UPSC CSE PRE 2002 - Testpapers

The ancient Indian play Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutt has its subject on:

(a) a conflict between Gods and Demons of ancient Hindu lore
(b) a romantic story of an Aryan prince and a tribal woman
(c) the story of the power struggle between two Aryan .
(d) the court intrigues at the time of Chandragupta

Ans: (d) the court intrigues at the time of Chandragupta

Explanation:The Mudrarakshasa (“The Signet of the Minister”),a historical play in Sanskrit by Vishakhadatta (4thcentury CE) narrates the ascent of the kingChandragupta Maurya to power in Northern India.

In ancient Indian Buddhist monasteries, a ceremony called Pavarana used to be held. It was the:

(a) occasion to elect the Sanghparinayaka and two speakers one on Dhamma and the other on Vinaya
(b) confession by monks of their offences committed during their stay in the monasteries during the rainy season
(c) ceremony of initiation of new person into the Buddhist Sangha in which the head is shaved and when yellow robes are offered
(d) gathering of Buddhist monks on the next day to the full-moon day of Ashadha when they take up a fixed abode for the next four months of the rainy season

Ans: (b) confession by monks of their offences committed during their stay in the monasteries during the rainy season

Explanation:Pavarana is a Buddhist holy day celebrated onthe full moon of the eleventh lunar month. It marksthe end of the month of Vassa, sometimes called”Buddhist Lent.” This day marks the end of the rainyseason in some Asian countries like Thailand, whereTheravada Buddhism is practiced. On this day, eachmonk (Pali: bhikkhu) must come before the communityof monks (Sangha) and atone for an offense he mayhave committed during the Vassa.

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

(a) The statue of Gomateshwara at Shravana Belagola represents the last Tirthankara of Jains.
(b) India’s largest Buddhist monastery is in Arunachal Pradesh.
(c) Khajuraho temples were built under Chandela kings.
(d) Hoysaleswara temple is dedicated to Siva.

Ans: (a) The statue of Gomateshwara at Shravana Belagola represents the last Tirthankara of Jains.

Explanation:The Statue of Gomateshwara was built indeference to Jain deity Bahubali, It does not representlast Tirthankara of Jains. India’s largest Buddhistmonastery is Tawang Monastery located inArunachal Pradesh. It is the second largest in theworld after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

Match List-I (Ancient site) with List-II (Archaeological finding) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

List-I(Ancient site)	List-II (Archaeological finding)
A. Lothal	1. Ploughed field
B. Kalibangan	2. Dockyard
C. Dholavira	3. Terrcotta replica of a plough
D. Banawali	4. An inscription comprising ten large sized signs of the Harappan script

Codes:
(a) A – 1; B – 2; C – 3; D – 4
(b) A – 2; B – 1; C – 4; D – 3
(c) A – 1; B – 2; C – 4; D – 3
(d) A – 2; B – 1; C – 3; D – 4

Ans: (b) A – 2; B – 1; C – 4; D – 3

Explanation:

List-I(Ancient site)	List-II (Archaeological finding)
A. Lothal	2. Dockyard
B. Kalibangan	1. Ploughed field
C. Dholavira	4. An inscription comprising ten large sized signs of the Harappan script
D. Banawali	3. Terrcotta replica of a plough