General Awareness · Civics Polity

Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics

2,971 Questions

Indian philosophy spans diverse concepts from Buddhist teachings and practices to ancient aesthetics. This collection covers meditation rules, spiritual enlightenment, and cultural expressions like Odissi. These topics are vital for general awareness in civil services and state exams.

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Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are correct in relation to Samudragupta?

  1. He was a great patron of art and literature.
  2. He was a firm believer in Buddhism.
  3. He had friendly relations with the Malwas, the Yaudheyas, the Arjunayanas, the Maduras and the Abhiras, all of which provided strength to his empire.

  1. 1, 2 and 3

  2. Only 1 and 2

  3. Only 1

  4. Only 1 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Samudragupta was not only a talented military leader but also a great patron of art and literature. He was a firm believer in Hinduism and is known to have worshipped Lord Vishnu. He attacked the Malwas, the Yaudheyas, the Arjunayanas, the Maduras and the Abhiras, all of which were tribes in the area.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

  1. The earliest Pandya to be found in epigraph is Nedunjeliyan.
  2. Pandyas are also mentioned in the Pillars of Ashoka.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The earliest Pandya to be found in epigraph is Nedunjeliyan. The record documents a gift of rock-cut beds, to a Jain ascetic. Statement 2 is also correct: Pandyas are also mentioned in the Pillars of Ashoka (inscribed 273 - 232 BCE).

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true in relation to the Pandyas?

  1. The Pandyas derived great wealth from the pearl trade.
  2. Jainism gained a foothold in the Pandyan kingdom.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Megasthenes reported about the pearl fisheries of the Pandyas, indicating that the Pandyas derived great wealth from the pearl trade. Historical Madurai was a stronghold of Saivism. However, with the invasion of Kalabhras, Jainism gained a foothold in the Pandyan kingdom.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct in reference to the Cholas?

  1. Under the Cholas, the Tamil country reached new heights of excellence in art, religion and literature.
  2. The Cholas, discarded the temple-building traditions of the Pallava dynasty and contributed significantly to the Dravidian temple design through their new styles.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Under the Cholas, the Tamil country reached new heights of excellence in art, religion and literature. In all of these spheres, the Chola period marked the culmination of movements that had begun in an earlier age under the Pallavas. The Cholas, did not discard and in fact, continued the temple-building traditions of the Pallava dynasty and contributed significantly to the Dravidian temple design.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct in relation to the Cholas?

  1. The Cholas were the adherents of Jainism.
  2. The Chola temples acted not only as places of worship but also as centres of economic activity.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is wrong: In general, Cholas were the adherents of Hinduism. Throughout their history, they were not swayed by the rise of Buddhism and Jainism as were the kings of the Pallava and Pandya dynasties. Even the early Cholas followed a version of the classical Hindu faith. Statement 2 is correct: The Chola kings built temples and endowed them with great wealth. The temples acted not only as places of worship but also as centres of economic activity, benefiting their entire community.

Multiple choice

The Hindu law recognises ____ persons as natural guardians.

  1. two

  2. three

  3. four

  4. five

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act provides three types of natural guardians. In case of a boy or an unmarried girl, the natural guardian will be the father and after him, the mother. In case of an illegitimate boy or an illegitimate unmarried girl, the natural guardian will be the mother and after her, the father. In case of a married girl, the natural guardian will be the husband.

Multiple choice

An idol of Lord Krishna in a temple is

  1. a natural person

  2. a legal person

  3. not a legal person in the eye of law because only the priest of the temple may be a legal person

  4. not a person because no personality can be conferred
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Legal personality may be granted to entities other than individual human beings, e.g. a group of human beings, a fund or an idol. Twenty men may form a corporation which may sue and be sued in the corporate name. An idol may be regarded as legal persona in itself or a particular fund may be incorporated.

Multiple choice

Jain scholars produced a wealth of literature in various languages. Which of the following is not included in it?

  1. Prakrit

  2. Sanskrit

  3. Telugu

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Jain scholars produced extensive literature in Prakrit (the language of early Jain texts) and Sanskrit (the language of scholarly discourse). Telugu, a Dravidian language, was not traditionally part of the Jain literary corpus, which focused on Indo-Aryan languages.

Multiple choice

Identify the following statements as true (T) or false (F). (a) Tathagata was another name for Mahavira. (b) Stupa in Sanskrit means a heap. (c) Buddha’s real mother was Mahapajapati Gotami. (d) Mahachaitya is at Amravati.

(e) Sanchi stupa was discovered in 1918.

  1. TFTFF

  2. FTFTF

  3. TFFFT

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

Tathagata was another name for Buddha. Mahapajapati Gotami was Buddha’s foster mother. Sanchi was discovered in 1818.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are not the feature(s) of a stupa?

  1. It originated as a simple semi-circular mound of earth.

  2. Above the anda was Harmica, a balcony, the abode of gods.

  3. Arising from the harmika was a mast called yashti.

  4. Yashti was surmounted by a flag.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Yashti was surmounted by a Chhatri (an umbrella).

Multiple choice

Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

  1. Kauravas – Sons of Dhritrashtra

  2. Dharma shastras – Sanskrit text

  3. Ekalavya – Pupil of Drona

  4. Suvarnakara – The goldsmiths
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Eklavya was a nishada (a hunting community). On account of his dharma, Drona refused to accept him as a pupil.

Multiple choice

Match the following:

 
1. Brahmanas (i) Study and teach the Vedas
2. Kshatriyas (ii) Engage in trade and agriculture
3. Vaishyas (iii) Engage in warfare and protect people
4. Shudras (iv) Servitude

  1. 1 - i, 2 - iii, 3 - ii, 4 - iv

  2. 1 - iv, 2 - iii, 3 - ii, 4 - i

  3. 1 - i, 2 - iv, 3 - ii, 4 - iii

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This matches the four varnas with their prescribed duties: Brahmanas (i) study and teach Vedas, Kshatriyas (iii) engage in warfare and protect people, Vaishyas (ii) engage in trade and agriculture, and Shudras (iv) serve the other three varnas. This alignment reflects the traditional varna dharma system described in Dharmashastras.