THE VEDIC CULTURE

UPSC STUDYMATERIALS

THE VEDIC CULTURE

According to Bala Gangadhara Tilak, which is the original home of the Aryans? Arctic region
When did Aryans enter India? About 1500 B.C.
What is the language of Indo-Aryans? Sanskrit
What is the meaning of the word ‘Veda’? Derived from word ‘vid’. Meaning “to know” or “Superior Knowledge”
Name the four vedas. Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva
Which is the oldest veda/ text in the world? Rig Veda
How many hymns are there in Rig Veda? 1028
Which veda deals with the rules to be observed at the time of sacrifice? Yajur Veda
Which veda deals with chanting during sacrifice? Sama Veda
Which book is called “Book of Chants”? Sama Veda
Which Veda deals with details of rituals? Atharva Veda
Which book deals with treatises relating to prayer and sacrificial ceremony? Brahmanas
Name the book which deals with soul, the absolute, the origin of the world and the mysteries of nature. The Upanishads
What is the other name of the Aranyakas? Forest books
Which book deals with mysticism, rites, rituals and sacrifices? the Aranyakas
Name the author of Ramayana? Valmiki
Name the author of Mahabharata? Vedavyas
What is the meaning of Saptasindhu? Land of Seven Rivers
Name the seven rivers that refer to Saptasindhu? Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Indus and Saraswathi.
What is the basic unit of political organization? Kula or family.
Name the leader of grama in Vedic culture? Gramani
What is the term that is used to refer group of villages constituting a larger unit? Visu
Who is the head of Visu? Vishayapati.
Name the highest political unit in Vedic culture? Jana or tribe.
Name some tribal kingdoms in the Rig Vedic period. Bharatas, Matsyas, Yadus and Purus.
What is the head of the kingdom of Rig Vedic period called? Rajan or King
Name the two popular bodies of Vedic period. Sabha (Council of elders) and Samiti (Assembly of entire people)
What is the basic unit of society of Rig Vedic society called? Family or Graham
Who is the head of the family in Rig Vedic period? Grahapathi (mainly Patriarchal)
Name few women poets in Rig Vedic period. Apala, Viswavara, Ghosa and Lopamudra
What is the main occupation of Rig Vedic Aryans? Cattle rearing
Name the trade system that was practised in Rig Vedic period. Barter system
Name the gold coin used in Rig Vedic period? Nishka
Name few gods of Rig Vedic period? Prithvi (Earth), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Wind), Varuna (Rain) and Indra (Thunder).
Who is the most popular god in Rig Vedic period? Indra
Name the female gods of Rig Vedic period? Aditi and Ushas
Name the kingdoms that flourished in Later Vedic period? Kuru and Panchala
Name two famous rulers of Kuru Kingdom. Parikshat and Janamejaya
Pravahana Jaivali was a popular king of which kingdom? Panchalas.
Ajatasatru was the famous king of which kingdom? Kasi
What is the capital of Videha kingdom? Mithila.
Janaka was the ruler of which kingdom in Later Vedic period? Videha
The scholar Yajnavalkya was found in which king’s court? Janaka
Name the three divisions of India in later Vedic period? Aryavarta (northern India), Madhyadesa (central India) and Dakshinapatha (southern India)
What was janapadas in later Vedic period made of? Jana or tribes
What was the term used to refer horse sacrifice in later Vedic period? Asvamedha
Name the main occupation in late Vedic period? Agriculture
Name a foreign country that made trade relation with India in late Vedic period? Babylon.
What was used for trade exchange in late Vedic period? Satamana and Krishnala
Name the four social divisions of vedic period? Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras
How are daughters referred to in later Vedic period according to Aitreya Brahmana? Source of misery
Name the famous Gods in later Vedic period. Prajapathi (the creator), Vishnu (the protector) and Rudra (the destroyer)
Which book turned away the useless rituals and insisted on true knowledge (jnana)? Upanishads

THE VEDIC CULTURE

UPSC Study Materials​MCQs for Competitive Examinations

UPSC Study Materials
MCQs for Competitive Examinations