The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple? 1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines. 2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni. 3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, 1 and 2 only. Somnath is a Jyotirlinga and Al-Biruni described it, but the present temple was consecrated by President Rajendra Prasad, not S. Radhakrishnan. Somnath, at Prabhas Patan near Veraval on the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat, is counted first among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva. Al-Biruni, who came to India with Mahmud of Ghazni, wrote about the temple and its famous linga in his Kitab-ul-Hind; Mahmud raided Somnath in 1025–26. After independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took up the rebuilding, and the Pran Pratishtha of the new temple was performed on 11 May 1951 by Dr Rajendra Prasad. Statement 3 is therefore wrong, which rules out option B, which keeps statement 3; option C, which also keeps statement 3 while dropping the true statement 2; and option D, which calls all three correct. Exam tip: Somnath — first Jyotirlinga, raided by Mahmud of Ghazni (1025), rebuilt under Sardar Patel, consecrated by Rajendra Prasad (1951).
Practice Questions
View allThe antariya was a garment worn by people during the Mauryan period. It was :
- A.an unstitched length of cloth draped around the body.
- B.a sewn garment consisting of a sleeved tunic.
- C.a head covering used exclusively by women.
- D.made of strips sewn together tied at the waist with a cord
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The antariya was the lower garment of ancient India, a long piece of cotton or fine fabric wrapped around the hips and legs and tucked in, much like the later dhoti.
Read the full explanation →The famous Mughal painting, depicting Jahangir embracing the Safavid king Shah Abbas, was painted by which one of the following Mughal painters?
- A.Abd al-Samad
- B.Abul Hasan
- C.Dasavant
- D.Bishandas
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Read the full explanation →Consider the following statements about the Ancient Hindu metal images in India : 1. The Chola period is well known for the aesthetic and technical finesse of its metal sculpture. 2. The iconography and style of Chola metal images were similar to those of their stone counterparts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
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Chola bronzes are celebrated for their beauty and casting skill, and they follow the same iconographic rules and style as the stone sculpture of the period.
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- A.Empty Seat and Stupa only
- B.Wheel and Tree only
- C.Wheel, Tree and Stupa only
- D.Empty Seat, Wheel, Tree and Stupa
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Read the full explanation →The world's second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja ?
- A.The best means of salvation was devotion.
- B.Vedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative.
- C.Logical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss.
- D.Salvation was to be obtained through meditation.
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