Medieval History of India

91. At which one of the following places is the Vitthala temple located?

At which one of the following places is the Vitthala temple located?

[amp_mcq option1=”Elephanta” option2=”Chidambaram” option3=”Hampi” option4=”Nagarjunakonda” correct=”option3″]

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The Vitthala Temple complex is located in Hampi, Karnataka. Hampi was the capital of the powerful Vijayanagara Empire (14th to 16th centuries). The Vitthala Temple is one of the most magnificent structures in Hampi, known for its impressive architecture, intricate carvings, musical pillars, and the iconic stone chariot.
Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserving the ruins of the Vijayanagara capital. The Vitthala Temple is a major highlight of the site, showcasing the architectural prowess of the Vijayanagara period.
Elephanta caves are near Mumbai, famous for Shaivite rock-cut architecture. Chidambaram is in Tamil Nadu, home to the famous Thillai Nataraja Temple (Shiva as the cosmic dancer). Nagarjunakonda is an archaeological site in Andhra Pradesh, known for ancient Buddhist structures from the Ikshvaku dynasty period.

92. Consider the following statements about the Lingayats : 1. They bury t

Consider the following statements about the Lingayats :
1. They bury their dead
2. They are great believers in the caste system, especially in the theory of purity and pollution
3. They are against child marriage and favour widow remarriage

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2″ option2=”1 only” option3=”2 and 3″ option4=”1 and 3″ correct=”option4″]

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Statement 1 is correct. Lingayats, unlike most other Hindu communities in India, typically bury their dead instead of cremating them. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Lingayat movement, founded by Basava in the 12th century, explicitly challenged the caste system, rejected the authority of the Vedas, and opposed Brahminical rituals and the concept of purity and pollution associated with caste. They preached equality among all adherents. Statement 3 is correct. The Lingayat movement advocated for social reforms, including opposition to child marriage and promotion of widow remarriage, which were radical stances at the time.
The Lingayat movement (also known as Virashaivism) originated in Karnataka in the 12th century under the leadership of Basava and his followers (Sharana movement). It is a distinctive tradition within Shaivism, emphasizing devotion to Shiva in the form of Ishalinga worn on the body.
Lingayats are a significant community in Karnataka. While the movement started as a reformist one rejecting caste, over time, internal social stratification did emerge within the community, although the foundational philosophy remained anti-caste and socially reformist.

93. Which one of the following is the correct description of Kandaria

Which one of the following is the correct description of Kandaria Mahadeo?

[amp_mcq option1=”A Shiva temple at Elephanta” option2=”The title of a work by Bhatti” option3=”The capital of Chandella kings” option4=”A temple at Khajuraho” correct=”option4″]

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Kandariya Mahadeo is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the Khajuraho complex in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is one of the largest and most ornate temples built by the Chandella rulers between 1025 and 1050 AD. It is renowned for its extensive carvings and elaborate architecture, representing the pinnacle of Chandella temple building.
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its temples famous for their Nagara style architecture and erotic sculptures. The Kandariya Mahadeo temple is the most prominent structure within this complex.
Elephanta refers to caves near Mumbai known for rock-cut sculptures, predominantly dedicated to Shiva. Bhatti was a Sanskrit poet (possibly 6th or 7th century CE), author of the Bhatti-kavya or Ravanavadha. The Chandella kings were a Rajput dynasty who ruled parts of central India during the medieval period and are famous for building the temples at Khajuraho. Option D correctly identifies the location and nature of Kandariya Mahadeo.

94. Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti Movement in Sou

Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti Movement in South India is NOT correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Nalayira Divyaprabandham was also known as the Tamil Veda” option2=”Andal was an Alvar” option3=”Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a devotee of Vishnu” option4=”Metal images of the saints Appar and Sundarar were made and then consecrated in a Shiva temple” correct=”option3″]

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Statement C is incorrect. Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a prominent figure in the Bhakti movement in Tamil Nadu, but she was a devotee of Shiva. She is considered one of the earliest and most revered of the 63 Nayanars, the Saivite saints.
The Bhakti movement in South India saw the rise of two major groups of poet-saints: the Alvars, who were devotees of Vishnu, and the Nayanars, who were devotees of Shiva. The hymns of the Alvars were collected in the Nalayira Divyaprabandham, while the hymns of the Nayanars were compiled later into works like the Tevaram and Tiruvachakam. Both movements emphasized personal devotion and challenged some aspects of the prevailing social and religious norms.
Andal was a famous female Alvar, known for her passionate devotion to Vishnu (specifically Ranganatha). The Nalayira Divyaprabandham is highly regarded and is sometimes referred to as the Tamil Veda due to its religious significance. The practice of making and consecrating metal images of saints in temples was common, particularly within the Shaiva tradition in South India, honoring the contributions of figures like the Nayanars.

95. The Sufi work Kashf-ul-Mahjub was written by

The Sufi work Kashf-ul-Mahjub was written by

[amp_mcq option1=”Abu’l Hasan al Hujwiri” option2=”Moinuddin Chishti” option3=”Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya” option4=”Amir Khusrau” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) Abu’l Hasan al Hujwiri.
The Sufi work ‘Kashf-ul-Mahjub’ (meaning ‘Revelation of the Veiled’ or ‘Unveiling of the Hidden’) is a celebrated classic of Sufi literature. It was written by Abu’l Hasan al Hujwiri, also known as Ali Hujwiri or Data Ganj Bakhsh. He was a 10th/11th-century Persian Sufi scholar and theologian from Ghazni who traveled widely before settling in Lahore, where his shrine is located. ‘Kashf-ul-Mahjub’ is considered one of the earliest and most comprehensive formal treatises on Sufism in Persian.

The other options are prominent Sufi figures, but they are not the author of ‘Kashf-ul-Mahjub’:
– Moinuddin Chishti is the founder of the Chishti order in India.
– Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya was a prominent saint of the Chishti order in Delhi.
– Amir Khusrau was a renowned poet, musician, and scholar, and a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya.

‘Kashf-ul-Mahjub’ discusses various aspects of Sufism, including its principles, practices, different schools of thought, and biographies of earlier Sufi saints. It has been an influential text in the development of Sufism, particularly in the Indian subcontinent after Hujwiri settled in Lahore.

96. Which one of the following musicians served at the courts of Raja Man

Which one of the following musicians served at the courts of Raja Man Singh Tomar and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Baiju Bawra” option2=”Tansen” option3=”Lal Kalawant” option4=”Rang Khan Kalawant” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) Baiju Bawra.
Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior (ruled c. 1486-1516) was a renowned patron of music, particularly the Dhrupad style. Gwalior was a significant center of music during his reign. Baiju Bawra is a legendary figure strongly associated with Gwalior and the court of Raja Man Singh Tomar. Historical accounts and popular legends also link Baiju Bawra to the court of Bahadur Shah of Gujarat (ruled 1526-1535, 1536-1537), mentioning his musical prowess in both regions.

While Tansen (initially named Ramtanu Pandey) was also trained in Gwalior and likely started his career in regional courts (like Rewa), his most famous association was with the court of Emperor Akbar. Lal Kalawant and Rang Khan Kalawant are names associated with the Kalawant lineage of musicians but are not as prominently linked to the courts of both Man Singh Tomar and Bahadur Shah as Baiju Bawra is in historical accounts and legends.

Baiju Bawra is considered one of the giants of Indian classical music during the medieval period. His legacy is particularly strong in the Dhrupad tradition. Legends often portray him as a contemporary or rival of Tansen, showcasing his extraordinary musical abilities through various anecdotal stories.

97. What is Sant bhasha ?

What is Sant bhasha ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Language of the nirguna mystics” option2=”Language of the ulatbansi mystics” option3=”Language of the nirakar mystics” option4=”Language of the saguna mystics” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) Language of the nirguna mystics.
“Sant bhasha” (संत भाषा), also known as “Sadhukkadi” (सधुक्कड़ी) or “Panchmel Khichdi”, refers to the mixed language used by the Sant poets of the Bhakti movement in North India, particularly those belonging to the Nirguna tradition.

* The Nirguna mystics, such as Kabir, Guru Nanak, Ravidas, Dadu Dayal, etc., worshipped a formless (nirguna) God. They travelled widely and composed their devotional poetry (pad, doha, sakhi) in a language that incorporated vocabulary and grammatical structures from various North Indian dialects and languages (like Khari Boli, Braj Bhasha, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Purabi, etc.).
* This mixed language served as a means of communication for the wandering saints and was accessible to people from different regions.
* Option B) Language of the ulatbansi mystics: Ulatbansi refers to paradoxical or enigmatic verses often used by Nirguna sants to convey complex spiritual truths. It is a style of poetry, not a type of language itself.
* Option C) Language of the nirakar mystics: “Nirakar” means formless, which is synonymous with “Nirguna”. So, this option is essentially the same as A. However, the term “Sant bhasha” is the conventional term used to describe the language of the Sant tradition, which is predominantly associated with the Nirguna path.
* Option D) Language of the saguna mystics: Saguna mystics (like Tulsidas, Surdas, Meera Bai) worshipped God with form (saguna) and often used specific regional literary dialects (e.g., Braj Bhasha for Krishna devotees, Awadhi for Rama devotees) with more regional purity compared to the mixed language of the Nirguna sants.

While “Nirakar mystics” language (C) is semantically close, “Sant bhasha” is the established term describing the language of the Nirguna tradition (A).

The Sant tradition emphasized the equality of all humans, rejected caste distinctions and rituals, and focused on direct devotion to God through love and knowledge. Their use of common, mixed languages helped spread their message among the masses.

98. Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Sharaf Qai was a minister of Allauddin Khalji” option2=”Under Giyasuddin Tughluq Muqtis were warned not to ill-treat any of their officials for small amounts taken over and above their salaries” option3=”The Arabic work masalik-i-Absar gives description of the functioning of Iqta system under Muhammad bin Tughluq” option4=”Marco Polo has not mentioned about Pearl Fishery of Tuticorin in South India” correct=”option4″]

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Marco Polo, the famous Venetian traveler, visited South India in the late 13th century and in his travelogue, *The Travels of Marco Polo*, he explicitly mentioned and described the vibrant pearl fisheries in the region, which is widely believed to refer to the fishery in the Gulf of Mannar, near Tuticorin. Therefore, the statement that he has *not* mentioned it is incorrect.
Marco Polo’s account is a valuable primary source for understanding the economic activities and geography of parts of India during the late 13th century.
Sharaf Qai (or Qazi Sharaf Qai) was indeed associated with Alauddin Khalji’s administration, particularly noted for his role in revenue administration and curbing corruption. Ghiyasuddin Tughluq implemented policies aimed at reforming the iqta system and preventing the exploitation of officials and peasants by muqtis. The Arabic work *Masalik al-Absar fi Mamalik al-Amsar* by Shihab al-Din al-Umari is a significant source for the administrative details of the Tughluq period, including aspects of the iqta system under Muhammad bin Tughluq.

99. In which one of the following buildings the first extant true arch is

In which one of the following buildings the first extant true arch is found ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Arhai din ka Jhonpra” option2=”Quwwat ul Islam Mosque” option3=”Tomb of Sultan Balban” option4=”Alai Darwaza” correct=”option3″]

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The Tomb of Sultan Balban (completed around 1287 AD) in Delhi is considered to contain the earliest known examples of true arches in Indo-Islamic architecture that are still standing. While earlier structures used corbelling techniques, Balban’s tomb featured rudimentary true arches.
True arches, unlike corbelled arches, distribute weight sideways to the piers or abutments, allowing for wider spans and greater structural stability. Their introduction marked a significant architectural development.
The Quwwat ul Islam Mosque (late 12th century) and the Arhai din ka Jhonpra (late 12th century) primarily utilized corbelled arches. The Alai Darwaza (built by Alauddin Khalji in the early 14th century) is a later structure that showcases perfected true arches and a dome, representing a mature phase of Delhi Sultanate architecture.

100. Which one of the following pairs of term and meaning is NOT correctly

Which one of the following pairs of term and meaning is NOT correctly matched ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Khalisa : Villages whose income went directly to the State Treasury” option2=”Mauza : Rebellious territory” option3=”Inam : Land allotted to learned and religious man” option4=”Jagir : Territorial assignment given to Mansabdars in lieu of salary” correct=”option2″]

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The pair “Mauza : Rebellious territory” is NOT correctly matched.
In the context of land revenue administration, particularly during the Mughal and British periods, a ‘Mauza’ (or mouza/mouza) referred to a revenue village or a cluster of villages treated as a revenue unit. It was not related to rebellious territory.
A) **Khalisa:** Correctly matched. These were lands whose revenue was reserved for the imperial treasury.
C) **Inam:** Correctly matched. These were usually grants of revenue-free land given to learned or religious persons, or for charitable institutions.
D) **Jagir:** Correctly matched. These were assignments of land revenue (not necessarily land itself, but the right to collect revenue from a specific area) given to Mansabdars (military and civil officials) in lieu of cash salaries. The jagir was the territorial unit from which the Mansabdar collected revenue.
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