General

Question 1

Hathigumpha inscriptions

Answer 1

Kharavela kings - Udaigiri Kandagiri hills (Odisha) -> Kavya style, Brahmi script.
Inscriptions also contain Jain symbols

Question 2

Who are Lingayats?

Answer 2

They’re followers of Basavanna.
Basavanna was 12th century philosopher-poet and a shaivite. He belonged to reign of King Bijjala-2 of Kalyani Chalukya/kalachuri dynasty. He was against social and gender discrimination. He spread his teachings through vachanas. He built Anubhava Mantapa (in Bidar) - world’s first parliament.
He introduced Ishtalinga with an image of the Shiva Liṅga, to every person regardless of his or her birth, to be a constant reminder of one’s bhakti (devotion) to Shiva. He rejected temple worship and rituals led by Brahimins.

Question 3

Sects in Buddhism

Answer 3

At 2nd Buddhist council at Vaisali - split -> Acharyavadins who are followers of traditional teaching split away from Sthaviravadin and formed Mahasanghika school.

Mahasanghika = attribute divinity to Buddha. Mahayana evolved from Mahasanghika. They started diefication of Buddha. Further subdivisions of Mahasanghika include Lokottaravadin, Ekavyavaharikas, Kaukkutikas, etc.

Sthaviravadin = Buddha was a pure man nothing transcendental

Question 4

Provincial capitals of Mauryan empire

Answer 4

Ujjain (MP); Taxila (Pakistan); Suvarnagiri (kanakagiri - Karnataka); Tosali (Odisha)

Question 5

Badami caves

Answer 5

Chalukyas - Hinduism and Jainism
6th and 7th century.
Sculpture of Shiva as Natraja; Relief carving of Vishnu as Trivikrama; Vishnu in Varaha incarnation rescuing goddess earth.

Question 6

Sun temple Odisha

Answer 6

13th century - King Narsimhadeva of Ganga dynasty

Question 7

Therigatha

Answer 7

Theri = elderly women of wisdom and character.

It is a compilation of poems by women Buddhist monks, written in Pali (in around first century BC).

Question 8

Yapaniya was a sect of

Answer 8

Jainism

Question 9

Gold coins post-Mauryan time

Answer 9

Shatamana (silver)
Kakini (copper)
nishka, suvarna, pala (gold)

Question 10

Which king was contemporary of both Mahavira and Buddha

Answer 10

Bimbisara

Question 11

Coins during Mauryan times

Answer 11

Silver - aka Kahapanas/Karshapana (these were punchmarked - no specific etails about issuing authority)

First gold coins and first coins to bear images of names of kings - Indo Greeks

Question 12

Ashvagosha works

Answer 12

Buddhacharita & Saundarananda - both in sanskrit

Question 13

rashtrakuta literature

Answer 13

amoghavarsha -> kaviraja marga (kannada)

trivikrama - nalachampu (sanskeit)
halayudha - kavirahasya (sanskrit)

pampa - vikramasenavijaya (kannada)