Ancient Indian History | 20 Minute‐Test 1

Avanti was not directly related to life of Buddha, so this needs to be opted out. We have read that Pasenadi (Prasenajit), king of Kosala, was the Buddha’s contemporary and is frequently mentioned in Pali texts. Kosala and Magadha were linked through matrimonial ties. Buddha wandered through the towns and villages in the kingdoms of Kosala and Magadha teaching his philosophy. Gandhara is not directly associated with the life of Buddha. It was expansion of Maurya empire that Gandhara received much Buddhist influence, notably during the reign of Asoka.

Here are no evidences of wage earners in agriculture in Rig-Vedic Economy.

Charana refers to the Guru-pupil lineage or school for teaching and learning of Vedas in ancient India.

The oldest surviving Prakrit grammar is Vararuchi’s PrĿkrita PrakĿśa, whose date is debated.

The Hathigumpha Inscription at Udayagiri near Bhubaneswar in Odisha was got inscribed by King Kharvela of Kalinga in 2nd century BC.

The earliest Greek Account of India was left by Scylax of Caryanda who was sent by Kind Darius-I of Persia to follow the course of river Indus and find out where it led. His original works are now lost.

According to some historical sources, the term NĿbhivarṣa was used for India prior to its name Bharatvarsa. The name is derived from King Nabhi, who was father of Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara in Jainism.

Both the statements are correct.

Dhamma Mahamattas were special officers appointed by Ashoka to spread the message of Dhamma or his Dharma. The Dhamma Mahamattas were required to look after the welfare of the people of different religions and to enforce the rules regarding the sanctity of animal life.

Yajnsari Satkarni (165-194 A.D.) recovered Malwa from the Shaka rulers.

The Nasik and Nanaghat inscriptions are the major sources that gives detailed information about the Satavahana empire. The Nasik inscription was made by Gautami Balasari and Nanaghat inscription was issued by Naganika.

Gathasaptashati is composed by Savahana king Hala. It is a collection of poems in Maharashtri Prakrit. The theme of most of the poems is based on love.

The rulers of Satvahanas dynasty were the first to make land grant to Brahamanas.

At the 20th anniversary of his enthronement, Asoka announced Lumbini as tax-free and proclaimed only 1/8th part as taxable. Description of this fact is found in the inscriptions of Nigliva and Rumindei.

The earliest evidence of Agriculture in Indian subcontinent is found at Mehrgarh, which is located in Baluchistan state of Pakistan.

Vakataka ruler, Pravarsena-I, is said to have performed all the 7 sacrifices.viz .Agnishtoma, Aptoryama, Ukthya, Shodasin, Atiratra, Vajapeya, Brihaspatisava, Sadyaskra and four Asvamedhas.

Parshvanath was the twenty third Jain Tirthankara. He was a Kshatriya and son of Ashvasena, King of Banaras (Varanasi).

Satapatha Brahmana and Taitriya Brahmana are the Brahmana texts of Yajurveda.

The most unique features of Dholavira, an Indus valley site in Gujarat, is its division. While other Indus Valley sites were divided into two parts viz. Citadel and Lower Town, Dholavira was divided into three divisions.

The period of Kushana King Kanishka, Huviska and Vasudeva is considered to be golden age for Mathura school of art. The theme of Mathura school of art may vary from Buddhist to Brahmanical to sometimes secular. The more stress is given to the inner beauty and facial emotions rather than bodily gesture. The sculptures were made on White-spotted red stones.

An Indo-Scythian king, Moga (or Maues) was the first Saka king in India who established Saka power in Gandhara and extended supremacy over north-western India.

The Indo-greeks introduced practice of military governorship. The governors were called Strategos.

Demetrius,the king of Bactria invaded India about 190 B.C. And conquered a considerable part of the Mauryan Empire in the north-west.

Before becoming a Buddhist, Menander (an Indo-Greek king) asked Nagasena many questions relating to Buddhism.These questions and Nagasena’s answers are recorded in a form of book known as ‘Milindapanho (or The Questions of Milinda).

The Indo-Greek king, Milinda (or Menander I ) was converted to Buddhism by Nagasena (or Nagarjuna), a Buddhist monk and philospher. Before becoming a Buddhist, Menander asked Nagasena many questions relating to Buddhism.These questions and Nagasena’s answers are recorded in a form of book known as ‘Milindapanho (or The Questions of Milinda).

The famous Indo-Greek, Menander I (165/155–130 BCE) set up his capital at Sakala or Sialkot.

The Greek ambassador Heliodoros set up a pillar in honour of Vishnu (Vasudev) at Vidisha. He was sent to the court of Sunga King, Bhagbhadra by the Greek King of Taxila, Antialkidas.

The Indo-Greeks were the first rulers in India to issue coins which can definitely be attributed to the kings. They were the first to issue gold coins in India.

The famous book ‘Brihat Katha’ was written by Gunadhya, who was the great scholar in the court of Satvahana King Hala.

Kushanas Empire: Kanishka (100 – 126 AD), a prominent ruler of the Kushan Dynasty who achieved remarkable milestones in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. His descendants called him as Devaputra which means son of gods.

Also known as Mahasamghika, Mahasanghika, or Mahasanghika. »Great monastic community. »One of first schools of Nikaya Buddhism »Result of (the first schism at) the Second Council at Vaishali where they were outvoted and seceded. »The teachings of this school concerning the nature of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Sakiyas of Kapilavastu : A republican clan with the capital at Kapilavattu, was a vassal of King Prasenjit of Kosala It was a great center of Buddhism. Koliyas, a republican clan had 2 chief settlements in Ramagama and Devadaha. Buddha was related to the Koliyans through his mother and wife. After the demise of the Buddha, the Koliyans obtained a share of his relics and erected a stupa over it. Mallas had 2 confederacies; one at Kusinara and the other at Pava Kusinara was famous as it was the site of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana. Malla Roja initially opposed Buddhism, later accepted him after he heard the Buddha’s discourses. Bulis of Allakappa, Moriyas of Pipphalivana and Kalamas of Kesaputta. They were followers of the Buddha.All are related to Gautam Bhudha and Kautilya also mention many self governing clans in which these exist.

Chanakya : He is also known by Vishnugupta, Kautilya,was born around 350 BC and is known for his being the chief architect of Mauryan Empire and writing the pioneering work in the Economics and Political Science that is Arthashstra. He is known as Indian Machiavelli in the western world.

Tirthankar Parshvanath was the son of king Ashvasena and queen Vama of Varanasi. He achieved Nirvana on the Sammet Sikhar. He lived in Varanasi around 800 BC. Parsvanatha is the 23rd Jain Tirthankar.

Brihadaranyaka will be correct answer of this question .

i.At ‘Vaishali’, Alara Kalama (Sankhya philosopher) taught the techniques of meditation and the teaching of Upanishads to Gautam Buddha. Ii.At ‘Rajgriha’, Udraka Ramputra taught him to achieve the highest level of meditation. Iii.At last ,at the age of 35,Gautam Bhudha attained nirvana at ‘Bodh gaya ‘in Bihar.

Rigveda is the oldest Veda .In it,only two shakas of the Rig-Veda, Shakala sakha and Baskala shaka, remain alive out of the 21 which existed at one time.

The military achievements, territories and many personal qualities of Rudraraman are highlighted in the famous Junagadh inscription, written in 150 AD. It is the first major inscription to be written in sanskrit.

The Fourth Buddhist Council was held at Kundalvana, Kashmir in 72 AD during the reign of Kushan king Kanishka. It was held under the Presidentship of Vasumitra to compose commentaries on the Tripitika.