Medieval History of India

261. Which European traveller had observed, “A Hindu woman can go anywhere

Which European traveller had observed, “A Hindu woman can go anywhere alone, even in the most crowded places, and she need never fear the impertinent looks and jokes of idle loungers”?

[amp_mcq option1=”Francois Bernier” option2=”Jean-Baptiste Tavernier” option3=”Thomas Roe” option4=”Abbe J. A. Dubois” correct=”option4″]

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The observation about the safety and respect accorded to Hindu women traveling alone is made by Abbe J. A. Dubois.
Abbe J. A. Dubois was a French missionary who lived in India for many years in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He wrote extensively about Indian society, customs, and manners based on his direct observations.
His book ‘Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies’ provides a detailed, albeit sometimes biased, account of Indian life during his time. The quote reflects a specific observation he made about the societal norms and safety environment for women in the regions he visited, which stands in contrast to some other accounts or later perceptions influenced by colonial narratives or changing social conditions. Francois Bernier and Jean-Baptiste Tavernier were French travelers in the 17th century, and Sir Thomas Roe was an English ambassador in the early 17th century; while they wrote about India, this particular observation is specifically attributed to Dubois.

262. Which one of the following statements about the Elephanta Island is

Which one of the following statements about the Elephanta Island is correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”It was given its name by the British after a large elephant structure located there.” option2=”It contains one large cave.” option3=”It is well-known for a spectacular carving of Vishnu described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana.” option4=”It is associated with the Pashupata sect.” correct=”option4″]

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The caves on Elephanta Island are primarily dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and contain magnificent sculptures depicting various forms and legends of Shiva. The iconography and style of the sculptures strongly suggest an association with the Pashupata sect of Shaivism, which was prominent during the period of their creation (roughly 5th-8th centuries AD).
Elephanta Caves are dedicated to Shiva and associated with the Pashupata sect.
Option A is partially correct in that the island got its name from an elephant structure, but it was given by the Portuguese, not the British. Option B is incorrect as there are multiple caves, although Cave 1 is the largest and most significant. Option C is incorrect as the main deity depicted is Shiva, not Vishnu.

263. Which of the following is/are the feature(s) of the Brahmadeya Grants

Which of the following is/are the feature(s) of the Brahmadeya Grants during c 600-1200 AD?

  • 1. Their creation meant a renunciation of actual or potential sources of revenue by the State.
  • 2. These grants could vary from a small plot to several villages.
  • 3. Most grants were made in unsettled areas.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

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All three statements correctly describe features of Brahmadeya grants (land grants to Brahmins) prevalent between c. 600 and 1200 AD. Statement 1 is correct because granting land often meant the state alienated potential revenue from that land. Statement 2 is correct as grants varied in size from small plots to multiple villages. Statement 3 is correct because grants, especially in earlier periods, were often made in undeveloped or forested areas with the aim of bringing them under cultivation and settling new populations, including Brahmins, thereby extending state control and influence.
Brahmadeya grants involved revenue alienation, varied in size, and were often made in unsettled areas to promote agriculture and settlement.
Brahmadeya grants were a significant feature of the early medieval Indian economy and society. They not only supported religious and scholarly activities but also played a role in the expansion of agriculture, the spread of Sanskrit culture and Brahmanical religion, and the decentralization of political power. The grants often came with fiscal and administrative immunities.

264. The idea of ‘Farr-i Izadi’, on which the Mughal kingship was based, wa

The idea of ‘Farr-i Izadi’, on which the Mughal kingship was based, was first developed by which one of the following Sufi saints?

[amp_mcq option1=”Shihabuddin Suhrawardi” option2=”Nizamuddin Auliya” option3=”Ibn al-Arabi” option4=”Bayazid Bistami” correct=”option1″]

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The idea of ‘Farr-i Izadi’, on which the Mughal kingship was based, was first developed by the Sufi saint Shihabuddin Suhrawardi.
‘Farr-i Izadi’ means ‘Divine Light’ or ‘Divine Effulgence’. This concept, signifying a divine effulgence that transmits sovereignty and legitimacy to the ruler, was articulated by the 12th-century Persian Sufi philosopher Shihabuddin Suhrawardi, the founder of the Illuminationist (Ishraqi) school. The Mughal emperors, particularly Akbar, incorporated this idea into their political ideology to assert their divine right to rule and project an image of a ruler possessing divine wisdom and authority, independent of orthodox religious clergy.
Akbar’s court historian, Abul Fazl, prominently used the concept of ‘Farr-i Izadi’ in his historical works, such as the Akbarnama and Ain-i Akbari, to legitimize Akbar’s universal kingship. He described the ruler as a recipient of this divine light, which bestowed upon him wisdom, justice, and the capacity for universal compassion, making him the ideal sovereign.

265. Name the platform used for ritual purposes by the kings of the Vijayan

Name the platform used for ritual purposes by the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire.

[amp_mcq option1=”Mahanavami Dibba” option2=”Lotus Mahal” option3=”Hazara Rama” option4=”Virupaksha” correct=”option1″]

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The Mahanavami Dibba was the platform used for ritual purposes by the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The Mahanavami Dibba is a large, elaborately carved stone platform located in the Royal Centre of Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. It served as the main stage for royal ceremonies, particularly the Mahanavami festival (also known as Dussehra), where the king presided over parades, sports, and religious rituals demonstrating the empire’s power and prosperity.
The platform is layered and features numerous carvings depicting processions, battles, hunting scenes, dancers, and various aspects of daily life and courtly activities during the empire. The rituals performed here reinforced the king’s authority and connection to the divine. Lotus Mahal was a secular building, Hazara Rama temple was a royal temple, and Virupaksha temple was the main temple dedicated to the patron deity of the empire, but none of these were the primary ritual platform like the Mahanavami Dibba.

266. Who was/were the 10th century composer(s) of the Nalayira Divya

Who was/were the 10th century composer(s) of the Nalayira Divya Prabamdham?

[amp_mcq option1=”Alvars” option2=”Nayanars” option3=”Appar” option4=”Sambandar” correct=”option1″]

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The Nalayira Divya Prabamdham is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by the Alvars, Tamil saint-poets who were followers of Vaishnavism. While the main period of the Alvars spanned from the 6th to 9th centuries CE, their work was compiled and organized by Nathamuni, a Srivaishnava scholar, possibly in the late 9th or 10th century. The verses themselves are attributed to the Alvars.
– The Nalayira Divya Prabamdham is a key sacred text of Vaishnavism.
– Its composers are the Alvars.
– The compilation occurred around the 10th century.
The Nayanars were Shaivite saint-poets whose devotional works, primarily the Tevaram (composed by Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar), are central to Shaivism. Appar and Sambandar were prominent Nayanars, not composers of the Nalayira Divya Prabamdham. The verses of the Alvars are considered equivalent to the Vedas in the Tamil tradition by Srivaishnavites.

267. What is the name of the literary genre developed by the Khojas who are

What is the name of the literary genre developed by the Khojas who are a branch of the Ismaili sect?

[amp_mcq option1=”Ginan” option2=”Ziyarat” option3=”Raag” option4=”Shahada” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is (A) Ginan.
The Khojas, a community primarily associated with the Nizari branch of Shia Islam in the Indian subcontinent, have a distinctive body of devotional literature known as ‘Ginan’ (knowledge). Ginans are hymns or sacred songs composed by Pirs (spiritual guides) associated with the Ismaili tradition, incorporating elements of Islamic, Gnostic, and Indic thought.
Ginans are sung communally in the Jama’at Khana (Khoja prayer hall) and serve as religious education, devotional expression, and historical narrative for the community. They are primarily in various Indo-Aryan languages like Gujarati, Sindhi, Punjabi, and Urdu.

268. Consider the following statement: “So much is wrung from the peasants,

Consider the following statement:
“So much is wrung from the peasants, that even dry bread is scarcely left to fill their stomachs.”
Who among the following European travellers had made the above statement about the condition of peasantry in the Mughal Empire?

[amp_mcq option1=”Francisco Pelsaert” option2=”Francois Bernier” option3=”Jean-Baptiste Tavernier” option4=”Niccolao Manucci” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is (A) Francisco Pelsaert.
The statement, “So much is wrung from the peasants, that even dry bread is scarcely left to fill their stomachs,” is a well-known quote describing the harsh condition of the peasantry in the Mughal Empire, attributed to the Dutch traveller Francisco Pelsaert. Pelsaert was associated with the Dutch East India Company and resided in Agra between 1620 and 1627.
Pelsaert’s work, ‘Remonstrantie’ (Memoirs), provides a detailed, albeit critical, account of economic and social conditions in the Mughal Empire during the reign of Jahangir. Francois Bernier also provided significant accounts of the Mughal Empire but this specific quote is from Pelsaert.

269. Which one of the following statements is not correct?

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”Al-Biruni identifies the Sufi doctrine of divine love as self-annihilation with parallel passages from Bhagavad Gita.” option2=”According to Al-Biruni, Sufi theories of Soul were similar to those in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.” option3=”The Hatha Yogic treatise Amrita Kunda had lasting impact on Sufism.” option4=”Hujwiri’s conversation with the Yogis shows that he was impressed with their theory of the division of the human body.” correct=”option4″]

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The correct answer is (D) Hujwiri’s conversation with the Yogis shows that he was impressed with their theory of the division of the human body.
While Al-Biruni and Hujwiri did engage with Indian philosophical and religious systems, specifically Yoga and its practitioners:
A and B are correct. Al-Biruni in his *Kitab fi Tahqiq ma li’l-Hind* (Indica) discussed Indian philosophical concepts, finding parallels between Sufi ideas like *fana* (annihilation) and concepts from the Bhagavad Gita, and comparing Sufi theories of the soul with Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
C is correct. The Sanskrit Hatha Yoga text *Amrita Kunda* was translated into Arabic and Persian and influenced Sufi physiological and mystical practices.
D is likely incorrect. Hujwiri, in his *Kashf al-Mahjub*, mentions encountering Yogis and discusses their practices. While he noted some similarities in asceticism and detachment with Sufism, his overall tone is generally critical from an Islamic perspective, and there is no strong evidence to suggest he was “impressed” specifically by their theory of the division of the human body (like chakras or subtle physiology) in a way that implies acceptance or admiration from his Islamic standpoint. His account is more of an observation and a comparison/contrast exercise.
The interaction between Sufism and Indian yogic traditions was complex, involving both exchange and critical evaluation. Scholars like Al-Biruni provided objective (though not always perfectly accurate) accounts, while Sufi masters like Hujwiri and later figures reflected this interaction through their writings and practices.

270. Around twelfth century, Sufi Silsilas began to crystallize in differen

Around twelfth century, Sufi Silsilas began to crystallize in different parts of the Islamic world to signify

  • 1. continuous link between the master and disciple
  • 2. unbroken spiritual genealogy to the Prophet Muhammad
  • 3. the transmission of spiritual power and blessings to devotees

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

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In Sufism, a ‘Silsila’ (meaning ‘chain’ or ‘link’) refers to a spiritual lineage. These Silsilas began to crystallize around the twelfth century as formal orders or paths for disciples (murids) to follow under the guidance of a spiritual master (pir or shaykh).
The Silsila signifies:
1. **A continuous link between the master and disciple:** It represents the chain of transmission of spiritual knowledge and authority from one generation of Sufi masters to the next. (Statement 1 is correct).
2. **An unbroken spiritual genealogy:** Most Silsilas trace their spiritual lineage back through a chain of masters to Prophet Muhammad, usually through his cousin and son-in-law Ali or his companion Abu Bakr. This lineage provides legitimacy and authority. (Statement 2 is correct).
3. **The transmission of spiritual power and blessings (baraka):** The Silsila is the conduit through which spiritual energy, knowledge, and blessings are believed to be passed down from the Prophet through the masters to the disciple. This transmission is crucial for the disciple’s spiritual journey. (Statement 3 is correct).
The crystallization of Silsilas marked a significant development in the organizational structure of Sufism, establishing distinct orders like the Chishtiya, Suhrawardiya, Qadiriya, and Naqshbandiya, each with its own practices, emphasis, and historical lineage.
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