Buildings Paintings And Books - Class 6 History - Extra Questions

What was the story mentioned in Tamil epic"Manimekalai"? Discuss it in brief.

Tamil epic, the Manimekalai was composed by Sattanar around 1400 years ago. This describes the story of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi. These beautiful compositions were lost to scholars for many centuries, till their manuscripts were rediscovered, about a hundred years ago.


Write a short note on Tamil book "Silappadikaram"?

A famous Tamil epic, the Silappadikaram, was composed by a poet named Ilango, around 1800 years ago. It is the story of a merchant named Kovalan, who lived in Puhar and fell in love with a courtesan named Madhavi, neglecting his wife Kannagi. Later, he and Kannagi left Puhar and went to Madurai, where he was wrongly accused of theft by the court  jeweller of the Pandya king. The king sentenced Kovalan to death. Kannagi, who still loved him, was full of grief and anger at this injustice, and destroyed the entire city of Madurai.


What are epics? Give examples.

Epics are grand, long compositions about the heroic deeds of men and women. They include stories about gods as well. Example -Mahabharata and Ramayana.


Write a short note on Purana in 50 words? 

Purana literally mean old. The Puranas contain stories about gods and goddesses, such as Vishnu, Shiva, Durga or Parvati. They also contain details on how they were to be worshipped. Besides, there are accounts about the creation of the world, and about kings. The Puranas were written in simple Sanskrit verse, and were meant to be heard by everybody, including women and shudras, who were not allowed to study the Vedas. They were probably recited in temples by priests, and people came to listen to them.


Give an example of the skill of Indian crafts persons. Discuss in brief. 

The Iron pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi, is a remarkable example of the skill of Indian crafts persons. It is made of iron, 7.2. m high, and weighs over 3 tonnes. It was made about 1500 years ago. We know the date because there is an inscription on the pillar mentioning a ruler named Chandra, who probably belonged to the Gupta dynasty. The important fact about this pillar is, it has not rusted in all these years.


Write a short note on Aryabhata? 

Aryabhata, a mathematician and astronomer, wrote a book in Sanskrit known as the Aryabhatiyam. He stated that day and night were caused by the rotation of the earth on its axis, even though it seems as if the sun is rising and setting everyday. He developed a scientific explanation for eclipses as well. He also found a way of calculating the circumference of a circle, which is nearly as accurate as the formula we use today.


Why are the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana so popular even today?

  • The Mahabharata and Ramayana are the most popular of the epics and other religious books of the Hindus. They are also famous among the followers of other religion. The causes for their popularity are almost the same.
  • The story of the Mahabharata tells family drama followed by a great was between the two groups of the same family, the Kauravas and Pandavas. In the Mahabharata we know how much tolerance one should have, how one can fight for a justified cause, how we should respect our elders, etc. There are so many teachings of ideal life in it. The Gita, which constitute a part of the Mahabharata is in itself considered as a great epic. It unfolds all the mysteries of life, the life before and the life after.
  • In the same way the Ramayana teaches us the high ideals of life. Rama, the most prominent character, shows how many should follow the ideals of life. He possesses all the virtues of a highly idealistic and realistic human being. He follows the system in a humble way. He fights for the justice and his right. This story is told in a very realistic way. It seems to be the story of a common man. So, it has a great appeal in our society till today.
  • Moreover, these epics are famous even today as they contain characters like Vishnu and Shiva. These two are the gods around whom the Bhakti cult developed in the medieval period. The Ramayana is celebrated each year with the festivals like Diwali and Dussehra.


Write in brief about Kalidasa's Meghaduta.

Kalidasa's Meghaduta is a best-known poem in Sanskrit. It is one of his best literary creation written during the Gupta reign. There is a description of monsoon in this famous book. The monsoon cloud is imagined to be a messenger between lovers who are separated from one another and the poet beautifully describes the breeze that will carry the cloud northwards. It is a cool breeze and blows with the fragrance of the earth. It is delightful, swollen by the cloud's showers. Elephants inhale it deeply and it causes the wild figs to ripen. It blows gently with the cloud. This description is very sensuous and appealing and creates a real picture of the cloud and the breeze. This shows that Kalidasa was really a poet at par.


Tell a story from one of the epics.

The Ramayana contains the story of Hanuman and other monkeys. They promised to help Ram in his search of Sita. Hanuman had special powers which enabled him to reach Sri Lanka, in spite of many difficulties. He found the whereabouts of Sita, who was kept in Ashok Vatika by Ravan. He also set Lanka on fire. He also brought Sanjivani herbs to treat Lakshman. He served Ram as his faithful and devoted follower.


Both the ____ and the  ____ are supposed to have been composed by Vyasa.

Both the Puranas and the epic Mahabharata are supposed to have been compiled by Vyasa. The Puranas contain stories about deities such as Vishnu, Shiva or Parvati. The great Sanskrit epic Mahabharata is about a war fought between the Kauravas and Pandavas, who were cousins.


Describe the two Sanskrit epics the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

The Mahabharata and Ramayana are the most popular of the epics and other religious books of the Hindus. They are also famous among the followers of other religion. The causes for their popularity are almost the same. The story of the Mahabharata tells family drama followed by a great was between the two groups of the same family, the Kauravas and Pandavas. Here, we learn how are fights for the right cause. The Pandavas are dethroned and banished diplomatically by their cousin Duryodhana. They are always subjected to humiliation and injustice. Finally, they are put in a great battle to get their own right. In the Mahabharata, we know how much tolerance one should have, how one can fight for a justified cause, how we should respect our elders, etc. There are so many teachings of an ideal life in it. The Gita, which constitutes a part of the Mahabharata is in itself considered as a great epic. It unfolds all the mysteries of life, the life before and life after.
In the same way, the Ramayana, written in the most popular language of the time, teaches us the high ideals of life. Rama, the most prominent character, shows how many should follow the ideals of life. He possesses all the virtues of a highly idealistic and realistic human being. He follows the system in a humble way. He fights for the justice and his right. This story is told in a very realistic way. It seems to be the story of a common man. So, it has a great appeal in our society till today.


What is the Brihaddharma Purana?

It is a thirteenth-century Sanskrit text from Bengal.


What did the Puranic stories consist of?

The Puranic stories consisted of local myths and legends.


Class 6 History Extra Questions