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PYQP – History – Ancient – The Age of the Maurya’s

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UPSC – CSE Prelims 2022

 

ANCIENT – HISTORY – MAURYAN EMPIRE

1. Consider the following pairs:

Site of Ashoka major rock edicts                 Location in the state of

  1. Dhauli                                                           Odisha
  2. Erragudi                                                       Andhra Pradesh
  3. Jaugada                                                       Madhya Pradesh
  4. Kalsi                                                             Karnataka

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) only one pair

(b) only two pairs

(c)only three pairs

(d) all four pairs

Ans. B

Dhauli:

  • Dhauli Hill or Dhauligiri is located on the left banks of river Daya, a tributary of Mahanadi, and situated about 10 km from Bhubaneswar in Odisha. Hence, pair 1 is correct match.
  •  It is known for “Dhauli Santi Stupa”, a peace pagoda monument which witnesses the great Kalinga War.
  • Dhauli is an important early historical urban center of Orissa. Archaeological remains found at Dhauli trace its antiquity to the 3rd century BC, especially from the time of Ashoka. Dhauli is of historical importance as one of the famous inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka is located here.
  • It is believed to be the location of the famous Kalinga war, where the banks of river Daya would have provided a natural boundary line between the two armies. Kalinga war holds a very important position in the Indian history, as after witnessing the bloodshed and massacre Ashoka laid down his arms to follow the path of Dharma-Vijaya (religious victory).

Erraguadi:

  • Situated in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. Hence, pair 2 is the correct match.
  • Both major edicts and minor edicts of Ashoka giving the principles of Dhamma have been excavated here.
  • No remains of a town have been discovered in the area, but it is possible that it was an important frontier town during Ashoka’s reign, with a route leading through it to South Indian kingdoms. 

Jaugada:

  • Jaugada is a ruined fortress in the Ganjam district in Odisha. Hence, pair 3 is an incorrect match.
  • Jaugada lies 35 km north-west of Berhampur and 160 km south-west of Bhubaneshwar.
  • At Jaugada like Dhauli we find a Major Rock Edict of emperor Ashoka.

 Kalsi:

  • Kalsi is a small town located in Uttarakhand between Chakrata and Dehradun near Dakpatthar on the banks of Yamuna river. Hence, pair 4 is incorrect. matched.
  • Kalsi town is known for its heritage importance.
  • Famous Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka’s inscriptions as rock edicts is present in Kalsi. It’s importance rises as it is the only Ashoka’s Rock edict located in North India.
  • The language used in these edicts is Pali. 

       Hence correct pairs are only 1 and 2.

 

UPSC – CSE Prelims 2020

 

ANCIENT – HISTORY – MAURYAN EMPIRE

1. Who among the following rulers advised his subject through the inscription?

“Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he raither injures his own sect very severely.”

(a) Ashoka

(b) Samudragupta

(c) Harshavardhana

(d) Krishnadeva Raya

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

•      Far from being sectarian, Ashoka believed that all religions shared a common, positive essence, encouraged tolerance and understanding of other religions.

•      Ashoka’s Major Rock Edict No.7 states:

•      The Beloved of the Gods, the king Piyadassi, wishes that all sect may dwell in all places, for all seek self-control and purity of mind. (For whosoever praises his own sect or blames other sects, — all (this) out of pure devotion to his own sect, (i.e.) with the view of glorifying his own sect, — if he is acting thus, he rather injures his own sect very severely.

UPSC – CSE Prelims 2019

ANCIENT – HISTORY – MAURYAN EMPIRE

1. Consider the following:

  1. Deification of the Buddha
  2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
  3. Image worship and rituals

Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?

(a)  1 only                  

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c)   2 and 3 only      

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

  • Mahayana Buddhism is one of two main existing branches of Buddhism.
  • It started considering Buddha as a god rather than a great teacher and began worshipping Buddha‘s images.
  • The teachings of Mahayana are also nothing but treating the path of various Bodhisattvas. 

Mahayana Buddhism

Hinayana Buddhism

Scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism were written Sanskrit.

Scriptures of Hinayana Buddhism were written in Pali.

Believes in Idol worship of Buddha and Bodhisattvas embodying Buddha Nature.

Does not believe in Idol worship of Buddha.

It is mainly found in China, Japan, and Tibet.

It is followed in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.

Believes in universal liberation from suffering for all beings.

Believes in individual salvation.


UPSC – CSE Prelims 2016

ANCIENT – HISTORY – MAURYAN EMPIRE

1. Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?

(a) Georg Buhler                      

(b) James Prinsep

(c) Max Muller                        

(d) William Jones

Ans: b

The correct answer is James Prinsep.

  • Ashoka (269 to 232 BC):
    • He was the son of Bindusara.
    • His other names were Devanampiya and Piyadasi.
    • He was crowned to the throne in 269 BC.
    • He was famous for the battle of Kalinga, fought in 261 BC.
    • James Prinsep was the first to decipher Ashoka’s edicts inscription in 1837.
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