Ancient Literature — Prelims Questions

Which of the following statements about Vedic literature is/are correct? 1. The Rigveda is the oldest Veda and primarily contains hymns praising deities. 2. The Samaveda is known for its detailed explanations of sacrificial rituals. 3. The Upanishads are philosophical treatises that form the 'end of the Vedas'. 4. The Atharvaveda deals extensively with magic, spells, and folk traditions. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following pairs of ancient literary works and their authors: 1. Mrichchhakatika : Sudraka 2. Kiratarjuniya : Bharavi 3. Buddhacharita : Ashvaghosha 4. Svapnavasavadattam : Kalidasa How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

With reference to Tamil Sangam literature, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Tolkappiyam is an ancient Tamil grammatical treatise that also discusses poetics and sociology. 2. Ettuthokai and Pattupattu are collections of short and long poems, respectively, primarily dealing with secular themes. 3. Silappadikaram and Manimekalai are considered the 'Twin Epics' of the Sangam period. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which of the following is NOT a part of the Buddhist Tripitaka?

Consider the following statements regarding the Puranas: 1. They are primarily concerned with the philosophical concepts of Atman and Brahman. 2. They contain myths, legends, genealogies of gods and kings, and cosmologies. 3. There are traditionally 18 Mahapuranas, often grouped by the deity they glorify. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?