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SANKALP 2024
Ancient History - Prelims Questions DPP - 11

1. What is the subject matter of Manu Smriti? Which of the statements given above is/are
(a) Law (b) Medicine correct?
(c) Politics (d) Geography (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. With reference to ancient history of India,
consider the following statements: 5. Which of the following is the oldest of the
1. Anuloma Marriage is the marriage of a Indian Orthodox Philosophical Systems?
man of higher Varna with a girl from (a) Nyaya (b) Uttar Mimamsa
lower Varna. (c) Samkhya (d) Yoga
2. Pratiloma marriage is the marriage of a
girl of higher Varna with a man of a 6. Which of the following represents the
lower Varna. Orthodox School of Indian Philosophy?
Which of the statements given above is/are 1. Samkhya System
correct?
2. Vaishesika
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
3. Charvaka
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
4. Nyaya
Select the correct answer using the code given
3. With reference to Rig Veda, consider the below:
following statements:
(a) 1 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
1. Rig Veda consists of 8 Mandalas only.
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2 and 3 only
2. 9th mandala contains the Gayatri Mantra.
3. 10th Mandala has ‘Purusha Sukta’.
7. Which among the following is the oldest
Which of the statements given above is/are Puranas?
correct?
(a) Brahma Purana
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(b) Matsya Purana
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 3 only
(c) Agni Purana
(d) Garuda Purana
4. With reference to Yajur Veda, consider the
following statements:
8. Which among the following Vedic text is
1. Krishna (black) Yajurveda was written in
considered as the origin of music?
verse form.
(a) Rig Veda (b) Yajur Veda
2. Shukla (white) Yajurveda was written in
(c) Atharva Veda (d) Sama Veda
prose form.
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9. With reference to Upavedas consider the 4. Gandharvaveda is Upaveda of Samaveda, it

following statements: deals with the science of art and craft.
1. All the 4 Vedas have one Upavedas. Which of the statements given above is/are
2. Dhanurveda is Upaveda of Rigveda and it not correct?
deals with the science of archery. (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only
3. Shilpaveda is Upaveda of Yajurveda and it (c) 3 only (d) 3 and 4 only
deals with music.
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Answer
1. (a) 6. (b)
2. (c) 7. (b)
3. (d) 8. (d)
4. (d) 9. (d)
5. (c)
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Hints and Solutions

1. Option (a) is correct: 2. Daiva Vivah: It is a marriage when the

Manu Smriti (Pre Gupta period) is the oldest father donates his daughter to a priest as
Smriti text. Its commentators were Vishwarupa, a part of Dakshina.
Meghatithi, Govindraj and Kullu Bhatt. The 3. Asra Vivah: A token bride-price of a
Manavadharmasastra, also known as cow and a Bull was given.
Manusmriti or the Laws of Manu, is a Sanskrit 4. Prajapati Vivah: It is a marriage
text belonging to the Dharmaśāstra, the literary without dowry.
tradition of Hinduism. The subject matter of
5. Gandharva Vivah: It was a kind of love
Manu Smriti is Law. The Manu Smriti
marriage or a ‘swyamvara’ type of
contains the following content:
marriage.
 The genesis of the universe.
6. Asura Vivah: It is a marriage by
 Procedures of performing ceremonies purchase.
and the methods of fulfilling vows.
7. Paisach Vivah: Seduction of a girl while
 Holy baths, sexual life, performing
sleeping or mentally unstable due to
marriages, Mahayagya (religious
drink.
sacrifices), method of pacifying deceased
ancestors etc. 8. Rakshasha Vivah: It is a marriage by
 Regular ablutions and routines, Sutak abduction.
Vrata. 9. Anuloma Marriage: The marriage of a
 Edible and non-edible things, cleanliness, man of higher Varna with a girl from
impurity. lower Varna.
 The duty of the wife, the duty of royal 10. Pratiloma marriage: The marriage of a
people, the duty of regulation, the duties girl of higher Varna with a man of a
of men and women and all departments. lower Varna.
It also contains annihilation of the
wicked duty in emergency.
3. Option (d) is correct:
 Vanaprastha, liberation, Detachment and
Repentance. About Rig Veda:
 Rigveda is the oldest among all the 4
2. Option (c) is correct: Vedas. It is the oldest literature of Indo-
The Dharmashastra mentions ten types of Europeans.
Marriages, which are as follows:  It has 1028 hymns or suktas classified in
1. Brahma Vivah: Marriage of a girl with 10 mandalas (chapters).
the boy of same Varna with Vedic rites  Main Gods were: Indra, Agni and
and rituals. Varuna.

 There are several hymns dedicated to
female Goddess. For example: Usha
(Goddess of Dawn), Prithvi (Goddess of
Earth) and Vak (the Goddess of Speech).
Hotri priests were associated with
Rigveda.
 Most of the hymns concentrate on the
themes of life, death, creation, sacrifice
and for seeking godly pleasure or soma.
 Mandalas:
 II to VII: Earliest written mandala.
 I and X: It was written at the end.
 Gayatri Mantra is part of the 3rd
mandala of Rigveda. It was composed
by Vishwamitra and it is dedicated to
God Savitri.
5.
 Mention of Dasraj war on the bank of
river Ravi.
 The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th mandalas
are the oldest. They were composed by
different families of priests and therefore
these mandalas are famously known as
family books.
 9th mandala is dedicated to Soma and
Soma sacrifice.
 10th Mandala has ‘Purusha Sukta’.
4. Option (d) is correct:
About Yajurveda:
 It is the collection of hymns used by
priests during rituals and ceremonies. It
was originally recited by Adhvaryu
priests.
 It was divided into 2 parts:
1. Krishna (black) Yajurveda (in
prose form)
2. Shukla (white) Yajurveda (in verse
form).
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 It is the oldest example of prose literature
of Indo-Europeans.
 Taittiriya Brahmana and Satapatha
Brahmana are part of Yajurveda.
 Satapatha Brahmana contains –
 Upanayana Samskara.
 Ploughing or agricultural rituals.
 Taittiriya Upanishad, Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, Isa
Upanishad Svetasvatara Upanishad and
Maitrayaniya Upanishad are associated
with Yajurveda.
 Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is the earliest
reference of transmigration of soul.
Option (c) is correct:
About Samkhya philosophy
 It is the oldest of the Indian Orthodox
Philosophical Systems. The Samkhya
Philosophy holds that reality is
constituted of two principles - one
Prakriti (female) and the other Purusha
(male). Prakriti and Purusha are
completely independent and absolute.
 According to this system, Purusha is
mere consciousness, hence it cannot be
modified or changed. Prakriti on the
other hand is constituted of three
attributes - thought, movement, and
change/transformation. These three
attributes bring about the change in all
objects.
 The Samkhya philosophy tries to
establish some relationship between
Purusha and Prakriti for explaining the
creation of the universe.
 The founder of this philosophy was
Kapila.
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6. Option (b) is correct:  There are 18 major Puranas

About the Orthodox School: (Mahapuranas) and each gives

prominence to a particular deity and
 Historically known as Sanatana Dharma,
expound on the philosophical and
the orthodox (astika) schools are now
religious concepts related to them. Some
collectively referred to as Hinduism.
of the more prominent and well-known
 The Orthodox school has six distinct
Puranas are Bhagvata, Brahma, Vayu,
philosophical and theological systems:
Agni, Garuda, Padma, Vishnu and
1. Samkhya
Matsya. Matsya Purana is the oldest
2. Nyaya puranic text.
3. Vaishesika  Puranas contain anecdotes about the
4. Yoga social, cultural, and religious life of post-
Vedic India and provide the historians
5. Purva Mimamsa
with critical information about the
6. Vedanta or Uttara Mimamsa. geography, history and the dynastic
genealogies.
7. Option (b) is correct:
About Purana 8. Option (d) is correct:

 As the word 'Purana' suggests, these
texts talk about 'that which renews the
old'. Puranas are ancient Indian
mythological texts, which consist of the
narrative stories about the creation of the
universe and illustrate its history till the
supposed destruction of the universe.
 It contains the stories of the kings,
heroes, sages, and demi-Gods, but it
focuses on the divine Hindu Trimurti or
trinity/ three Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and
Mahesh.
The Sama Veda, which is one of the Vedic text,
is considered to be as the origin of music. The
hymns of Samaveda Samhita are mostly taken
from Rigveda Samhita. Only 75 hymns of
Samaveda are original. The hymns of
Samaveda are set to musical tunes for the
purpose of singing during rituals and
ceremonies. Udgatri priest chant hymns of
Samaveda. It is also called as the ‘Book of
Chanters’. It provides the earliest literary
reference about the origin of Indian Music.
It is available in 3 versions, namely Jaiminiya
in Carnatic, Kauthuma in Gujarat and
Ranayaniya in Maharashtra. Tandya
Mahabrahmana or Panchavimsha Brahmana,
Shadavimsa Brahmana and Jaiminiya
Brahmana belong to Samveda. Kena Upanishad
or Talavakara Upanishad and Chhandogya
Upanishad also belong to Samveda which
shows the first evidences of Krishna.
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9. Option (d) is correct:  Shilpaveda is Upaveda of

About Upavedas Yajurveda. It deals with the science
of art and craft.
 All the 4 Vedas have one Upaveda each
associated with them. These Upavedas  Gandharvaveda is Upaveda of
are like appendices to the main books. Samaveda. It deals with music.

 They deal with specific issues in detail.  Ayurveda is Upaveda of

Atharvaveda. It deals with the
 They are a collection of applied
science of longevity. It is a book of
knowledge.
the medicine branch of medical
 These Upavedas are: science.
 Dhanurveda is Upaveda of
Rigveda. It deals with the science of
archery.

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