UPSC Static Quiz – History : 30 May 2026

Solution: B

• The Heliodorus Pillar inscription, discovered at Besnagar near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the most important pieces of epigraphic evidence for the spread of Vaishnavism in early historic India.
• The pillar was erected by Heliodorus, who identifies himself in the inscription as a Bhagavata—a devotee of Vasudeva (Krishna)—and as an ambassador of the Indo-Greek ruler Antialkidas to the Sunga court, probably during the reign of Bhagabhadra.
• The inscription explicitly calls the pillar a Garuda-dhvaja (standard of Garuda), a clear Vaishnava symbol, and thus records Heliodorus’ religious affiliation with the Bhagavata sect.

Solution: C

• Statement I is incorrect. The Satavahana polity was not matriarchal. Succession to the throne did not pass from mother to daughter. Kingship followed a patriarchal and agnatic line, even though women—especially royal mothers—enjoyed high social status and visibility. Inscriptions show queens making donations and exercising influence, but political sovereignty and dynastic succession remained male-dominated. The presence of influential royal women should not be confused with a matriarchal social or political system.
• Statement II is correct. Satavahana rulers prominently used metronymics, identifying themselves through their mothers’ names, such as Gautamiputra Satakarni and Vashishtiputra Pulumavi. This practice is well attested in inscriptions, especially at Nashik and Karle. It reflects the high prestige accorded to royal women and possibly the importance of maternal lineage for legitimacy, but it does not imply matriarchy. Instead, it highlights a distinctive social feature within an otherwise patriarchal political framework.

Solution: A

• The correct chronological order is Sungas → Chedis of Kalinga → Kanvas → Satavahanas (Imperial Phase).
• The Sunga dynasty, founded by Pushyamitra Sunga, emerged immediately after the fall of the Mauryan Empire in the mid-2nd century BCE and represents the earliest major post-Mauryan power in the Gangetic heartland.
• Shortly thereafter, the Chedis of Kalinga rose to prominence under Kharavela, whose reign is known from the Hathigumpha inscription and reflects a powerful, expansionist phase in eastern India during the late 2nd to early 1st century BCE.
• The Kanva dynasty followed by overthrowing the last Sunga ruler; although short-lived, it marks the next chronological phase in Magadhan politics.
• Finally, while the Satavahanas originated earlier in the Deccan, their imperial phase—characterised by large territorial control and political dominance—belongs mainly to the late 1st century BCE and early centuries CE, making them the last in this sequence.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is Correct: The Pallava period coincided with the surge of the Bhakti movement. The emotional, vernacular hymns of the Alwars (Vaishnava) and Nayanars (Shaiva) appealed to the masses more than the austere, intellectual doctrines of Buddhism and Jainism. Royal patronage shifted towards Hindu temples, leading to the decline of the heterodox sects in Tamil Nadu.
• Statement 2 is Correct: King Mahendravarman I was originally a Jain monarch. He converted to Shaivism under the influence of the Nayanar saint Appar (Tirunavukkarasar). This conversion is a pivotal moment, marking the beginning of large-scale rock-cut Shiva temple construction (e.g., at Trichy).
• Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Mattavilasa Prahasana is a satirical Sanskrit farce that mocks religious hypocrisy, including excesses among Kapalika Shaivites, Buddhists, and others. It is not a devout text praising Vedic sacrifices; rather, it reflects Mahendravarman I’s critical and humorous engagement with contemporary religious practices.

Solution: A

• Mahendra Style (A-3): Characterized by simple rock-cut cave temples with pillared mandapas. Mandagapattu is the first such example where Mahendravarman famously declares he built a temple for the Trinity without using brick, wood, metal, or mortar.
• Mamalla Style (B-1): Under Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla), the style evolved from excavation to sculpting entire boulders into monolithic Rathas (chariots). The Pancha Rathas at Mahabalipuram are the classic example of this phase.
• Rajasimha Style (C-2): Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) introduced structural temples built of masonry (stone blocks). The Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram and the Shore Temple are the hallmarks of this mature structural style.
• Nandivarman Style (D-4): The later Pallava style, continued by Nandivarman II. The Vaikuntha Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram, with its cloisters and historical sculptures, is the most mature example of this phase.