Provincial Dynasty of North India and Deccan Province

1. Consider the following statements with reference to Rudramadevi : 1.

Consider the following statements with reference to Rudramadevi :

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  • 1. Rudramadevi is also known as Raya-gaja-kesari.
  • 2. The inscriptions largely project her as a heroic king not queen.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Statement 2 is correct, while statement 1 is incorrect. Rudramadevi was a Kakatiya ruler, and inscriptions often projected her as a heroic king. The title ‘Raya-gaja-kesari’ is not typically associated with her.
Rudramadevi (reigned 1263–1289 or 1295) was one of the most prominent rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan. Upon her father Ganapatideva’s death, she was designated as the male heir (Rudradeva) and ruled as a king, often depicted in inscriptions and sculptures in male attire to secure her succession and authority.
Statement 1 is incorrect. The title ‘Raya-gaja-kesari’ (meaning ‘lion to the elephant-like kings’) is associated with rulers who defeated powerful enemies, often the Gajapati rulers of Odisha or used by Vijayanagara rulers in their conflicts. It is not a title primarily attributed to Rudramadevi in historical records. Statement 2 is correct. To ensure acceptance as a ruler in a patriarchal society and continue the lineage, she was formally designated as Rudradeva and portrayed as a king, highlighting her administrative capabilities and martial prowess in inscriptions and contemporary accounts like that of Marco Polo.

2. Who among the following is the author of the book ‘Rajtarangini’ ?

Who among the following is the author of the book ‘Rajtarangini’ ?

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Bilhana
Kalhana
Banabhatta
Bhavabhuti
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‘Rajtarangini’ (meaning “River of Kings”) is a historical chronicle of early Kashmir written in Sanskrit by Kalhana in the 12th century CE. It is considered one of the earliest and most important works of history from India.
– Kalhana was a Kashmiri Brahman poet, historian, and philosopher.
– ‘Rajtarangini’ is a comprehensive history of the kings of Kashmir up to Kalhana’s time, drawing upon various sources.
– The other options are authors known for different works in Sanskrit literature: Bilhana (Vikramankadevacharitam), Banabhatta (Harshacharita, Kadambari), and Bhavabhuti (Mahaviracharitam, Uttararamacharitam).
‘Rajtarangini’ stands out among classical Indian texts for its attempt at presenting a chronological history, although it mixes historical accounts with myths and legends. It remains a valuable source for the history of Kashmir and north-western India.

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3. Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to

Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to Portuguese?

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Ahmad Shah
Mahmud Begarha
Bahadur Shah
Muhammad Shah
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Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, signed the Treaty of Bassein with the Portuguese in 1534. Under this treaty, he ceded the island of Bassein and its dependencies and granted the Portuguese permission to build a factory in Diu. Although the final Portuguese control over Diu was secured after conflicts and Bahadur Shah’s death in 1537, the process of surrendering control and allowing Portuguese presence in Diu began under his rule with this treaty, primarily to secure Portuguese help against the Mughal Emperor Humayun.
The strategic port of Diu was highly coveted by European powers, especially the Portuguese, for controlling trade routes. The internal political struggles in the Gujarat Sultanate, particularly conflicts with the Mughals, sometimes led rulers to seek alliances with European powers at the cost of territorial concessions.
The Portuguese eventually gained full control of Diu in 1537 after killing Bahadur Shah during negotiations and defeating subsequent attempts by the Gujarat Sultans and Ottoman Empire to retake it. Diu remained a Portuguese territory until 1961.

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4. Consider the following pairs: King Dynasty 1. Nannuka — Chan

Consider the following pairs:

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KingDynasty
1. Nannuka— Chandela
2. Jayashakti— Paramara
3. Nagabhata II— Gurjara-Pratihara
4. Bhoja— Rashtrakuta

How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?

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Only one pair
Only two pairs
Only three pairs
All four pairs
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The correct answer is B) Only two pairs.
1. Nannuka: Was the founder of the Chandela dynasty in the early 9th century. Correct.
2. Jayashakti: Was a ruler of the Chandela dynasty, grandson of Nannuka. The region Jejakabhukti was named after him. He was not a Paramara ruler. Incorrect.
3. Nagabhata II: Was a prominent ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty in the early 9th century, known for expanding the empire. Correct.
4. Bhoja: While there was a famous Paramara king named Bhoja (Raja Bhoj of Dhara), there was no prominent king named Bhoja in the Rashtrakuta dynasty. The most famous Bhoja contemporary to the Rashtrakutas was Mihira Bhoja (Gurjara-Pratihara). Incorrect.
The Rashtrakuta dynasty’s important rulers included Dantidurga (founder), Krishna I, Dhruva Dharavarsha, Govinda III, Amoghavarsha I, Krishna III, etc.

5. With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, conside

With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements :

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  • 1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
  • 2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
  • 3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
  • 4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2
2 and 3 only
1 and 4
2, 3 and 4
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Statement 1 is correct. The Chausath Yogini Temple near Morena (Mitaoli, Madhya Pradesh) is a circular, hypaethral (open to the sky) temple. Historical evidence and inscriptions suggest it was built by the Kachchhapaghata dynasty, likely in the 11th century (though some sources give later dates, the attribution to Kachchhapaghatas is common).
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Mitaoli temple is not the *only* circular temple in India. Other notable circular Yogini temples exist at Hirapur (Odisha) and Ranipur Jharial (Odisha).
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Chausath Yogini temples are primarily associated with the Shakta and Shaiva cults, particularly Tantric practices involving the worship of Goddesses (Yoginis) and Shiva. They are not related to the Vaishnava cult.
Statement 4 is correct. The unique circular design of the Mitaoli Chausath Yogini temple, with its central courtyard and cells arranged in a circle, is widely believed to have served as an inspiration for the design of the Indian Parliament building (Sansad Bhavan) in New Delhi, which was designed by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. While not officially documented by the original architects, the structural resemblance is striking and the belief is popular.
– The Chausath Yogini Temple near Morena is a circular temple built by the Kachchhapaghata dynasty.
– It is NOT the only circular temple in India.
– It is associated with Shakta/Shaiva cults, not Vaishnava.
– Its design is popularly believed to have inspired the Indian Parliament building.
The Chausath Yogini temples represent a distinct tradition of temple architecture and religious practice in medieval India, primarily found in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. They are significant for understanding Tantric religious traditions and their role in the political and social life of the time.

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6. Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiy

Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom?

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Kakinada
Motupalli
Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam)
Nelluru
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The correct answer is B) Motupalli.
Motupalli was a prominent seaport during the rule of the Kakatiya dynasty in the region corresponding to parts of modern-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Historical accounts, including the writings of Marco Polo, mention Motupalli as an important trading centre of the Kakatiya kingdom.
The Kakatiya kingdom flourished between the 12th and 14th centuries. Their territory included a coastline that facilitated maritime trade. Motupalli, located in the present-day Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, was their principal port. An inscription from the time of Kakatiya ruler Ganapatideva (1244 AD) at Motupalli promises safety to foreign traders and lists customs duties, highlighting its importance as a trading hub. While Kakinada, Machilipatnam, and Nelluru are also coastal areas, Motupalli is specifically historically documented as a major port of the Kakatiyas.

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7. Consider the following pairs : Medieval Indian State Present Regi

Consider the following pairs :

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Medieval Indian StatePresent Region
1. Champaka: Central India
2. Durgara: Jammu
3. Kuluta: Malabar

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

1 and 2 only
2 only
1 and 3 only
3 only
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The correct option is B. Only pair 2 is correctly matched.
– Pair 1: Champaka refers to the historical state of Chamba, located in the upper valley of the Ravi river in the Himalayas, corresponding to the Chamba district of modern Himachal Pradesh (North India). Central India is incorrect.
– Pair 2: Durgara refers to the historical state of Durgara, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, corresponding to the region around Jammu in modern Jammu and Kashmir. This match is correct.
– Pair 3: Kuluta refers to the historical state of Kullu, located in the upper valley of the Beas river in the Himalayas, corresponding to the Kullu district of modern Himachal Pradesh (North India). Malabar is a region on the southwestern coast of India (Kerala). This match is incorrect.
These historical states were part of the Shivalik and Himalayan kingdoms in the medieval period.

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8. Which one of the following pairs of Deccan Sultanates and their respec

Which one of the following pairs of Deccan Sultanates and their respective regions is not correctly matched?

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Nizam Shahis : Bijapur
Barid Shahis : Bidar
Qutb Shahis : Golkonda
Imad Shahis : Berar
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The correct answer is (A) Nizam Shahis : Bijapur.
The Deccan Sultanates were five medieval kingdoms that emerged from the break-up of the Bahmani Sultanate. Their correct regions were:
– Nizam Shahis ruled the Sultanate of Ahmednagar.
– Adil Shahis ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur.
– Barid Shahis ruled the Sultanate of Bidar.
– Qutb Shahis ruled the Sultanate of Golkonda.
– Imad Shahis ruled the Sultanate of Berar.
Therefore, the pair Nizam Shahis : Bijapur is incorrectly matched.
These sultanates played a significant role in the political and cultural history of the Deccan region from the late 15th to the late 17th centuries. They eventually fell to the Mughal Empire.

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9. Vidyapati Thakur, a contemporary of Chandidas (end of 14th century to

Vidyapati Thakur, a contemporary of Chandidas (end of 14th century to early 15th century), was a native of

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Bengal
Mithila
Malwa
Kashmir
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The correct answer is B) Mithila. Vidyapati Thakur (c. 1352–1448) was a prominent poet and scholar of Maithili and Sanskrit. He was born in the village of Bisfi in the Mithila region, which spans parts of northern Bihar in India and the Terai region of Nepal. He is considered the greatest figure of Maithili literature. Chandidas, his contemporary, was a Bengali poet.
– Vidyapati was primarily a poet of the Maithili language, which is spoken in the Mithila region.
– He is a pivotal figure in the development of Maithili literature and is also known for his Sanskrit works.
Vidyapati is celebrated for his lyrical poetry, particularly his love songs dedicated to Radha and Krishna, which influenced Vaishnava traditions in Bengal and other regions. Despite being a Maithili poet, his influence extended significantly into Bengali, Assamese, and Odia literature.

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10. Who among the following was described as Jagadguru by his subjects for

Who among the following was described as Jagadguru by his subjects for his patronage of the Hindus in his State?

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Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur
Mahmud II of Malwa
Husain Shah of Bengal
Mahmud Begara of Gujarat
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The correct answer is A) Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur. Ibrahim Adil Shah II (ruled 1580–1627) of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur was famous for his cultural interests, tolerance towards other religions, and patronage of Hindus. He was popularly known as “Jagadguru” (Teacher of the World) and “Abla Baba” (Friend of the Poor) by his subjects, reflecting his syncretic approach and popularity across religious communities.
– Ibrahim Adil Shah II was a ruler of the Sultanate of Bijapur.
– He is known for his religious tolerance and patronage of Hindu culture and individuals, earning him the title “Jagadguru”.
– He authored the ‘Kitab-i-Navras’, a book primarily on Indian classical music, with verses often invoking Hindu deities alongside Muslim saints.
The Deccan Sultanates, including Bijapur, were known for a degree of cultural synthesis and tolerance, although this varied among rulers. Ibrahim Adil Shah II stands out for his explicit embrace of elements from different traditions, making him a notable figure in medieval Indian history for promoting communal harmony.

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