General Awareness · History
Indian Literature and Texts
3,277 Questions
Indian literature features rich ancient texts, epics like the Mahabharata, and philosophical Upanishads. This topic covers seminal works of Indian mythology and Sanskrit tradition. It is a highly scoring area in UPSC, state PSC, and other competitive examinations.
Ancient Indian epicsSacred Hindu textsSanskrit traditionIndian mythologyJain literary texts
Indian Literature and Texts Questions
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Rigveda
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Samaveda
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Yajurveda
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None of these
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The Gayatri Mantra is a highly revered mantra from the Rigveda, which is the oldest of the four Vedas. It is dedicated to Savitr, the solar deity.
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Sutras
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Vedas
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Shastras
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None of these.
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Sutras are a genre of ancient Indian texts that serve as manuals or aphoristic instructions on various subjects, including rituals, grammar, and philosophy.
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Atharvaveda
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Samaveda
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Yajurveda
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Rigveda
D
Correct answer
Explanation
The Rigveda is the oldest Veda and provides significant information about the social, religious, and political conditions of the early Vedic period.
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Samaveda
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Yajurveda
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Rigveda
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Atharvaveda
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The Rigveda is the oldest of the four Vedas and one of the oldest religious texts in the world.
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Chhandogya Upanishad
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Anguttara Nikaya
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Auppadhik Sutra
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Uttaradhyayan Sutra
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The Anguttara Nikaya, a Buddhist text, contains the earliest known list of the 16 Mahajanapadas.
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Sruits
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Smritis
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Commentaries
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All of these
D
Correct answer
Explanation
The primary or ancient sources of Hindu law are as follows:
(i) Shruti
(ii) Smriti
(iii) Digests and Commentaries
(iv) Custom
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Rigveda
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Yajurveda
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Samveda
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All of these
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The Rig Veda is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns. It is one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism known as the Vedas.
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Rigveda
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Yajurveda
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Samveda
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Atharvaveda
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The Yajurveda is divided into two main samhitas: the Shukla (White) Yajurveda and the Krishna (Black) Yajurveda.
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Prose
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Poetry
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Drama
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All of the above
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Sangam literature, the ancient Tamil literature of South India, is primarily composed of poetry, specifically the Ettuthogai (Eight Anthologies) and Pattupattu (Ten Idylls).
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The Rig Veda
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The Sama Veda
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The Mahabharatha
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The Ramayana
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The Rig Veda is the oldest of the four Vedas and provides the primary source of information about the early Vedic civilization.
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Katyayana Srautasutra
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Budhayana Grihyasutra
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Apastamba Dhrmasutra
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Budhayana Dhrmasutra
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Yajur Veda
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Sama Veda
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Rig Veda
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Atharva Veda
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The Rig Veda is widely recognized as the oldest of the four Vedas and one of the oldest extant texts in any Indo-European language, composed during the Vedic period.
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Rig Veda
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Sam Veda
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Yajur Veda
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Atharva Veda
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The Sama Veda is known as the Veda of melodies and chants. It contains the musical foundations for the hymns of the Rig Veda, including forms like the Dhrupada Raga.
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Mahabharata and Ramayana reflect the state of affairs of Later Vedic period
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The Mahabharata is considered older than Ramayana
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The Ramayana is attributed to Vyasa
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The Ramayana is attributed to Valmiki
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The Ramayana is traditionally attributed to the sage Valmiki, not Vyasa. Vyasa is the traditional author of the Mahabharata.
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The canon of chants
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The canon of charms
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The canon of stanzas
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The canon of formulae
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The word Rig Veda is derived from 'ric', meaning praise or verse, and 'veda', meaning knowledge. It is essentially a collection of hymns or chants.