'Avesta', also called 'Zend-Avesta', is the sacred book of:
- A.Zoroastrianism
- B.Buddhism
- C.Jainism
- D.Judaism
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Zoroastrianism. The Avesta, also called the Zend-Avesta, is the sacred book of the Zoroastrians, the followers of the prophet Zarathustra or Zoroaster of ancient Iran. It is written in Avestan, an old Iranian language close to the Sanskrit of the Rigveda, which is why the two texts share many words and gods. Its oldest and most respected part is the Gathas, the hymns held to be Zarathustra's own words. Zoroastrians worship Ahura Mazda, the lord of wisdom, keep a sacred fire burning in their temples and follow the rule of good thoughts, good words and good deeds. Their descendants in India are the Parsis, who reached Gujarat around the eighth century. B is wrong because the Buddhist canon is the Tripitaka, written in Pali. C is wrong because the Jain scriptures are the Agamas or Angas, in Prakrit. D is wrong because the sacred book of Judaism is the Torah, part of the Hebrew Bible. Exam tip: Avesta Zoroastrian, Tripitaka Buddhist, Agama Jain, Torah Jewish, Guru Granth Sahib Sikh.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following statements about the Elephanta Island is correct?
- A.It was given its name by the British after a large elephant structure located there.
- B.It contains one large cave.
- C.It is well-known for a spectacular carving of Vishnu described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana.
- D.It is associated with the Pashupata sect.
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The Elephanta caves are Shaiva rock-cut shrines, and their imagery is linked by scholars to the Pashupata order of Shiva worshippers.
Read the full explanation →The tagline 'Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India' is associated with the logo for
- A.Archaeological Survey of India
- B.India Tourism Development Corporation
- C.Geological Survey of India
- D.Geographical Indications (GI) of India
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In November 2018 the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion of the Commerce Ministry launched a common logo for GI-tagged products with the tagline "Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India".
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements about Buddhist Stupas in India is not correct?
- A.Ashoka played an important role in popularizing the Stupa cult.
- B.They were repositories of relics of Buddha and other monks.
- C.They were located in rural areas.
- D.They were located close to trade routes.
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Stupas grew up near towns and along trade routes, where traders and townspeople could visit and fund them. A stupa is a hemispherical mound built over relics of the Buddha or of revered monks.
Read the full explanation →Who was/were the 10th century composer(s) of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham?
- A.Alvars
- B.Nayanars
- C.Appar
- D.Sambandar
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The Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 4,000 sacred verses of Tamil Vaishnavism, is the work of the twelve Alvars, gathered into one collection in the 10th century.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following : 1. Tughlaqabad Fort 2. Bada Gumbad in Lodhi Garden 3. Qutub Minar 4. Fatehpur Sikri Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of building the above monuments?
- A.3, 1, 4, 2
- B.3, 1, 2, 4
- C.1, 3, 2, 4
- D.1, 3, 4, 2
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The Qutub Minar came first, then Tughlaqabad Fort, then the Bada Gumbad of the Lodi period and last the Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri.
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