Shaiva and Bhagavata religion MCQs with Explanations
About the Topic: Shaiva and Bhagavata religion examines the origins, features, and historical growth of the primary devotional (Bhakti) traditions focused on Shiva and Vishnu.
Which one of the following was a Shaiva sect in ancient India?
Correct Answer:
(B) Mattamayura
Shaiva sect named Mattamayura in ancient India was found in the inscriptions of Chedi Dynasty.
Ques: 2
Ardhanarisvara, a figure of half Siva and half Parvati, represents:
Correct Answer:
(C) Union of God with his Shakti
Ardhanarishvara is a composite androgynous form of the Hindu God Shiva and his consort Parvati. Ardhanarishvara is depicted as half male and half female, split down the middle. The right half is usually the male Shiva, illustrating his traditional attributes. Ardhanarishvara represents the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies of the universe and illustrates how Shakti, the female principle of God, is inseparable from Shiva, the male principle of God.
Ques: 3
Who were Nayanars?
Correct Answer:
(A) Shaiva
There were two major sects behind the development of devotional spirit in the Tamil regions. The devotees worshipping God Vishnu were called Alvara and the devotees worshiping God Shiva were called Nayanara. They told, that the personal love and dedication towards God is the only way to Moksha and opposed the caste system and its rigidity.
Ques: 4
Mahamastakabhisheka, a great religious event, is associated with and done for who of the following?
Correct Answer:
(A) Bahubali
Mahamastakabhisheka, which is a great religious event, is associated with Lord Bahubali. This ceremony is used to be held in the interval of twelve years of time in Sravanbelgola town in Karnataka. There is a huge statue of God/Saint of Gomteshwar Bahubali. Its height is 57 feet.
Ques: 5
According to ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas, the sequential order of the cycle of four epochs (yugas) is –
Correct Answer:
(C) Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali
According to the cosmogony related beliefs of ancient India, the four epochs are as follows – Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kaliyuga.
Ques: 6
Who among the following was not an ‘Alvar Saint’?
Correct Answer:
(B) Tirugyan
Poigai, Pudam and Thirumangai were Alvar Saints, while Tirugyan was not an Alvar saint.
Ques: 7
Who contributes the most in the development of Bhagavata sect?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Gupta
The Bhagavata or Vaishnava religion reached its peak in the reign of Gupta kings. Gupta kings were the follower of Vaishnava religion, and they made it a religion of the state. Most of the Gupta rulers hold the title of ‘Parambhagavata.’ Garuda, the mount (Vahana) of Lord Vishnu was the state symbol of Guptas.
Ques: 8
The originator of Bhagavata Religion was –
Correct Answer:
(B) Krishna
Traditionally, the originator of Bhagavata religion was Vrishni descendant (Satvat), Lord Krishna who is also known as Vasudeva. He was basically from Mathura. He has been described as the son of Devaki and the disciple of Ghor Angirasa in the Chandogya Upanishad.
Ques: 9
Who were the first to worship Vasudeva Krishna:
Correct Answer:
(A) Bhagavatas
Under the Bhagavata religion, the initial form of Vaishnavism is shown in the worship of Lord Krishna, the son of Devaki. The initial name of Krishna was prevalent in the Panini age. The worshippers of Vasudev were known as Vasudevak (Bhagavata) in that age. According to Indian belief, Lord Krishna is considered as a supreme personality and has been worshipped since ancient ages.
Ques: 10
Who among the following deities is represented in art as holding the plough?
Correct Answer:
(B) Balarama
According to the Indian cultural traditions, Balaram, the brother of Krishna is shown as holding plough in his arms. He is also known by the name of Haldhar.
Ques: 11
The number of forms of bhakti in the Bhagwata cult is–
Correct Answer:
(C) 9
The Navadha Bhakti (a forms of Bhakti) has been recognized for acquiring Moksha in the Bhagavata cult. Thus, option (c) is the correct answer.
Ques: 12
The Besanagar inscription of Heliodorus is associated with–
Correct Answer:
(D)
Only Vasudeva
The Garuda Pillar of Vidisha (Besanagar) is the first stone monument related to Bhagavata religion. This shows that the Yavana ambassador of Takshila (Taxila) accepted the Bhagavata religion and worshipped it after its establishment. Heliodorus is stated as ‘Bhagavata’ and Vasudeva is stated as ‘Devadevas’ (‘God of Gods’) in the article inscribed on it.
Ques: 13
Which incarnation of Vishnu is depicted as saving the Earth from the Sea?
Correct Answer:
(C) Varaha
Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha to kill the king of Giants, Hiranyakshyap and released the Earth from his clutch. In the pictures of the Purana, God Varaha has been shown balancing the earth on his teeth and arising from the sea. In this incarnation, the head of Varaha is on the human body having four arms holding Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma in his hands like God Vishnu fighting with demon Hiranyaksha. This is the third incarnation in the order of incarnations. Thus, the option (c) is the correct answer.
Ques: 14
Which one of the following is not included in ‘Prasthan trayi’:
Correct Answer:
(A) Bhagavata
Upanishad, Brahmasutra and Bhagavad Gita are said to be the ‘Prasthantrayi’ of Vedanta because these are the major epics of Vedanta. Among them, the Upanishad is the Prime Prasthan and the remaining two are known to be based on it. Shankaracharya is the oldest among all of Vedanta Acharyas who established his Vedanta cults by writing the gloss on ‘Brahmasutra.’
Ques: 15
The ancient place where the narration of entire Mahabharata was read in the conference of 60,000 hermits –
Correct Answer:
(D)
Naimisharanya
Naimisharanya in Sitapur district of U.P. is considered to be the residence of 60,000 hermits. Here, Sut Goswami narrated the entire Mahabharata in front of Saunak and other hermits, when he was accomplishing the Yagya. Earlier, Vaisampayana narrated the story of Mahabharata for King Janamejaya.
Ques: 16
With which religion is Kalika Purana associated?
Correct Answer:
(B) Shaktism
The Kalika Purana also called the Kali Purana, Sati Purana or Kalika Tantra is one of the eighteen minor Puranas in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism. The text was likely composed in the Assam region of India. The text is attributed to sage Markendeya and starts off with the legends of Devi trying to bring Shiva back from ascetic life into householder's life by making him fall in love again.
Ques: 17
The text – ‘Kalak Acharya Katha’, belongs to
Correct Answer:
(C) Jainism
The text 'Kalakacharya Katha' belongs to Jainism. It's a mythical story, often found as an appendix to the Kalpasutra, a primary Jain text that describes Jain cosmology. The story centers around a Jain monk and his interaction with Scythian princes.
Ques: 18
Which Kand of Ramayana describes the first meeting of Rama and Hanumana?
Correct Answer:
(A) Kishkindha Kand
Valmiki was the author of Ramayana. There are total of seven Kands in this Adi Kavya written in Sanskrit. The fourth Kand of this Kavya is Kishkindha Kand in which the meeting of Rama and Hanuman, death of Bali and Sugriva becoming the king of Vanara is described.
Ques: 19
The Rathyatra at Puri is celebrated in honour of which Hindu deity?
Correct Answer:
(C) Lord Jagannath
The Rathyatra is celebrated every year at Puri, Orissa on Shukla Paksha of Ashadha month with all due respect to Lord Jagannath (Krishna), Balram (Balbhadra) and Subhadra.
Ques: 20
Kumbh Mela at Nasik is held on which of the following river bank?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Godavari River
The Kumbha Mela is held on the bank of Godavari River at an interval of every twelve years. It is also held on the bank of Ganga at Haridwar, on the confluence place of the Ganga and Yamuna at Prayag, on the bank of River Kshipra (Shipra) at Ujjain.
Ques: 21
In context of Indian culture who among the following is called Ananga?
Correct Answer:
(C) Kama
Kamdeva is the Hindu god of human love or desire. Rati is the wife of Kamdeva. Other names used in reference to Kamadeva are Ananga (incorporeal), Kandarpa (inflamer even of a god), Madana (intoxicating), Manmatha (Churner of hearts) etc.