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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

Multiple choice

The sacred text of Islam

  1. Bible

  2. Torah

  3. Quran

  4. Bhagavad Gita
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Quran is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the verbatim word of God. The Bible is sacred to Christianity, the Torah to Judaism, and the Bhagavad Gita to Hinduism.

Multiple choice

Which religion has sacred writings called the Upanishads and the 4 Vedas?

  1. Hinduism

  2. Buddhism

  3. Christianity

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

The Vedas and the Upanishads are ancient Sanskrit texts that form the foundational sacred scriptures of Hinduism. Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam rely on other sacred texts, such as the Tripitaka, the Bible, and the Quran, respectively.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not included in the Vedic texts?

  1. reflections on the Vedas by religious people

  2. historical accounts of the Aryan migration

  3. descriptions of how to perform sacrifices

  4. hymns to gods
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Vedas are religious texts containing hymns, rituals, and philosophical reflections; they are not historical chronicles of the Aryan migration.

Multiple choice

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the Vedic texts and the Vedas?

  1. Vedic texts were a collection of thoughts about the Vedas.

  2. Vedic texts contained the same sacred hymns as the Vedas.

  3. The Vedas were based on the teachings in the Vedic texts.

  4. The Vedas described how Aryans should use the Vedic texts.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Vedas are the oldest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism, consisting of hymns and rituals. The Vedic texts, such as the Upanishads, were written later as reflections, thoughts, and commentaries on these original teachings. Therefore, they represent a collection of thoughts about the Vedas.

Multiple choice

Sacred Aryan writings are called

  1. Vedas

  2. Sundra

  3. Vaisya

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

The Vedas are the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, composed in Sanskrit by the ancient Aryans. They contain hymns, rituals, and philosophical guidance that form the foundation of Hindu religious practice. Other options like Vaisya refer to social classes, while the Mahabharata is a later epic.

Multiple choice

How did the Vedic texts develop?

  1. When Jesus wrote them.

  2. When Brahmins wrote down their thoughts about the Vedas.

  3. When Afrikaners wrote the laws of apartheid

  4. When the Buddha found enlightenment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Vedas are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. The Upanishads and other texts were later written by Brahmins to interpret and expand upon the philosophical ideas contained within the Vedas.

Multiple choice

who published journal asiatic researches ?

  1. thomas babingtan maucauly

  2. william jones

  3. coolebrooke

  4. charles wood
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Asiatic Society (founded by Jones) published 'Asiatic Researches' journal starting in 1788. William Jones was the key figure behind both the society and the journal. Option B is correct.

Multiple choice

Some of the earliest works in Tamil, known as

  1. Sangam literature

  2. tamil literature

  3. Hindi literature

  4. all of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sangam literature refers to the earliest known Tamil literature, composed between 300 BCE and 300 CE.