1. After a defeat in prolonged debate on Vedic philosophies, who among the following is known to have become disciple of Adi Sankara and later became first head of Sringeri Mutt?
[A] Hastamalaka
[B] Totakacharya
[C] Padmapada
[D] Madana
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Correct Answer: D [Madana]
Notes:
Madana Misra was defeated in a debate by his contemporary ,Adi Shankara. He is said to have become a disciple of Adi Sankara. Maṇḍana Miśra’s wife was Ubhaya Bharati.
2. In which region Hemis Gompa is located in India?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Ladakh
[C] Gwalior
[D] Nagpur
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Correct Answer: B [Ladakh]
Notes:
Hemis Gompa located in the Ladakh Region and is in the tentative list of World Heritage Sites.Hemis gompa is believed to have been established in 1630 by Lama Tagstang Raspa
3. In which type of following classical dance forms of India the Pung which is a drum is a integral part?
[A] Bharatnatyam
[B] Kathakali
[C] Kuchipudi
[D] Manipuri
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Correct Answer: D [Manipuri]
Notes:
Punj or Drum dance is a dance that belongs to Manipur. The Pung cholom is a Manipuri dance. It is the soul of Manipuri Sankirtana music and classical Manipuri dance.
4. Nirmal Hridaya is located in:
[A] Bangalore
[B] Chennai
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Kolkata
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Correct Answer: D [Kolkata]
Notes:
Nirmal Hriday is Mother Teresa`s first home for the dying, located next to the famous Kali Temple in Kalighat, is now one of 300 affiliated organizations all over the world, set up by her. A very small building, it is characterized by neo-Mughal style mini domes on the roof.
5. Sant Kabir Award has been instituted to honor which of the following?
[A] Weavers
[B] Hindi Writers
[C] Mystic poets
[D] Hindi teachers
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Correct Answer: A [Weavers]
Notes:
The Sant Kabir Award was established in 2009 to honor textile craftspeople for their contributions to the revival of Indian handloom traditions. The award is presented by the President of India.
The award includes a grant of 6 lakh rupees to each recipient to create 10 new products of high quality and aesthetic value. The recipient has one year to complete the project.
The award was established along with the Shilp Guru Awards and National Awards to Master Craftspersons and master weavers, which were introduced in 1965.
6. Dalai lamas are considered reincarnations of which of the following?
[A] Avalokiteshwara
[B] Buddha
[C] Maitreya
[D] Ksitigarbha
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Correct Answer: A [Avalokiteshwara]
Notes:
The Dalai Lama is considered a reincarnation of Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Avalokiteśvara is the patron saint of Tibet and embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and current Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso, who lives in exile in India.
According to Tibetan Buddhism, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is a key belief. When a Dalai Lama dies, they believe that their spirit is reincarnated in the body of their successor, who is born at the moment of their death. Search parties are sent across Tibet to find children who are “special” and born within a year of the Dalai Lama’s death.
7. Who among the following is known for the famous quote “an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy.”?
[A] Jawahar Lal Nehru
[B] Mahatma Gandhi
[C] Leo Tolstoy
[D] Rabindranath Tagore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mahatma Gandhi]
Notes:
The name of the autobiography of Gandhiji is “The Story of My Experiments with Truth”. It was published in 1927. In this book he wrote “In the very first month of Indian Opinion, I realised that the sole aim of journalism should be service. The newspaper press is a great power, but just as an unchained torrent of water submerges whole countryside and devastates crops, even so an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy”.
8. Which one of the following pairs of composers in different languages and their works on the Mahabharata theme is correctly matched? (UPSC Prelims 1997)
[A] Sarladasa — Bengali
[B] Kasirama — Oriya
[C] Tikkana — Marathi
[D] Pampa — Kannada
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Pampa — Kannada]
Notes:
Pampa was a Kannada poet whose works reflected his philosophical beliefs. Vikramarjuna Vijaya, also known as Pampa Bharata, is a Kannada version of the Mahabharata of Vyasa.
9. The concept of Eight-fold path forms which of the following themes? (UPSC Prelims 1998)
[A] Dipavamsa
[B] Divyavadana
[C] Mahaparinibban Sutta
[D] Dharma Chakara Pravartana Sutta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Dharma Chakara Pravartana Sutta]
Notes:
The Noble Eight fold Path, is one of the principal teachings of the Buddha, who described it as the way leading to the cessation of suffering (Dukkha) and attainment of self-awakening. In Buddhist symbolism, the Noble Eight fold Path is often represented by means of the Dharma wheel (Dharmachakra), whose eight spokes represent the eight elements of the path. Eight fold path includes right understanding, right speech, right livelihood; right mindfulness, right thought, right action, right effort and right concentration.
10. Who said,”in Hinduism ideas about all the major issues of faith and lifestyle – vegetarianism, nonviolence, belief in rebirth, even caste – are subjects of debate, not dogma.”?
[A] Gavin Flood
[B] Doniger
[C] Raja Ram Mohan Roy
[D] Mahatma Gandhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Doniger]
Notes:
The very positive fact about Hinduism is that it has a diversity of ideas on spirituality and traditions without any ecclesiastical order, religious authorities, or any binding holy book. A Hindu can be polytheistic, pantheistic, monotheistic, agnostic, atheistic or humanist and still be a Hindu which makes it most humane religion.