GK & Current Affairs Test - 7

The correct answer is Makkhali Gosala.

Key Points

• Ajivikas:
  • The school was founded by Makkhali Gosala in the 5th century BC.
  • The school revolves around the Niyati (Fate) doctrine of absolute determinism.
  • It believes that there is no free will and whatever has happened, is happening or will happen is entirely pre-ordained or pre-decided and is based on cosmic principles. Hence there was no use of Karma.
  • It is based on the theory of atoms.
• Mahavir:
  • Mahavira was the founder of Jainism.
  • He was the last and 24th Tirthankara.
  • He would achieve the goal of spirituality and teach others the right way to get moksha or liberation.
• Gautam Buddha:
  • The origin of Buddhism is attached to the story of Siddhartha who came to be known as Buddha.
  • At the age of 35 on the same day of his birth, he attained enlightenment (Nirvana) under the pipal tree and became the Buddha, the Enlightened One.
  • After attaining Nirvana in Bodh Gaya, he gave his first sermon to his five companions at the Deer Park in Sarnath near Varanasi.
• Patanjali​:
  • Patanjali started Yoga and the school has been expounded in the Yogasutra of Patanjali.
  • It was started in, the 2nd century BCE.
  • This school of Yoga by Patanjali encompasses the physical aspect of this school deals primarily with exercises in various postures.

The correct answer is option 3, i.e Andhra Pradesh.

Important Points

Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile, produced in Isfahan and Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

• Only natural dyes are used in Kalamkari and it involves twenty-three steps.
• There are two distinctive styles of kalamkari art in India - Srikalahasti style and the Machilipatnam style.
• The Srikalahasti style of Kalamkari(Kalankari), wherein the "kalam" or pen is used for freehand drawing of the subject and filling in the colours, is entirely hand worked.
• This style flowered around temples and their patronage and so had an almost religious identity - scrolls, temple hangings, chariot banners and the like, depicted deities and scenes taken from the Hindu epics - Ramayana, Mahabharata, Purana and the mythological classics.
• This style owes its present status to Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay who popularized the art as the first Chairperson of the All India Handicrafts Board.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e., Natyashastra.

• Natyashastra is the most ancient literature which mentions about Indian music and dance.
• Natyashastra deals with all aspects of Sanskrit theatre.
• The text is associated with Bharata Muni and consists of 36 chapters with a cumulative total of 6000 poetic verses describing performance arts.
• Bhagavad-Gita, a manuscript is part of Indian epic Mahabharata. It consists of the sayings of the Lord Krishna.
• Mahabharata is an Indian epic depicting the battle of Kauravas and the Pandavas and was written by Vyasa.
• Ramayana, authored by Valmiki, is divided into seven books and it narrates the life of Lord Ram.

Key Points

Ajanta Caves-

• The Ajanta Caves are a series of 29 Buddhist cave temples in Ajanta, India, some of which date from the 2nd century BC. Encompassing both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the Ajanta caves preserve some of the best masterpieces of Buddhist art in India.
• Out of 29, 25 caves were used as Viharas or residential caves while 4 were used as Chaitya or prayer hills.
• It is said that Buddhist monks lived, studied and prayed in Ajanta caves for a long time.
• The Ajanta Caves were carved in the 2nd century BC out of a horseshoe-shaped cliff along the Waghora River.
• The caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

Ellora caves- 

• The Ellora caves, locally known as 'Verul Leni' is located on the Aurangabad - Chalisgaon road at a distance of 30 km north - northwest of Aurangabad, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
• Ellora is one of the largest rock-cut monastery - temple caves complexes in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 km north of Aurangabad.
• Sculptors, inspired by Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, created elaborate rock carvings. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas or halls of worship, Viharas or monasteries and Hindu and Jain temples.
• Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and 11th century A.D., the earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29).
• The Kailasha temple features the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world.
• During the regime of the Rashtrakuta were the famous Ellora caves of Maharashtra built.

Extra facts:

• Madhya Pradesh- Bagh Caves
• Maharashtra - Ajanta Caves, Bhaja Caves, Elephanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Kanheri Caves
• Karnataka- Badami Caves
• Bihar - Barabar Caves
• Madhya Pradesh- Udaygiri Caves
• Andhra Pradesh - Borra Caves
• Tamilnadu - Varah Caves

Key Points

• The famous bronze image of Nataraja is an example of Chola art.
• The Chola Dynasty was one of the greatest dynasties in the southern Indian part.
• They defeated the Pallavas to come into power.
• Their dynasty originated in the fertile valley of River Kaveri.
• Society and culture saw great developments during the reign of Cholas.
• Also, during this period Temples were the epicentre of all the social and religious gatherings. Temples and mutts were the centres of learning as well.
• Several Gods and goddesses were worshipped.
• Among these Shiva was the popular source of strength for the faithful ones. Quite a lot of Shiva temples were built along the banks of the river Kaveri.

Additional InformationLord Nataraja

• Nataraja (Lord of the Dance), the Hindu god Shiva in his form as the cosmic dancer, is represented in metal or stone in many Shaivite temples, particularly in South India.
• It is an important piece of Chola sculpture.
• Some of the features of the Nataraja sculpture are:
  • The upper right-hand holds the drum, which signifies the sound of creation. All creations spring from the great sound of the damru.
  • The upper left-hand holds the eternal fire, which represents destruction. Destruction is the precursor and inevitable counterpart of creation.
  • The lower right hand is raised in the gesture of Abhay mudra signifying benediction and reassuring the devotee to not be afraid.
  • The lower left-hand points towards the upraised foot and indicates the path of salvation.
  • Shiva is dancing on the figure of a small dwarf. The dwarf symbolises ignorance and the ego of an individual.
  • The matted and flowing locks of Shiva represent the flow of the river Ganges.

The correct answer is Nagaland.

Key Points

• Hornbill Festival is one of the most important festivals of Nagaland.
• It takes place from 1^st to 10^th December every year.
• It is done by the Naga Troops.

Additional Information

Some important festivals of Northeastern states are:

The correct answer is Veda Vyasa.

• Bhagavad Gita was said to have been compiled by Veda Vyasa.

Key Points

• The Holy Scripture Bhagavad Gita comprises 18 chapters and 700 verses.
• The Bhagavad Gita is a poetic description of the conversation between Krisha and Arjun.
• According to scholars, the Gita helps an individual to make right and fair decisions in life by helping them view life from a new or different perspective.
• Bhagavad Gita reveals the eternal principles that are fundamental and essential for spiritual life from all perspectives and allows one to perfectly understands the esoteric truths hidden within all religious scriptures.

Additional Information

• Shankaracharya- Adwaita:
  • Shankaracharya was born in the village Kaladi in Kerala in a Namboodari Brahmin family.
  • Shankaracharya studied the Upanishads and Brahmasutras in-depth and propagated the Adwaitha philosophy.
  • According to Adwaitha's philosophy, Brahma is the absolute truth, the rest of the world is false. The soul is one with Brahma, and life is not separate from Brahma.
  • The peethas established by Shankaracharya: Badari- Jyotir peetha, Dwaraka- Kalika peetha, Puri- Govardhan peetha, Sringeri- Sharada peetha, and Kanchi- Kamakoti peetha.
• Madvacharya- Dwaita:
  • Madhwacharya was born in Pajaka village near Udupi in Karnataka.
  • He advocated ‘Dwaitha’ philosophy. Dwaitha means two. According to this philosophy, the human soul and the Divine soul are separate.
  • In order to propagate his philosophy, Madhwacharya took to pilgrimage to various places and participated in debates.
  • According to Madhwacharya, the world is not an illusion. It is as true as the Divine Soul. Between these, the Divine soul is independent and the rest of the world is illusionary.

The correct answer is 2017.

• The Kumbh fair has been included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in 2017.

Key Points

• The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO has inscribed 'Kumbh Mela' on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 12^th session held at Jeju, South Korea from 4-9 December 2017.

Important Points

• Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus gather to bath in a sacred river.
• It is the world’s largest religious gathering.
• It is started on the day of Makar Sankranti.
• It is celebrated for nearly 2 to 3 months.
• It is held every third year at four places by rotation.
• The places are:-
  • Prayagraj, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar.
• The Kumbh Mela is held at each of these four places every 12 years.
• As it is held in four different cities in India, it involves different social and cultural activities, making this a culturally diverse festival.
• Knowledge and skills related to the tradition are transmitted through ancient religious manuscripts, oral traditions, historical travelogues, and texts produced by eminent historians.
• The teacher-student relationship of the sadhus in the ashrams and akhadas remains the most important method of imparting and safeguarding knowledge and skills relating to Kumbh Mela.

The correct answer is Rajasthan.

• Mand or Maand is the famous style of singing in Rajasthan.
  • It is well recognized in classical circles and this style is very important in folk songs of Rajasthan.
  • This is neither accepted as a full-fledged Raga nor is it reckoned among the freely rendered folk songs.
  • It is very near the Thumri or the Ghazal.

Additional Information 

• Mand singers include:
  • Allah Jilai Bai from Bikaner (awarded Padma Shri -1982 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award - 1988 in Folk Music).
  • Mangi Bai Arya from Udaipur (awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi Award-2008 in Folk Music).
  • Gavari Bai from Jodhpur (awarded by Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1975-76 and 1986 in Folk Music). 

The correct answer is Bihar

Important Points

• Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist temple which is located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
• It was built by Emperor Ashoka.
• It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely from bricks.
• It was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2002.