Early Indian Kingdoms: Cholas and South India

The earliest group of caves consists of caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15A. According to Walter Spink, they were made during the period 100 BCE to 100 CE, probably under the patronage of the Satavahana dynasty (230 BCE – c. 220 CE) who ruled the region.

Maduranjeral (also known as Nedunjeliyan II), a Pandyan king, is recorded in contemporary accounts as having sent emissaries to the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar and performed Vedic sacrifices. This demonstrates the Pandyan kingdom's extensive international trade connections and cultural synthesis during the Sangam age.

The Hathigumpha inscription was written by Kharavela, the ruler of the Kalinga dynasty (Mahameghavahana dynasty). This inscription, found in Udayagiri caves of Odisha, provides valuable information about Kharavela's conquests and achievements. The other dynasties mentioned - Vakatakas, Pushyabhutis, and Kalachuris - ruled in different regions and time periods.

Correct Answer: Rajendra III

In the Chola administrative system, Taniyur was a large village that served as an important administrative unit. It was bigger than a typical Nadu and was often the center of a group of villages. Kottam was a larger territorial division (district), Khurram was not a Chola term, and Nadu was a smaller unit comprising a group of villages.

The Pattini cult (worship of Kannagi as the ideal wife) was started by the Chola ruler Senguttuvan (also known as Chenaguttuvan). According to legend, he built a temple for Kannagi after hearing the story of Silapaddikaram. Karikala was a different Chola ruler known for building the Grand Anicut, Nedunjeral Adan was a Pandya ruler, and Ilango Adigal was the author of Silapaddikaram (Senguttuvan's brother).

The Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi had very close political and matrimonial relations with the Chola dynasty. Many Chola princesses married into the Vengi Chalukya royal family and vice versa. The Chalukyas of Kalyani and Badami were rivals of the Cholas and fought against them, particularly over control of the fertile Vengi region.

In the Chola judicial system, local assemblies (Sabhas and Ur) had significant autonomy. The laws and judicial decisions were often declarations of local institutions, and the king's approval was NOT necessary for these declarations - they functioned independently. Option B correctly identifies what was NOT true about the Chola judicial system. The disputes were indeed resolved with the help of local officers.

Kulottunga I (also spelled Kulotung I) was the Chola ruler who married his daughter to a Sinhalese prince from Sri Lanka. This matrimonial alliance was part of Chola diplomatic efforts to maintain influence in Sri Lanka after Rajendra I's conquests. The marriage helped strengthen Chola-Sinhalese relations during a period of changing political dynamics.

Correct Answer: Cholas

The Chola fleet represented the zenith of ancient Indian sea power. In the period of 984-1042 CE, the Chola kings dispatched great naval expeditions which occupied parts of Burma, Malaya and Sumatra, while suppressing the piratical activities of the Sumatra warlords.

Nedunjeliyan (also spelled Nedunjeliyan) was a Pandyan king mentioned in the Tamil epic Silapaddikaram. He ruled Madurai and is referenced in connection with the story of Kovalan and Kannagi. Ilanjetcenni was an early Pandyan ruler, Karikala was a Chola ruler, and Ilango Adigal was the author of Silapaddikaram (not a king).

Option (4) is the correct answer. 

Tirukkural is often called the 'Bible of the Tamil Land' due to its universal moral and ethical teachings. Written by the poet-saint Tiruvalluvar, it consists of 1330 couplets covering various aspects of life including virtue, wealth, and love. Its timeless wisdom has earned it this reverent title. Manimegalai, Tolkappiyam, and Purananuru are important Tamil works but are not referred to by this title.