11. The Muslim festival ‘Barawafat’, where the word ‘barah’ stands for the twelve days of the Prophet’s sickness, refers to which among the following events of life of Prophet Mohammad?
[A] Birth of Prophet Mohammad
[B] Marriage of Prohet Mohammad
[C] Prophet Mohamad’s travel from Mecca to Medina
[D] Farewell Pilgrimage of Prophet Mohammad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Birth of Prophet Mohammad]
Notes:
‘Barawafat’, where the word ‘barah’ stands for the twelve days of the Prophet’s sickness, refers to the birth of prophet Mohammad.
12. Which of the following festivals in also known as Kumbh of the Himalayas?
[A] Naropa Festival
[B] Losar Festival
[C] Nawala Festival
[D] Huri-Atham Festival
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Naropa Festival]
Notes:
Naropa festival is a celebration of the 1,000th birth anniversary of the great Indian saint Naropa. It is celebrated in the Hemis monastery of Drukpa lineage. More than 200,000 devotees, mainly from Ladakh, Bhutan and Nepal, attend the week-long celebrations. It is called Kumbh of the Himalayas because this opportunity comes only once in 12 years.
13. The doctrine of Advaita advocated that:
[A] God is Unique
[B] God is Immortal
[C] God is Knowledge
[D] God is Formless
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ God is Unique]
Notes:
The doctrine of Advaita, or non-dualism, was advocated by Adi Shankaracharya. The doctrine states that there is no difference between the individual soul and Brahman, or the Supreme God. Shankara believed that the soul merges with Brahman and that liberation is achieved through self-realization.
Shankara was born in Kerala in the eighth century. He was a prominent Hindu philosopher who started a Hindu revivalist movement in the ninth century. However, his doctrines were too abstract for the general public to understand.
Advaita is a school of Hinduism. All Vedanta schools state that Brahman is both the efficient and material cause of all existence.
14. Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha together are known as which of the following?
[A] Triratna
[B] Trivargu
[C] Trisarga
[D] Trimurti
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Triratna ]
Notes:
Triratna, also called Threefold Refuge, in Buddhism the Triratna comprises the Buddha, the dharma (doctrine, or teaching), and the sangha (the monastic order, or community).
15. Who among the following built the Konark’s Sun Temple?
[A] Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva
[B] Narasimhadeva I
[C] Kapilendra Deva Routaray
[D] Purushottam Dev
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Narasimhadeva I]
Notes:
Based on Brahmin beliefs, Konark’s Sun Temple was built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I (1238-1250 CE) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty and dedicated to Sun God Surya.
16. What is the best definition of Upanishads?
[A] These are religious books of Hindus
[B] There are the books dealing with ancient Hindu laws
[C] There are books on social behaviour of man
[D] These are the prayers to God
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [These are religious books of Hindus]
Notes:
The Upanishads are a collection of texts of religious and philosophical nature. These were written in India probably between 800 BCE and 500 BCE.
The teachings of the Upanishads revolve around four primary spiritual themes. The first and most important is the realization that the ultimate, formless, and inconceivable Brahman is the same as Atman, as our internal soul. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is one of the Principal Upanishads and one of the oldest Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism.
17. Which of the following are the contents of Rigveda, the oldest of the Vedas?
[A] Collection of hymns to gods
[B] Methods of Vedic yagnas
[C] Early Aryan culture
[D] Origin and works of Hindu gods
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Collection of hymns to gods]
Notes:
The core text, known as the Rigveda Samhita, is a collection of 1,028 hymns in about 10,600 verses organized into ten books (maṇḍalas). In the eight books that were composed the earliest, the hymns are mostly praise of specific deities.
18. The concept of Eight-fold path forms which of the following themes?
[A] Dipavamsa
[B] Divyavadana
[C] Mahaparinibban Sutta
[D] Dharma Chakara Pravartana Sutta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Dharma Chakara Pravartana Sutta]
Notes:
The Noble Eight fold Path, is one of the principal teachings of the Buddha, who described it as the way leading to the cessation of suffering (Dukkha) and attainment of self-awakening. In Buddhist symbolism, the Noble Eight fold Path is often represented by means of the Dharma wheel (Dharmachakra), whose eight spokes represent the eight elements of the path. Eight fold path includes right understanding, right speech, right livelihood; right mindfulness, right thought, right action, right effort and right concentration.
19. When were Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
[A] 2001
[B] 2008
[C] 1984
[D] 1990
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1984]
Notes:
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
20. Into which of the following are Hindu texts are classified?
[A] Sruti
[B] Smirti
[C] Both of the above
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both of the above]
Notes:
Hindu texts are classified into Sruti and Smriti , forming the core foundation of the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and the agamas. The six astika schools of Hindu philosophy,namely Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa and Vedanta. recognizing the authority of the Vedas.