Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – April 8, 2019

The two major sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation, along the Indus river—the cities of Harappa in the north and Mohenjodaro in the south—showcase one of earliest examples of civic planning. Other markers were houses, markets, storage facilities, offices, public baths, etc., arranged in a grid-like pattern. There was also a highly developed drainage system. While Harappa and Mohenjodaro are situated in Pakistan, the important sites excavated in India are Lothal and Dholavira in Gujarat, Rakhigarhi in Haryana, Ropar in the Punjab, Kalibangan and Balathal in Rajasthan, etc.

The discrepancies in Megasthenese’s works seem to be because of his lack of knowledge of any Indian language and being not part of Indian society and psyche.

Money lending or usury is mentioned in RigVeda.

Gramika was village headman.

Kalhana’sRajatarangini is one of the works of history which is indeed a solitary example of its kind written between 1148 and 1149. It enjoys great respect among the historians for its approach and historical content. Kalhana’s work of Rajatarangini consists of 7826 verses, which are divided into eight books called Tarangas (“waves”).

In short, the ceramic Neolithic occupation (c. 7000 B.C.) at Mehrgarh during the early food producing era shows a basic subsistence economy of the Indus valley and beginning of trade and crafts.

From the available evidence we may say that the religion of the Indus people comprised: (i) the worship of the Mother Goddess (ij) the worship of a male deity, probably of Siva: (iii) worship of animals, natural, semi.. human, or fabulous; (iv) worship of trees in their natural state or of their indwelling spirits; (v) worship of inanimate stones or other objects, of linga and yoni symbol; (vi) chrematheismas illustrated in the worship of the sacred “incense burners”; (vii) faith in amulets and charms indicative of demonophobia: and (viii) practice of yoga.