Mughal Royal Family Quiz

Q.1. Jahangir's eldest son Khusrau was forced to watch as his supporters were put to death by ____________on the Chandni Chowk street in Delhi.

(A) Crucifixion

(B) Boiling 

(C) Hanging

(D) Impalement

Khusrau was the eldest son of the fourth Mughal emperor Jahangir. With the support of the powerful nobles Khusrau eyed the Mughal throne and unfurled a banner of rebellion against his father. After the death of his grandfather, Akbar, in 1605, he was imprisoned in Agra Fort by Jahangir who had succeeded Akbar as the Mughal emperor.

However, though he managed to escape, he was defeated by the Mughal forces in 1606. He was taken to Delhi where he was paraded down Chandni Chowk on an elephant while his supporters were impaled on stakes through their bowels.   

Khusrau was later blinded and was forced into the custody of his brother Khurram (future Shah Jahan) who eventually strangled him at Burhanpur in 1621. (The official cause of his death was colic.)

On the orders of Jahangir, Khusrau was buried in a tomb adjoining his mother's in a garden in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), now called Khusrau Bagh.

Chola Dynasty Quiz

Veeranam Lake / Iamge Source

 Q.1. Which of the following Chola princes died in the battle field?

(A) Rajaditya Chola 

(B) Aditya Karikala, alias Aditya II, 

(C) Rajendra Chola

(C) Parantaka I

Answer: A 

Parantaka I ascended the Chola throne in 907 and ruled for forty-eight years till 955. In 949 he suffered defeat at the hands of Rshtrakuta king Krishna III in the battle of Takkolam. Rajaditya, eldest son of Parantaka I, lost his life in the battle when a well-aimed arrow by Butuga II (Western Ganga king and brother-in-law of Krishna III) struck him while he was on an elephant back. After his success in the battle, Krishna III adopted the title of ‘Conqueror of  Kanchi (Kanchipuram) and Thanjai (Thanjavur)’. 

Rajaditya earned the title ‘Yanaimel Thunjiya Devar’ (The king who died on the back of an elephant) in the Chola inscriptions at Kumbakonam and Thirunageswaram. 

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)  has recently named  its Recruits Training Centre (RTC) as Rajaditya Cholan (RTC) in Thakkolam, in memory of the Chola prince.

Veeranam Lake, located in Cudadalore district of Tamil Nadu, was constructed by Rajaditya Chola.

Vijayanagar empire Quiz

                                                                Lotus Mahal in Hampi.

                        Photograph by John Gollings from the George Michell Collection

Q. 1.- Where are the ruins of Vijayanagar empire found ?

(A) Bijapur

(B) Bidar 

(C) Golconda

(D) Hampi

Q. 2.-  Lotus Mahal is an important monument in___

(A) Pattadakal 

(B) Hampi

(C) Badami

(D) Aihole

Q.3.- Which among the following was the single biggest item of import to the Vijayanagar empire?

(A) Cotton and silk clothes

(B) Spices

(C) Horses

(D) Sugar 

Q.4.- Who was the most famous ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire?

(A) Krishnadeva Raya

(B) Harihara II, 

(C) Sadasiva Raya

(D) Deva Raya

Q.5, - Who was the author of Madhura Vijayam?

(A)  Shilabhattarika

(B) Gangadevi

(C) Tirumalamba

(D) Vijjika

Answer

Q.1- D

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. 

Q.2- B

Lotus Mahal or Chitrangini Mahal is an important structure in Hampi.

Q.3- C

Horses was the single biggest item of import to the Vijayanagar empire.

Q.4. - A

One of the greatest kings of India, Krishnadeva Raya raised the Hindu power of Vijayanagar to the zenith of its prosperity and glory.

Q.5. - B

Gangadevi was a 14th-century princess and Sanskrit-language poet of the Vijayanagara Empire of present-day India.She was the wife of Veera kampana, son of the Vijayanagara ruler Bukka Raya I (c. 1360s-1370s).

Madhurā Vijayam was written by the poet Gangadevi. 

Madhurā Vijayam is also named Vira Kamparaya Charitham by the poet. It chronicles the life of Kumara Kampana. The poem describes in detail, the conquest of the Madurai Sultanate by the Vijayanagara Empire

Gangadevi is a key inspiration for Pampa Kampana, the protagonist of Salman Rushdie's novel Victory City.

Satavahana Empire Quiz

Q.1. Which Satavahana ruler had authored Gathasaptashati?

[A]  Gautamiputra Satkarni 

[B] Simuka 

[C] Pulumayi 

[D] Hala

Q.2. The famous book ‘Brihatkatha’ written in Paishachi language was composed by __?

[A] Subandhu

[B] Guṇāḍhya 

[C] Somadeva 

[D] Kshemendra 

Q.3. With whom is Nashik Inscription associated?

[A] Samudragupta

[B] Rudradaman 

[C] Gautamiputra Satakarni

[D] Ashoka

Answer: 

Q.1. -  D

Hāla was a Satavahana king who is traditionally assigned the authorship of Saptasataka (Seven Hundred) or Gathasaptashati, the most important literary work in Prakrit. Written in the Arya metre, Saptasataka is a collection of self contained stanzas full of beauty. 

Q.2. -  B

Brihatkatha is a book written by Gunadhya. Gunadhya was a scholar in the court of Satvahana King Hala. Brihat Katha is written in Paisachi language.

Q. 3. -  C

Nashik prashasti inscription was issued by Gautami Balashri, the mother of Gautamiputra Satakarni. Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest ruler of Satavahana Dynasty

Ancient India QUIZ

Q.1.  The Mauryan Emperor Asoka is said to have founded the famous city of______? 

(A) Takshashila 

(B) Vaishali

(C) Pataliputra

(D) Srinagar

Q.2. Consider the statements regarding Buddhist councils

1.The First Buddhist council was convened in Vaishali

2. First Buddhist Council was convened under the patronage of King Ajatasatru of the Haryanka dynasty.

3. Ashvaghosha, who was part of the fourth Buddhist Council, had written Buddhacharita.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) both 1 and 3

(B) both 2 and 3

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer

Q.1.- D

• Notes: According to Kalhana's Rajatarangini, Srinagar was built by Ashoka. 
• Pataliputra was the capital of Mauryan Empire.
• Takshashila was the provincial capital of Mauryan Empire.
• Vaishali contains one of the best-preserved of the Pillars of Ashoka. 

Q. 2- B

• The First Buddhist council was convened in Rajgriha.
• The First Buddhist Council was convened under the patronage of King Ajatasatru of the Haryanka dynasty.
• Ashvaghosha had written BuddhacharQita. Asvaghosha was patronised by Kushan king Kanishka. 

Sixteen Mahajanapadas Quiz

 Q.1. In ancient India the only Mahajanapada to be located in south India was 

(A) Kamboja

(B) Asmaka

(C) Matsya 

(D) Surasena

Q.2. The capital of Panchala Mahajanapada was Ahichatra which is in the state of 

(A) Bihar

(B) Punjab

(C) Uttar Pradesh

(D) Gujarat

Q.3. Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?  

(1) Gandhara

(2) Avanti

(3) Magadha

(4) Kosala

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(A) 1, 2 and 3

(B) 2 and 4

(C) 3 and 4 

(D) 1, 3 and 4

Q.4. Which among the following was the capital of Mahajanapada of Vatsa?

(A) Kausambi

(B) Viratnagar

(C) Kusinara

(D) Rajapura

Q.5. Which of the following Buddhist text has referred to the existence of the 16 Mahajanapadas on the sixth century BC?

(A) Khuddaka Nikaya 

(B) Anguttara Nikaya

(C) Sutta Piṭaka

(D) None of the above

Answer

Q. 1. - B

Asmaka or Assaka is one of the 16 Janapadas that existed in the sixth century BC in ancient India. It included areas in present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. 

The capital of the Assaka was Potana or Potali. It is identified with present-day Bodhan in Telangana. 

The ancient Assaka janapada was located along the Godavari river 

Q.2. - C

Capital of Panchala was Ahichatra (also known as Adhichhatra and Chhatravati, near present-day Aonla) tehsil of Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh. 

Q.3. - C

A large number of Buddha's sermons were delivered in Sravasti which served as the ancient capital of Kosala during the reign of king Presenajit.

Q. 4. - A

The capital of Vatsa Mahajanapada was the city of Kauśāmbī or Kosāmbī, on the Yamunā river. 

Q. 5. - B

Angutara Nikaya, a Buddhist Pali scripture mentions 16 great kingdoms or Mahajanapadas at the beginning of the 6th century BCE in India. 

Ajivikas and Other Ascetics Quiz

Q.1. Ajivika sect was founded by which of the following?

(A) Ajita Kesakambalin

(B) Pūraṇa Kassapa, 

(C) Makkhali Gosala

(D) Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta 

Q.2. Which among the following rulers is associated with the Sudama Caves in Bihar?

(A) Chandragupta Maurya

(B) Bimbisara

(C) Bindusara

(D) Ashoka

Q.3.  "As long as he lives a man should live happily

And drink ghee, though he run into debt,

For when the body is turned to ashes

How can there be any return to life?”

This rejection of after-life is an aphorism of which of the following sects?

(A). Kapalika sect. 

(B) Sunyavada of Nagarjun

(C)  Ajivikas. 

(D) Charvakas

Q.1. Answer: C

Notes: Ajivikas were a religious sect founded in the 5th century BC by Goshala Maskariputra (Makkhali Gosala), a contemporary of the Buddha and Mahavir. 

Q.2. Answer: D

Notes: The 3rd century BC Mauryan emperor Ashoka had dedicated the Sudama cave as evidenced in Brahmi featuring his protocol name (Priyadarsin who brings joy) found at the cave entrance. 

Ashoka had dedicated the caves of Sudama to the "Ajivikas" in the 12th year of his reign. 

Q.3. Answer: D

Notes: Charvaka is an ancient Indian philosophical system which propounded materialism and rejected the notions of an afterlife. According to the Charvaka school of thought, all religious observance and morality were useless. The school encouraged making most of the life and seeking after the happiness that can be found in life.