UPSC Indian Art and Culture – Chapter 18: Religious Traditions and Their Art (25 MCQs)

← Back

UPSC Indian Art and Culture – Chapter 18: Religious Traditions and Their Art (25 MCQs) – 25 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

Get daily current affairs & exam alerts – follow us YouTube WhatsApp Channel Telegram Channel Facebook Page Instagram
Share with friends & study groups
Link to this page from your website / blog (HTML code)
1.  

The Third Buddhist Council was held under the patronage of:

Correct Answer: A [Ashoka]

Explanation:

Ashoka patronised the Third Council at Pataliputra (c. 250 BCE), presided over by Moggaliputta Tissa.

2.  

The Second Buddhist Council was held at:

Correct Answer: B [Vaishali]

Explanation:

The Second Council met at Vaishali (c. 383 BCE) under Kalashoka and saw the split into Sthaviravadins and Mahasanghikas.

3.  

The founder of the Madhyamaka school was:

Correct Answer: A [Nagarjuna]

Explanation:

Nagarjuna founded the Madhyamaka school and taught the doctrine of emptiness (shunyata).

4.  

The Visuddhimagga was written by:

Correct Answer: B [Buddhaghosa]

Explanation:

Buddhaghosa, the great Pali commentator, wrote the Visuddhimagga ('Path of Purification').

5.  

Hemis monastery is located in:

Correct Answer: D [Ladakh]

Explanation:

Hemis, one of the largest monasteries of the western Himalaya, stands in Ladakh.

6.  

The Jain Agamas were written down at the council held at:

Correct Answer: A [Vallabhi]

Explanation:

The Jain council at Vallabhi (5th century CE) under Devardhi Kshamashramana wrote down the Svetambara Agamas.

7.  

The Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola was set up by:

Correct Answer: B [Chamundaraya]

Explanation:

Chamundaraya, minister of the Western Ganga kings, set up the monolithic Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola (c. 983 CE).

8.  

Which one of the following monasteries is popularly called the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'?

Correct Answer: B [Tabo]

Explanation:

Tabo monastery in the Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, is famed for wall paintings and called the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'.

9.  

The Nalayira Divya Prabandham was compiled by:

Correct Answer: C [Nathamuni]

Explanation:

Nathamuni, the first of the Sri Vaishnava acharyas, collected the Alvar hymns into the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The Chishti order made music (sama) a part of its practice.
2. Bahauddin Zakariya belonged to the Suhrawardi order.
3. Ahmad Sirhindi belonged to the Chishti order.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Chishtis practised sama and Bahauddin Zakariya was a Suhrawardi, but Ahmad Sirhindi was a Naqshbandi, so only 1 and 2 hold.

11.  

Assertion (A): The Bhakti and Sufi saints drew followers from many communities.

Reason (R): Both stressed personal devotion over ritual and used the people's languages.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true, and their stress on personal devotion and use of popular languages is why they drew followers from many communities.

12.  

The dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is at:

Correct Answer: C [Ajmer]

Explanation:

The dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, founder of the Chishti order in India, is at Ajmer in Rajasthan.

13.  

In Sufi usage, a khanqah is a:

Correct Answer: A [hospice]

Explanation:

A khanqah is the Sufi hospice where the shaikh lived, taught disciples and received visitors.

14.  

The Khalsa was founded in 1699 by:

Correct Answer: D [Guru Gobind Singh]

Explanation:

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.

15.  

The Paradesi Synagogue is located at:

Correct Answer: C [Kochi]

Explanation:

The Paradesi Synagogue (1568) stands in Mattancherry, Kochi, and serves the Paradesi Jewish community of Keralam.

16.  

Dara Shikoh was a follower of which Sufi order?

Correct Answer: A [Qadiri]

Explanation:

Dara Shikoh was a disciple in the Qadiri order, devoted to Miyan Mir and Mulla Shah of Lahore.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Third Buddhist Council
2. Founding of the Khalsa
3. Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola
4. Death of Nizamuddin Auliya

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [1-3-4-2]

Explanation:

c. 250 BCE, c. 983 CE, 1325, 1699.

18.  

Tawang monastery is located in:

Correct Answer: C [Arunachal Pradesh]

Explanation:

Tawang monastery, the largest monastery in India, is in Arunachal Pradesh.

19.  

The relics of St Francis Xavier are kept at the:

Correct Answer: D [Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa]

Explanation:

The Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, part of the Churches and Convents of Goa World Heritage Site, holds Xavier's relics.

20.  

The Iranshah Atash Behram, a major Parsi fire temple, is at:

Correct Answer: C [Udvada]

Explanation:

The Iranshah Atash Behram, the oldest continuously burning Parsi sacred fire in India, has been housed at Udvada, Gujarat, since 1742.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2022

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:

1. Aryadeva – Jaina scholar
2. Dignaga – Buddhist scholar
3. Nathamuni – Vaishnava scholar

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: C [Only two pairs]

Explanation:

Aryadeva was a Buddhist scholar; pairs 2 and 3 are correct.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2022

The world's second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?

Correct Answer: A [The best means of salvation was devotion.]

Explanation:

Ramanuja stressed devotion and surrender to God.

23.  
UPSC Prelims 2013

Consider the following Bhakti Saints:

1. Dadu Dayal
2. Guru Nanak
3. Tyagaraja

Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell, and Babur took over?

Correct Answer: B [2 only]

Explanation:

Guru Nanak (1469–1539) was active in 1526.

24.  
UPSC Prelims 2014

With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs:

1. Tabo monastery and temple complex – Spiti Valley
2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple, Nako – Zanskar Valley
3. Alchi temple complex – Ladakh

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: C [1 and 3 only]

Explanation:

Nako is in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.

25.  
UPSC Prelims 2022

With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as "Kulah-Daran"?

Correct Answer: D [Sayyids]

Explanation:

the Sayyids wore a pointed cap (kulah).

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U06 · Indian Art and Culture (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-indian-art-culture

📘 U06 · Indian Art and Culture – UPSC Civil Services (Prelims & Mains)
Here you get the answer with a one-line explanation. 21 chapters · 473 MCQs incl. UPSC Prelims PYQs with a reason for every option · 106 Mains questions + Mains PYQs · maps, tables, revision cards
Get the book – ₹249 ₹499 →
Score: 0 Answered: 0 / 0