Previous Year Questions

Question 1

The word Hindu as a reference to the people of Hind (India) was first used by?

Answer 1

Arabs

Question 2

The Greek reference to the ancient India

Answer 2

Indus

Question 3

Root words for India

Answer 3

Sindhu Hindu Indus India

Question 4

Meaning of Brahmavadini?

Answer 4

an expounder of the Veda

Question 5

1. What are those women who composed any hymns of the Vedas called?
2. And who are the prominent ones?

Answer 5

1. Brahmavadinis
2. Lopamudra

Viswavara

Maitreyi

Ghosha

Sikta

Question 6

Saptarishi: What and who?

Answer 6

• seven sages
• patriarchs of the Vedic religion

1. Agastya
2. Atri
3. Bharadwaj
4. Gautam
5. Jamadagni
6. Vashistha
7. Vishvamitra

Question 7

• Father of the Tamil language

Answer 7

• Agastya
• Agastyar/Agattiyar (Tamil)

Question 8

Wife of Agastya?

Answer 8

Lopamudra, a princess of Vidharbha

Question 9

Maitreyi’s husband?

Answer 9

Yajnavalkya

Question 10

Which era marks the day when King Vikramāditya beat the Sakas, who had invaded Ujjain?

Answer 10

Vikram era, or Vikram samvat

57 BC

Question 11

The beginning of which era is now widely equated to the ascension of king Chashtana and when?

Answer 11

Saka/Shaka Era

78 C.E.

Question 12

Which era is believed to have been started by the Gupta kings and when?

Answer 12

Gupta Era

320 CE

Question 13

According to the ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas what is the sequential order of the cycle of yugas mentioned in Sanskrit scriptures?

Period of the Last Era?

Answer 13

1. Satya/Krita Yuga
2. Treta Yuga
3. Dvapara Yuga
4. Kali yuga (3102 BC)

Question 14

What are the languages spoken by the following people during the Gupta period?

1. Women
2. Sudras
3. Elite Class

Answer 14

1. Prakrit
2. Prakrit
3. Sanskrit

Question 15

Whose mother gave him his name because his birth removed her sorrows?

What are his other titles?

Answer 15

Ashoka

Priyadasi/Priyadarshi - he who regards amiably

Devanampiya/Devanampriya - Beloved of the Gods

Question 16

Names of Ashoka before and after his conversion to Buddhism.

Answer 16

Before

• Kamashoka
• Chandashoka - Ashoka the fierce

After

• Dhammashoka - Ashoka the righteous

Question 17

What is the ancient Sanskrit word for pepper and why?

Answer 17

Yavanapriya

Yavana: foreign people (Indo-Greeks)

Priya: Fond of

Traded pepper with Romans/Greeks during the Sangam period.

Question 18

5 main principles of Jainism

Answer 18

1. Ahiṃsā (non-violence)
2. Satya (truth)
3. Asteya (not stealing)
4. Brahmacharya (celibacy or chastity)
5. Aparigraha (non-attachment)

Question 19

What are the two dharmas or rules of conduct Jain ethical code prescribes?

Answer 19

• Anuvratas (small vows) observed by śrāvakas (householders)
• Mahavrata (major vows) observed by the Jain ascetics (Jain monastics)

Question 20

Where did the depiction of Nataraja in stone reliefs appear first?

Answer 20

1. Ellora Caves
2. Badami Caves

Question 21

When, where, and what did the mature and best-known expression of Nataraja emerge?

Answer 21

Around 10 CE

Tamil Nadu

Chola Bronzes

Question 22

Poses of Nataraja

Answer 22

1. The upper right-hand holds a ḍamaru - ḍamaru-hasta
2. The upper left hand contains Agni
3. The lower right forearm shows the Abhaya mudra
4. The lower left hand is bent downwards at the wrist and points towards the raised left foot - gajahasta (elephant hand) or dandahasta (stick hand)
5. The dwarf on which Nataraja dances is the demon Apasmara Purusha