Ancient India Set – 5

The Arthashastra was written by Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, and is an ancient treatise on statecraft, economics, and military strategy.

Manusmriti is an ancient text dealing primarily with law and legal code, which governed aspects of life and social order.

Patanjali is considered the pioneer of Yoga, credited with the Yoga Sutras that outline the foundation of Ashtanga Yoga.

Lothal, an ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilization, is recognized as one of the civilizations key port towns with facilities for trade and naval activities.

Coins of the Gupta period, particularly of Samudra Gupta, depict him playing the veena, showing his love for music.

Hieun Tsang, a Buddhist scholar from China, was known as the Prince of Pilgrims and documented his travels across India.

Mahavira’s mother was Trishala, and she is noted in Jain texts as the wife of Siddhartha of the Jain monarchy.

Fa Hsien visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II and documented his experiences in India, especially impressed by Pataliputra.

The Kalinga war, fought in 261 BCE between Ashoka and Kalinga, is notable for its impact on Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism.

Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese pilgrim, visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana and documented the cultural and religious practices of the time.

Bodh Gaya is the place where Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, marking it as a major pilgrimage site in Buddhism.

Ashoka was influenced by the monk Upagupta to embrace Buddhism after witnessing the aftermath of the Kalinga war.

The Great Bath, a large public water tank, is found in Mohenjodaro, an iconic feature of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Charvaka was a philosopher associated with materialism, not a physician, unlike Sushruta, Charaka, and Dhanvantari.

Vamsathapakasini is one of the last Buddhist texts produced in India, providing insights into the origins of the Mauryan dynasty.

Borobudur Temple in Indonesia features intricate carvings from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, showcasing Indian cultural influence in Southeast Asia.

The Greeks, under Seleucus I, were driven out by Chandragupta Maurya, who established control over their territories in India.

The correct order of Magadh dynasties is Haryanka, Shishunaga, Nanda, and Maurya as per historical records.

Megasthenes was the Greek ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya’s court and provided detailed accounts of Mauryan society in his work Indica.

The ‘Tri Ratna’ of Jainism consists of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct; right view is not included.

Banabhatta, a renowned poet, was the court poet of Harsha Vardhana, known for his works like Harshacharita and Kadambari.

Nalanda University was founded by Kumara Gupta during the Gupta period, becoming an international center for learning.

Kanishka ascended the throne in 78 CE, marking the beginning of the Saka era, which he initiated.

The famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora are primarily associated with Buddhist art and were significant centers for Buddhist culture.

Buddhisms core beliefs include recognizing the world as full of sorrows, suffering due to desires, and that overcoming desires leads to nirvana.