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The 'Bijak inscription' of Prithviraja II (12th century), recording a land grant, uses the _____ calendar era for dating.
- Vikrama Samvat
- Shaka Samvat
- Kali Yuga
- Buddhist Era
Answer: Vikrama Samvat
Bijak inscription (Rajasthan, 1177 CE) of Chauhan king Prithviraja II uses Vikrama Samvat calendar for dating land grants. Such inscriptions provide chronological frameworks for medieval Indian history and administrative practices.
'Garuda Thookkam', a ritual where performers hang from hooks pierced in their back, is practiced in which state?
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Kerala
Garuda Thookkam is a ritual art of North Kerala temples where devotees, embodying Garuda, are suspended from hooks as penance. Accompanied by Chenda music, it exemplifies extreme devotion and folk Hindu practices.
The 'Mitakshara', a commentary on Yajnavalkya Smriti by Vijnaneshwara (11th century), became the basis of Hindu law in most of India.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Mitakshara by Vijnaneshwara (Chalukya court) is a seminal commentary on inheritance, property, and family law. Adopted by British colonial courts, it shaped Hindu personal law across most of India except Bengal.
The 'Kutila' script, a transitional form between Gupta Brahmi and early Nagari, is found in inscriptions from _____ century CE.
- 8th-9th
- 5th-6th
- 11th-12th
- 3rd-4th
Answer: 8th-9th
Kutila script (c. 8th-9th century CE) represents the evolution from late Gupta Brahmi to early Nagari. Found in inscriptions across North India, it features angular letterforms that standardized into medieval Nagari script.
Harappan cities like Mohenjo-daro featured grid-pattern streets, standardized bricks, and sophisticated drainage systems.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Indus Valley cities exhibited advanced urban planning: orthogonal street grids, uniform burnt bricks (4:2:1 ratio), covered drains, and public baths. These features indicate centralized administration and engineering expertise.
The 'Yoga Vasistha', a philosophical text on Advaita Vedanta, is structured as a dialogue between Sage Vasistha and Prince Rama.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Yoga Vasistha (c. 10th-14th century) presents Advaita philosophy through dialogues between Vasistha and Rama. Written in Sanskrit, it explores consciousness, illusion, and liberation, influencing Hindu spiritual thought.
The 'Tirumalai inscription' of Krishnadevaraya (16th century), recording temple donations, is written in _____ language and script.
- Telugu, Telugu-Kannada
- Tamil, Tamil-Brahmi
- Kannada, Halegannada
- Sanskrit, Grantha
Answer: Telugu, Telugu-Kannada
Tirumalai inscription (Tirupati, 1517 CE) by Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya is in Telugu language using Telugu-Kannada script. It documents endowments to Venkateswara Temple, reflecting royal patronage of religion.
The 'Brihat Jataka' by Varahamihira (6th century CE) is a foundational Sanskrit text on Hindu astrology and horoscopy.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira systematized Hindu astrology, covering planetary influences, birth charts, and predictive techniques. Written in Sanskrit verse, it remains influential in traditional astrological practice across India.
Ashoka's Major Rock Edict XIII, mentioning Greek kings, was inscribed in Greek and _____ scripts at Kandahar (Afghanistan).
- Aramaic
- Latin
- Cuneiform
- Hieroglyphic
Answer: Aramaic
Kandahar bilingual edict (c. 260 BCE) features Ashoka's message in Greek and Aramaic scripts, facilitating communication with Hellenistic and Persian-speaking populations. It exemplifies Mauryan diplomatic inclusivity.
Panini's 'Ashtadhyayi', a Sanskrit grammar text (c. 4th century BCE), uses a meta-language of approximately 4,000 sutras to describe language structure.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Ashtadhyayi by Panini is a generative grammar of Sanskrit using concise sutras and meta-rules. Its algorithmic approach influenced modern linguistics and computer science, demonstrating ancient India's analytical sophistication.
During the Delhi Sultanate, official inscriptions increasingly used _____ script alongside Persian language for administrative purposes.
- Nastaliq
- Devanagari
- Brahmi
- Sharada
Answer: Nastaliq
Nastaliq script, a flowing Persian calligraphic style, became prominent in Sultanate and Mughal inscriptions. Used for Persian-language decrees, it symbolized administrative sophistication and cultural synthesis in medieval India.
The site of Kaushambi in Uttar Pradesh was an important city of the Vatsa kingdom and a Buddhist center, with excavations revealing fortifications and stupas.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Kaushambi (Uttar Pradesh, c. 6th century BCE-6th century CE) was capital of Vatsa kingdom and a Buddhist pilgrimage site. Excavations uncovered city walls, stupas, monasteries, and artifacts, illustrating urbanization and religious patronage.
The 'Kularnava Tantra', a key text of Kaula tradition, discusses rituals, yoga, and philosophy in Sanskrit, influencing Shakta traditions.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Kularnava Tantra (c. 11th-14th century) is a foundational Shakta text detailing rituals, mantras, chakras, and ethical conduct. Written in Sanskrit, it shaped Tantric practices across India and Southeast Asia.
The 'Gwalior inscription' of Mihir Bhoja (9th century CE), recording the construction of a sun temple, is written in _____ script.
- Nagari
- Brahmi
- Sharada
- Grantha
Answer: Nagari
Gwalior inscription (875 CE) of Pratihara king Mihir Bhoja is written in early Nagari script and Sanskrit. It documents the construction of a sun temple and provides insights into Pratihara patronage of art and religion.
Harappan seals typically depict animals like the unicorn, bull, and elephant, along with undeciphered script, suggesting ritual or administrative use.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Harappan steatite seals (c. 2600-1900 BCE) feature animals (unicorn, bull, elephant), ritual scenes, and brief inscriptions. Used for trade, administration, or religious purposes, they remain key to understanding Indus civilization.
The 'Hathigumpha inscription' of King Kharavela, written in _____ script, provides valuable information about ancient Kalinga.
- Brahmi
- Kharosthi
- Tamil-Brahmi
- Nagari
Answer: Brahmi
Hathigumpha inscription (1st century BCE, Odisha) by Kharavela is written in Prakrit using Brahmi script. It details his military campaigns, public works, and patronage of Jainism, serving as a key historical source for Kalinga.
The site of Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu yielded urn burials with iron objects and graffiti marks, indicating early Tamil culture.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu, c. 1000-500 BCE) is a major Iron Age burial site with urns containing skeletal remains, iron tools, and pottery with graffiti symbols. These findings illuminate early Tamil society and proto-writing systems.
'Sopana Sangeetham', a meditative vocal style sung beside temple sanctums, is traditionally practiced in which state?
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Kerala
Sopana Sangeetham is Kerala's temple music tradition, performed on steps (sopana) leading to sanctum. Characterized by slow, devotional rendering of ragas, it accompanies rituals in Krishna temples like Guruvayur.
The 'Charaka Samhita', a foundational Ayurvedic text, was originally composed in Sanskrit and later translated into Arabic and Persian.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Charaka Samhita (c. 2nd century CE) systematized Ayurvedic medicine in Sanskrit. Translated into Arabic as 'Kitab-i-Susrad' during Abbasid Caliphate, it influenced medieval Islamic and European medical knowledge.
The Pallava Grantha script, developed in 6th-9th century CE, influenced the writing systems of Southeast Asian languages like _____ and Thai.
- Khmer
- Burmese
- Vietnamese
- Indonesian
Answer: Khmer
Pallava Grantha script spread to Southeast Asia via trade and cultural exchange, influencing Khmer (Cambodia), Mon (Myanmar), and early Thai scripts. This demonstrates India's soft power in ancient Asian literacy traditions.