Vijayanagara Empire

31. Which of the following statements about Vijayanagara king Krishnadevar

Which of the following statements about Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya’s expeditions are correct ?

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  • 1. In the early years of his reign he marched against the ruler of Orissa.
  • 2. In 1520 CE, he captured the fort of Raichur from Ismail Adil Khan.
  • 3. Krishnadevaraya restored Sultan Mahmud Shah to power and assumed the title of Yavanasthapanacharya.

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1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
1 and 2 only
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All three statements about Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya’s expeditions are correct.
– **Statement 1: In the early years of his reign he marched against the ruler of Orissa.** This is correct. Krishnadevaraya (reigned 1509-1529 CE) engaged in military campaigns against the Gajapati kingdom of Orissa (under Prataparudra Deva) in the early part of his rule (around 1513-1518 CE) to recover territories previously lost by the Vijayanagara Empire, such as Udayagiri and Kondavidu.
– **Statement 2: In 1520 CE, he captured the fort of Raichur from Ismail Adil Khan.** This is correct. The Battle of Raichur in 1520 CE was a major military engagement where Krishnadevaraya decisively defeated the forces of Ismail Adil Shah, the Sultan of Bijapur, and captured the strategic fort of Raichur Doab, located between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers.
– **Statement 3: Krishnadevaraya restored Sultan Mahmud Shah to power and assumed the title of Yavanasthapanacharya.** This is correct. Krishnadevaraya intervened in the affairs of the Bahmani Sultanate (which had fragmented into Deccan Sultanates). After defeating some factions, he helped restore the rightful Bahmani Sultan, Mahmud Shah II, who had been imprisoned, to the throne. In recognition of this act of re-establishing the “Yavana” (Muslim) kingdom, he took the title ‘Yavanarajya sthapanacharya’ or ‘Establisher of the Yavana Kingdom’.
Krishnadevaraya is considered one of the greatest rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire. His reign was marked by successful military campaigns that extended the empire’s influence and secured its borders, as well as significant administrative reforms, patronage of arts and literature (he himself was a scholar and poet), and the flourishing of trade and economy. His victories against the rulers of Orissa and the Deccan Sultanates solidified Vijayanagara’s position as the dominant power in South India during his time.

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32. Which one of the following kingdoms was founded by the two brothers Ha

Which one of the following kingdoms was founded by the two brothers Harihar and Bukka ?

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Bahmani
Vijayanagara
Malwa
Maratha
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The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 CE by the two brothers, Harihar and Bukka, who were formerly associated with the Kakatiya kingdom of Warangal and later served the Delhi Sultanate.
Harihar I and Bukka Raya I established the Vijayanagara kingdom in the Deccan region in response to the instability and decline of the Delhi Sultanate’s control in the south.
The Bahmani kingdom was another major rival kingdom in the Deccan, founded by Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah. Malwa was a kingdom in Central India. The Maratha kingdom rose later under Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century.

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33. Consider the following statements about the Mahanavami Dibba : 1. It

Consider the following statements about the Mahanavami Dibba :

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  • 1. It was the name of a giant box of sweets distributed at the Mahanavami festival.
  • 2. It was the name of a massive platform with a base covered with relief carvings.

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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The correct answer is 2 only.
The Mahanavami Dibba is a large stone platform located in the royal enclosure of Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. It served as a central structure for royal ceremonies, particularly during the Mahanavami festival (equivalent to Dasara/Navaratri). Its multi-layered base is adorned with extensive relief carvings depicting various aspects of life, festivities, and tribute bearers. Statement 1 is incorrect as it was a physical platform, not a container for sweets. Statement 2 accurately describes the platform and its decorative carvings.
The Mahanavami festival was one of the most important annual celebrations in the Vijayanagara Empire, showcasing the power and grandeur of the king and his kingdom. European travelers like Domingo Paes described the elaborate ceremonies conducted on and around this platform.

34. Which one of the following statements regarding King Krishnadevaraya i

Which one of the following statements regarding King Krishnadevaraya is NOT correct ?

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He was a great scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit
Foreign travellers Paes and Nuniz visited his court
Barbosa praised him for the great justice and equity prevailing in his empire
He wrote his magnum opus Amuktamalyada in Sanskrit
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The statement that King Krishnadevaraya wrote his magnum opus Amuktamalyada in Sanskrit is NOT correct.
King Krishnadevaraya (reigned 1509-1529) was a prominent ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. He was known for his military prowess, administrative skills, and patronage of arts and literature. He himself was an accomplished scholar and poet. His most famous literary work is ‘Amuktamalyada’.
Krishnadevaraya wrote ‘Amuktamalyada’ in Telugu, not Sanskrit. This epic poem is considered one of the masterpieces of Telugu literature. He was indeed a scholar of both Telugu and Sanskrit and patronized poets and scholars in both languages, including the Ashtadiggajas (eight famous poets) in his court. Portuguese travellers like Domingo Paes, Fernão Nuniz, and Duarte Barbosa visited his empire and provided valuable accounts of its prosperity, administration, and the king’s character, praising aspects like justice and equity.

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35. Which among the following statements about Vijayanagara are correct ?

Which among the following statements about Vijayanagara are correct ?

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  • Colin Mackenzie was the first Surveyor General of India to visit Vijayanagara.
  • John Marshall was the first to take detailed photographs of the site.
  • James Burgess was the first to undertake conservation of Hampi.

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1 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
1 and 2
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Correct Answer: A
– Statement 1 is correct: Colin Mackenzie, a surveyor and antiquarian, visited the ruins of Hampi (Vijayanagara) around 1800 and produced the first survey maps of the site. He is considered the first Surveyor General of India appointed in 1815.
– Statement 2 is incorrect: Detailed photography of Hampi started much earlier than John Marshall’s time. For example, Alexander Greenlaw took extensive photographs of Hampi in 1856. John Marshall served as the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902 to 1928.
– Statement 3 is incorrect: While James Burgess contributed significantly to Indian archaeology and conservation principles, he was not the first to undertake conservation efforts at Hampi. Early efforts were limited, and systematic, large-scale conservation initiatives at Hampi came much later, involving various individuals and the Archaeological Survey of India over time. Mackenzie’s work was primarily documentation.
Colin Mackenzie’s documentation of Vijayanagara was crucial for later studies of the site. The ruins of Hampi, the site of the Vijayanagara empire, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and have been the subject of extensive archaeological research, documentation, and conservation over the centuries.

36. The structure of Mahanavami Dibba is situated in which one of the foll

The structure of Mahanavami Dibba is situated in which one of the following places?

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Ujjain
Gaur
Hampi
Mandu
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The structure of Mahanavami Dibba is situated in Hampi.
Hampi is the site of the ruins of Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Mahanavami Dibba is a massive stone platform located in the Royal Centre area of Hampi. It is believed to have been used by the Vijayanagara rulers for public ceremonies, especially during the Mahanavami festival (now celebrated as Navaratri or Dasara). Ujjain, Gaur, and Mandu were important historical cities but were not the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The Mahanavami Dibba is one of the most imposing structures at Hampi and is known for its intricately carved panels depicting various scenes, including processions, hunting, and religious rituals.

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37. Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador of the ruler of Persia, was sent to Calicu

Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador of the ruler of Persia, was sent to Calicut in the fifteenth century. He was greatly impressed by the :

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Fortifications of Calicut
Climatic conditions of the coastal town
High quality spices of the place
Musical traditions of the place
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The correct answer is C) High quality spices of the place.
Abdur Razzaq, the ambassador from Persia who visited Calicut (Kozhikode) in the 15th century, was primarily impressed by the city’s status as a major international trading port. His account, like those of other contemporary visitors, highlights the bustling trade, the multitude of merchants from various countries, and the quality of goods exchanged. Calicut was renowned globally for its spice trade, particularly pepper, which was a key commodity that attracted merchants from Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of Asia. While he described aspects of the city, the economic vibrancy centered around high-quality spices was the most noteworthy and impressive feature for a foreign visitor interested in trade.
Calicut was the capital of the Zamorins and a prominent port on the Malabar Coast. Its strategic location and abundant production of spices like pepper made it a central hub in the Indian Ocean trade network before the arrival of European powers. Accounts by visitors like Abdur Razzaq and later Vasco da Gama emphasize the significance of spices in the city’s economy and global standing.

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38. Which one of the following pairs of terms and their meanings is not co

Which one of the following pairs of terms and their meanings is not correctly matched ?

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Nagarakkani : Land owned by the nagaram
Nattar : Male serpent deity
Yupa : Sacrificial post
Viragal : 'Hero stone' in the Tamil Nadu area
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The pair “Nattar : Male serpent deity” is not correctly matched.
‘Nattar’ in South Indian historical context, particularly in the Chola period and earlier, refers to the assembly or leaders of a ‘Nadu’, which was a rural administrative unit. They were involved in local administration, land management, and social affairs. A male serpent deity is typically referred to as Naga devata or similar terms related to serpents (Naga).
Nagarakkani likely refers to land belonging to a ‘nagaram’ (a guild or town of merchants). Yupa is indeed a sacrificial post used in Vedic rituals. Viragal or Veerakkal are memorial stones (hero stones) erected in memory of fallen warriors or heroes, commonly found in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India.

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39. Which one of the following is the language of the famous political tre

Which one of the following is the language of the famous political treatise Amuktmalyada?

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Sanskrit
Tamil
Kannada
Telugu
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Amuktamalyada is a celebrated epic poem attributed to Krishnadevaraya, the famous ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. Krishnadevaraya was not only a great warrior and administrator but also a noted scholar and patron of arts and literature. He composed Amuktamalyada in the Telugu language.
Amuktamalyada is considered one of the masterworks of Telugu literature and is recognized as one of the Pancha Kavyas (five great epics) of Telugu literature. Krishnadevaraya himself is known as Andhra Bhoja for his patronage of Telugu literature.
While Krishnadevaraya was multilingual and wrote in Sanskrit as well, Amuktamalyada is his famous work in Telugu. The Vijayanagara Empire encompassed areas where Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil were spoken, but Krishnadevaraya’s literary patronage significantly boosted Telugu literature during his reign.

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40. Domingo Paes, the medieval traveller, has described the city of

Domingo Paes, the medieval traveller, has described the city of

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Madurai
Vijayanagara
Arikamedu
Gingee
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The correct option is B) Vijayanagara.
Domingo Paes was a Portuguese traveller who visited the Vijayanagara Empire in the early 16th century, specifically around 1520-1522, during the reign of its most famous ruler, Krishnadevaraya. His detailed account, known as the ‘Chronica dos Reis de Bisnaga’ (Chronicle of the Kings of Vijayanagara), provides valuable insights into the city of Vijayanagara (Hampi), its administration, military strength, economy, and social life.
Domingo Paes’s account, along with that of another Portuguese traveller Fernão Nunes, are considered crucial primary sources for understanding the grandeur and prosperity of the Vijayanagara Empire and its capital city, Hampi.

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