava - Completed around CE by Rupa Goswami.
Chronological Order (Earliest to Latest):
B→ А → C → D → E.

We need to arrange the proto-historic sites of hominid discoveries in India and South Asia from North to South. Let's locate each site geographically:
C. Darr-i-Kur - Located in Afghanistan, one of the northernmost Paleolithic sites.
B. Nadab (Nadbai/Northern Rajasthan region) - Situated in North India.
D. Hathnora - Famous for the Narmada hominid fossil discovery (often called "Narmada Man"), located in Madhya Pradesh (Central India).
A. Odai - A prehistoric site in Tamil Nadu, South India.
E. Belihena - A site in Sri Lanka, further south of the Indian peninsula. Correct North-South order: C, B, D, A, E.