Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon (History, Art & culture) – August 10, 2020

The word ‘Veda’ signifies knowledge and the texts are actually about providing humans about knowledge to conduct their entire life on earth and beyond.

• It is written in highly stylised poetic style and the language is full of symbols and myths.
• The Vedas were initially handed down orally by generations of Brahmin families but it is estimated by historians that they were compiled around 1500 BC-1000 BC.

The Arayankas are also texts attached to the Vedas and they describe the rituals and sacrifices involved in the Vedas from various perspectives.

• They are said to be compilations of ritualistic information on the birth and death cycles as well as the complexity of the soul.
• It is argued that holy and learned men, called Munis, who preferred to dwell within the limits of the forests, taught them.

The Tarangmel folk dance of Goa that celebrates the youthfulness of the region. It is performed during Dussehra and Holi. The use of rainbow-like costumes with multi coloured flags and streamers make it a visual spectacle.

Located in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, these mural paintings were executed on Veerabhadra temple walls at Lepakshi in 16th Century.

• Made during the Vijaynagara period, they follow a religious theme, based on Ramayana, Mahabharata and incarnations of Vishnu.
• The paintings show a complete absence of primary colours, especially blue.
• They depict a decline in painting in terms of quality.
• The forms, figures and details of their costumes are outlined with black colour.

A group of westerners led by Madame H.P. Blavatsky (1831-1891) and Colonel M.S. Olcott, who were inspired by Indian thought and culture, founded the Theosophical Society in New York City, United States in 1875.

• In 1882, they shifted their headquarters to Adyar, on the outskirts of Madras (at that time) in India.
• The society believed that a special relationship could be established between a person’s soul and God by contemplation, prayer, revelation, etc. It accepted the Hindu beliefs in reincarnation and karma, and drew inspiration from the philosophy of the Upanishads and samkhya, yoga and Vedanta schools of thought.
• It aimed to work for universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.

The emergence of the Gupta Empire in 4th century A.D. is often hailed as the “Golden period of Indian Architecture”.

• While the earlier Gupta rulers were Buddhists and continued the traditions of Buddhist architecture, temple architecture came to the fore front under the patronage of the Hindu rulers of the later Gupta phase.
• Temple architecture reached its climax during this period. Similarly, Buddhist and Jain art also reached its peak during the Gupta Age.
• The Gupta rulers, especially in the later phase, were Brahmanical rulers. However, they showed exemplary tolerance for all other religions.
• Three principal deities were worshipped – Vishnu in the Northern and Central part of India, Shiva in the Southern part and Shakti in the Eastern part of India as well as in the Malabar coast or South-west part of India.

Jainism is a very ancient world religion with a history of over 3000 years, which originated in the Indian subcontinent, like Hinduism and Buddhism.

• Although it has some similarities with both traditions, Jainism is different from them with its own unique and distinguishing features.
• It is also older than Buddhism and is truly one of the most ancient and living religions of the world, besides Hinduism and Judaism.
• Jaina Dharma, as it is known popularly, is a truly ascetic religion which places heavy emphasis upon ethical conduct, personal purity for the liberation of the individual Souls. Jainism does not believe in a Creator God.
• It accepts the material universe as a self-existing system. Everything in it, including the individual Soul, is an aspect of matter.
• Each Soul is eternal but it has states, shapes and sizes. In the bound state (bandha) it is subject to karma and rebirth. It attains liberation only when it is able to completely get rid of karma.
• Jainism was founded by 24 Perfect Beings, known as Tirthankaras, who appeared upon earth in the past and laid the foundation for its doctrine.
• Mahavira was the last and the most popular of the Tirthankaras. Since it is a difficult and austere religion, from the earliest times, Jainism enjoyed popularity only among certain sections of Indian society, especially merchant communities.
• It is a predominantly Indian religion, with some following abroad. In this section we included information on the history, beliefs, practices, philosophy, and ethics of Jainism, and comparison with other faiths.

The Industrial Revolution started in England in the early 18th century, with the invention of new machines like the spinning Jenny, steam engine, the power loom and several others.

• These machines greatly improved production in the fields of textile, metallurgy, steam power and agriculture.
• The industrial revolution reached other European nations late and this helped England to maintain its hegemony.

Alauddin Khilji was the second ruler and probably the most powerful monarch of the Khilji Dynasty.

• After conquering the throne by killing his uncle and predecessor, Jalaluddin Firuz Khilji, he continued his legacy of invading states and territories to increase his empire over the Indian subcontinent.
• He was the first Muslim ruler to successfully defeat and conquer southern parts of India. His passion for conquest helped him achieve success at wars, thereby expanding his influence to South India as well.
• In this endeavor of expansion, he was well supported by his loyal generals, especially Malik Kafur and Khusraw Khan.
• He ensured that he completely ousted the reigning kings and administered absolute power while invading the northern states.
• In south India, he used to loot the states and also extracted payment of annual taxes from the overthrown rulers.
• Besides his expeditions of raiding and conquering, he was engaged in defending the Delhi Sultanate from continuous Mongol invasions.
• He also acquired the Koh-i-noor, one of the largest known diamonds in human history, while invading the Kakatiya rulers of Warangal.
• He also introduced some agrarian as well as market reforms which produced mixed results.

One of the most significant incidents in the life of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was the construction of Taj Mahal.

• His beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to their fourteenth child and the reason behind her death was stated to be postpartum haemorrhage.
• This left Shah Jahan devastated who then decided to build the world’s most beautiful monument in the memory of his wife.
• After many years of planning, hard work and immense sacrifices, the monument, which came to be known as the Taj Mahal was built.
• Today people from different parts of the world travel to India just to see this amazing white colored edifice which is also one of the most visited tourist destinations of India.
• Taj Mahal continues to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The following monuments were also constructed by Shah Jahan during his rule:

• Red Fort or Lal Quila (Delhi)
• Sections of the Agra Fort
• Jama Masjid (Delhi)
• Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque (Lahore)
• Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)
• Sections of the Lahore Fort (Lahore)
• Jahangir Mausoleum
• Takht-e-Taus