1. Which among the following Mudra is the gesture of Buddha as depicted in his first sermon?
[A] Abhaya Mudra
[B] Dhyana Mudra
[C] Dharmachakra Mudra
[D] Bhumisparsa Mudra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Dharmachakra Mudra ]
Notes:
The sermon Buddha gave to the five monks was his first sermon, called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. The Seated Buddha from Gandhara is an early statue of the Buddha made in Gandhara, in modern Pakistan, in the 2nd or 3rd century The pose, which was to become one of a number of standard ones, shows Buddha as a teacher setting the wheel of Dharma in motion (Dharmachakra Mudra). Buddha did this following his enlightenment and after delivering his first sermon at the deer park at Sarnath near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
2. One of the incarnations of Vishnu is represented in art as raising the Earth from the Ocean. Identify Him from the given options:
[A] Kumara
[B] Varaha
[C] Matsya
[D] Nrisingha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Varaha]
Notes:
Varaha Avatar, the third incarnation among the 10 Dashavatara of Lord Vishnu, is in the form of a Boar. In his third incarnation, Lord Vishnu as Varaha saved the earth from demon Hiranyaksha, thus saving the mankind.
3. Amarsimha whose work Amarkosha is related to which of the following ?
[A] Poetry
[B] Lexicography
[C] Grammar
[D] wars
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Lexicography]
Notes:
The Amarakosha is a vocabulary of Sanskrit roots, in three books, and hence sometimes called Trikanda or the “Tripartite”. Lexicography is the activity or occupation of compiling dictionaries.
4. Hymns composed by which among the following rulers have been incorporated in Guru Grantha sahib of Sikhs?
[A] Jaydev
[B] Swami Haridas
[C] Namdev
[D] Dhyaneshwar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jaydev]
Notes:
Hymns composed by Jaydev have been incorporated in Guru Grantha sahib of Sikhs. The hymns are written in a mixture of Sanskrit and eastern Apabhramsha. There are records narrating how Jayadeva’s work had a profound influence on Guru Nanak during his visit to Puri.
5. In context with the Indian music, Abhang are the devotional songs dedicated to which among the following gods?
[A] Jagannatha
[B] Narayana
[C] Vitthala
[D] Vamana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vitthala]
Notes:
Abhanga is kind of devotional poetry / bhajan dedicated to Vittala and the first to sing Abhanga was Sant Tukaram.
6. Who among the following propounded the Dvaitadvaita philosophy?
[A] Sankaradeva
[B] Madhvacharya
[C] Nimbarka
[D] Ramanuja
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nimbarka]
Notes:
The 13th century saint of Andhra, Acharya Nimbarka is known for propagating the Vaishnava Theology of Dvaitadvaita (duality in unity) also known as Bhedabheda (Difference in Non-difference). According to him, the Brahmans, the souls and the world are identical yet distinct. Even after merger, they remain distinct. He was the founder of Sanak Sampradaya of Vaishnavism. The works attributed to him are Vedanta Parijata Saurabha (a short story on Brahma Sutras) , Dashashloki, Shri Krishnastava raja and Madhvamukavardhana.
7. Who was Namdev ?
[A] He was a Tailor by caste
[B] His bhakti songs have been included in the Adi Granth
[C] He was considered to be the part of the Varkari tradition
[D] All of these
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [All of these]
Notes:
Namdev is considered to be a part of the varkari tradition (Vaishnava devotional tradition) was born in Maharashtra in 1270 AD, belong to chipi (cloth painter) caste. He composed hymns on Marathi and some of his verses were included in the Guru Granth Sahib (or Adi Granth). He was a precursor of Kabir and Guru Nanak. His abhangas (or devotional lyrics) were known as Namdevachi.
8. Who among the following authors wrote “Mintakhab-ul-Tawarikh”?
[A] Kamgar Khan
[B] Abdul Qadir Badyuni
[C] Khafi Khan
[D] Mutamid Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Abdul Qadir Badyuni]
Notes:
An Indo-Persian historian and translator, Mullah Abdul Qadir Badyuni composed Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh (Selection of Chronicles) or Tarikh-i-Bada’uni (Bada’uni’s History) in 1595 AD. The work is compiled in three volumes viz. the first volume contains an account of Babur and Humayun, the second volume exclusively deals with Akbar’s reign up to 1595 AD and the third volume describes the lives and works of Muslim religious figures,scholars, physicians and poets
9. In which city can you find the mausoleum of Arjumand Banu Begum?
[A] Aurangabad
[B] Delhi
[C] Ujjain
[D] Agra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Agra]
Notes:
The Taj Mahal in Agra which was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan (r.1628-58) for his favourite wife Arjumand Banu Begum upon her death in 1631. Mausoleum of Arjumand Banu Begum is in the central chamber of the tomb and decorated with peitra dura.
10. Who among the following founded Ramakrishna Mission? (UPSC Prelims 1982)
[A] Swami Dayanand Saraswati
[B] Raja Rammohan Roy
[C] Swami Vivekananda
[D] None of these
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Swami Vivekananda]
Notes:
Vivekananda went on lecture tours and held private discourses on Hinduism and spirituality. He founded the first Vedanta Society in the United States at New York. He returned to India in 1897 and founded the Ramakrishna Mission on 1 May 1897.