1. Which among the following is known as the earliest example of Panchayatana style of temple?
[A] Dashavatara temple at Deogarh
[B] Temple at Pathari
[C] Shatrughneshwara temple at Bhubaneshwar
[D] Lakshmana temple at Sirpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dashavatara temple at Deogarh]
Notes:
The Dashavatara Temple or Vishnu Temple also called Gupta temple at Deogarh. It was built in the Gupta Period (320 to c. 600 AD ). Archaeologists have inferred that it is the earliest known Panchayatana temple in North India. A hindu temple is a Panchayatana one when the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines.
2. Who among the following Arab scholars studied Sanskrit and astronomy for a decade at Varanasi ?
[A] Alberuni
[B] Amir Khusrau
[C] Al’bidari
[D] Al’Masher
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Alberuni]
Notes:
Alberuni , the Arab astronomer who studied Sanskrit and astronomy for a decade at Varanasi.
3. Which among the following is incorrectly matched?
[A] Thyagaraja Festival – Andhra Pradesh & Tamilnadu
[B] Mahamastakabhisheka- Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh
[C] Pooram – Kerala
[D] Teej- Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mahamastakabhisheka- Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
Mahamastakabhisheka holds in Karnataka only and holds for once in 12 years
4. Which of the following temple in India was called as “The Black Pagoda” by the Europeans?
[A] Tirumala Tirupati , Andhra Pradesh
[B] Kamakhya Temple -Assam
[C] Konark Sun Temple, Orissa
[D] Jagannath Temple, Orissa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Konark Sun Temple, Orissa]
Notes:
Konark Sun Temple, Orissa was called as “The Black Pagoda” by the Europeans. The temple is attributed to king Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE.
5. Sattriya dance, which is one of the eight principal classical Indian dance traditions is from which of the following states?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Manipur
[C] Mizoram
[D] Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Assam]
Notes:
Sattriya or Sattriya Nritya is one of the eight principal classical Indian dance traditions of Assam in India. Sattriya has remained a living tradition since its creation by the founder of Vaishnavism in Assam, the great saint Srimanta Sankardev, in 15th century Assam.
6. The oldest recorded Indian Music dates back to 1902 when India’s first disc featured a khayal in Raag Jogiya by one of these singers. Identify the singer:
[A] Abdul Wahid Khan
[B] Govindrao Tembe
[C] Gauhar Jan
[D] Abdul Karim Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Gauhar Jan]
Notes:
Gauhar Jan, born as Angelina Yeoward, was of the foremost musicians in the Hindustani classical music tradition during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in India. She is known especially for her ghazal style and singing in several languages such as Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, and more. A critical performer in khyal style music, she was notable enough to perform in the first recording sessions held in India circa 1902.
7. The holy text of Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib is written in which script?
[A] Urdu
[B] Bihari
[C] Gurmukhi
[D] Farsi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Gurmukhi]
Notes:
The Guru Granth Sahib is written in Gurmukhi and has 1,430 pages. It contains 5,894 hymns arranged into 31 musical groupings.The fifth Gurus of Sikhs, Guru Arjun Dev ji laid the foundation of holy book of Sikhs , Guru Granth Sahib (or Adi granth). It is a compilation of teachings and writings by Guru Nanak dev ji and other Sikh Gurus in addition to the Hindu and Muslim saints.
8. Odhra Magadha is the precursor to which Indian dance form?
[A] Kuchipudi
[B] Kathak
[C] Odissi
[D] Bharatnatyam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Odissi]
Notes:
Odissi is a dance of love and passion touching on the divine and the human, the sublime and the mundane. The Natya Shastra mentions many regional varieties, such as the south-eastern style known as the Odhra Magadha which can be identified as the earliest precursor of present day Odissi.
9. Bidriware derives its name from the town of Bidar. In which state is Bidar located?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Karnataka]
Notes:
Bidriware is one of the most remarkable and intricate metal handicraft that is manufactured in the Bidar district of Karnataka. It was developed in the 14th century C.E. during the rule of the Bahamani Sultans. The term ‘Bidriware’ originates from the township of Bidar, which is still the chief centre for the manufacture of the unique metalware.
10. Which of the following Raj Kapoor starrers was also released as The Vagabond?
[A] Awara
[B] Shri 420
[C] Barsaat
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Awara]
Notes:
Awaara which is known in overseas as The Vagabond is a 1951 Indian film, produced and directed by Raj Kapoor, and written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. It stars Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Raj’s real-life father Prithviraj Kapoor, Leela Chitnis, and K. N. Singh.
