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

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of love poems?

  1. Gita Govinda

  2. Meghaduta

  3. Kumarasambhava

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

The Gita Govinda is a collection of love poems written by Jayadeva in the 12th century CE.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of plays?

  1. Abhijñānaśākuntalam

  2. Mṛcchakatika

  3. Uttararamacharita

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

Abhijñānaśākuntalam is a play written by Kalidasa in the 4th century CE.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of short stories?

  1. Kathasaritsagara

  2. Vetālapañcaviṃśati

  3. Śukasaptati

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

Kathasaritsagara is a collection of short stories written by Somadeva in the 11th century CE.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of medical treatises?

  1. Charaka Samhita

  2. Sushruta Samhita

  3. Ashtanga Hridaya

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

Charaka Samhita is a collection of medical treatises written by Charaka in the 1st century CE.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of astronomical treatises?

  1. Surya Siddhanta

  2. Aryabhatiya

  3. Brahma Sphuta Siddhanta

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

Surya Siddhanta is a collection of astronomical treatises written by an unknown author in the 5th century CE.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of mathematical treatises?

  1. Lilavati

  2. Bijaganita

  3. Ganita Sara Sangraha

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

Lilavati is a collection of mathematical treatises written by Bhaskara II in the 12th century CE.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of architectural treatises?

  1. Vastu Shastra

  2. Mayamata

  3. Manasara

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

Vastu Shastra is a collection of architectural treatises written by an unknown author in the 1st century CE.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of dance treatises?

  1. Natya Shastra

  2. Abhinaya Darpana

  3. Bharata Natyam

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

Natya Shastra is a collection of dance treatises written by Bharata Muni in the 2nd century BCE.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of music treatises?

  1. Sangita Ratnakara

  2. Brihaddeshi

  3. Natyashastra

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

Sangita Ratnakara is a collection of music treatises written by Sharangadeva in the 13th century CE.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian text is a collection of culinary treatises?

  1. Manasollasa

  2. Sukhasagara

  3. Bhoja Prabandha

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

Manasollasa is a collection of culinary treatises written by Someshvara III in the 12th century CE.

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 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.