Ancient Indian History: Key Concepts and Sites

2023

• Dhanyakataka flourished as a prominent Buddhist center under the Mahasanghikas in the Andhra region.
• The Stupa concept originated in Buddhism.
• A Stupa was generally a repository of relics and was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.
• Korkai, Poompuhar, and Muchiri were well known as ports in ancient South India.
• 'Vattakirutal' is a practice mentioned in Sangam poems where a defeated king commits ritual suicide by starving himself to death.
• None of the Hoysala, Gahadavala, Kakatiya, and Yadava dynasties established their kingdoms in the early eighth century AD.
• Literary works from ancient indian history and their Authors:
  • Devichandragupta's author is not Bilhana.
  • Hammira-Mahakavya's author is Nayachandra Suri.
  • Milinda-panha's author is not Nagarjuna.
  • Nitivakyamrita's author is Somadeva Suri.
• A core belief of Jainism is reflected in the statement: "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."
• Devaraya I of the Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across the Tungabhadra River with a canal-cum-aqueduct extending several kilometers to the capital city.
• Ancient India Pairs:
  • Besnagar is a Shaivite cave shrine
  • Bhaja is a Buddhist cave shrine.
  • Sittanawasalis a Jain cave shrine

2022

• Ashoka's major rock edicts:
  • Dhauli is in Odisha.
  • Erragudi is in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Jaugada is not in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Kalsi is not in Karnataka.
• The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
• "Yogavasistha" was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of Akbar.
• The best means of salvation, according to the teachings of Ramanuja, was devotion.
• Regarding the Somnath Temple:
  • It is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
  • Al-Biruni provided a description of the Somnath Temple.
• Jaina texts
  • Parishishtaparvan
  • Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
• Historial people:
  • Aryadeva, Jaina scholar
  • Dignaga, Buddhist scholar
  • Nathamuni, Vaishnaiva scholars
• According to Kautilya's Arthashastra:
  • A person could become a slave because of judicial punishment
  • If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free
  • 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.

2021

• Dholavira is known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management, featuring a series of dams and channeled reservoirs.
• From the decline of the Guptas to the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, the following kingdoms held power in Northern India:
  • The Guptas of Magadha
  • The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
  • The Maukharis of Kanauj
  • The Maitrakas of Valabhi
• Regarding ancient Indian history:
  • Mitakshara was the civil law generally for upper castes which contrasts to Dayabhaga
  • Sons can claim right to property during the father's lifetime under the Mitakshara system; in the Dayabhaga system, rights are claimed after the father's death.
• 'Halbi, Ho, and Kui' are tribal languages in India.
• Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous playwrights.
• Ajanta Caves are in the gorge of the Waghora River.
• Chausath Yogini Temple near Morena:
  • It is a circular temple built during the reign of the Kachchhapaghata Dynasty
  • Its design has given rise to a common claim that it was the inspiration for the Indian Parliament building
• Historical Places:
  • Burzahom, Rock-cut shrines
  • Chandraketugarh is known for Terracotta art
  • Ganeshwar, Copper artifacts
• Ancient scholars/litterateurs :
  • Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II.
• History of India:
  • Mirasidar: Designated revenue payer to the State
  • Banian: Indian agent of the East India Company
• Religious History of India:
  • Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of the Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.
  • Deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered Mahayana Buddhism.

2018

• Events in Indian chronological order (from earliest)
  • Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman-I.
  • Pala dynasty were founded by Gopala.
  • Rise of the Pratiharas under King Bhoja
  • Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka-I
• The term 'Hundi', often mentioned in post-Harsha period texts, refers to a bill of exchange.
• 'Kulyavapa' and 'dronavapa' denote measurement of land.
• Ashoka advised his subjects through inscriptions, emphasizing that praising one's own religious sect while excessively criticizing others harms one's own sect more severely.
• Historical Sites Matched:
  • Bhilsa is in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Girinagar is in Gujarat.
• Gupta Dynasty towns:
  • Ghantasala
  • Kadura
  • Chaul
• The cultural history of India, the term 'paramitas' refers to perfections leading to the Bodhisattva path.
• Cultural history of India matches:
  • Parivrajaka = Renunciant and Wanderer
  • Upasaka = Lay followers of Buddhism

2019

• Sohgaura is not a Harappan site.
• 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka) with the stone portrait of Ashoka is mentioned within relief sculpture inscriptions in Kanganahalli.
• Mahayana Buddhism features:
  • Deification of the Buddha
  • Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
  • Image worship and rituals
• With reference to forced labor (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, a correct statement mentions it was considered a source of income for the State, and it was a sort of tax paid by the people.
• ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ were a notable feature in temple construction in the Vijayanagara kingdom

2018

• Chapchar Kut Festival - Mizoram
• Khongjom Parba ballad – Manipur
• Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
• Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
• Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries
• Annamacharya kirtnas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venketshwara
• Indian Culture Statements:
  • red Sandstone and marble was used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow.
• Maitreya is considered a future Buddha, yet to come and save the world.
• The painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the Kishangarh school.

2017

• The "Sthanakvasi" sect is associated with Jainism.
• Differences between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people:
  • Rigvedic Aryans used coats of mail and helmets in warfare. No corresponding evidence came from the Indus Valley Civilization.
  • Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse, lacking evidence of being familiar with the Indus Valley area.
• Sarvastivadin believed that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.
• Motupalli was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom.
• The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is a famous work displayed at Ajanta.
• Cultural pairs:
  • The Chaliha Sahib Festival: Sindhis.

2016

• Historical India Pairs:
  • Eripatti: Land, revenue for village tank maintenance.
  • Taniyurs: Villages to a single Brahmin/ Brahmin group.
  • Ghatikas: Attached colleges.
• In cultural history of India, memorizing chronicles, dynastic histories, and epic tales was a profession of Maagadha.
• James Prinsep first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka.
• Malavikagnimitra is a book of ancient India has a love story focused on the son of the founder of the Sunga dynasty
• Cultural History of Medieval India:
  • Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic
  • Lingayats of Kannada questioned rebirth and caste hierarchy
• Religious History of India:
  • Bodhisattva way to enlightenment
  • Bodhisattva compassionate being who delays his own salvation to guide all sentient beings on their path.
• Historical commonalties:
  • Ajanta and Mahabalipuram have rock-cut monuments

2015

• Buddha:
  • Avanti
  • Kosala
  • Magadha
• Kalamkari painting is a hand-painted cotton textile in South India.
• Odia was given classical language status recently.

2014

• Kingdoms associated with the life of the Buddha:
  • Kosala
  • Magadha
• Lokayata and Kapalika are not part of teh six systems of Indian Philosophy
• the production of traditional sarees/fabric India:
  • Chanderi
  • Kancheepuram
• Kannada and Telugu have been declared as 'Classical Language / Languages' by the Government.

2013

• Sattriya has music, dance, and drama. Is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam;
• Art & sculpture:
  • "Arjuna’s Penance”/ “Descent of Ganga” sculpated is at Mamalla-pur am
• India's culture and tradition, `Kalaripayattu' is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India
• Famous musical tradition in North-West India is Manganiyars Panchayatan refers to a style of temple construction Jains doctrine is the surest way of obliterating Karma is to practice penance;
• Yuan Chwang in India: As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person, tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.
• Indus Civilixation characteristics: Worshipped male and female deities.
• Chaitya is the stupa at the far end of the cave, while Vihara is the hall axial to it
• Nirvana best, the extinction of the flame of desire
• Indus Civilixation characteristics: Worshipped male and female deities
• Ellora, caves were made for different faiths. `Tribhanga' an artistic pose involves one leg bent and the body slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neck Guru Nanak preaches when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur babur took over Sankhya says the self-knowledge that leads to liberation, rather than influence.
• Lord Buddha hand:
• Guilds: guild had judicial powers over its own mbers.

Explore ancient Indian history with questions on Gupta dynasty towns, Harappan sites, and Buddhist concepts like 'paramitas'. Test your knowledge of historical site locations and the roles of Parivrajaka, Shramana, and Upasaka in ancient society.