1. The Indian ideal sentence “satyamev jayate” is taken from which upanishad?
Mundak Upanishad
2. What are Aranyakas?
The forest texts were called Aranyakas because they were written mainly for hermits and students living in jungles. The Aranyakas are the concluding portions of the Brahmanas.
3. What are Brahmanas?
They explain the hymns of Vedas. They are written in prose and ritualistic in nature. Brahma means “sacrifice”. The various sacrifices and rituals are vividly described here. Every Vedas has number of Brahmanas attached to it. The Shatapatha Brahmana attached to Yajur Veda is the oldest and the largest Brahmana
4. What are the different Kalpasutra?
Shrautan Sutra, Griha Sutra, Dharma Sutra, Shulva Sutra
5. What are the six famous Smritis?
Manu Smriti (written in pre Gupta period is the oldest smriti text), Yajnavalkya Smriti, Narad Smriti, Parashara Smriti, Brihaspati Smriti, Katyayana Smriti
6. What are Upanishads?
They are philosophical texts generally called Vedanta as they came towards the end of Veda. There are 108 Upanishads. Vrithadaranyaka is the oldest
7. What do you know about Atharva Veda?
Collection of 711 hymns divided into 20 khandas. It is the latest Veda. It contains magical formula and medicinal treatments, contains spells to ward off evils. It throws light on ways of non-Aryans. It is also known as Brahma Veda.
8. What do you know about Gayatri Mantra?
It is mentioned in third mandala of Rig Veda. It was dedicated to Savitri and was written by Viswamitra
9. What do you know about Sama veda?
It is a collection of melodies. It is derived from word Saman meaning melody. It is a collection of 1603 hymns. Except 99 all other derived from Rig Veda. Sama Veda contains the Dhrupada raga. The singer of Sama Veda is called Udgata.
10. What do you know about Yajur Veda?
It is divided into two parts -Shukla Yajur Veda and Krishna Yajur Veda. It is written in prose and contains procedures for sacrifices and rituals. It was sang by Ardhavayu.
11. What does Vedic literature comprises of?
The Samhitas or Vedas, the Brahamanas, the Aranyakas, the Upanishads
12. What does Vedic literature Smriti comprises of?
Comprises of six literary works – Vedangas/Sutras, Smritis Dharmashastras, Mahakavyas (Epics), Puranas, Upvedas, Shad Dharshanas
13. What forms the Sruti literature?
Four Vedas and their Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the Upanishads form the Sruti literature
14. What is the meaning of Purana?
Purana means “the old”.
15. How many Puranas are there?
There are 18 puranas.
16. Which Purana is the oldest?
Matsya Purana is the oldest
17. What is the meaning of the term “Aghanya”?
cows cannot be killed
18. What is the meaning of the word “Aryan”?
It is a Sanskrit word which means noble
19. What is the meaning of “Veda”?
It comes from the Sanskrit word “Vid” which means knowledge
20. What is the meaning of "Gavisthi" used in Vedic Age?
Search For Cows
21. What is the meaning of "Goghana" used in Vedic Age?
Cow Killer
22. What is the meaning of "Jana" used in Vedic Age?
Tribe
23. What is the meaning of "Rajsuya" used in Vedic Age?
Coronation Ceremony
24. What is the meaning of "Rig" used in Vedic Age?
Praise
25. What is the meaning of "Yaju" used in Vedic Age?
Ritual
26. What is the meaning of "Atharvan" used in Vedic Age?
Magic
27. What is the meaning of "Mahishi" used in Vedic Age?
Chief Queen
28. What is the meaning of "Bali" used in Vedic Age?
Voluntary Tax
29. What is the meaning of "Nishka" used in Vedic Age?
A Coin
30. What is the meaning of "Shudra" used in Vedic Age?
Labourers and Workers
31. What is the meaning of "Vaishya" used in Vedic Age?
Traders and Merchants
32. What is the meaning of "Kshatriya" used in Vedic Age?
Kings and Warriors
33. What is the new name of "Sindhu" river?
Indus
34. What is the new name of "Vitasta" river?
Jhelum
35. What is the new name of "Asikeni" river?
Chenab
36. What is the new name of "Vipas" river?
Beas
37. What is the new name of "Parushni" river?
Ravi
38. What is the new name of "Sutudri" river?
Sutlej
39. What is the new name of "Saraswati" river?
Sarsuti
40. What is the new name of "Drishadvati" river?
Ghaggar
41. What is the new name of "Gomati" river?
Gomal
42. What are the different Mandalas in Rig Veda?
They are:
- There are 10 mandalas.
- Mandalas 2 to 7 are considered oldest and called family books.
- Mandalas 2 to 7 were written for Gritasamada, Visvamitra, Vasudeva, Atri, Bhardwaj, Vashistha, Kanva, Angiras.
- Mandalas 1, 8 and 10 seem to be later additions.
- 9th mandala of Rig Veda is attributed to Soma.
- 10th mandala of Rig Veda contains
- Purushukta hymn which mentions the four varnas.
- 10th mandala also gives account of the origin of the universe.