Vedic & Mahajanapadas — Set 3
Indian History · वैदिक और महाजनपद · Questions 21–30 of 60
Which Vedic god acted as an intermediary between gods and humans?
Correct Answer: A. Agni
• **Agni** = fire god; **intermediary** (messenger) between humans and gods; carries offerings to heaven. • **2nd most** hymns in Rigveda (**200 hymns**); Rigveda opens with hymn to Agni ('Agni meele purohitam'). • Agni is called **'Purohita'** (priest) of gods — he performs yajna on behalf of humans. • 💡 Varuna = cosmic order guardian; Yama = god of death; Indra = warrior god of rain — none serve as messenger/intermediary between humans and gods.
What was the ancient Rigvedic name of the river Chenab?
Correct Answer: B. Asikni
• **Asikni** = ancient Rigvedic name of river **Chenab**; Greek name was **Acesines**. • Chenab is one of the 5 rivers of Punjab (Panchnad); flows through Pakistan today. • Rigvedic river name memory: **Parushni=Ravi, Asikni=Chenab, Vipasha=Beas, Vitasta=Jhelum, Shutudri=Sutlej**. • 💡 Parushni = Ravi (not Chenab); Vipasha = Beas; Vitasta = Jhelum — Asikni specifically = Chenab.
Which city served as the northern capital of the Avanti Mahajanapada?
Correct Answer: A. Ujjain
• **Ujjain** = northern capital of **Avanti** Mahajanapada; southern capital was **Mahishmati**. • Avanti was one of the **4 powerful kingdoms** (with Magadha, Kosala, Vajji) that dominated the era. • Avanti eventually merged into Magadha under **Shishunaga** dynasty around 4th century BC. • 💡 Mahishmati = southern capital of Avanti, not northern; Vidisha and Viratnagar = capitals of other kingdoms — Ujjain is the northern Avanti capital.
Alexander the Great invaded India during the reign of which dynasty in Magadha?
Correct Answer: A. Nanda
• **Alexander** invaded India in **326 BC** when **Nanda dynasty** (ruler: Dhana Nanda) ruled Magadha. • His troops mutinied at **Beas river (Vipasha)** refusing to march further — feared Nanda's army. • Alexander fought **King Porus** at Battle of **Hydaspes (Jhelum)** — never reached Magadha. • 💡 Haryanka = ended before Alexander's time; Maurya = came after; Shishunaga = also pre-Alexander — Nanda was ruling when Alexander invaded.
The word 'Veda' is derived from the root word 'Vid', which means:
Correct Answer: A. Knowledge
• **Veda** = derived from Sanskrit root **'Vid'** meaning 'to know'; thus Veda = **knowledge**. • Vedas are called **'Shruti'** (heard/revealed) — believed to be divinely revealed to rishis, not written by humans. • There are **4 Vedas**: Rigveda (oldest), Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda. • 💡 Holy = a quality of Vedas, not root meaning; God = 'Deva' in Sanskrit; Wisdom = 'Prajna/Viveka' — only 'Vid' means 'to know'.
In the Vedic period, Varuna was considered the guardian of:
Correct Answer: C. Cosmic Order (Rita)
• **Varuna** = guardian of **Rita** (cosmic/moral order); he punishes sin and upholds universal law. • Associated with **water, oceans, and night sky**; he watches humans with his **thousand eyes** (stars). • Varuna is a **moral god** (unlike Indra = warrior god); his concept is close to Ahura Mazda of Zoroastrianism. • 💡 Storms = Indra's domain; Agriculture = no specific Vedic deity; Fire = Agni — Varuna is specifically the guardian of Rita/cosmic order.
How many 'Vedangas' are there, which are auxiliary disciplines for understanding the Vedas?
Correct Answer: B. 6
• **6 Vedangas** = limbs of Veda; auxiliary sciences to correctly understand Vedic texts. • The six: **Shiksha** (phonetics), **Kalpa** (rituals), **Vyakarana** (grammar), **Nirukta** (etymology), **Chhanda** (meter), **Jyotisha** (astronomy). • **Panini's Ashtadhyayi** falls under Vyakarana Vedanga — frequently asked together. • 💡 8 Vedangas is wrong; 5 Vedangas is wrong; 4 Vedangas is wrong — the fixed answer is 6.
Shravasti was the capital city of which Mahajanapada?
Correct Answer: C. Kosala
• **Shravasti** = capital of **Kosala** Mahajanapada; major city where Buddha spent many rainy seasons. • Famous ruler: **King Prasenajit** (contemporary of Buddha); Kosala also included Ayodhya and Kashi. • **Jetavana monastery** in Shravasti was gifted by merchant Anathapindika. • 💡 Vatsa capital = Kaushambi; Malla capital = Kushinagar/Pava; Panchala capital = Ahichhatra — Shravasti is specifically Kosala's capital.
Which type of Vedic literature contains prose explanations of the sacrificial rituals?
Correct Answer: D. Brahmanas
• **Brahmanas** = prose texts explaining ritual procedures and meaning of Vedic sacrifices (yajnas). • Most important: **Shatapatha Brahmana** (attached to Yajurveda) — largest and most significant. • Vedic literature order: **Samhitas → Brahmanas → Aranyakas → Upanishads** (from ritual to philosophy). • 💡 Aranyakas = 'forest texts' (philosophy for hermits); Samhitas = hymn collections; Upanishads = pure philosophy — Brahmanas specifically deal with ritual explanations.
Jivaka, the famous royal physician, lived at the court of which king?
Correct Answer: D. Bimbisara
• **Jivaka** = royal physician of King **Bimbisara** of Magadha; trained at **Taxila** under Atreya. • He treated **Gautama Buddha** personally; was sent to heal King Pradyota of Avanti (diplomatic goodwill). • Jivaka is called the **'Father of Indian Medicine'** in some traditions; specialised in surgery and brain operations. • 💡 Prasenajit = King of Kosala, not Jivaka's patron; Udayin and Ajatshatru = later rulers — Jivaka served specifically at Bimbisara's court.