1. Which of the following is not present in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of India?
[A] Kalbelia
[B] Yoga
[C] Maach
[D] Ramlila
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Maach]
Notes:
Maach is a form of folk theatre from the Malwa region Madhya Pradesh. It is said to have originated from the Khyal theatre form of Rajasthan. It is not present in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
2. According to the beliefs of the Pasupata sect, Siva is the lord of Pasu. Pasu here refers to __?
[A] Lion
[B] Bull
[C] Parvati
[D] Jiva
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Jiva]
Notes:
The Pasupata was a Saivite sect associated with Siva in his aspect of the “Herdsman” (pasu, “animal” and pati, “lord”). The devotees of Pashupati Siva are called Pashupatas.
3. Thaipusam festival is celebrated by which of the following communities?
[A] Tamil
[B] Telugu
[C] Marathi
[D] Malayalam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tamil]
Notes:
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the month of January. It is mainly observe in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar.
4. Vedantham Satyanarayan is known to be a greatest guru of which of the following dance forms?
[A] Odissi
[B] kathak
[C] Bharatnatyam
[D] Kuchipudi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kuchipudi]
Notes:
Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma, popularly known as Satyam, was an Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She is considered as an expert of Kuchpudi dance.
5. Who among the following professed Suddhadvaita philosophy?
[A] Swami Krishnananda
[B] Ramanada
[C] Vallabha Acharya
[D] Guru Jambheshwar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vallabha Acharya]
Notes:
Shuddadvaita philosophy is given by Vallabhacharya (1479-1531 CE). It is the “purely non-dual” philosophy. Vallabhacharya is founding philosopher and guru of the Vallabha sampradaya, a Hindu Vaishnava tradition focused on the worship of Krishna.
6. Which of the following is indicated by the oval ring around the original figure of Shiva Nataraja?
[A] Universe
[B] Cosmic Fire
[C] Cycle of birth and death
[D] Cosmic rhythm
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cosmic Fire]
Notes:
There is an oval ring around the original figure of Shiva Nataraja. It represents the cosmic fire he uses to destroy the universe as part of the cycle of destruction and creation. Each flame has three points. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, a round circle of fire with flames of five points became typical for the Shiva Nataraja image.
7. Which among the following is not one of the eight limbs of the Ashtanga Yoga?
[A] Yama
[B] Pranamayam
[C] Dhyana
[D] Vinyasa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Vinyasa]
Notes:
There are eight limbs of ashtanga yoga viz. yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.
8. Who among the following professed Suddhadvaita philosophy?
[A] Swami Krishnananda
[B] Ramanada
[C] Sri Vallabhacharya
[D] Guru Jambheshwar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sri Vallabhacharya]
Notes:
Suddhadvaita means pure nondualism. Sri Vallabhacharya was the professor of this philosophy. He completely identified the individual soul with Brahman and did not pledge the distinction between the two. Please note that Vallabhacharya was also known as Mahaprabhuji and he founded the Pushti sect Hindus. These followers are called Pushtimargi which means in English – Path of grace.
9. Write the following in chronological order
1. Puri—Jagannath temple
2. Meenakshi temple
3. Mahabalipuram temples
4. Qutab Minar (UPSC Prelims 1984)
[A] 1, 2, 4, 3
[B] 1, 4, 2, 3
[C] 1, 4, 3, 2
[D] 2, 3, 1, 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [2, 3, 1, 4]
Notes:
Puri—Jagannath temple – 1161
Meenakshi temple – 6th century
Mahabalipuram temples – 7th century
Qutab Minar – 1193
10. Arrange the following in proper sequence :
(i) “Vinayapitaka”
(ii) “Gita Govinda”
(iii) “Raghuvansha”
(iv) “Atharvaveda” (UPSC Prelims 1986)
[A] (iii), (ii), (i), (iv)
[B] (iv), (iii), (ii), (i)
[C] (iv), (i), (iii), (ii)
[D] (ii), (iv), (iii), (i)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [(iv), (i), (iii), (ii)]
Notes:
• The Tripitaka is considered to be a record of the words of the Buddha. The Pali canon was written down in the first century CE. The Tripitaka contains the following sections: Vinaya Pitaka – this contains the rules telling monks and nuns how to behave with each other, and within society.
• Gita Govinda -1977
• Raghuvamsha was one of two great court epics written in Sanskrit by Kalidasa about the 5th century. It consists of 19 cantos composed of some 1,570 verses.
• The Atharvaveda was likely compiled as a Veda contemporaneously with Samaveda and Yajurveda, or about 1200 BC – 1000 BC.
