Quiz of the Week: How were Pulakeshin II and Shilabhattarika related?

Q.1. How were Chalukyan ruler Pulakeshin II and celebrated ancient Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika related?

(A) Pulakeshin II was Shilabhattarika's father

(B) Pulakeshin II was Shilabhattarika's son

(D) Pulakeshin II was Shilabhattarika's uncle

Q.2. Where was Akbar proclaimed king of the Mughal empire?

(A) Agra

(B) Kalanaur

(D) Panipat

Q.1.

Answer: A

Researchers at the Pune-based Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI)claim that Shilabhattarika— the celebrated Sanskrit poetess of Ancient India was a daughter of the famed Chalukyan Emperor, Pulakeshin II of Badami (in modern Karnataka).

Pulakeshin II, who ruled from 610-642 CE , had famously defeated Harshavardhan of Kanauj in a battle near the banks of the Narmada River in 618 CE.

Shilabhattarika was a famous poetess in the ancient Indian world in the male-dominated field of classical Sanskrit literature.

Shilabhattarika has been praised for her elegant and beautiful compositions by Sanskrit poet-critic and dramatist Rajashekhara, the court poet of the Gurjara-Pratiharas. Rajashekhara lived in the 10th century CE .

Q.2.

Answer: B

Akbar was proclaimed king of the Mughal Empire in Kalanaur (now in the Gurudaspur district of Punjab) on February 14 in 1556. He was enthroned by Mughal military commander Bairam Khan on a newly constructed platform and was proclaimed Shahanshah (Persian for "King of Kings"). This significant event marked the beginning of his reign. The coronation stone in Kalanaur commemorates this historic moment.

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