PRELIMS मतलब MAD

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is not correct: Chaturbhuj Nala is a popular rock painting site at Bhanpura Nagar Panchayat in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh. It lies in western Madhya Pradesh, close to the border of Rajasthan.
• Statement 2 is correct: The paintings belong to the pre-pastoral period, over 6,000–12,000 years old, to the early medieval age (10th century). They are often compared with the UNESCO-approved Bhimbetka rock shelters.
• Statement 3 is correct: The paintings provide a glimpse into the lifestyles of bygone eras, depicting scenes of men riding cattle, women dancing, warriors marching, and hunting expeditions featuring rhinos, humpless cattle and deer.

Answer: (d) All four

Explanation:

• Hinayana Buddhism: It is spread in South and South-East Asia. Vaibhasika and Sautrantika are the philosophical sects of Hinayana.
• Mahayana Buddhism: It is prevalent in North and North-East Asia. Yogachara and Madhyamika are the philosophical sects of Mahayana.
• Hence, all four pairs are correctly matched.

Answer: (c) All three

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Bhavai is a popular folk theatre form in Gujarat with a 700-year-old history. The word Bhavai derives its meaning from a combination of two words — bhav, meaning emotion, and vahini, meaning carrier. Thus, it is named as an art form which is a carrier of emotions.
• Statement 2 is correct: The Bhavaiyya community has a historical claim to the art and tradition of Bhavai. While actors of different backgrounds learn and perform Bhavai today, it was the male members of the Bhavaiyya community who were the sole performers of Bhavai for most of its history.
• Statement 3 is correct: Bhavai was not seen merely as a means of entertainment, but also as a platform for the community to gather and socialise, and as a medium to invoke and inspire spiritual consciousness.

Answer: (a) Only one

Explanation:

• Naduvirikkai: The king was the chief of justice. The inscriptions mention Dharmasana, which was perhaps the seat of justice. Officers called Matyastar and Naduvirikkai acted as judicial officers. Hence, Pair 1 is not correct.
• Karnam: Revenue administration was undertaken by officials appointed by the Chola kings. The tax was assessed at 1/6th or 1/5th. The traditional village accountant was known as Karnam. Hence, Pair 2 is correct.
• Tirumandira Olai Nayagam: Chola administration consisted of issuing oral commands to officers. A special official called Tirumandira Olai Nayagam was responsible for recording the oral orders immediately on palm-leaf manuscripts for accuracy. These orders were recorded in great detail in inscriptions, usually on temple walls. Hence, Pair 3 is not correct.

Answer: (d) None

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Between the sixth and ninth centuries, there emerged seventy-five Bhakti saints in Tamil Nadu belonging to the Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions of Puranic Hinduism. The twelve Alvar saints belonged to the Vaishnava tradition.
  • Among the sixty-three Nayanar saints, the most famous were Appar, Sambandar and Sundar, who belonged to the Shaiva tradition.
  • Both groups had saints from diverse social backgrounds and expressed themselves in songs of pain of separation and joy of union with their respective deity.
• Statement 2 is correct: The works of the Alvar saints have been collected as the Divya Prabandham.
• Statement 3 is correct: The works of the Nayanars are called the Tirumurai.
• These collections were sung in temples in a later period and were responsible for influencing later Bhakti traditions in Vaishnavism and Shaivism.