DAY – 56 ( INSTA REVISION TEST – 56)INSTA REVISION PLAN 3.0, 2021

Solution: C

Mohiniattam:  The Lasya aspect (beauty, grace) of dance is dominant in a Mohiniattam recital. Hence, it is mainly performed by female dancers.

Manipuri Dance: The drum – pung – is an intricate element of the recital.
Flute, Khartals (wood clapper), dhols etc also accompany music.

Kuchipudi: Apart from group performances, there are some popular solo
elements in Kuchipudi as well. Some of them are:
a. Manduk shabdam – Tells the story of a frog.

1. Tarangam – The dancer performs with his/her feet on the edges of a brass plate and balancing a pot of water on the head or a set of diyas.
   c. Jala Chitra Nrityam – In this item, the dancer draws pictures on the floor with his or her toes .

Odissi: Odissi dance form is unique in its representation of gracefulness, sensuality and beauty. The dancers create intricate geometrical shapes and patterns with her body. Hence, it is known as ‘mobile sculpture’. Tribhaṅga or Tribunga is a (tri-bent pose) standing body position or stance used in the traditional Indian sculpture, art and Indian classical dance forms like the Odissi.

Solution: C

The gaur also known as Indian bison, is native to South and Southeast Asia and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986.

It is listed as Schedule I species under the  Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

The gaur is the largest wild bovid alive today.

Solution: C

In 1893, a small inscribed bronze plaque, 1.6 mm thick and measuring 6.4 × 2.9 cm, was found by an inhabitant of Sohgaura village, presently located in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Its surface was rough and uneven and there were holes in the four corners, no doubt in order to attach it to a surface, perhaps a wall. The inscription consisted of four lines in the Prakrit language and Brahmi script, with seven symbols arranged at the top. It recorded an order issued from Manavasiti by the mahamatras (a cadre of officials) of Shravasti. It stated that in case of the outbreak of drought, the contents of the storehouses of Triveni, Mathura, Chanchu, Modama, and Bhadra were to be distributed and not withheld.

The Sohgaura inscription has been commented on by numerous scholars, who have variously assigned it a pre-Ashokan or post-Maurya date, the majority opinion currently favouring the latter.

Solution: B

• A tazkira, which literally means “to mention and memorise”, is a biographical account of sufi saints. Statement 1 is then logically incorrect – a biographical work would not principally deal with the experiences of murids (disciples).

A maktubat literally means a written collection of letters. These letters are written by sufi masters, addressed to their disciples and associates.

A Malfuzat, literally “uttered”, is a collection of conversations of sufi saints.

Solution: D

Narasimhavarman I or Narasimha Varma I was an emperor of the Pallava dynasty who ruled South India from 630–668 A.D. He shared his father Mahendravarman I’s love of art and completed the work started by Mahendravarman in Mamallapuram. During his reign famous Pancha Rathas Temple was constructed which is Rock Cut Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

He avenged his father’s defeat at the hands of the Chalukya king, Pulakeshin II in the year 642 AD. Narasimhavarman I was also known as Mahamalla (great wrestler), and Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) was named after him.

It was during his reign, in 640 A.D. that the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchipuram.

Solution: B

Solution: D

The Pallava kings who succeeded the Chalukya kings in parts of South India, were also patrons of arts. Mahendravarman I who ruled in the seventh century was responsible for building temples at Panamalai, Mandagapattu and Kanchipuram.

An inscription at Mandagapattu mentions Mahendravarman I with numerous  titles such as Vichitrachitta (curious-minded), Chitrakarapuli (tiger among artists) and Chaityakari (temple builder), which show his interest in art activities.

Solution: A

1. Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti – Rajasthan
2. Vallabhacharya – Gujarat
3. Lal Ded – Kashmir
4. Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi – Haryana

Solution: A

The theme of Mara Vijaya has been painted in the caves of  Ajanta. The only sculptural representation of it has been sculpted on the right wall of Cave No. 26. It is sculpted near the colossal Buddha image of Mahaparinibbana.

Lomas Rishi cave at Barabar hills is NOT the only example of a rock-cut cave with the gavaksha arch in the Indian subcontinent. The Guntapalle caves, those at Udaygiri-Khandagiri too have the chaitya/gavaksha arch.

The earliest examples of the rock-cut cave tradition in Odisha are the Udaigiri-Khandagiri caves that are located just southwest of Bhubaneshwar

The iconographic arrangement at the main cave shrine of Elephanta has been replicated in Cave No. 29 at Ellora.

Solution: D

• Sheshashayana is the form of Vishnu where he is shown reclining on the sheshanaga called Ananta. Nara-Narayan shows the discussion between the human soul and the eternal divine.
• Gajendramoksha is the story of achieving moksha, symbolically communicated by Vishnu’s suppression of an asura who had taken the form of an elephant.
• Kalyanasundara-murti is the iconographical depiction of the wedding of Shiva and Parvati. The couple are often depicted performing the panigrahana (“accepting the hand”) ritual of a Hindu wedding, where the groom accepts the bride by taking her right hand in his. The god Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi are often pictured as giving away Parvati to Shiva. The god Brahma is shown as the officiating priest.
• Hari-Hara is a composite god, half Hari (Vishnu) and half Hara (Shiva). One of the earliest sculptural depictions of Hari-Hara is carved in the Badami caves (late 6th century). Shiva forms the right side of this composite deity and Vishnu the left. The god is shown with four arms.

Solution: A

At around the time that Gautama Siddhartha became the Buddha, Magadha was a flourishing kingdom under its king Bimbisara. Under Bimbisara, Magadha annexed the neighbouring eastern kingdoms, and made marriage aliances with the ones in the west and north.

Bimbisara was succeeded by his son Ajatashatru, who shifted the capital of Magadha from Girivraj to Pataliputra (modern Patna, Bihar).

There are conflicting reports about the successors of Ajatashatru but about 50 years after his death, the people of Magadha deposed the hereditory king and elected a minister named Shishunaga to the throne. Shishunaga was succeeded by his son, during whose reign the Second Buddhist Council was held in Magadha. The last king of the Shishunaga Dynasty was killed in a palace conspiracy and was succeeded by Mahapadma Nanda.

The Buddhist texts of the period say that the king was given to digging up the riverbed of the Ganges and burying his gold there. So enduring were stories of the fabulous wealth of the Nandas that Hieun Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim touring the country in the 7th century CE, almost 600 years later, makes a reference to it.

Solution: D

The Vedic literature (1500 – 1000 BCE), the two epics Ramayana and the Mahabharata (1000 – 600 BCE), Kautilya’s Arthashastra (c. 4th century BCE) and Banabhatta’s Harshacharita (c. 7th century CE), all key texts regarding warfare in ancient India, testify to this.

Troops were recruited, trained and equipped by the state (maula). There were many communities and forest tribes (atavika) that were known for their military skills and prized as such. Such people lived by the profession of arms (ayudhjivi). Villages providing soldiers were called ayudhiya. Mercenaries (bhrita) also existed in large numbers as did corporate guilds of soldiers (shreni) and they were recruited whenever required.

Solution: B

Harshavardhana immediately decided upon a course of adventure and aggression. He embarked upon a new political career through war and conquest. Accordingly he prepared his plan for his ‘digvijaya’ to punish the king of Gauda and other enemy kings. He directed his War Minister to demand from the neighbouring kings their immediate homage to him.

Samudragupta also believed in promoting goodwill among various religious communities. He gave, for example, Meghavarna, king of Ceylon, permission and support for the construction of a monastery in Bodh Gaya.

A short struggle for power appears to have ensued after the reign of Samudragupta. His eldest son Ramagupta became the next Gupta king. Eventually, Ramagupta was killed by Chandragupta II who also married Dhruvadevi sometime later.

Vikram Samvat and also known as the Vikrami calendar, is the historical Hindu calendar used in the Indian subcontinent. It is the official calendar of Nepal. In India it is used in several states. A number of ancient and medieval inscriptions used the Vikram Samvat. Although it was reportedly named after the legendary king Vikramaditya, the term “Vikrama Samvat” does not appear in the historical record before the 9th century; the same calendar system is found with other names, such as Krita and Malava.

The travelogues of Fa Hien (Faxian, circa 337 – 422 CE), Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang, 602 – 664 CE) and Yijing (I Tsing, 635 – 713 CE) prove to be invaluable in this respect. Yijing observed how the Gupta kings erected inns and rest houses for Buddhist monks and other pilgrims.

Solution: C

Bahadur Shah didn’t Continue the religious policies of Aurangzeb and was more liberal towards Hindu Chiefs and Raja’s.

Bahadur Shah granted Marathas the right to collect Sardeshmukhi in the Deccan Region

High Mansab Position was given to Guru Gobind Singh, in order to Conciliate the rebel Sikhs.

Banda Bahadur (leader of Sikhs) revolted against Bahadur Shah after the death of Guru Gobind Singh but other two leaders, Churaman and Chatarsal were allies of Bahadur Shah in his fight against Banda Bahadur.

Solution: B

Kapilavastu (“Place of Kapila”) is the name of the city where Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha, l. c. 563-483 BCE) grew up and lived for the first 29 years of his life before leaving to pursue the spiritual path which led to his enlightenment. The city is thought to have been named in honor of the sage Kapila, founder of the Samkhya school of philosophy of India, believed by some scholars to have influenced the Buddha’s own spiritual and intellectual development. Kapilavastu (according to Buddhist texts) was founded by the king Ikshvaku, one of the sons of the mythical Shraddhadeva Manu, the first human.

Solution: B

Zulfiqar Khan is regarded as the first King maker and he played an instrumental role in bringing Jahandar Shah (1712-13) into Power.

Saiyid Brothers played an instrumental role in abolition of Jaziya immediately after Farrukh Siyar’s accession to throne in 1713. They displayed more secular and tolerant attitude.

Earlier, Bahadur Shah II had given Marathas the right to collect Sardeshmukhi (in the Deccan region), but not Chauth.

Solution: D

Note: Akhnoor is another name for Manda.

Solution: C

Bapa Rawal was the founder of the Sisodia dynasty with his capital at Chittor, Rana Ratan Singh of Mewar was defeated by Ala-ud-ddin Khalji in 1307. Queen Padmini performed ‘Johar’. Later on Rana Sanga and Maharana Pratap gave a tough fight to the Mughals.

Jai Chand was the last great ruler of this dynasty. Usually very unkind words are said about him by some historians on account of his role in the struggle between Mohammad Ghori, and Prithviraj. He was killed in a battle in 1194 with Mohammad Ghori. Earlier he had sided with Mohammad Ghori against Prithviraj.

The Parmars of Malwa were the feudatory chiefs of the Pratiharas. Taking advantage of the weakness of the Pratihvaras, they established their kingdom in the 10th Century A.D. Dhara in Madhya Bharat was their capital. Raja Bhoj (1018-1069) was the most famous ruler of this dynasty. He was a great scholar and writer of several books. He founded the famous Sanskrit college at Dhara. He constructed a beautiful lake near Bhopal.

Bundelkhand was a part of the Pratihara kingdom of Kanauj. It was established in the 9th century. Its capital was Mahoba and Kalinjar was its most important fort. The Chandellas buiit a number of beautiful temples at Khajuraho, the most famous temple being the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple (1050 A.D.).

Solution: B

• Bagh caves lie by the banks of River Baghni.
• Ajanta overlooks River Waghora.
• Pattadakal is by the bank of river Malaprabha.

Solution: B

Mahmud Begarha patronized the great Sanskrit poet Udayaraja, who compiled Rajaoinoda, a work in seven volumes dealing with the life and works of Sultan.

Another outstanding work produced during the times of Akbar was Ramavinoda by Ramachandra, an official of Akbar.

Jagannath, the prominent Sanskrit scholar also lived at the court of Jahangir and enjoyed his patronage. He was granted the title of ‘Panditraj’ and produced outstanding Sanskrit works like, Manoramalcucamardana on grammar, Chitramimansakhandana on rhetoric, and Asafvijaya, a eulogy of Asaf Khan.

Aurangzeb was orthodox and had no soft cheer for Sanskrit learning. He stopped extending patronage to Sanskrit scholars. However, Sanskrit learning continued to flourish. Some of the outstanding works compiled during the time of Aurangzeb include Raghunath’s Muhurtamala.

Solution: B

This site is Mandu. The question is self-explanatory.

Solution: D

A prominent feature of Bhakti movement was its emphasis on Bhakti or devotion to God as the only means to achieve salvation. With supreme devotion to the Almighty one could realize Him. Thus Bhakti was superior to Gnana or knowledge and Karma, or Action. No other formalities like ceremonies or rituals were required to worship God.

Bhakti movement advocated the need of a preceptor or guru who would guide the devotee to this ultimate goal. A true guru was the main source to attain God. He alone could show the path of light to reach the proper destination. A guru could lead the devotee from the material world to the spiritual world.

Equality of men or universal brotherhood was another cardinal philosophy of the Bhakti cult. As a matter of fact Bhakti movement had raised its voice against racial discrimination, caste hierarchy and such social differentiations. It was believed that all creations of God were equal and hence, all men should be treated equally.

The attitude of self-surrender constituted another important tenet of the movement. Formalities or external rituals were of no avail to realize God. Observing fasts, going on pilgrimages, reading namaz or worshipping deities were totally useless if they were not done with purity of thought or a sense of surrender to God. Complete surrender alone leads to salvation.

The Bhakti saints strongly denounce image-worship of the Hindus. They condemned ritualism, false practices, blind faiths and dogmas. To them, rituals and sacrifices were meaningless. They believed in a formless and shapeless God which was the Supreme power. Anybody, irrespective of caste, colour and creed, could reach Him and realize Him through the simple method of selfless devotion.

Solution: B

This text is the Vishnudharmottara Purana. Question is self-explanatory

Solution: C

An exciting find that was made at Kalibangan was a ploughed field surface, showing the north–south and east–west furrow marks left by a plough hundreds of years ago. Terracotta models of ploughs at Bahawalpur and Banawali give further evidence of the use of this implement. The fact that no actual ploughs have survived is no doubt because they were made of wood.

Beautifully worked gold and silver jewellery including necklaces, bracelets, brooches, pendants, and earrings have been found at harappan sites.

From archaeological finds it appears that the people of the Indus Valley were conscious of fashion. Different hairstyles were in vogue and wearing of a beard was popular among all. Cinnabar was used as a cosmetic and face- paint, lipstick and collyrium (eyeliner) were also known to them.

Solution: A

Mughal Emperor Jahangir was well known for his innovative policy of the ‘Chain of Justice’. According to legends, Jahangir had placed a long golden chain with bells on his palace wall.

Solution: A

If M1 persons can do a piece of work in D1 days and M2 persons can do same piece of work in D2 days, then M1*D1= M2 * D2.

Let the original number of men in the group be ‘x’. (M1)

After 6 men left, the size of group be (x-6) men. (M2)

Now using the above formula, we get

x * 18 = (x-6) * 20

⇒18x = 20x -120

⇒120= 20x-18x

⇒120 = 2x

⇒x=60

Therefore, the original number of men in the group is 60 men.

Solution: A

Since pipe B is faster than pipe A and thus, the tank will be emptied.
Part of the tank to be emptied = 2/5
Part emptied by (A+B) in 1 minute= (1/6 – 1/10) = 1/15.

Therefore, 1/15 : 2/5 :: 1: x
→ 2/5 * 15 = 6 minutes

Solution: C

Formula: A and B together can do a work in x days, B and C together in y days, while C and A together in z days. If they all work together, the work will be completed in:  (2xyz)/( xy+yz+zx)

In the above given problem ‘x’ = 8 days, ‘y’= 6 days and ‘z’= 10 days.

Substituting the values x, y and z in the formula, If they all work together, the work will be completed in : (2 * 8 * 6 * 10)/((8*6)+(6*10)+(10*8))

⇒960/(48+60+80)

⇒960/188

⇒240/47 days

Solution: A.

The passage states that humanitarian aid is important but other steps are also required for ending hunger. D appears correct but A is the more logical and critical choice because the passage harps on the importance of medium and long term steps required for addressing hunger which is captured by A. Hence A is the correct answer.

Solution: B

Formula: If M1 persons can do a piece of work in D1 days for h1 hours and M2 persons can do the same piece of work in D2 days for h2 hours,

then: M1D1h1 = M2D2h2.

In the above given problem M1=15 men, D1=20 days, h1=8 hours, M2=20 men, D2= 12 days.

Substituting the above values in the formula, we get

15 * 20 * 8 =  20 * 12 * h2

⇒2400 = 240 * h2

⇒h2 = 10 hours

Therefore, 10 hrs a day should 20 men take to complete the same work in 12 days.