Indian History

Friday, May 27, 2022

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

Mayadevi_Temple_in_Lumbini / Image credit

Located in the Rupandehi District in Nepal, Lumbini is the spiritual centre of Buddhism. For Buddhists, a visit to this Buddhist site is one the most important religious and spiritual journeys of their life. The reason is not far to seek.

It was in Lumbini that the Buddha, one of history’s greatest teachers, was born. Its central temple, Maya Devi Temple, is an obligatory stop on the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit. Unsurprisingly, this UNESCO World Heritage–listed site is a huge drawcard for the Buddhist pilgrims from around the world for centuries. According to the Lumbini Pillar Edict (also known as Rummindei Pillar Inscription) in Nepal, Mauryan Emperor Ashoka travelled to Lumbini in 249 BC and constructed four stupas and erected a stone pillar with a figure of a horse on top.

Lumbini is one of the four main sacred sites of the Buddhist religion. Other three holy places are Bodh Gaya (Tree of Wisdom at Gaya where Buddha gained enlightenment), Sarnath near Varanasi where he preached his first sermon and Kushinagar where he died- all located in India.

Apart from the Maya Devi Temple, many monasteries and temples of various Buddhist traditions dot the town, built in their national style by foreign Buddhist communities.

Maya Devi Temple

The spiritually important Maya Devi Temple marks the exact spot where Siddhartha Gautama, who later came to be known as the Buddha after he attained enlightenment, was born to Queen Maya Devi. On the south of the temple is the holy pond where Maya Devi is believed to have bathed before giving birth to the Buddha. Adjacent to the area are ancient ruins of brick stupas and the Ashokan pillar and a sacred Bodhi tree under which maroon robed monks from different parts of the world congregate to offer prayers and mediate.

World Peace Pagoda

The brilliant white World Peace Pagoda in Lumbini is one of the several pagodas built by the Japanese Buddhists. Built in 2001 at a cost of US$1 million, the pagoda houses a shining golden statue representing the posture the Buddha took when he was born.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Karla Caves

Karla Caves / Image Credit

8 km from the hill station of Lonavala in Maharashtra, Karla is home to awe-inspiring Buddhist caves dating back to 2nd century BC. The most striking highlight of these caves is the presence of a deep apsidal chaitya hall cut in solid rock which is hailed as the largest in India. Chaitya is a sacred spot or shrine indigenous to Buddhism. Made in the first century BC, the chaitya of Karla is cut 124 feet deep into the rock. Karla cave is much developed in size and splendour when compared to other caves of that period.

The columns of the chaitya are ornately carved and each of them is set a square stepped plinth. Each of 37 pillars sports a group of horses and elephants with riders to support the roof. The Karla caves have three entrances and splendid relief panels of dampati couples with small carved gable-ends above. The large windows let light into the hall.

How to reach Karla Caves

Rail: Lonavala is the nearest railway station on the Mumbai-Pune section of Central Railway, well connected with other cities and places in India.

Air: nearest airports to Karla Caves are at Pune and Mumbai which are 55km and 80 km away respectively.

Road: Karla caves are situated on the National Highway-4 between Mumbai and Pune.

Sunday, May 8, 2022

History of Chandigarh

Corbusier boating at Sukhna Lake/ Image Source

Chandigarh came into being thanks to the need of a new capital city to serve as the capital of the state of Punjab. The partition of Punjab, as a corollary to the partition of British India into the two nations of India and Pakistan in 1947, resulted in the incorporation of Lahore in Pakistan. As no other city was considered to be fit for being the capital of Punjab, the idea of building a new city gained ground.

Chandigarh, literally meaning "the fort of Chandi", is named after Chandi Mandir, a temple of goddess Chandi, situated in the Panchkula District of the state of Haryana. The famous French architect and urban planner, Le Corbusier, was entrusted with the task of designing the city.

Today Chandigarh is a union territory serving as the capital of Punjab and Haryana which was created carving out of the eastern portion of Punjab state.

Sunday, April 17, 2022

History quiz: How much do you know about the Vijayanagara Empire - Part 3

Virupaksha Temple-Hampi / Image Credit

Q.1. Who among the following Bahmani rulers was married to the daughter of Vijayanagar ruler Dev Raya I?

(a) Firuz Shah Bahmani

(b) Alauddin Hasan Bahmani

(d) Muhammad Shah III

Q.2. Which of the following foreign travellers had visited the court of Deve Raya I?

(a) Ibn Batuta

(b) Nicolo de Conti

(d) Domingo Paes

Q.3. Which of the following foreign travellers had visited the court of Deve Raya II?

(a) Ibn Batuta

(b) Nicolo de Conti

(d) Domingo Paes

Q.4. The permission of which Vijayanagara emperors was solicited by Francisco Albuquerque, the Portuguese governor of Goa in India, to build a fort at Bhatkal?

(a) Devaraya I

(b) Devaraya II

(d) Virupaksha Raya

Q.5. The Battle of Talikota between Vijayanagara empire and the Muslim Sultanates of Deccan took place in which year?

(a) 1526

(b) 1556

(d) 1605

Q.6. ------is a book written by famed historian Robert Swell about Vijayanagara empire?

(a) A Forgotten Empire

(b) The Birth of an empire

(d) Empire on Tungabhadra

Q.7. When did Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya die?

(a) 1346

(d) 1526

(d) 1530

Q.8. Who was the Vijayanagara emperor during Talikota war?

(a) Sadasiva Raya

(b) Krishnadevaraya

(d) Bukka Raya II

Q.9. Who among the following beheaded Rama Raya, the de facto ruler of Vajayanagara, at the battle of Talikota in 1565?

(a) Husain Shah Nizami

(b) Ibrahim Adil Shah

(d) Murtada Nizam Shah I

Q.10. When was the present day Hampi, the nucleus of Vijayanagar empire, designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO?

(a) 1981

(b) 1986

(d) 2006

Answers

1-a

Notes

The marriage of Firuz Shah Bahmani with the daughter of Deva Raya I was celebrated with great pomp and show.

Addicted to hard drinking, Firuz Shah Bahmani, like many other medieval rulers, was a blood thirsty tyrant. He won two battles against the Hindu Vijayanagar kingdom in 1398 and 1406. After these victories, he took delight in massacre of the populace and left “the roads littered with the bodies of the slaughtered Hindus”. Firoz Bahmani entered into a new relationship with Vijayanagar ruler Deva Raya I by marrying his daughter.

2-b

Notes

Born at the coastal town of Chioggia in Italy, Nicolo Conti was an Italian and the earliest European visitor to the mighty Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Nicolo Conti reached the city in 1420 -21 in the reign of Devaraya I. His original travel account in Latin is lost. Conti gives a vivid account of the city of Vijayanagar, its court, customs, currency, festivals and other matters.

3-c

Notes

Abdur Razzaq was a Persian who was sent by Timur's son and successor Shah Rukh as ambassador to the Zamorin of Calicut. In April 1443, Abdur Razzaq also visited Vijayanagar during the reign of Devaraya II. Abdur Razzaq was overawed with the size and grandeur of the city of Vijayanagar.

He says, “The city is such that eye has not seen nor ear heard of any place resembling it upon the whole earth. It is so built that it has seven fortified walls, one within the other.” His narrative supplies valuable information on the topography, administration and social life of Vijayanagar at that time.

4-c

Notes

Krishnadevaraya granted the permission to Portuguese to erect a fort at Bhatkal.

5-c

Notes

It was during the reign of the Taluva king Sadashiva Raya (1543- 69) that famous battle of Rakshasa Tangadi or Talikota in 1565 was fought in which Vijayanagar army was defeated by the combined forces of the five Muslim Sultanates of Deccan. This gave body blow to the empire. After this battle the kingdom lost its grandeur and glory.

Ram Raja was the de facto ruler of Vijayanagara during the battle and was killed.

6 – a

Notes

A Forgotten Empire is an account of the Vijayanagar kingdom.

7-c

Notes

An epigraphical reference to the date of death of Krishnadevaraya was discovered at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district. According to the inscription, Krishnadevaraya died on October 17, 1529.

8-a

Notes

The Battle of Talikota took place in 1565 between the Vijayanagara Empire and an alliance of the Deccan sultanates. During the battle, the Vijayanagara emperor was Sadasiva Raya. During his reign the famous battle of Rakshasa Tangadi or Talikota in 1565 was fought between Vijayanagar and the combined forces of the five Muslim Sultanates of Deccan.

9-a

Notes

Hussain Nizam Shah had beheaded the de facto ruler of Vajayanagara, Rama Raya of Vijayanagara, after the Battle of Talikota.

10- b

Notes

The site of Hampi, the capital city of Vijayanagar Empire, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1986.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

History quiz: How much do you know about the Vijayanagara Empire - Part 2

Q.1. Who among the following was the Delhi Sultanate ruler when the Vijayanagara Empire came into existence?

(a) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

(b) Giyas-ud-din Tughlaq

(d) Khizr Khan

Q.2. Which of the foreign travelers had visited the Vijayanagara empire during the reign of Krishnadevaraya?

(a) Duarte Barbosa

(b) Domingo Paes

(d) Both a and b

Q.3. Which of the following Vijayanagara rulers had earned the title of Purvapaschima Samudradhishavara?

(a) Deva Raya II

(b) Virupaksha Raya

(d) Harihara I

Q.4. Which of the following was a bone of contention between Vijayanagara empire and Bahmani Sultanate?

(a) Bijapur

(b) Gulbarga

(d) Golconda

Q.5. The correct chronological order in which the following dynasties of the Vijayanagara empire were established:

(i) Saluva Dynsty

(ii) Tuluva dynasty

(iii) Sangama Dynasty

(iv) Aravidu dynasty

(a) II, I,III,IV

(b) II, I, IV,III

(d) III, I, II, IV

Q.6. Krishnadevaraya’s reign spanned the years from --------- to -------------.

(a) 1501-1520

(b) 1505-1526

(d) 1510-1530

Q.7. Who was the last king of Sangama Dynasty?

(a) Praudha Raya

(b) Virupaksha Raya II

(d) Deva Raya II

Q.8. Which of the following Vijaynagar ruler had taken the title of 'Gajabetekara (the elephant hunter)'?

(a) Bukka Raya II

(b) Deva Raya II.

(d) Harihara Raya II

Q.9. Which Bijapur Sultan was defeated by Krishnadevaraya in the battle of Raichur?

(a) Yusuf Adil Shah

(b) Ismail Adil Shah

(d) Ali Adil Shah I

Q.10. In the court of which of the following rulers did Ashtadiggajas flourish?

(a) Deva Raya II

(b) Harihara I

(d) Bukka Raya II

Answers

1-a

Notes

During his reign Muhammad bin Tughluq had to encounter as many as thirty four rebellions, twenty seven of them in the south. Vijayanagar Empire came into existence at the cost of Sultanate territory during the rule of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

The rule of Muhammad bin Tughlaq lasted from 1325 to 1351. The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336.

2-d

Notes

In April 1443, Abdur Razzaq also visited Vijayanagar during the reign of Devaraya II.

Duarte Barbosa was a Portuguese traveller who came to Vijayanagar during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya.

Domingo Paes was a Portuguese traveler who visited Vijayanagar during the reign of its greatest ruler Krishnadeva Raya in 1520.

3-d

Notes

Harihara I, the founder of Vijayanagara kingdom, had earned the title of Purvapaschima Samudradhishavara ("master of the eastern and western seas").

4-c

Notes

Raichur Doab is the region between the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers. Thanks to its being a fertile land, Raichur Doab was a bone of contention between the rulers of the Vijayanagar and the Bahmani kingdom.

5-d

Sangama Dynasty was founded in 1336. Saluva dynasty was founded in 1885. Tuluva dynasty was founded in 1491.

6- c

Krishnadeva Raya ruled from 1509 to 1529.

7-a

Notes

Praudha Raya was the last king of Sangama Dynasty.

8-b

Notes

Deva Raya II who ruled from 1424 to 1446 was the greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty of Vijaynagar. He is known for his title Gajabetegara (a hunter of elephant).

9-b

Notes

Krishnadevaraya had inflicted a crushing defeat on Isma'il 'Adil Shah of Bijapur on the 19th March, 1520.

10-c

Notes

The court of Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya was adorned by the 'Ashtadiggajas'' (eight elephants), a collective title given to his eight Telugu scholars and poets whose contribution the world of Telugu literature is immense.

History quiz: How much do you know about the Vijayanagara Empire - Part 1

Hampi Vijayanagara empire / Image Credit

Q.1. Who was the founder of Vijayanagar Empire?

(a) Harihara I and Bukka I

(b) Krishnadeva Raya

(d) Narasimha Saluva

Q.2. Vijayanagara kingdom was established on the banks of which river?

(a) Godavari

(b) Krishna

(d) Tungabhadra

Q.3. Which of the following is the ruined capital of Vijayanagara Empire?

(a) Hampi

(b) Halebid

(d) Madurai

Q.4. The distinction of bringing ruins of Vijayanagar empire at Hampi to light is given to

(a) T. S. Burt

(b) Colonel Colin MacKenzie

(d) John Marshal

Q.5. Vijayanagara rulers adopted the emblem of the ‘varaha’ or boar. The symbol was earlier a royal insignia of which of the following kingdoms?

(a) Hoysalas

(b) Kakatiyas

(d) Rashtrakutas

Q.6. Harihara I and Bukka I belonged to ____ dynasty, one of the four main dynasties, combination of which is known as the Vijayanagar empire.

(a) Saluva Dynsty

(b) Tuluva dynasty

(d) Aravidu dynasty

Q.7. The greatest Vijayanagara ruler Krishnadevaraya erected the pillar of victory (Vijayastupam) at ________.

(a) Cuttack

(b) Srisailam

(d) Simhachalam

Q.8. Krishnadeva Raya's magnum opus Amuktamalyada was written in _______.

(a) Tamil

(b) Telugu

(d) Malayalam

Q.9. Who among the following had founded a new city named Nagalapur?

(a) Deva Raya II

(b) Virupaksha Raya

(d) Sadasiva Raya

Q.10. In which year was the Madurai Sultanate annexed to the Vijayanagara Empire?

(a) 1335

(b) 1336

(d) 1378

Answers

1-a

Notes

Vijayanagar Empire was founded by Harihara I and Bukka I. Vijayanagar’s first dynasty which lasted from 1336 to 1485 was named after Sangama, father of the duo. After Harihara, Bukka ruled from 1356 to 1377.

2-d

Notes

The nucleus of the Vijayanagar kingdom was the city of Vijayanagar, identified with present day Hampi (located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River) in Karnataka.

3-a

Notes

The nucleus of the kingdom was the city of Vijayanagar, identified with present day Hampi (located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River) in Karnataka.

4-b

Notes

Colin Mackenzie was born in Scotland in 1754. He was the first Surveyor General of India. He was the first to bring to the world's attention the rich architectural heritage of the Vijayanagara ruins at Hampi.

5- c

Notes

The Vijayanagara kingdom had adopted the emblem of the Chalukyas, varahaas or boar their royal insignia.

6-c

Notes

Harihara I and Bukka I belonged to the Sangama Dynsty, one of the four main dynasties, combination of which is popularly known as the Vijayanagar Empire.

7- d

Notes

Krishnadevaraya had erected the pillar of victory at Simhachalam (in Andhra Pradesh) in course of his eastern expedition.

8-b

Notes

Krishnadeva Raya wrote Amuktamalyada in Telugu. Amuktamalyada is a work on polity.

9- c

Notes

Krishnadeva Raya founded a city called Nagalapuram named after his mother Nagalamba. He built several temples there. Nagalapuram in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh is 20 km from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.

10- d

Notes

The Madurai Sultanate was annexed to the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar in 1378. The victory has been celebrated in the Sanskrit epic poem Madura Vijayam (Conquest of Madurai) or Kamparaya-Charitam (History of Kampanna), composed by Ganga Devi, queen of Vira Kampanna, who led the Vijayanagar army. Vira Kampanna was the son of Bukka I, co-founder of Vijayanagar empire.

Thursday, March 10, 2022

History quiz: How much do you know about the Sayyid Dynasty - Part 1

Mubarak Shah's tomb / Image credit

Q.1. Who was the founder of Sayyid dynasty?

(a) Khizr Khan

(b) Mubarak Shah

(d) Ala-ud-Din Shah

Q.2. When was the foundation of the Sayyid dynasty laid?

(a) 1414

(b) 1421

(d) 1443

Q.3. Who among the following traced his descent to the Prophet?

(a) Khizr Khan

(b) Mubarak Shah

(d) Alauddin Alam Shah

Q.4. Khizr Khan, founder of the Sayyid dynasty, was succeeded by whom in 1421?

(a) Mubarak Shah

(b) Alauddin Alam Shah

(d) None of the above

Q.5. Arrange the following Sayyid rulers in chronological order

(i) Khizr Khan

(ii) Mubarak Shah

(iii) Alauddin Alam Shah

(iv) Muhammad Shah

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) II, I,III,IV

(b) II, I, IV,III

(d) III, I, II, IV

Q. 6. Who among the following had assisted Khizr Khan in the foundation of Sayyid dynasty?

(a) Chengiz khan

(b)Timur Lang

(d) Nadir Shah

Q.7. For the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) below, choose the correct alternative

Assertion: The last ruler of Sayyid dynasty, Ala-ud-Din Alam Shah, voluntarily abdicated the throne of the Delhi Sultanate in favour of Bahlul Khan Lodi in 1451 and left for Badaun.

Reason: Khizr Khan was the governor of Multan under the third Tughlaq Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq.

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

(d) A is false but R is true.

Q. 8. Who among the following medieval historians wrote Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi?

(a) Minhaj-us-Siraj

(b) Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi

(d) Amir Khusrav

Q.9. After which dynasty did the Sayyid dynasty come to rule during the Delhi Sultanate period?

(a) Slave Dynasty

(b) Khiliji dynasty

(d) Lodi dynasty

Q.10. Sayyid dynasty ruled for ______.

(a) 27

(b) 37

(d) 57

Answers

1-a

Notes

Khizr Khan was the founder of the Sayyid dynasty, the fourth and penultimate dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. The rulers of the dynasty ruled for 37 years from 1414 to 1451.

Khizr Khan was appointed governor of Multan, Lahore and DIpalpur by Timur Lang or Tamerlane who won these places after invading India and sacking Delhi in 1398-99. In June 1414, Khizr Khan invaded Delhi and founded a new dynasty named Saiyid Dynasty.

2-a

Notes

The Sayyid dynasty ruled from 1414 to 1451 until they were displaced by the Lodi dynasty.

3-a

According to some historians, Khizr Khan traced his descent to the Prophet. That Khizr Khan traced his descent to the Prophet has been mentioned in Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi written by Yahiya bin Ahmad Sarhindi.

4-a

Notes

After the death of his father Khizr Khan, the founder of the Sayyid dynasty, Mubarak Shah ascended the throne of Delhi Sultanate. Mubarak Shah, who was nominated as the successor by his father, became the sovereign ruler of Delhi on the very day of the latter's death (20th May, 1421)

5-c

Notes

Muhammad Shah was the third ruler of Sayyid Dynasty. He ruled from 1434 to 1345.

Alauddin Alam Shah was the last ruler of Sayyid Dynasty. He abandoned his throne in 1451 and retired to Badaun (now in Uttar Pradesh), where he died in 1478.

6- b

Notes

Khizr Khan was appointed Governor of Multan, Lahore and Dipalpur by the Mangol leader Timur Lang or Tamerlane who had invaded India during the reign of Nasiruddin Mahmud (1394-1413), the last Tughluq ruler, in the years 1398-99.

7-b

Ala-ud-Din Alam Shah was an inefficient ruler. Such was his fondness for gratification and aversion to work that he abdicated the throne in favour of Buhlul Khan Lodi, the governor of Lahore and Sirhind, in 1451 and retired to Badaun (now in Uttar Pradesh), where he died in 1478.

8-b

Notes

It was during the reign of Mubarak Shah (reigned 1421- 1434 ) that Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi composed his Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi, dedicated to the Sayyid ruler.

Written in Persian, Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi begins with the reign of Muizzuddin Muhammad of Ghor and ends at 1434 with the accession of Sultan Muhammad Shah, the third Saiyid ruler.

9-c

Notes

Sayyid dynasty which ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1414 to 1451 came after the Tughlaq Dynasty which ruled from 1320 to 1413.

10-b

Notes

The rulers of the Sayyid dynasty ruled for 37 years from 1414 to 1451.