Ancient Indian Literature and Architecture Quiz

Answer: 'Malvikagnimitra'

Kalidasa composed this play most probably in the 5th century AD. The celebrated grammarian Patanjali was perhaps a contemporary of Pushyamitra, whose story is partly told in this book.Malvika and Agnimitra together called Malvikagnimitra is a comedy of harem intrigue,its scene is set in the Sunga period.

Answer: Visakhadatta

This book describes the political revolution which led to the establishment of the Nanda Dynasty. 'Mudrarakshasa' means Signet of the Minister.Visakhadatta was the dramatist of politics.His only complete surviving play,'The Minister's Signet Ring' or 'Signet of the Minister'(Mudrarakshasa),deals with the schemes of the wily Chanakya to foil the plots of Rakshasa,the minister of the last of the Nandas,and to place Chandragupta Maurya firmly on the throne.The plot is exceedingly complicated,but is worked out with great skill.

Answer: Narasimhavarman

He ruled from AD 630-668 and was considered the greatest of the Pallava Kings. He sent two naval expeditions to Ceylon. His greatest achievement however was the three successive triumphs over the Chalukya King Pulakesin II and annexed Vatapi to his kingdom. He caused the execution of the wonderful Rathas,or Seven Pagodas at that place, each of which is cut out from a great rock boulder.

Answer: 'Dasakumara Charita'

He composed this work in 8th century.Dandin's 'Tales of the Ten Princes' (Dasakumara Charita) is a collection of exciting and ingenious stories,held together by a framing narrative and all interwoven with great skill.The prose is comparatively simple.Long compounds are numerous,but the inordinately lengthy sentences of Bana are not to be found.The stories are secular,often humorous,and sometimes amoral,while the characters are well delineated.Some of the interest of the 'Ten Princes'lies in its comparative realism,for in their adventures the ten heroes come in contact with merchants and thieves,princesses and prostitutes,peasants and wild hillmen.Few works of Indian literature tell us so much about low life.

Answer: Nagarjuna

Nagarjuna was a Buddhist writer and wrote several other books. The doctrines of Nagarjuna were propounded by all the great teachers of Tibet. He was mainly a follower of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.