IAS Art & Culture Test Questions - Set 1

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
Sutta Pitaka provides the principles of Buddhism. Vinaya Pitaka provides the rules and regulations of the Buddhist Sangha. Abhidhamma Pitaka explains the Buddhist religious philosophy.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Cultural heritage includes all those aspects or values of culture transmitted to human beings by their ancestors from generation to generation. Besides the architectural creations, monuments, material artifacts, the intellectual achievements, philosophy, treasures of knowledge, scientific inventions and discoveries are also the part of heritage- contributions of Nagarjuna in the field of Chemistry.

ANSWER: Pallavas

Explanation:
It is the greatest architectural master piece of the Pallava art.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
It started with Pallava rule. It was a gradual evolution starting from the cave temples to monolithic rathas and culminated in structural temples.

ANSWER: Five different styles of temple architecture

Explanation:
The second stage of Pallava architecture is represented by the monolithic rathas and mandapas found at Mamallapuram. Narasimhavarman I took the credit for these wonderful architectural monuments. The five rathas, popularly called as the Panchapanadava rathas, signifies five different styles of temple architecture.

ANSWER: Chalukyas

Explanation:
The Chalukyas developed the vesara style in the building of structural temples. However, the vesara style reached its culmination only under the Rashtrakutas and the Hoysalas.

ANSWER: only 1 and 2

Explanation:
Their cave temples are found in Ajanta, Ellora and Nasik. The best specimens of Chalukya paintings can be seen in the Badami cave temple and in the Ajanta caves.

ANSWER: Sripuri

Explanation:
Elephanta is an island near Bombay. It was originally called Sripuri. The Portuguese after seeing the large figure of an elephant named it Elephanta.

ANSWER: Vimana

Explanation:
The Dravidian style of art and architecture reached its perfection under the Cholas. The chief feature of the Chola temple is the vimana.

ANSWER: Kumaragupta I

Explanation:
The term Nalanda means “giver of knowledge”. It was founded by Kumaragupta I during the Gupta period. It was patronised by his successors and later by Harsha.

ANSWER: Only 3

Explanation:
The six schools of philosophy were – Samkhya – count; Yoga – Salvation through meditation and physical application; Nyaya - System of Logic; Vaisheshika - Discussion of material elements; Mimamsa - Art of Reasoning and interpretation; Vedanta – End of Vedas.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Initially the Samkhya School was materialistic. Then it tended to be spiritualistic. Kapila was earliest exponent of Samkhya. Charvaka was of Lokayata.

ANSWER: Greeks

Explanation:
The curtain came to be called Yavanika. At a later stage the word yavana was used for all kinds of foreigners.

ANSWER: Rishabhadeva

Explanation:
The founder of Jainism is believed to be Rishabhadeva, the first of the twenty four tirthankaras and as the last tirthankara Mahavira developed and gave final shape to the Jain doctrines.

ANSWER: Pataliputra

Explanation:
The first Jain Council was convened at Pataliputra by Sthulabahu, the leader of the Digambaras, in the beginning of the 3 rd century B.C. The second Jain Council was held at Valabhi in 5 th century A.D. The final compilation of Jain literature called Twelve Angas was completed in this council.

ANSWER: Gupta Period

Explanation:
There are eighteen Puranas. The most important among them are the Bhagavatha, Vishnu, Vayu and Matsya Puranas. The Mahabharatha and the Ramayana were given final touches and written in the present form during this period.

ANSWER: Vagbhata

Explanation:
Vagbhata lived during Gupta period. Charaka and Susruta lived before the Gupta age. Vagbhata was the author Ashtangasamgraha (Summary of the eight branches of medicine).

ANSWER: Pancha Siddhantika

Explanation:
Varahamihira composed Pancha Siddhantika, the five astronomical systems. He was also a great authority on astrology. His work Brihadsamhita is a great work in Sanskrit literature. It deals with a variety of subjects like astronomy, astrology, geography, architecture, weather, animals, marriage and omens. His Brihadjataka is considered to be a standard work on astrology. Vagbhata was the author Ashtangasamgraha (Summary of the eight branches of medicine). Kalidasa wrote Ritusamhara.

ANSWER: Cholas

Explanation:
The bronzes of the Chola period are world-famous. The bronze statues of Nataraja or dancing Siva are master pieces.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
The Rig Vedic Aryans worshiped the natural forces like earth, fire, wind, rain and thunder. They personified these natural forces into many gods and worshipped them. The important Rig Vedic gods were Prithvi (Earth), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Wind), Varuna (Rain) and Indra (Thunder). Gods of the Early Vedic period like Indra and Agni lost their importance and Prajapathi (the creator), Vishnu (the protector) and Rudra (the destroyer) became prominent during the Later Vedic period.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The chief male deity was Pasupati, (proto-Siva) represented in seals as sitting in a yogic posture with three faces and two horns. He is surrounded by four animals (elephant, tiger, rhino, and buffalo each facing a different direction). Two deer appear on his feet. The chief female deity was the Mother Goddess represented in terracotta figurines. In latter times, Linga worship was prevalent. Trees and animals were also worshipped by the Harappans. They believed in ghosts and evil forces and used amulets as protection against them.

ANSWER: 1234

Explanation:
The four Vedas were followed by the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the Upanishads. Aranyakas are the concluding portions of the Brahmanas and form a tradition that culminates in the Upanishads, the last phase of the Vedic literature.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
The Brahmanas are the treatises relating to prayer and sacrificial ceremony. The Upanishads are philosophical texts dealing with topic like the soul, the absolute, the origin of the world and the mysteries of nature. The Aranyakas are called forest books and they deal with mysticism, rites, rituals and sacrifices.

ANSWER: 13

Explanation:
The 13th Rock Edict gives details about his war with Kalinga (the effects of the war were described). The 8th Pillar Edict gives a summary of his efforts to promote the Dhamma within his kingdom.

ANSWER: Vaishnavism

Explanation:
A Greek ambassador Heliodorus became a Vaishnavite and erected the Garuda Pillar at Besnagar.