Std – VI

II Unit Test
History
Religious Trends in Ancient India
Q. I. Fill in the blanks:
a) The principle of non-violence is very important in Jainism.
b) An extraordinary feature of Gautam Buddha’s personality is his compassion for all living
beings.
c) The Jews were also known as Yahudis
d) Vardhaman Mahavir was the 24th Tirthankar
e) Gautam Buddha used Pali, the people’s language to preach his teachings.

Q. II. Answer in one word:-

1) The Holy scripture of the Zoroastrians.
Ans: Avesta

2) The founder of Islam.

Ans: Prophet Muhammad

3) The birth name of Gautam Buddha.

Ans: Siddharth

4) The sects that denied the authority of Vedas and advocated freedom of thought.
Ans: Lokayat

5) Name the disciple of Jesus Christ who came to India in the first century AD.
Ans: St.Thomas

Q. III Put the following in the proper place in the chart of Five Great Vows
and the Three Jewels:
The Three Jewels ( Triratna) Five Great Vows ( Mahavratas)
1) Samyak Darshan 1)Ahimsa
2) Samyak Jnan 2)Satya
3) Samyak Charitra 3)Asteya
4)Aparigraha
5) Brahmacharya

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Q. IV Identify the wrong pair:
i) A B

1) Ahmisa a) Not harming any living being

2) Satya b) Practising truth in speech and behaviour
3) Asteya c) Leading a chaste life.
Ans: Asteya – Leading a chaste life

ii) A B

1) Tirthankar a) A person who reveals the principles of religion.

2) Jina b) One who accumulated wealth.
3) Tri – ratnas c) Principles given by Mahavir.
Ans: Jina - One who accumulated wealth.

Q. V. Answer the following in one sentence :-

1) Who made efforts to reduce the growing superstition in society?
Ans: Thinkers like Kapil and Charvak made efforts to reduce the growing superstitions in
society.

2) What rights did women have according to Vardhaman Mahavir?

Ans: According to Vardhaman Mahavir, women had the right to undertake tapa, obtain
knowledge and renounce the world.

3)Which message f Gautam Buddha has made a deep impact on the world?
Ans: Gautam Buddha’s message of Bahujan hitaya, Bahujan sukhaya (for the welfare and
happiness of all) has made a deep impact on the world.

4) Who were Vardhaman Mahavir’s parents?

Ans: Siddharth and Trishala were Vardhaman Mahavir’s parents.

5) What virtues are emphasized in Judaism?

Ans: Virtues such as justice, truth, peace, love, compassion, humanity. Charity, ethical speech
and self- respect are emphasized in Judaism.

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Q. VI Answer in short:-
1) Write about the Baudhha Sangha.
Ans: a) Gautama Buddha organized his followers in the Bauddha Sangha to take his doctrine to
his people.
b) Those who entered the Sangha were called Bhikkhus, who followed strict rules of conduct.
c) Men and women of all caste were allowed into the Sanghas.

2) What did Vardhaman Mahavir do to attain enlightenment?

Ans: a) Vardhaman Mahavir gave up all comforts and travelled to different parts of India.
b) He practiced tapa rigorously for twelve and a half years.
c) This helped conquer all bodily desires and to attain enlightenment.

3)Which famous quote of Gautam Buddha have you read? What values does it uphold?
Ans:a) Gautam Buddha had said “ Even the little quail can chirp freely in her nest .”
b) This teaches us the values of freedom and equality.

4) What is at the core of the Parsee thinking?

Ans: a) The elements of fire and water are very important.
b) At the core of the Parsee religion are three main principles of good conduct, namely good
thoughts, good words and good deeds.

Q. VII. Give Reasons:

1) Vardhaman Mahavir came to be known as ‘Jina’.
Ans: a) Jina is one who conquers all physical or bodily desires.
b) In pursuit of knowledge, Vardhaman Mahavir undertook rigorous tapascharya.
c) He suffered bodily pains without complaining, gave up all comforts and conquered all bodily
desires.

2) Siddharth came to be known as Gautam Buddha.

Ans: a) Prince Siddharth had left his home, his wife and son to find the answers for all human
sufferings.
b) After rigorous tapascharya he acquired ‘Bodhi’ i.e. enlightenment or divine knowledge.
c) Therefore, Siddharth came to be known as Gautam Buddha.

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3)A number of new sects emerged in the later Vedic period.
Ans: a) From the time of Upanishads, the learned men believed that the religion should not be
confined only to the performance of yajna and other rituals.
b)The religious text were beyond comprehension of the common people.
c) The common people should be provided opportunity to worship their ‘God’.
d) As a result, a number of new sects emerged in the later Vedic period.

Q. VIII. Short notes:

1) Pancha Mahavratas:
Ans:The pancha mahavratas are the 5 precepts of behaviour preached by Vardhaman Mahavir
to his followers. They are:
a) Ahimsa ( Non- violence) – No living being should be harmed.
b) Satya ( Truth) – Truth should be observed in speech, mind and behaviour.
c) Asteya ( Non- stealing) – One should not tale what does not belong to him.
d) Aparigrah ( Non- Possession) – One should not accumulate wealth in any form
e) Brahmacharya – One should lead a chaste life.

2) Aryasatyas:
Ans: There are four truths at the root of all human affairs. They are called Noble Truths or
Aryasatyas.
a) Dukkha (Suffering) : There is suffering in human life.
b) The Cause of Dukkha : There is a cause of suffering.
c) Dukkha-nivaran : It is possible to end suffering.
d) Pratipad : Pratipad means the ‘way’. This way leads to the end of suffering. This is the way
of good conduct. It is known as the Ashtangik or Eight-fold Path.

3) Tri – ratnas :
Ans: The 3 important principles given by Mahavir to his followers are known as Tri- ratnas or 3
jewels. They are as follows:
a) Samyak – darshan ( Right Faith) – Faith in Mahavir’s philosophy.
b) Samyak – Jnan ( Right knowledge) -Knowledge of Mahavir’s teaching and Jain philosophy.
c) Smayak – Charitra (Right Conduct) – Strictly following the 5 main precepts ( Pancha
mahavratas)

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Q. IX. Answer in brief:
a) What are the teachings of Vardhaman Mahavir?
Ans: i) Vardhaman Mahavir preached Pancha Mahavratas consisting of Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya,
Aparigraha and Brahmacharya.
ii) He emphasized the excellence of one’s character.
iii)He preached love for all living being and asked people to practise mercy and compassion.
iv) He preached the idea of ‘ Live and Let live’.

b) What are the teachings of Christianity?

Ans: Christianity preaches the following:
i)There is only one almighty God and he is the loving father of all.
ii)Jesus Christ is the son of God and he descends on the earth for salvation of humanity.
iii)We are all brothers and sisters and we should love even our enemies.
iv) We should forgive those who go wrong or hurt us.

c) What are the teachings of Islam?

Ans: i) The teaching of Islam is surrender to Allah.
ii) Allah is eternal, absolute, all powerful and merciful.
iii) The purpose of human existence is the worship of Allah.
iv) Quaran Sharif provides guidance on how man should behave in life.

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