Art and Culture: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Pavarana is a significant Buddhist ceremony observed at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat for monks. During this retreat monks stay in a fixed monastery and refrain from extensive travel to avoid harming small creatures that emerge during the rains. On the full moon day of Ashvin (September-October) the Pavarana ceremony is held which marks the conclusion of Vassa. It serves as a day of confession when monks publicly acknowledge any offenses or mistakes they may have committed during their stay. It allows fellow monks to offer constructive criticism, fostering discipline and humility within the Sangha. It is an essential aspect of Vinaya (monastic discipline) which reinforces ethical behavior.

Explanation

The Buddhist Councils were pivotal in preserving and organizing the Buddha’s teachings. The First Council (483 BCE), held under King Ajatasatru, aimed to preserve the Buddha’s teachings, with Mahakassapa presiding. The Second Council (383 BCE) under King Kalasoka led to the split into Early Theravada and Early Mahayana. The Third Council (250 BCE), presided by Mogaliputta Tissa under Emperor Ashoka, focused on purifying Buddhism and compiling the Abhidhamma Pitaka. The Fourth Council (1st century AD) under King Kanishka in Kashmir formalized the division into Mahayana and Hinayana sects.

Option (d) is correct: The Fourth Buddhist Council was convened during the reign of Emperor Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty around the 1st century CE in Kundalvana (modern-day Kashmir). The council was presided over by the scholar-monk Vasumitra, with Ashvaghosha serving as his deputy. This council had a significant influence on the development and spread of Mahayana Buddhism.

Explanation

Sangam literature refers to the ancient Tamil literary corpus, composed between 300 BCE and 300 CE, which includes poems celebrating heroism, love, and ethics. Notable works include the Tolkappiyam, the earliest Tamil grammar text, and the Ettuthokai and Pattupattu, which offer insights into the socio-political and cultural life of Tamil kingdoms. A is true: The Padinen Kilukanakku is a collection of 18 post-Sangam Tamil literary works, divided into Aham (love) and Puram (war) genres. These works are considered a continuation of the Sangam literature in terms of themes, style, and language. They reflect the same poetic traditions and cultural values as the Sangam compositions. R is true: The Padinen Kilukanakku is classified as post-Sangam literature because it was composed after the Sangam period proper. While the Sangam works are the earliest Tamil literary compositions, the Padinen Kilukanakku texts were written later during the post-Sangam period (circa 300-600 CE). R is the correct explanation of A: The Padinen Kilkanakku texts though composed in the Post-Sangam period but carry forward the Aham and Puram poetic traditions of the Sangam era, thereby forming a continuation of the earlier compositions.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is correct: Jainism emphasized ahimsa (non-violence) as its core principle. It not only prohibited violence against humans and animals but also extended non-violence to plants, insects, and microorganisms. Reason (R) is correct: Agriculturalists could not easily adopt Jainism because farming inherently involves plowing land, which kills many insects and small organisms. Jainism was largely adopted by traders, merchants, and urban elites rather than peasants and farmers. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. Reason (R) explains that agricultural practices, which harm insects and pests, conflict with Jainism’s principle of non-violence (Ahimsa). This makes it difficult for agriculturalists to fully embrace Jainism.

Explanation

The Dharma Chakra Pravartana Sutta records the Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath, where he expounded the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. This path provides a practical guide to overcoming dukkha (suffering) and achieving Nirvana. The Eightfold Path consists of: Right View; Right Intention; Right Speech; Right Action; Right Livelihood; Right Effort; Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. It advocates a balanced approach, avoiding extremes of asceticism and indulgence, laying the foundation for Buddhist ethics and practice. This sermon marks the beginning of the Sangha (monastic community).

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Mrichchakatikam (The Little Clay Cart) is an ancient Sanskrit play by Shudraka, blending romance, social commentary, and drama, and is known for its vivid portrayal of love, class struggles, and moral dilemmas.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Buddhacharita was written by Ashvaghosha, not Vasuvandhu. The work, composed in the 2nd century CE, narrates the life and teachings of Sakyamuni (Gautama Buddha), including his birth, renunciation, enlightenment, and his efforts to spread the Dharma.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Mudrarakshasa is a classical Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta, depicting the political intrigue and cunning diplomacy of Chanakya as he helps Chandragupta Maurya rise to power, showcasing themes of statecraft and strategy.

Pair 4 is correctly matched: Harshacharita (The Deeds of Harsha) is a biographical work on Emperor Harsha (7th century CE), written by Banabhatta. He was the court poet of Harshavardhana and is considered one of the earliest Indian biographers.

Explanation

A is matched with 3: Varahamihira authored Brihat-Samhita, a significant text in ancient Indian astronomy and astrology, reflecting the scientific knowledge of the Gupta period. He also wrote Panchasiddhantika. B is matched with 4: Vishakhadatta is the author of two major historical Sanskrit dramas:

Devi-Chandraguptam play which describes the love story of King Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) and Queen Dhruvadevi. Mudrarakshasa is about Chandragupta Maurya’s rise with the help of Chanakya. C is matched with 2: Sudraka is known for Mrichchhakatikam (The Little Clay Cart), a Sanskrit play that tells the story of the romance between Charudatta, a noble but impoverished merchant, and Vasantika, a courtesan. The central themes include love, sacrifice, and the struggles of social classes, with an emphasis on the tensions between the upper and lower classes. D is matched with 5: Bilhana authored Vikramankadeva-Charita, an epic poem which celebrates the achievements and virtues of King Vikramaditya VI, who ruled the Western Chalukya dynasty (also known as the Kalyani Chalukyas) from 1076 to 1126 CE.

Explanation

The Kharosthi script was an ancient script used in northwest India. It was used mainly in the Gandhara region and is associated with the Buddhist texts and inscriptions of that area. It was derived from the Aramaic script and written from right to left, distinguishing it from most other Indian scripts like Brahmi, which were written from left to right. Nandnagari and Sharada scripts both evolved from Brahmi and were written from left to right.

Explanation

The dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is one of the most famous philosophical exchanges found in the Kathopanishad, a part of Yajurveda. In their dialogue, Nachiketa asks profound questions about the nature of death, immortality, and the soul’s journey, which leads to deep philosophical teachings on the eternal nature of the self (Atman) and the ultimate truth (Brahman).

Explanation

The Milindapanho (Questions of King Milinda) is an important Buddhist text that records a philosophical dialogue between Indo-Greek King Menander I (Milinda) and the Buddhist monk Nagasena. This text explores profound Buddhist concepts like impermanence (Anicca), non-self (Anatta), and the doctrine of karma through logical discourse and metaphors. The Milindapanho is considered an important work in the Theravada tradition.