[Mission 2022] QUIZ – 2022: INSIGHTS STATIC QUIZ, 10 February 2022 – Ancient & Medieval India + Art & Culture

Solution: b)

Svetambara School: Its three sub-sects include:

• Sthanakavasi: They believe in praying to Saints rather than to an idol in a temple. The saints wear a muhapatti near their mouth to cover it unlike Murtipujakas.
• Murtipujaka (Deravasi): They keep idols of the tirthankaras at their temples and worship them and the saints do not wear a muhapatti.
• Terapanthi: They pray to saints rather than to an idol in a temple, like Sthanakavasi. Terapanthi saints also wear a muhapatti near their mouth to cover it.

Digambara School: It has two major sub sects:

• MulaSangh: the original community
• Bispanthi, Terapanthi and Taranpanthi: the modern Community

Solution: a)

• A Tirthankara is an individual who destroys attachment with all the earthly things and relations, he frees himself absolutely from ignorance.
• He becomes a Sidha and frees himself from the cycle of birth and re-birth.
• After achieving enlightenment, a Tirthankara shows others the path to enlightenment. It is said that the inner knowledge of all Tirthankaras is perfect and identical in every respect, for the teachings of one Tirthankara do not contradict those of another.
• Tirthankaras are just ordinary men, born as human, but through their intense practice of kindness, equanimity and meditation, they attain the state of a Tirthankara.
• Mahavira was the last tirthanakar Rishabha was the first.

Solution: c)

Sectarian lists the following eight auspicious symbols under Jainsim:

• Swastika: It signifies peace and wellbeing of the humans.
• Nandyavartya: It is a large swastika with nine end points.
• Bhadrasana: A throne which is said to be sanctified by the jaina’s feet.
• Shrivasta: A mark which manifested on the Jain’s chest and signified his pure soul.
• Darpana: The mirror which reflects the inner self
• Minayugala: A couple of fish which signifies the conquest over sexual urges
• Vardhamanaka: A shallow dish used as lamp which shows the increase in the wealth, due and merit.
• Kalasha: A pot filled with pure water signifying water

Solution: b)

• Larger kingdoms were formed during the later Vedic period. Many jana or tribes were amalgamated to form janapadas or rashtras in the later Vedic period.
• In the later Vedic period, a large number of new officials were involved in the administration in addition to the existing purohita, senani and gramani. They include the treasury officer, tax collector and royal messenger.
• Iron was used extensively in this period and this enabled the people to clear forests and to bring more land under cultivation. Agriculture became the chief occupation

Solution: c)

There was no improvement in the status of women. They were still considered inferior and subordinate to men. Women also lost their political rights of attending assemblies.

Besides nishka of the Rig Vedic period, gold and silver coins like satamana and krishnala were used as medium of exchange.

Child marriages had become common. According the Aitreya Brahmana a daughter has been described as a source of misery.