[Mission 2023] STATIC QUIZ, 21 September 2022 – Art and Culture

Solution: a)

Vedanta is made of two words- ‘Veda’ and ‘ant’, i.e. the end of the Vedas. This school upholds the philosophies of life as elaborated in the Upanishads.

This argument considers atma and brahma to be the same and if a person attains the knowledge of the self, he would automatically understand brahma and would achieve salvation. This argument would make brahma and atma indestructible and eternal.

The Vedanta theory also gives credence to the Theory of Karma. The theory believes in Punarjanama or rebirth. They also argued that a person would have to bear the brunt of their actions from the previous birth in the next one.

Solution: b)

Early Buddhist and Jaina texts mention, amongst other things, sixteen states known as mahajanapadas. Although the lists vary, some names such as Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara and Avanti occur frequently. Clearly, these were amongst the most important mahajanapadas.

While most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, some, known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies, where power was shared by a number of men, often collectively called rajas. Both Mahavira and the Buddha belonged to such ganas. In some instances, as in the case of the Vajji sangha, the rajas probably controlled resources such as land collectively. Although their histories are often difficult to reconstruct due to the lack of sources, some of these states lasted for nearly a thousand years.

Each mahajanapada had a capital city, which was often fortified. Maintaining these fortified cities as well as providing for incipient armies and bureaucracies required resources.

Solution: c)

The three principles of Jainism, also known as Triratnas (three gems), are:

• right faith
• right knowledge
• right conduct.

Right faith is the belief in the teachings and wisdom of Mahavira. Right Knowledge is the acceptance of the theory that there is no God and that the world has been existing without a creator and that all objects possess a soul. Right conduct refers to the observance of the five great vows:

• not to injure life
• not to lie
• not to steal
• not to acquire property
• not to lead an immoral life.

Solution: b)

Mahavira regarded all objects, both animate and inanimate, have souls and various degrees of consciousness. They possess life and feel pain when they are injured.

Mahavira rejected the authority of the Vedas and objected to the Vedic rituals. He advocated a very holy and ethical code of life. Even the practice of agriculture was considered sinful as it causes injury to the earth, worms and animals.

Solution: b)

Also known as the Karnataka school of architecture, it was conceptualized under the later Chalukya rulers in the mid-seventh century A.D. It combined features of both Nagara school and Dravidian school and resulted in a hybridised style. Some of its features are:

• Emphasis on vimana and mandapa
• Open ambulatory passageway
• The pillars, doorways and the ceilings were decorated with intricate carvings.

Influence of Nagara style is in Curvilinear Shikhara and square base of Vesara temples.

Influence of Dravida style is seen in intricate carvings and sculptures, design of Vimana and Step or terraced Shikara of Vesara temples.

Example: Doddabasappa temple at Dambal, Ladkhan temple at Aihole, temples at Badami etc.