IAS Art & Culture Test Questions - Set 2

ANSWER: Kharavela

Explanation:
The Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela of Kalinga refers to the conquest of Kalinga by the Nandas.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
The Meherauli Iron Pillar Inscription refers to the achievements of Chandragupta I. The most important source for the reign of Samudragupta is the Allahabad Pillar inscription. This inscription is engraved on an Asokan pillar. It is written in classical Sanskrit, using the Nagari script. It consists of 33 lines composed by Harisena.

ANSWER: Dravid style

Explanation:
The temple is constructed on the Dravidian style and the sculptures depict episodes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

ANSWER: Java

Explanation:
The greatest monument of Indo-Java art is the Borobudur which was built during A.D. 750-850 under the patronage of the Sailendras. It is situated on the top of a hill. It consists of nine successive terraces, crowned by a bell-shaped stupa at the centre of the topmost terrace. Borobudur is described as an epic in stone, the most wonderful Buddhist stupa in the world.

ANSWER: Only 1 and 3

Explanation:
Ayurveda has its origin in Atharavaveda. It is also treated as Upveda of Rigveda.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
In order to understand Vedic texts, it was important to learn Vedanga or limbs of Veda. These comprised of phonetics (shiksha), ritual (kalpa), grammar (vyakarana), etymology (nirukta), metrics (chhanda) and astronomy (jyotisha).

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
Sangam Literature is secular in nature. They do not constitute religious writings.

ANSWER: Tamil

Explanation:
Tamil was oldest. Kannada developed c. 7th century A.D. Malayalam and Telugu developed much later. Prakrit mostly remained in North, east and west and central India. South was dominated by Dravidian family of languages.

ANSWER: Atharvaveda

Explanation:
It contains many spells and charms, and recommend amulets for warding off diseases and evil forces. Aranyakas are the concluding portions of the Brahmanas and are called so because the philosophical and mystical character of their contents required that they should be studied in the solitude of the aranya or forest.

ANSWER: Seals

Explanation:
More than 2500 seals have been found. These are made of steatite. And a great majority carries short inscriptions with pictures of animals on it. Even gods, goddesses and humans are portrayed on them.

ANSWER: 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:
There are mythical and composite creatures; e.g. human faced goat or part ram or goat, part bull and part elephant, three-headed chimeras, semi-human semi-bovine creatures. A large number of animal have been depicted on the seals. These include sheep, goat, humped bull, buffalo, elephant, tiger, lion, the gaur or Indian bison, the rhinoceros, a short-horned humpless bull, etc.

ANSWER: Unicorn

Explanation:
The largest number of seals depict unicorn which is perhaps mythical. But the most artistic depictions are the figures of humped bull.

ANSWER: Darshana

Explanation:
Salvation or moksha became the main subject of the texts on Darshana or philosophy. Purushartha is attainment of four goals – dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Dharmashastras treat matters related to dharma, Arthashastra treats artha, Kamasutra discusses kama.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
The Indians learnt the art of growing silk from China. The art of stone carving went to Sri Lanka from India.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
Indians learnt from the Indonesians the art of growing betel leaves. Indians acquired the art of minting gold coins from the Greeks and Romans.

ANSWER: Large scale admission of aboriginals in brahmanical society

Explanation:
Tantricism admitted both women and shudras. Tantric rituals were intended to satisfy material desires and to cure day-to-day diseases and injuries. The Brahmanas adopted many of the tribal rituals, charms and symbols which were now officially compiled, sponsored and fostered by them.

ANSWER: Blue

Explanation:
Indian dyers invented lasting colors and they also invented the color blue. Initially blue was never used in paintings or anywhere unless the object is naturally blue. The basic colors made in India were so shining and lasting that the beautiful colors of Ajanta remain still intact.

ANSWER: Wootz

Explanation:
This craft was developed first in India. No other country could manufacture steel swords as were made by Indian craftsmen. Yavanpriya is Indian pepper. Gandhikas are perfumers. Vishti is forced labour.

ANSWER: Apastamba

Explanation:
In second century B.C. Apastamba produced a practical geometry for producing altars. It describes acute angle, obtuse angle and right angle.

ANSWER: Sanskrit grammar

Explanation:
Panini in fourth century B.C. systematized the rules governing Sanskrit and produced grammar called Ashtadhyayi. Patanjali too contributed to Sanskrit grammar.

ANSWER: Graves surrounded by big stones

Explanation:
The Iron Age of the southern peninsula is often related to Megalithic Burials. Megalith means Large Stone. The burial pits were covered with these stones. The megalithic culture is mostly known for its burials, which have been generically termed megaliths (lit. = big stones), even when the big stones are not associated. These burials are marked by an abundance of iron tools and a Black-and-Red pottery.

ANSWER: Kanishka

Explanation:
Kushana king Kanishka was in power when Charak and Sushruta practiced and developed medicine. Charak wrote Charaksamhita and Sushruta wrote Sushrutasamhita. Charak was a physician and Sushruta was a surgeon.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
The Puranas, eighteen in number, preserved the traditions, legends, moral codes, religious and philosophical principles and itihas. The smritis are metrical texts containing the rules and regulations and laws for the guidance and governance of society. They are based on dharmasutras and grihyasutras of Vedic literature. But additions and alterations have been done to make them suitable to the changing conditions of society. They are written in verse. The phase of writing of commentaries on the smritis -begins after the Gupta period.

ANSWER: Eran

Explanation:
The first incidence of sati is dated back to 510A.D. in Eran (in Madhya Pradesh). Navdatoli, Eran and Nagada are the three best known settlements of Malwa culture.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Manusmriti gives laws. Law book of Narada is a work of about fifth century A.D. Katyayana is a law giver of sixth century. Early important Dharmasutras were prose and were remodeled into verses to become Dharmashashtras of Manu, Yajna Valkya, Vishnu and Narada.