Mock Test-3 (Paper-1) (Question 1-50)

Matsya Purana is one of the oldest of the 18 post-Vedic Hindu scriptures called the Puranas. It narrates the story of Matsya, the first of ten major Avatars of the Hindu god Vishnu.

Puranas are ancient Sanskrit texts that preserve Hindu mythology, history, cosmology, and ethical teachings in an accessible form. They were traditionally compiled by Sage Veda-Vyasa, with origins tracing back to the post-Vedic period and oral transmission before being written down.

Puranas are classified based on the three gunas into Sattvika (Vishnu), Rajasa (Brahma), and Tamasa (Shiva), and include 18 Mahapuranas and numerous Upapuranas. They are significant for spreading spiritual knowledge, moral values, cultural traditions, and historical information, influencing art, festivals, social cohesion, and daily life in Indian society..

Buddha's last ordained disciple was a very old Brahmin in the name of Subhadra who came to pay his last respects to him and asked for ordination. Immediately after ordination, Subhadra attained enlightenment and passed away.

Ananda, first cousin of the Buddha and one of his principal disciples, knows as his ''beloved disciple'' and devoted companion.

Sariputta Sariputra was one of two chief male disciples of Goutama Buddha along with Moggallana, counterparts to the Bhikkhunis Khema and uppalavanna, his two chief female disciples.

Upali was a monk, one of the ten chief disciples of the Buddha. Before joining the order, he was part of the Royal barber caste and worked as a barber.

First Jain council was held at Pataliputra by Sthalabahu in the beginning of the third century BC during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya.

• Sthulabhadra divided the Jaina canon into 12 'angas' or sections during the first Jain Council at Pataliputra. This was accepted by Svetambaras. The Angas are written in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit.
• The monks of the south disagreed with this compilation, and the first split in Jainism began. Jains are classified into two groups or two Jain sects: Svetambaras and Digambaras. Svetambara monks dressed in white. Digambara monks wore no clothing at all.

Mahavira was a teacher of the religion of Jainism. He lived in India. His Followers Believed that he was the 24th in a line of great teachers. These teachers were called tirthankaras.

• At the age of thirty, he left his family, gave up his worldly possessions, and became a monk in search of a solution to eliminate pain, sorrow, and suffering.
• Mahavir spent the next twelve and a half years in complete silence and meditation, working to overcome his desires, feelings, and attachments. He discarded his clothes and followed extreme austerities, enduring hardships.
• Finally, he attained enlightenment, called kevala gyana in Jainism, after fasting for two-and-a-half days without water in the full glare of the sun and this entitled him to be called the Jina (conqueror).
• He attained nirvana at the age of 72 (527 B.C.) in the town of Pava in modern-day Bihar.

• Khajuraho temples are located in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh.
• These temples were built during the reign of the Chandella dynasty between 900 CE to 1130 CE.
• In the 12th century, Khajuraho had about 85 temples spread over 20 square kilometres, but today only around 20 temples remain due to the effects of time and historical damage.
• The first mention of Khajuraho and its temples is in the accounts of Abu Rahyan al Biruni (1022 CE) and lbn Batuta (1335 CE).
• One of the unique features of Khajuraho temples is religious harmony. The temple complex includes structures related to Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Jainism.
• The Parsvanatha Temple Khajuraho is the largest Jain temple in the complex. Jain temples here contain images of Tirthankaras and Jain philosophical symbols..

Vikramaditya epithet does not belong to Samudra Gupta. The mother of Samudra Gupta was Kumaradevi, the Lichhvi priness, so he was called Lichhavi Dauhitrah.

Samudragupta sacrificed horses to strengthen the position of the Brahmanas and their powerful impact over the society. By performing the Yajna, he intimidated other kings to subjugate and to accept his supremacy and his superior position.

The correct matched pairs are:

Kshetra - Cultivated land
Khila - Waste land
Aprahata - Forest land

These are the types of land available in the country at that time. Despite these, there is one more class called Charagah land, which is used as a Pasture land.

Gupta Coinage

• The Gupta emperors' or kings' gold coins were well-known. There were also silver coins used.
• Gupta emperors' coins are reported to be mostly made of gold. They minted so many gold coins that the occurrence was allegorically dubbed a "Rain of Gold" by a contemporaneous poet.
• The Gupta Coins are significantly more creative and superior in workmanship than their counterparts.
• A high quantity of gold coins in a variety of designs attested to the economy's thriving status. Copper, bronze, and alloy metal coins, on the other hand, are uncommon.
• Gupta gold coins are wonders of design and aesthetic technique, with exceptional craftsmanship.

Alauddin Khilji abolished Iqta system. He succeeded the throne in 1296 after killing Jalaluddin Khilji.

The Iqta system was provided institutional status by Iltutmish.

Under Iqta system, the land of the empire was divided into several large and small tracts called Iqta and assigned these to his soldiers, officers and nobles. In the beginning an Iqta was based upon salary. Later, under Firoz Shah Tughlaq it became hereditary.

Nizamuddin Aulia, Sufi saint of Delhi is associated with the famous saying 'hanooz Dilli door Ast'. Sultan Ghiasuddin was annoyed with a Sufi saint, Nizamuddin Auliya. During one of his expeditions he vowed that he would behead the saint in Delhi. The saint responded, ''Hunooz Dilli Door Ast'', which means 'it's a long way to Delhi'.