General Awareness · History

Indian Literature and Texts

2,973 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

Multiple choice

The Ramayana is considered to be one of the most important texts in which religion?

  1. Hinduism

  2. Buddhism

  3. Jainism

  4. Sikhism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Ramayana is considered to be one of the most important texts in Hinduism.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the ancient Indian astronomical text that contains the works of Aryabhata?

  1. Aryabhatiya

  2. Surya Siddhanta

  3. Brahma Sphuta Siddhanta

  4. Lagadha Siddhanta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Aryabhatiya is an ancient Indian astronomical text that contains the works of Aryabhata. It is considered one of the most important texts in the history of Indian astronomy.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the ancient Indian astronomical text that contains the works of Brahmagupta?

  1. Aryabhatiya

  2. Surya Siddhanta

  3. Brahma Sphuta Siddhanta

  4. Lagadha Siddhanta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Brahma Sphuta Siddhanta is an ancient Indian astronomical text that contains the works of Brahmagupta. It is considered one of the most important texts in the history of Indian astronomy.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the ancient Indian astronomical text that contains the works of Lagadha?

  1. Aryabhatiya

  2. Surya Siddhanta

  3. Brahma Sphuta Siddhanta

  4. Lagadha Siddhanta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Lagadha Siddhanta is an ancient Indian astronomical text that contains the works of Lagadha. It is considered one of the most important texts in the history of Indian astronomy.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the oldest sacred text of Hinduism?

  1. Rigveda

  2. Yajurveda

  3. Samaveda

  4. Atharvaveda
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Rigveda is the oldest of the four Vedas, and is believed to have been composed between 1500 and 1200 BCE.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is considered to be the most sacred text of Sikhism?

  1. Guru Granth Sahib

  2. Dasam Granth

  3. Adi Granth

  4. Bani Granth
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of Sikhism, and is considered to be the living Guru of the Sikhs.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the most important sacred text of Buddhism?

  1. Tipitaka

  2. Tripitaka

  3. Sutras

  4. Vinaya
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Tipitaka is the Pali canon of Buddhist scriptures, and is considered to be the most important sacred text of Buddhism.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the most important sacred text of Judaism?

  1. Torah

  2. Nevi'im

  3. Ketuvim

  4. Tanakh
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and is considered to be the most important sacred text of Judaism.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the most important sacred text of Jainism?

  1. Agamas

  2. Upanishads

  3. Sutras

  4. Bhagavati Aradhana
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Agamas are the holy scriptures of Jainism, and are considered to be the word of the Tirthankaras.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the most important sacred text of Zoroastrianism?

  1. Avesta

  2. Gathas

  3. Yasna

  4. Vendidad
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Avesta is the holy book of Zoroastrianism, and is considered to be the word of Ahura Mazda.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the most important sacred text of Shintoism?

  1. Kojiki

  2. Nihon Shoki

  3. Fudoki

  4. Man'yōshū
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Kojiki is the oldest extant book in Japanese literature, and is considered to be the most important sacred text of Shintoism.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is considered the first major work of medieval Indian literature?

  1. The Ramayana

  2. The Mahabharata

  3. The Bhagavad Gita

  4. The Panchatantra
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Panchatantra is a collection of fables and stories that was compiled in the 3rd century BCE. It is considered to be the first major work of medieval Indian literature.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a famous medieval Indian poem?

  1. The Meghaduta

  2. The Raghuvamsha

  3. The Kumarasambhava

  4. The Kiratarjuniya
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A Correct answer
Explanation

The Meghaduta is a famous medieval Indian poem written by Kalidasa. It is a love poem in which a yaksha sends a message to his wife through a cloud.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a famous medieval Indian epic?

  1. The Ramayana

  2. The Mahabharata

  3. The Bhagavad Gita

  4. The Panchatantra
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Ramayana is a famous medieval Indian epic that tells the story of Rama, a prince who is exiled from his kingdom and must rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a famous medieval Indian religious text?

  1. The Bhagavad Gita

  2. The Upanishads

  3. The Vedas

  4. The Puranas
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Bhagavad Gita is a famous medieval Indian religious text that is part of the Mahabharata. It is a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, in which Krishna teaches Arjuna about the nature of reality and the path to liberation.