Religious & Epics — Set 2

Correct Answer: C. Zoroastrians

• **Zoroastrians** = are the religious group for whom the 'Zend Avesta' is the sacred scripture. • **Parsi community** — primarily uses the Zend Avesta in India today. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Jews: their sacred scripture is the Torah (Hebrew Bible); Baha'is: their sacred texts include the Kitáb-i-Aqdas; Sikhs: their primary religious text is the Guru Granth Sahib.

Correct Answer: A. Razmnama

• **Razmnama** = is the medieval Indian work that is a Persian translation of the Mahabharata. • **Emperor Akbar** — commissioned the Razmnama to promote understanding between different religions. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Akbarnama: the official chronicle of Emperor Akbar's reign, written by Abul Fazl; Tuzuk-e-Baburi: the autobiography of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, written in Chagatai Turkic; Safinat-ul-Auliya: a biographical work on Sufi saints, written by Dara Shikoh.

Correct Answer: C. Tulsidas

• **Tulsidas** = wrote the 'Ramcharitmanas', the popular Awadhi version of the Ramayana. • **16th century** — is when Tulsidas composed the Ramcharitmanas, making Rama's story accessible to common people. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Valmiki: authored the original Sanskrit Ramayana; Surdas: a blind devotional poet known for his 'Sur Sagar', dedicated to Krishna; Kabir: a mystic poet and saint, whose works influenced the Bhakti movement.

Correct Answer: D. 18

• **18** = is the traditional number of 'Mahapuranas' in the vast collection of ancient Indian legends. • **Vedic truths** — were explained through simplified stories in the Puranas for the general public. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 12: not the traditional number of Mahapuranas, although there are 12 Upanishads; 108: the number of minor Puranas or Upa-Puranas, or the number of Upanishads in some traditions, but not Mahapuranas; 24: not the traditional number of Mahapuranas.

Correct Answer: A. Gautama Buddha

• **Gautama Buddha** = is the figure whose previous lives are described in the 'Jataka Tales' in the Buddhist tradition. • **Moral lesson** — regarding virtues like compassion and wisdom concludes each Jataka story. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: King Ashoka: a powerful Maurya emperor who embraced Buddhism, not the subject of Jataka Tales; Mahavira: the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, not related to Jataka Tales; Nagarjuna: a renowned Buddhist philosopher, not the subject of Jataka Tales.

Correct Answer: C. Philosophy and Mysticism

• **Philosophy and Mysticism** = The Upanishads are the concluding parts of the Vedas that discuss the nature of ultimate reality (Brahman) and the self (Atman). • The word 'Upanishad' means **'to sit down near'** a teacher. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Military strategy: Not related to philosophical texts like the Upanishads; Sacrificial rituals: Early Vedic texts focus on rituals, but Upanishads shifted towards spiritual inquiry; Agricultural laws: This subject is not covered in the Upanishads.

Correct Answer: D. Torah

• **Torah** = The Torah consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and contains the laws given to Moses. • It comprises the **first five books** of the Hebrew Bible. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Bible: While the Torah is part of the Hebrew Bible, the term 'Bible' (especially Christian Bible) is broader; Tripitaka: This is the primary scripture of Buddhism; Quran: This is the central religious text of Islam.

Correct Answer: C. Tamil

• **Tamil** = Silappadikaram, or 'The Tale of the Anklet', was written by the prince-monk Ilango Adigal. • It is one of the **five great epics** of Tamil literature. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Telugu: Telugu literature has its own epics like 'Mahabharatam' translations, not Silappadikaram; Kannada: Kannada literature has classics like 'Kavirajamarga', but Silappadikaram is not one; Malayalam: Malayalam literature developed later and has its own distinct epic tradition.

Correct Answer: A. Atharva Veda

• **Atharva Veda** = The Atharva Veda focuses on the everyday life of people and protective charms, unlike the other three Vedas. • It was the **last of the four Vedas** to be granted canonical status. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sama Veda: Primarily consists of melodies and chants used in rituals; Rig Veda: The oldest Veda, mainly hymns of praise to deities; Yajur Veda: Contains prose mantras for sacrificial rituals.

Correct Answer: D. Patanjali

• **Patanjali** = Sage Patanjali systematized the existing practices of Yoga into 196 aphorisms or sutras. • He organized Yoga into **196 aphorisms** or sutras. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Shankara: A key proponent of Advaita Vedanta philosophy, not Yoga Sutras; Kanada: Associated with the Vaisheshika school of philosophy; Kapila: Considered the founder of the Samkhya school of philosophy.