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NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings
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Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings
Chapter: 4
| THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY (PART – I) |
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS ANSWER
1. Were the ideas of the Upanishadic thinkers different from those of the fatalists and materialists? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: I think the ideas of fatalists and materialists were not different from those of the Upanishadic thinkers.
I am giving the following reasons for my answer:
(i) The basic philosophy of Jainism was already in existence in north India before the birth of Vardhmana or Mahavira.
(ii) Ahimsa is equally infused by Jaina text. Buddhist texts and Upanishads. all Hindus believe in Ahimsa parmo dharmo (ie. Ahimsa is supreme religion).
(iii) Upanishads believe in karma theory. Its literary meaning that one should performed his karma or action or duty without caring its results. Fatalists also believe that one should be carefree because every thing is pre-decided.
(iv) Fatalists and materialists both believe that human being is made up of four elements-the earth, the water, the air, and senses these pass into space.
2. Summarise the central teachings of Jainism.
Or
“The most important idea in Jainism is that the entire world is animated: even stones, rocks and water have life. Non injury to living beings, especially to humans, animals, plants and insects is crucial to Jaina Philosophy.”
In the light of the above statement, explain the moral values of Jainism. (Value)
Ans: The important teachings of Jainism are as follows:
(i) The entire world is animated. It is believed that even the stones, rocks and water have life.
(ii) No living-being should be given any injury. The basic philosophy of Jainism is not to harm or cause injury to human-being, animals, plants and insects. There is a great emphasis on the principle of ahimsa.
(iii) The cycle of birth and re-birth is shaped through Karma. If one is to escape this cycle of Karma, one must practise asceticism and penance. It is possible if one renounces the world. So one has to live in monastery to attain salvation.
(iv) Jain monks and nuns to take five vows such as (i) Not to kill anyone (ii) Not to steal anything (iii) Not to tell a lie (iv) Not to possess property (v) To observe celibacy.
3. Discuss the role of the Begums of Bhopal in preserving the Stupas at Sanchi.
Or
“The Begums of Bhopal played a significant role in preserving the remains of Stupa at Sanchi.” Support this statement with suitable evidence.
Ans: Following is the contribution of Shahjehan Begam and Sultan Jehan Begam of Bhopal for the preservation of Sanchi Stupa:
(i) Shahjehan Begam and her successor Sultan Jehan Begam were the rulers of Bhopal. They gave money for the preservation of Sanchi Stupa.
(ii) Sultan Jehan Begum provided money for the museum that was built there.
(iii) Europeans of 19th century elicited their immense interest in the Stupa of Sanchi.
(iv) The French sought Shahjehan Begum’s permission to take away the eastern gateway to be displayed in a museum in France. However, they were contented with deftly prepared plaster-cast copies and the original remained intact at the site.
(v) In the same way, Englishmen also evoked their interest in the Stupa at Sanchi. They were also satisfied with the plaster-cast copies of the Stupa.
4. Read this short inscription and answer the questions that follow:
In the year 33 of the maharaja Huvishka (a Kushana ruler), in the first month of the hot season on the eighth day, a Bodhisatta was set up at Madhuvanaka by the bhikkhuni Dhanavati, the sister’s daughter of the bhikkhuni Buddhamita, who knows the Tipitaka, the female pupil of the bhikkhu Bala, who knows the Tipitaka, together with her father and mother.
(a) How did Dhanavati date her inscription?
(b) Why do you think she installed an image of the Bodhisatta?
(c) Who were the relatives she mentioned?
(d) What Buddhist text did she know?
(e) From whom did she learn this text?
Ans: (a) Dhanavati dated her inscription that she placed the inscription at Madhuvanaka in the first month of the hot season (i.e. summer) on the eighth day and in the year 38 of the maharaja (i.e. the emperor) named Huviahkas.
(b) I think that she (the bhikkhuni Dhanavati) installed an image of the Bodhisatta to show that Mahayana sect of Buddhism was becoming popular day by day and Bodhisattas were considered great personality in Buddhism during the reign of the Kushana rulers.
(c) She had mentioned her own mother’s sister named Buddhamita. The lady was a bhikkhuni. She had also mentioned bhikkhuni Bala and her parents.
(d) She knew the Tripitaka, the Buddhist text.
(e) She learnt this text from bhikkhuni Buddhamita who was the female pupil of the bhikkhu Bala.
5. Why do you think women and men joined the Sangha?
Ans: The men and women probably went to the Sanghas due to the following reasons:
(i) They wanted to remain away from the worldly pleasures.
(ii) The life in the Sanghas was simple and disciplined.
(iii) They could deeply study the Buddhist philosophy by staying in the Sanghas.
(iv) Many people entered the Sanghas to become teachers of dhamma. They went on to become theris or respected women who had attained liberation.
(v) All were considered equal in the Sanghas.There were kings, wealthy men and gahapatis. There were also the humble-folk like the workers, the slaves and the craftsmen. No body had an earlier social identity after becoming a bhikkhus or bhikkhunis.
(vi) The internal functioning of the Sangha was democratic. It emphasised consensus through discussions. If there was no consensus, decisions were taken on the basis of votes.
6. To what extent does knowledge of Buddhist literature help in understanding the sculpture at Sanchi?
Ans: Buddhist literature help us upto some extent in understanding the sculpture at Sanchi. Buddha tried to canvassed people and his followers through reason and presentation rather than through displays of super natural power Buddha declared that the world is transient and continuously changing. Through the given picture different stages and activities of life have been depicted. The people are sitting in different poses. They are holding different tools implements and things.
Buddha preached that this world is full of sorrows. Some depiction express that some people are not happy seeing the world.
Buddha asked the followers to follow the middle path. According to him everybody can do it through the pursuit of a path of moderation between severe penance and indulgence.
Buddhist literature explain why and how the sculptures at Sanchi were made.
7. Figures I and are two scenes from Sanchi. Describe what you see in each of them. Focusing on the architecture, plants and animals and the activities. Identify which one shows a rural scene and which an urban scene, giving reasons for your answer.
Ans: (a) Both figures show that during the period of our study (C 600 BCE to 600 CE) the architect was extremely developed. Some figures of plants and animals were figured on the walls to give beauty to the structure.
(b) Plants are clearly seen in picture no. 1. The Buddhists depicting plants as thinking them useful for society and the living creatures and animals.
(c) In 1st picture, some sorts of animals such as cattle, deer, cows have been made by the artisans. They have been encircle by different monks and Bhikshuni. These pictures show that Buddhists were awaked about environment and they had faith in non-violence.
(d) As far as picture-II is concern, it is showing long pillars in which some beautiful designs and sculptures of some animals as well as human figures are being shown.
Identification of scenes related with rural and urban areas:
I think Fig-I shows rural scene and Fig-II shows urban scene. The reason is very clear that animals and plants are in greater number in Fig- I while Fig-II showing the scene of a big palace and a big building being used by the religious minded people.
8. Discuss the development in sculpture and architecture associated with the rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism.
Ans: Vaishnavism was a form of Hinduism. It believed in the worship of Vishnu as the principal deity. Similarly Shaivism is a tradition of Hinduism in which Shiva is regarded as the chief god. In such worship, the emphasis was laid on Bhakti, that is, the bond between the devotee and the god was one of love and devotion.
Architecture: When the Stupas at Sanchi developed, the temples also came into existence. These temples were built to house images of gods and goddesses. The early temple was a small square room. It was called the garbhagriha. It had a single door-way from which the worshipper entered to worship the idol. Slowly and steadily a tall structure was built on the garbhagriha. It was known as the Shikhara. The walls of these temples were decorated with sculpture. But the later temples had an elaborate structure. They had assembly halls, huge walls, big gateways and arrangements for the supply of water.
Most of these temples were carved out of huge rocks. The tradition of building artificial caves was quite old. In the 3rd century BCE, many such caves were built for those who renounced the world and for those who belonged to the Ajivika sect, on the orders of king Asoka. This tradition continued developing. Its most developed form can be seen in the Kailashnatha Temple of the 8th century. It was carved out of the single piece of rock. A copper plate inscriptions showed the amazement of the chief sculptor when he completed the temple at Ellora. He expressed his wonder saying: “Oh how did I make it!”
Sculpture: Many avatars have been shown as idols. Such idols have also been made of other gods. Shiva has been shown in the lingum form. But in many other images, Shiva has been shown in the human form. All these images were based on the depiction of gods. Many sculptures of gods and goddesses were grotesque figures as they had multiple arms and hands. They had also combination of human and animal forms.
9. Discuss how and why stupas were built.
Or
Discuss how and why stupas were built. Describe the structure of stupa with example.
Ans: About 200 years after the time of Buddha, king Asoka erected a pillar at Lumbini to mark the fact that Buddha has visited this place.
(i) Why were Stupas Built?
The stupas were the mounds where the bodily remains or objects used by Buddha were buried. So all these stupas were regarded as sacred. Though stupas have been there even before Buddha yet they are mainly associated with Buddhism. They are venerated as emblems of Buddhism as they contain the sacred relics of Buddha. According to Asokavadana, a Buddhist text, Asoka distributed portions of the Buddha’s relics to every important cities. He ordered the construction of Stupas over these relics. The important Stupas of Bharhut, Sanchi and Sarnath had been built by the second century BCE.
(ii) How were stupas built? or The structure of stupas.
The stupa is a Sanskrit word meaning a heap. It is a simple semi-circular mound on earth. Later on it was also called as anda. Slowly and steadily, its structure became complex because an attempt was made to balance the round and square shapes. Above the anda, it has the harmika, a balcony like structure. This balcony represented the abode of the gods. Near the harmika, was a mast called the Yashti. It was often surmounted by a Chhatri or umbrella. Around the mound, there was a railing. It separated the sacred place from the secular world. The Stupas at Sanchi and Bharhut have stone railings. This railing was like a bamboo or wooden fence. It had four gateways. The worshippers mostly entered through the eastern gateway. They walked around the mound in a clock-wise direction.
(iii) Money for the Construction of the Stupas: A lot of donation poured in for the construction and decoration of the Stupas. The kings like Satavahanas offered a huge amount. Similarly the guilds and the ivory workers finanend part of one of the gateways at Sanchi. Besides hundreds of men and women also donated for this purpose. They mentioned their names along with the place from where they had come. They also mentioned their occupations and names of their relatives. The Bikkhus and the Bhikkhunis also contributed a lot for the construction of these monuments.
10. On an outline world map, mark the areas to which Buddhism spread. Traceta Land and sea routes from the subcontinent to these areas.
Ans: Students, do yourself.
10. On an outline world map, mark the areas to which Buddhism spread. Trace the land and sea routes from the subcontinent to these areas.
Ans: Students, do yourself.
