NCERT Solutions For Class 12th History Chapter- 4 Vicharak, Vishwas and Buildings – Many students appear for the 12th examination every year, but many students are not able to get good marks, due to which they also face difficulty in taking further admission.
Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings Important Question Answer
Question 1. Why were Europeans interested in stupas in the nineteenth century? Write two reasons.
Answer- Europeans were interested in stupas because of their beautiful and attractive sculptures. They wanted to take them with them to Europe.
Question 2. Why are stupas called ‘stories carved in stone’? Explain.
Answer- Many stories related to Buddhism have been depicted in the pictures carved on the stones of Buddhist stupas. That is why these stupas are called ‘stories carved in stone’.
Question 3. Where is the Sanchi Stupa located? Tell me one of its specialties.
Answer–The Sanchi Stupa is located in a village called Sanchi Kankheda, 20 miles north-east of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. It is built on a hill and looks like a crown.
Question 4. Who patronized the Sanchi Stupa? Name any two patrons.
Answer–The Sanchi Stupa was patronized by the rulers of Bhopal. Among them, the names of Shahjahan Begum and her successor Sultanjahan Begum can be taken.
Question 5. What is the importance of Sanchi Stupa? Write any two points.
Answer- (1) Sanchi Stupa is a great example of the wonderful architecture of ancient India.
(2) It has been an important center of Buddhism. Its discovery brought about significant changes in our understanding of early Buddhism.
Question 6. Make a list of world famous thinkers of the first millennium BC.
Answer:
(1) Zarathustra in Iran
(2) A statue of Khangtsi Sanchi in China
(3) Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in Greece
(4) Mahavira and Buddha in India.
Question 7. From which book do we get information about the pre-Vedic tradition? When was this book compiled? Name any three gods mentioned in this book.
Answer: We get information about the pre-Vedic tradition from the Rigveda. This book was compiled between 1500 and 1000 BC. The gods mentioned in it are Agni, Indra, Som etc.
Question 8. Make a list of the objectives of Yagya.
Answer- (1) To send the sacrifice of the Yagya performer to the gods.
(2) To get plenty of food.
(3) To get a nutritious cow.
(4) To get a son who takes forward the lineage.
Question 9. Which argument given by Queen Kamalavati to her husband regarding sanyaas seems most logical to you?
Answer- This argument is the most logical.
Even if a man gets all the treasures of the world, he will not be satisfied nor will all this save him. After death all the wealth will be left behind. Then only Dharma i.e. good deeds will protect him.
Question 10. Name two complex yagnas. Who performed them and why?
Answer- Rajsuya and Ashvamedha were complex yagnas. For their rituals, one had to depend on many Brahmins and priests. Therefore, only kings and big chieftains performed them.
Question 11. Which two new religions emerged in the sixth century BC?
Answer-Buddhism and Jainism.
Question 12. Buddha’s message (teachings) spread to which countries outside the subcontinent?
Answer – China, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.
Question 13. What three scenes changed the Buddha’s life?
Answer: (1) An old man,
(2) A sick man, and
(3) A corpse.
Question 14. What was the lifestyle of Buddhist monks?
Answer-(1) Buddhist monks lived a simple life.
(2) They depended on donations and kept only one bowl with them to receive food donations.
Question 15. Why did Buddha (Siddhartha) decide to follow the path of renunciation?
Answer–By seeing the old, sick and dead people, Buddha had realized that the world is a house of sorrows. Then he saw a monk who was free from worries and was calm. Therefore, Buddha also decided to follow the path of renunciation.
Question 16. What was the method of functioning of the Buddhist Sangha?
Answer–The method of functioning of the Buddhist Sangha was based on the tradition of Ganas and Sanghas. According to this, people tried to reach a consensus on a decision through mutual discussion. If this was not possible, then the decision was taken by voting.
Question 17. In ancient times, people usually considered which place sacred? Write three points.
Answer- (1) Where there was a special type of vegetation.
(2) Where unique rocks were found.
(3) Where extraordinary natural beauty was seen.
Question 18. Name four places related to Buddha’s life where chaityas were built.
Answer- (1) Lumbini- where Buddha was born.
(2) Bodh Gaya- where he attained enlightenment.
(3) Sarnath- where he gave his first sermon.
(4) Kushinagar- where he attained nirvana.
Question 19. What are stupas?
Answer–Stupas are sacred mounds associated with Buddhism. Some remains of Buddha’s body or some object used by him were buried in them.
Question 20. Mention any two characteristics of the Amaravati stupa.
Answer-(1) The Amaravati stupa was the largest and most magnificent Buddhist stupa.
(2) It had tall carved archways and beautiful statues.
Question 21. What was the view of archaeologist H.H. Cole regarding ancient artifacts?
Answer: Cole was against taking away ancient artifacts. He considered this looting to be suicidal. He believed that plaster replicas should be kept in museums, while the original works should be kept at the place of discovery.
Question 22. When was the Sanchi Stupa discovered? What was the condition of its archways at that time?
Answer–The Sanchi Stupa was discovered in 1818 AD. It had four archways. Out of these, three archways were standing in good condition, while the fourth archway was lying fallen there.
Question 23. How was Buddha’s presence shown through symbols? Give three examples in this regard.
Answer- (1) Empty space was a symbol of Buddha’s meditative state.
(2) Stupas were symbols of his Mahaparinirvana.
(3) Chakra was a symbol of the first sermon given by him at Sarnath.
Question 24. What was Mahayana’s concept of ‘Bodhisattva’?
Answer– In Mahayana, ‘Bodhisattva’ was considered a compassionate being who earned merit through good deeds. But he
did not use this true merit to attain Nibbana by taking sanyaas. He used it to help others.
Question 25. What is devotion?
Answer: Devotion is a type of worship. In this, the relationship between worship and God is considered to be a relationship of love and dedication.
Question 26. Define the following: Garbhagriha, Shikhara.
Answer–Garbhagriha-It was a kind of square room (temple) in which the idol of the deity was kept. The worshipper used to sit there and worship the idol.
Shikhara-It was a high structure built above the Garbhagriha.
Question 27. What were the Upanishads? What do they tell us about the new curiosity that arose in people’s minds?
Answer: The Upanishads were texts with deep thoughts related to life, death and the Supreme Being. From these we come to know that people were curious to know the meaning of life, the possibility of life after death and rebirth. They also wanted to know what is the connection of past deeds with rebirth.
Question 28. How were the views of Buddha and Mahavira different from the Brahminic views regarding liberation from the sorrows of life?
Answer–According to Brahminism, the existence of a person is determined by his caste and gender. His happiness and sorrows are also related to this. On the contrary, Buddha and Mahavira believed that every person can try to get liberation from the sorrows of life himself.
Question 29. Who were the Tirthankaras?
Answer- According to Jain tradition, there were 23 teachers before Mahavir Swami. They are called Tirthankaras. It means- those great men who take people across the river of life.
Question 30. What were the five vows that Jain monks and nuns observed?
Answer: (i) Not to kill (ii) Not to steal (iii) Not to lie (iv) Not to accumulate wealth (v) To observe celibacy.
For the students who are studying in 12th class, here is the solution forNCERT Class 12 History Chapter 4 (Vicharak, Vishwas and Buildings).This NCERT Solutions For Class 12th History Chapter- 4 Vicharak Vishwas aur Imarte is given in easy language. So that the student does not face any problem in reading. With the help of this, you can get good marks in your examination.