Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class Religion Book Solutions Chapter 1 Religious Life of the Indus Valley People and Early Aryans Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
PSEB Solutions for Class 12 Religion Chapter 1 Religious Life of the Indus Valley People and Early Aryans
Long Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
Discuss in brief but a meaningful way the religious life of the people of the Harappan Age.
Or
Discuss in brief the religious life of the people of the Harappan Age.
Or
What do you know about the religious life of the Indus Valley people?
Or
Explain in brief the religious faiths and customs of the Harappan Age?
Or
What do you know about the life and religious faiths of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Or
What were the religious beliefs of the people in the Indus Valley? Civilization? Discuss. Write brief notes on Mother Goddess and Swastik.
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Write about the religious beliefs of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. Write brief notes on ‘Saptrishi’ and ‘Pipal’.
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Give brief information about religious beliefs of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Or
What were the religious beliefs of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization? Discuss.
Or
Answer:
The seals, paintings etc. found in the excavations of the Indus Valley give us valuable information about the religious life of the people of the Indus Valley. On the basis of this information, it can be said without doubt that the religious life of the people of the Indus Valley was of a very high order. This can be estimated from the fact that several of their religious beliefs are still prevalent in the modern day Hirduism.
1. Worship of Mother Goddess : The Indus Valley people mostly worshipped Mother goddess. This can be deciphered from the several pictures of the Mother goddess on the idols, seals and amulets excavated from the Indus Valley. Several idols show signs of smoke which indicate the use of incense sticks and oil during the worship of the Mour goddess. Mother goddess was considered to be a symbol of power.
2. Worship of Lord Shiva: The worship of one deity was quite prevalent amongst the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. The seals of that age depict the pictures of one deity. This god can be seen in the form of an ascetic in a state of samadhi. It depicts its three heads and an attractive crown on the head. Around the ascetic are inscribed the pictures of lion, elephant, rhinoceros, bull and deer etc. Since Shiva is also known by the names Trimukhi, Pashupati and Yogeshwar etc., hence the historians are of the view that this ascetic was none other but Shiva only.
3. Worship of Animals : The seals and amulets, etc. found in the excavations of the Indus Valley indicate that they worshipped many kinds of animals. Primary among them were the bull, elephant, rhinoceros, lion and crocodile etc. Besides these, the people of the Indus Valley Civilization also worshipped some ancient animals. For instance, we have found an idol in Harappa which looks partly like an elephant and partly like a bull. These animals were considered to be the vehicles (carriers) of Mother goddess or Shiva.
4. Worship of Trees : The people of the Indus Valley Civilization also worshipped trees. These trees were considered to be the dwelling place of the gods and goddesses. They considered trees as the source of life and knowledge. Most of the seals excavated from the Indus Valley show5the pipal tree inscribed on them. It can be thus inferred that they considered the Pipal tree as sacred. Besides this they also worshipped neem, date-palm, babool and sheesham trees etc.
5. Worship of Swastik: Several seals excavated from the Indus Valley Civilization show signs of swastik. They wore considered signs of good omen. It is still dear to all the Jainas and traders. The traders make the sign of swastik before any trade.
6. Worship of Saptrishis : One of the seals excavated from the Indus Valley depicts seven humans standing in front of a tree. It can thus be estimated from this that perhaps the people of the Indus Valley worshipped the Saptrishi. There is description of Saptrishis in Puranas, other Hindu scriptures and Buddhist scriptures also. The names of these Saptrishis were Kashayap, Atari, Vishishtha, Vishwamittara, Gautama, Jamdagani and Bhardwaj. They were worshipped as the symbol of heaven.
7. Worship of Linga and Yoni : The excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization , have given us several pointed and ring stones. On observation, one can surely say that the people of the Indus Valley worshipped the Linga and Yoni. These were worshipped to enhance the creative potential of the world.
8. Worship of Water : The several bathrooms found in the excavations of the Indus Valley indicate that the people of that time had deep faith in the worship of water. Water was cosidered to be a symbol of purity and cleanliness.
9. Worship of Snakes : The people of the Indus Valley also worshipped the snakes. This can be deciphered from the pictures of snakes inscribed on the seals obtained at that time. One of the seals depicts a hooded snake on the head of a deity. Another seal shows a man feeding milk to the snake.
10. Faith in Magic and Charms : The occurrence of several amulets during the excavations of the Indus Valley establish the fact that the people of the Indus Valley believed in magic and charms as well as ghosts and spirits.
11. The Death Ceremonies : The people of the Indus Valley usually buried the dead. In the grave, the head of the dead body was placed in the north direction while the feet faced the south direction. Sometimes the dead were left in the open space for birds and animals to feed on them. At that time the custom of cremating the dead, was also prevalent. His ashes were put in a large vessel and then buried. Whatever be the technique of the last rites performed, the dead or their skeleton or their ashes were buried with some utensils containing food items and some other important things. From this, we can decipher that the people of the Indus Valley believed in life after death.
12. Some other Religious Beliefs : The several fire places obtained from the Indus Valley excavations reveal that the people of the Indus Valley worshipped fire. Despite this they also worshipped dove and the sun.
Question 2.
(a) What do you know about Mother Goddess and Swastik?
(b) Discuss the death ceremonies of people of Harappan Age.
Answer:
(a) Mother Goddess: The Indus Valley people mostly worshipped Mother goddess. This can be deciphered from the several pictures of the Mother goddess on the idols, seals and amulets excavated from the Indus Valley. Several idols show signs of smoke which indicate the use of incense sticks and oil during the worship of Mou r goddess. Mother goddess was considered to be a symbol of power.
Swastik: Several seals excavated from the Indus Valley Civilization show signs of swastik. They wore considered signs of good omen. It is still dear to all the Jainas and traders. The traders make the sign of swastik before any trade.
(b) The Death Ceremonies: The people of the Indus Valley usually buried the dead. In the grave, the head of the dead body was placed in the north direction while the feet faced the south direction. Sometimes the dead were left in the open space for birds and animals to feed on them. At that time the custom of cremating the dead, was also prevalent. His ashes were put in a large vessel and then buried. Whatever be the technique of the last rites performed, the dead or their skeleton or their ashes were buried with some utensils containing food items and some other important things. From this, we can decipher that the people of the Indus Valley believed in life after death.
Question 3.
(a) What were the death ceremonies among the people of Harappa?
(b) Write a note on Pipal and Swastik.
Answer:
(a) The Death Ceremonies among the People of Harappa.
1.The Death Ceremonies : The people of the Indus Valley usually buried the dead. In the grave, the head of the dead body was placed in the north direction while the feet faced the south direction. Sometimes the dead were left in the open space for birds and animals to feed on them. At that time the custom of cremating the dead, was also prevalent. His ashes were put in a large vessel and then buried. Whatever be the technique of the last rites performed, the dead or their skeleton or their ashes were buried with some utensils containing food items and some other important things. From this, we can decipher that the people of the Indus Valley believed in life after death.
(b) Pipal : Worship of Trees : The people of the Indus Valley Civilization also worshipped trees. These trees were considered to be the dwelling place of the gods and goddesses. They considered trees as the source of life and knowledge. Most of the seals excavated from the Indus Valley show5the pipal tree inscribed on them. It can be thus inferred that they considered the Pipal tree as sacred. Besides this they also worshipped neem, date-palm, babool and sheesham trees etc.
Swastik : Several seals excavated from the Indus Valley Civilization show signs of swastik. They wore considered signs of good omen. It is still dear to all the Jainas and traders. The traders make the sign of swastik before any trade.
Question 4.
Was the dead buried or burnt in Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. Discuss.
Answer:
The Death Ceremonies: The people of the Indus Valley usually buried the dead. In the grave, the head of the dead body was placed in the north direction while the feet faced the south direction. Sometimes the dead were left in the open space for birds and animals to feed on them. At that time the custom of cremating the dead was also prevalent. His ashes were put in a large vessel and then buried. Whatever be the technique of the last rites performed, the dead or their skeleton or their ashes were buried with some utensils containing food items and some other important things. From this, we can decipher that the people of the Indus Valley believed in life after death.
Question 5.
What do you know about the religious beliefs of the early Aryai Also state the method of disposal of the dead Aryans?
Or
What do you know about the life and religion of early Aryans?
Or
Describe the religious life of Early Aryans:
Answer:
A detailed description of the religious life of the early Aryans has been gi in the Rigveda. Undoubtedly, they led a very simple and pious life. The main featr of their religious life are as follows :
1. Worshippers of Nature and Natural Phenomena: The religious life of early Aryans was quite simple. They worshipped nature and natural phenome They worshipped all those things that were beautiful, strange, and frightening. The named all these natural phenomena after some deity and started worshipping the They worshipped the glowing sun because it kept the earth alive. They worship] the wind because it gave life to all the human beings of this world. They worship] dawn that woke them up from their sweet sleep and sent them to work. T1 worshipped the blue sky which surrounded the whole world.
2. Vedic Gods : The total count of gods of the early Aryans was 33. They w divided into 3 parts. They lived in heaven, on earth and in between the heaven E earth. A brief description of the major gods-goddesses is as follows :
- Varuna: Vanina was the greatest god of the early AryAnswer: He sat on a thro He was considered to be the master of truth and dharma. He was called the Crea of the heaven, earth and the sun. He punished the evil doers. He could give people ] and could annul one’s death. Hence, the evil doers asked for forgiveness from him their evil deeds.
- Indra: He was the second most important and powerful god of the ea AryAnswer: The maximum number of hymns (250) have been written in adoration of to god in the Rigveda. He was considered to be the god of rain and battle. The Arya prayed to him for rain showers on time and victory in battle. He could at the blink an eye destroy the forts of the enemy.
- Agni: The Agni was another major god of the early AryAnswer: He was associat with the marriage and cremation ceremonies. Without him, no religious ceremo was complete. 200 hymns have been written in the adoration of the god-Agni.
- Sun: Surya (Sun) was also an important god of the early AryAnswer: He eradicat darkness from the world. He rode on a chariot driven by seven horses to go around the sky.
- Rudra: Rudra was considered to be the god of storm. He was very cruel and destructive. People were afraid of him and tried to keep him pleased.
- Soma: The Soma god was very important in the religious life of the early AryAnswer: The somras was considered to be sacred nectar which when consumed could make one immortal.
- Usha: Besides gods, the early Aryans also worshipped some goddesses. But their importance was less in comparison to the gods. The most important goddesses worshipped by them were Usha, the goddess of dawn, Ratri, the goddess of night, Prithvi, the goddess of earth, Aranayayi, the goddess of the jungle and Saraswati, the river goddess.
3. Faith in One God: Although the early Aryans worshipped many gods and goddesses yet they had a strong belief in one God. They considered all the gods as great. The sages gave prime importance to different gods and goddesses on different occasions. The Rigveda in one of its hymns says, “All of them are one, only the observers have described them differently.” In another hymn, it says, “He, who has given us life, He who has created nature, popular by different names, is yet one.” It is clear that they believed in the concept of one God.
4. Absence of Temples and Idol Worship : The early Aryans did not construct any temple in memory of any god-goddess and neither were their idols made. There is no reference in the Rigveda in the context of temples and idols. The Aryans used to crouch in the open atmosphere of their homes and recited their hymns and meditated with full devotion.
5. Yajnas and Sacrifices : The early Aryans performed several yajnas to please the gods and goddesses. These yajnas were performed very carefully because they feared that a small mistake could anger their gods. First, an altar was built for performing the yajna. Then the sacred fire was lit up. Then to it ghee, milk, rice and somras were added. Several animals like sheep, goats and horses etc. were also sacrificed during these yajnas. The custom of human sacrifice was not prevalent at that time. There were several kinds of yajnas. The simplest among them were the family yajnas. The bigger yajnas were planned well in advance. These yajnas were organized by the kings and rich people of society. Purohits (priests) in large numbers participated in these yajnas.
The Purohits who read Mantras during yajnas were called Udgatris and those who offered sacrifices were called Hotris. They were given gold, animals and crops as donation. The prime,objective of these yajnas and sacrifices was to please gods. They felt that this would help them to obtain victory in the battle, acquisition of wealth, increase in the number of their children, and they would have a long life. The early Aryans thought that each yajna led to the rebirth of the world and if the yajnas would not be performed, there would be darkness in the whole world. These yajnas also enhanced the knowledge of Mathematics, Geography and animal anatomy.
6. Worship of Forefathers: The early Aryans worshipped their forefathers (pitras) besides their gods and goddesses. Pitras were the ancestors of the early Aryans: They lived in the heaven. There are several incantations in the praise of their forefathers in the Rigveda. They too were worshipped like other gods and goddesses. The forefathers were worshipped with the hope that they would protect their lineage, they would direct them they would help remove all their difficulties, provide them wealth and power and would bless them with the boon of children and their long life.
7. Belief in Life after Death : The early Aryans believed in life after death. The principle of transmigration and re-incarnation were still not prevalent. The people in the Vedic period believed that at the time of death the soul gets separated from the body. The soul was considered immortal. life in heaven,^as full of happiness. It was the place of residence of the gods. The people who were well deserving of going to heaven were those who either sacrificed their lives in the battlefield or observed austerity or generously made donations at the time of performance of the yajnas. The Rigveda does not make any mention of hell.
8. Disposal of Deadi : During the period of the early Aryans the dead were cremated. The dead was taken to the cremation ground by his wife and other relatives. After this, the dead was placed on the funeral pyre. If the dead were a Brahman, a stick was placed in his right hand and if he were a Kshatriya, a bow would be placed in his hand and if he were a Vaishya, a plough stick would be placed in his hand. His wife would keep sitting by his pyre till she was told ‘Oh ! lady get up and come back among the live people.’ After this, the fire was lit in the pyre from the havan-kund and the incantation is*as read, “Tread on the path of the elders.” The remains were collected when the dead body was completely burnt and they were buried in the earth in a vessel.
9. Rita and Dharman : There is a description the words Rita and Dharman in the Rigveda and other Vedic texts. The Rita implies a system according to which this world runs. According to the Rita, the day breaks in the morning and the sun, moon and stars appear bright. The earth revolves around the sun. The tides rise and fall in the seas. Hence, the Rita is a truth and Anrita is falsehood. The word ‘Dharman’ means rule. The Dharman were set by the gods. These apply on the materialistic world, human beings and to the sacrifice made. Actually, Dharman includes the rules for life and customs. The good human beings lead their lives according to the Dharman.
Question 6.
Write a brief note on Varuna and Agni. Write about the ritual of Vedic sacrifice.
Answer:
(a) Varuna and Agni:
(1) Varuna : Varuna was the greatest god of the early AryAnswer: He sat on a throne. He was considered to be the master of truth and dharma. He was called the Creator of the sky, earth and the sun. The moon shined and stars twinkled according to his instructions. He was omnipotent and omnipresent. He knew about all the incidents that took place in the world. He had several eyes. No evil doer could escape his eagle eyes. He punished the sinners. He could grant the gift of life and could even annul death. Hence the evil doers prayed to him for forgiveness.
(2) Agni : Agni was another major god of the early AryAnswer: He was considered important for two reasons. First, he was considered the master of all homes. He was associated with marriage and customs associated with the last rites. Secondly, no yajna could be accomplished without him. He was responsible for making the offerings made by the devotees reach the gods. Agni supposedly had 7 tongues and 1000 eyes. If he ever got angry he could destroy everything in a moment. Dry wood, ghee and butter were his favourite food. There are 200 incantations in the Rigveda in the praise of Agni.
(b) Ritual of Vedic Sacrifice : Yajnas and Sacrifices : The early Aryans performed several yajnas to please the gods and goddesses. These yajnas were performed very carefully because they feared that a small mistake could anger their gods. First, an altar was built for performing the yajna. Then the sacred fire was lit up. Then to it ghee, milk, rice and somras were added. Several animals like sheep, goats and horses etc. were also sacrificed during these yajnas. The custom of human sacrifice was not prevalent at that time. There were several kinds of yajnas. The simplest among them were the family yajnas. The bigger yajnas were planned well in advance. These yajnas were organized by the kings and rich people of society. Purohits (priests) in large numbers participated in these yajnas.
The Purohits who read Mantras during yajnas were called Udgatris and those who offered sacrifices were called Hotris. They were given gold, animals and crops as donation. The prime,objective of these yajnas and sacrifices was to please gods. They felt that this would help them to obtain victory in the battle, acquisition of wealth, increase in the number of their children, and they would have a long life. The early Aryans thought that each yajna led to the rebirth of the world and if the yajnas would not be performed, there would be darkness in the whole world. These yajnas also enhanced the knowledge of Mathematics, Geography and animal anatomy.
Question 7.
What is meant by Vedic gods? What is expected from them?
Or
Who were Vedic gods? Write down the names of some gods and goddesses. Whether these gods were historical persons or mythological? State clearly.
Or
What do you know about the Vedic gods and goddesses? Explain.
Or
Explain about monotheism in Vedic period.
Or
Write a detailed note on Vedic gods and goddesses.
Or
Write a brief note on any two Vedic gods.
Answer:
The early Aryans led very simple and pious life. They respected nature and its powers and hence worshipped them as gods. The total number of gods worshipped by them were 33. The number of goddesses was less and they were also less significant. Though the early Aryans worshipped these gods and goddesses yet they considered them to be a part of one supreme God. To please their gods and goddesses and to obtain the important boons from them, they indulged in prayers and yajnas and also offered sacrifices. At that time, idol worship and the practice of building temples was not prevalent.
1. Vedic Gods: Where did the foundation of Vedic gods lie, what was their nature, what was their relationship with human beings and what was their count? The answers to all these questions are found in the Rigveda. The incantation (Richas) of the Rigveda state that the gods were born after the creation of the world and were usually considered to be the children of the sky and the earth. They were very powerful and great. They led a long life. They had acquired immortality by observing penance and consuming somras (divine nectar). They could acquire different forms. They came on their magical divine vehicles and sat on a grassy seat. They contributed in their own way towards the worldly incidents. They listened to the prayers of their devotees and blessed them with their boons.
They were 33 in number and were divided into 3 parts. This division was on the basis of the place they resided. Each category had 11 gods included in it. Varuna, Surya, Vishnu and Usha were gods of the sky. Indra, Vayu, Rudra and Maruta etc. were gods who lived in between the earth and the sky. Agni, Prithvi, Brahaspati, Seas and Rivers were the gods of the earth. The gods were greater in number as compared to the goddesses and they were even more significant than them. A brief description of the main gods and goddesses is as follows :
(1) Varuna: Varuna was the greatest god of the early AryAnswer: He sat on a throne. He was considered to be the master of truth and dharma. He was called the Creator of the sky, earth and the sun. The moon shined and stars twinkled according to his instructions. He was omnipotent and omnipresent. He knew about all the incidents that took place in the world. He had several eyes. No evil doer could escape his eagle eyes. He punished the sinners. He could grant the gift of life and could even annul death. Hence the evil doers prayed to him for forgiveness.
(2) Indra: Indra was the second most important and powerful god. The maximum number of hymns (250) in the Rigveda have been written in the praise of this god. Such was his spark that the illumination caused by several suns would faint in its comparison. He was considered to be the god of rain and battle. The Aryans prayed to him for showers of rain and for obtaining victory in battles. He was so brave that he even defeated the demons. He could destroy the forts of the enemies at the wink of an eye. He could eradicate all darkness. He could change several forms. He was so powerful that all the gods were terrified of him.
(3) Agni: Agni was another major god of the early Aryans: He was considered important for two reasons. First, he was considered the master of all homes. He was associated with marriage and customs associated with the last rites. Secondly, no yajna could be accomplished without him. He was responsible for making the offerings made by the devotees reach the gods. Agni supposedly had 7 tongues and 1000 eyes. If he ever got angry he could destroy everything in a moment. Dry wood, ghee and butter were his favourite food. There are 200 incantations in the Rigveda in the praise of Agni.
(4) Sun: Sun was also an important god of the early Aryans: He eradicated darkness from this earth. He was considered to be the son of Aaditi and Deuce. He rode around in the sky everyday on a chariot driven by seven horses.
(5) Rudra: Rudra was considered to be the god of storm or duststorm. He was very cruel and destructive. The people were scared of him and made all efforts to please him. He looked like the demons and dwelled in the mountains. His stomach was black and his back was red.
(6) Soma: Soma had great significance in the religious life of the early Aryans: The entire Navam Mandal of the Rigveda has been devoted to the praise of Soma. Somras was considered to be a divine nectar which when drunk immortalized the gods. It was used during the ‘hawan’. It was gifted to the gods. The somras was obtained from a herb found in the mountains.
(7) Usha: Besides the gods, the early Aryans also worshipped some goddesses. But these goddesses were less significant in comparison to the gods. The goddesses worshipped by them included Ratri the goddess of night, Aranayayi the goddess of forest, Saraswati the goddess of rivers. Usha was the most significant. She was considered to be the goddess of dawn. She was beautiful and mesmerising. She was considered to be the wife of the sun.
2. Vedic Gods were historical persons or mythological : The early Aryans considered their gods and goddesses to be historical persons. The reason for this was that they were just like human beings. They used to come on their magical vehicles and sat on a grassy throne. They listened to the prayers of their devotees and blessed them with boons. They were generous towards their devotees. These gods and goddesses were considered to be the sons and daughters of Aaditi and Deuce. Initially they were considered to be mortal. They were later rendered immortal.
Question 8.
(a) Throw light on the Vedic ritual sacrifice.
(b) Write brief notes on Varuna and Agni gods.
Answer:
(a) Sacrifice Ritual : Yajnas and Sacrifices : The early Aryans performed several yajnas to please the gods and goddesses. These yajnas were performed very carefully because they feared that a small mistake could anger their gods. First, an altar was built for performing the yajna. Then the sacred fire was lit up. Then to it ghee, milk, rice and somras were added. Several animals like sheep, goats and horses etc. were also sacrificed during these yajnas. The custom of human sacrifice was not prevalent at that time. There were several kinds of yajnas. The simplest among them were the family yajnas. The bigger yajnas were planned well in advance. These yajnas were organized by the kings and rich people of society. Purohits (priests) in large numbers participated in these yajnas.
(b) Varuna and Agni Gods :
(1) Varuna: Varuna was the greatest god of the early AryAnswer: He sat on a throne. He was considered to be the master of truth and dharma. He was called the Creator of the sky, earth and the sun. The moon shined and stars twinkled according to his instructions. He was omnipotent and omnipresent. He knew about all the incidents that took place in the world. He had several eyes. No evil doer could escape his eagle eyes. He punished the sinners. He could grant the gift of life and could even annul death. Hence the evil doers prayed to him for forgiveness.
(2) Agni: Agni was another major god of the early AryAnswer: He was considered important for two reasons. First, he was considered the master of all homes. He was associated with marriage and customs associated with the last rites. Secondly, no yajna could be accomplished without him. He was responsible for making the offerings made by the devotees reach the gods. Agni supposedly had 7 tongues and 1000 eyes. If he ever got angry he could destroy everything in a moment. Dry wood, ghee and butter were his favourite food. There are 200 incantations in the Rigveda in the praise of Agni.
Question 9.
Explain the differences of religious life of Indus Valley and Aryan peoples.
Or
Describe the religious life of the people of Indus Valley and AryAnswer: Explain.
Answer:
The seals, paintings etc. found in the excavations of the Indus Valley give us valuable information about the religious life of the people of the Indus Valley. On the basis of this information, it can be said without doubt that the religious life of the people of the Indus Valley was of a very high order. This can be estimated from the fact that several of their religious beliefs are still prevalent in the modern day Hirduism.
1. Worship of Mother Goddess: The Indus Valley people mostly worshipped Mother goddess. This can be deciphered from the several pictures of the Mother goddess on the idols, seals and amulets excavated from the Indus Valley. Several idols show signs of smoke which indicate the use of incense sticks and oil during the worship of goddesses. The mother goddess was considered to be a symbol of power.
2. Worship of Lord Shiva: The worship of one deity was quite prevalent amongst the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. The seals of that age depict the pictures of one deity. This god can be seen in the form of an ascetic in a state of samadhi. It depicts its three heads and an attractive crown on the head. Around the ascetic are inscribed the pictures of lion, elephant, rhinoceros, bull and deer etc. Since Shiva is also known by the names Trimukhi, Pashupati and Yogeshwar etc., hence the historians are of the view that this ascetic was none other but Shiva only.
3. Worship of Animals: The seals and amulets, etc. found in the excavations of the Indus Valley indicate that they worshipped many kinds of animals. Primary among them were the bull, elephant, rhinoceros, lion and crocodile etc. Besides these, the people of the Indus Valley Civilization also worshipped some ancient animals. For instance, we have found an idol in Harappa which looks partly like an elephant and partly like a bull. These animals were considered to be^the vehicles (carriers) of Mother goddess or Shiva.
4. Worship of Trees: The people of the Indus Valley Civilization also worshipped trees. These trees were considered to be the dwelling place of the gods and goddesses. They considered trees as the source of life and knowledge. Most of the seals excavated from the Indus Valley show5the pipal tree inscribed on them. It can be thus inferred that they considered the Pipal tree as sacred. Besides this they also worshipped neem, date-palm, babool and sheesham trees etc.
5. Worship of Swastik: Several seals excavated from the Indus Valley Civilization show signs of swastik. They wore considered signs of good omen. It is still dear to all the Jainas and traders. The traders make the sign of swastik before any trade.
6. Worship of Saptrishis: One of the seals excavated from the Indus Valley depicts seven humans standing in front of a tree. It can thus be estimated from this that perhaps the people of the Indus Valley worshipped the Saptrishi. There is description of Saptrishis in Puranas, other Hindu scriptures and Buddhist scriptures also. The names of these Saptrishis were Kashayap, Atari, Vishishtha, Vishwamittara, Gautama, Jamdagani and Bhardwaj. They were worshipped as the symbol of heaven.
7. Worship of Linga and Yoni: The excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization , have given us several pointed and ring stones. On observation, one can surely say that the people of the Indus Valley worshipped the Linga and Yoni. These were worshipped to enhance the creative potential of the world.
8. Worship of Water: The several bathrooms found in the excavations of the Indus Valley indicate that the people of that time had deep faith in the worship of water. Water was cosidered to be a symbol of purity and cleanliness.
9. Worship of Snakes: The people of the Indus Valley also worshipped the snakes. This can be deciphered from the pictures of snakes inscribed on the seals obtained at that time. One of the seals depicts a hooded snake on the head of a deity. Another seal shows a man feeding milk to the snake.
10. Faith in Magic and Charms: The occurrence of several amulets during the excavations of the Indus Valley establish the fact that the people of the Indus Valley believed in magic and charms as well as ghosts and spirits.
11. The Death Ceremonies: The people of the Indus Valley usually buried the dead. In the grave, the head of the dead body was placed in the north direction while the feet faced the south direction. Sometimes the dead were left in the open space for birds and animals to feed on them. At that time the custom of cremating the dead, was also prevalent. His ashes were put in a large vessel and then buried. Whatever be the technique of the last rites performed, the dead or their skeleton or their ashes were buried with some utensils containing food items and some other important things. From this, we can decipher that the people of the Indus Valley believed in life after death.
12. Some other Religious Beliefs: The several fire places obtained from the Indus Valley excavations reveal that the people of the Indus Valley worshipped fire. Despite this they also worshipped dove and the sun.
(a) The Death Ceremonies among the People of Harappa.
1.The Death Ceremonies: The people of the Indus Valley usually buried the dead. In the grave, the head of the dead body was placed in the north direction while the feet faced the south direction. Sometimes the dead were left in the open space for birds and animals to feed on them. At that time the custom of cremating the dead, was also prevalent. His ashes were put in a large vessel and then buried. Whatever be the technique of the last rites performed, the dead or their skeleton or their ashes were buried with some utensils containing food items and some other important things. From this, we can decipher that the people of the Indus Valley believed in life after death.
(b) Pipal: Worship of Trees: The people of the Indus Valley Civilization also worshipped trees. These trees were considered to be the dwelling place of the gods and goddesses. They considered trees as the source of life and knowledge. Most of the seals excavated from the Indus Valley show5the pipal tree inscribed on them. It can be thus inferred that they considered the Pipal tree as sacred. Besides this they also worshipped neem, date-palm, babool and sheesham trees etc.
Swastik: Several seals excavated from the Indus Valley Civilization show signs of swastik. They wore considered signs of good omen. It is still dear to all the Jainas and traders. The traders make the sign of swastik before any trade.
Short Answer Type Questions (Type 1):
Question 1.
Write any two features of religious life of the Indus Valley people.
Answer:
1. Worship of Mother Goddess: The Indus Valley people mostly worshipped Mother goddess. This can be deciphered from the several pictures of Mother goddess on the idols, seals and amulets excavated from the Indus Valley. Several idols show signs of smoke which indicate the use of incense sticks and oil during the worship of Mother goddess. Mother goddess was considered to be a symbol of power.
2. Worship of Lord Shiva: The worship of one deity was quite prevalent amongst the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. The seals of that age depict the pictures of one deity. This god can be seen in the form of an ascetic in a state of samadhi. It depicts its three heads apd an attractive crown on the head. Hence the historians are of the view that this ascetic was none other but Shiva only.
Question 2.
What were the characteristics of the religion of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Answer:
The discovery of large number of female figurines and amulets during the course of excavation suggest that the people mainly used to worship Mother Goddess. They also used to worship Lord Shiva. Besides these, they also worshipped Linga, Yoni, Sun, Ox, Tiger and Elephant etc. They believed in life after death. They believed in magic and charms.
Question 3.
How the people of Indus Valley Civilization disposed off their dead?
Or
Which two methods were adopted by the people of Indus Valley to dispose off their dead?
Or
Describe the death ceremonies of Harappa age people.
Answer:
The people of the Indus Valley usually buried the dead. In the grave, the head of the dead body was placed in the north direction while the feet faced the south direction. Sometimes the dead were left in the open space for birds and animals to feed on them. At that time the custom of cremating the dead was also prevalent. His ashes were put in a large vessel and then buried.
Question 4.
Describe the religious beliefs of early AryAnswer:
Or
Discuss the religious ideas and rituals of Vedic AryAnswer:
Or
What were the main features of the religious life of the Rigvedic Aryans?
Answer:
The religion of the Rigvedic Aryans was simple. They used to worship the natural powers as gods and goddesses. Varuna was their chief deity who knew all the secrets of the universe. Indra was their next most important deity. He was known as the god of war and rain. The Agni was also considered important. He was related to marriage and cremation. Goddesses like Usha, Ratri, Prithvi and Aranayi were also worshipped. However, they occupied subordinate position.
Question 5.
What do you know about Varuna?
Or
Describe the Lord Varuna of Aryans:
Answer:
Varuna was the greatest god of the early Aryans: He sat on a throne. He was considered to be the master of truth and dharma. He was called the Creator of the sky, earth and the sun. The moon shone and stars twinkled according to his instructions. He was omnipotent and omnipresent. He knew about all the incidents that took place in the world. He had several eyes. No evil doer could escape his eagle eyes. He punished the sinners. He could grant the gift of life and could even annul death. Hence the evil doers prayed to him for forgiveness.
Question 6.
Describe God Indra of early AryAnswer:
Or
What do you know about God Indra?
Answer:
Indra was the second most important and powerful god. The maximum number of hymns (250) in the Rigveda have been written in the praise of this god. Such was his spark that the illumination caused by several suns would faint in its comparison. He was considered to be the god of rain and battles. The Aryans prayed to him for showers of rain and for obtaining victory in battles. He was so brave that he even defeated the demons. He could destroy the forts of the enemies at the wink of an eye. He could eradicate all darkness. He could change several forms. He was so powerful that all the gods were terrified of him.
Question 7.
Explain in your words the Aryan god ‘Agni’?
Answer:
Agni. Agni was another major god of the early AryAnswer: He was considered important for two reasons. First, he was considered the master of all homes. He was associated with marriage and customs associated with the last rites. Secondly, no yajna could be accomplished without him. He was responsible for making the offerings made by the devotees reach the gods. Agni supposedly had 7 tongues and 1000 eyes. If he ever got angry he could destroy everything in a moment. Dry wood, ghee and butter were his favourite food. There are 200 incantations in the Rigveda in the raise of Agni.
Question 8.
What was the importance of Yajnas in the social and religious life of 3 Aryans?
Or
What do you know about the mode of worship of the Rigvedic Aryans?
Answer:
The religion of the Rigvedic Aryans was simple. The early Aryans performed several yajnas to please the gods and goddesses. These yajnas were performed very carefully because they feared that a small mistake could anger their gods. First, an altar was built for performing the yajna. Then the sacred fire was lit up. Then to it were added ghee, milk, rice and somras. Several animals were also sacrificed during these yajnas. There were several kinds of yajnas. The simplest among them were the family yajnas. The bigger yajnas were planned well in advance. These yajnas were organized by the kings and rich people of society. The prime objective of these yajnas and sacrifices was to please gods.
Question 9.
How did the early Aryans dispose off their dead?
Answer:
During the period of the early Aryans the dead were cremated. The dead was taken to the cremation ground by his wife or other relatives. After this, the dead was placed on the funeral pyre. His wife would keep sitting by his pyre till she was told, ‘Oh ! lady get up and come back among the live people. After this, the fire was lit in the pyre from the havan-kund. The remains were collected when the dead body was completely burnt and they were buried in the earth in a vessel.
Question 10.
What do you mean by Rita and Dharman?
Answer:
There is a description of the words Rita and Dharman in the Rigveda and other Vedic texts. The Rita implies a system according to which this world runs. According to the Rita, the day breaks in the morning and the sun, moon and stars appear bright. The wcffd ‘Dharman’ means rule. The Dharman were set by the gods. These apply to the materialistic world, human beings and to the sacrifice made. The good human beings lead their lives according to the Dharman.
Short Answer Type Questions (Type 2):
Question 1.
Write any six features of religious life of the Indus Valley people.
Or
What was worshipped by the Indus Valley people?
Answer:
1. Worship of Mother Goddess: The Indus Valley people mostly worshipped Mother goddess. This can be deciphered from the several pictures of Mother goddess on the idols, seals and amulets excavated from the Indus Valley. Several idols show signs of smoke which indicate the use of incense sticks and oil during the worship of Mother goddess. Mother goddess was considered to be a symbol of power.
2. Worship of Lord Shiva: The worship of one deity was quite prevalent amongst the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. The seals of that age depict the pictures of one deity. This god can be seen in the form of an ascetic in a state of samadhi. It depicts its three heads and an attractive crown on the head. Hence the historians are of the view that this ascetic was none other but Shiva only.
3. Worship of Trees: The people of the Indus Valley Civilization also worshipped trees. These trees were considered to be the dwelling place of the gods and goddesses. They considered trees as the source of life and knowledge. Most of the seals excavated from the Indus Valley show the Pipal tree inscribed on them. It can be thus inferred that they considered the Pipal tree as sacred. Besides this they also worshipped neem, date-palm, habool and sheesham trees etc.
4. Worship of Swastik: Several seals excavated from the Indus Valley Civilization show signs of swastik. They were considered signs of good omen. It is still dear to all the Jainas and traders. The traders make the sign of swastik before any trade.
5. Worship of Saptrishis: One of the seals excavated from the Indus Valley depicts seven humans standing in front of a tree. It can thus be estimated from this that perhaps the people of the Indus Valley worshipped the Saptrishis.
6. Worship of Water: The several bathrooms found in the excavations of the Indus Valley indicate that the people of that time had deep faith in the worship of water. Water was cosidered to be a symbol of purity and cleanliness.
Question 2.
How the people of Indus Valley Civilization disposed off their dead?
Or
Which two methods were adopted by the people of Indus Valley to dispose off their dead?
Answer:
The people of the Indus Valley usually buried the dead. In the grave, to head of the dead body was placed in the north direction while the feet faced the south direction. Sometimes the dead left in the open space for birds and animals feed on them. At that time the custom of cremating the dead was also prevalent. His ashes were put in a large vessel and then buried. Whatever be the technique of the last rites performed, the dead er their skeleton or their ashes were buried with some utensils containing food items and some other important things. From this, we can- decipher that the people of the Indus Valley believed in life after death.
Question 3.
Describe the religious beliefs of early Aryans:
Or
Discuss the religious ideas and rituals of Vedic AryAnswer:
Or
What were the main features of the religious life of the Rigvedic Aryans?
Answer:
The religion of the Rigvedic Aryans was simple. They used to worship the natural powers as gods and goddesses. The goddesses were few in number and had lesser importance. Varuna was their chief deity who knew all the secrets of the; universe. He was known as the heavenly god. It was believed that he punished the criminals. The Aryans prayed to Varuna for the forgiveness of their sins. Indra was their next most important deity. He was known as the god of war and rain. The-, Aryans worshipped Indra’to be victorious in war or for getting rain. In the Rigveda, 250 hymns are devoted to Indra.
The Agni was also considered important. He was, related to marriage and cremation. The Aryans also used to worship the Surya,Vayu, Rudra and Soma. Goddesses like Usha, Ratri, Prithvi and Aranayi were also worshipped. However, they occupied subordinate position. The Aryans believed-; in one God and all the gods and goddesses were believed to be His incarnations. Many – yajnas were performed in order to please the gods and goddesses. These yajnas were,- performed very carefully as any small mistake could displease the gods. The Aryans also believed in the theories of transmigration, karma and salvation. Though these principles were not yet much developed.
Question 4.
Give a brief account of the main gods of the Early Aryans:
Answer:
(1) Varuna: Varuna was the greatest god of the early Aryans: He sat on a throne. He was considered to be the master of truth and dharma. He was called the Creator of the heaven, earth and the sun. He punished the evil doers. He could give-, people life and could annul one’s death. Hence, the evil doers asked for forgiveness from him for their evil deeds.
(2) Indra: He was the second most important and powerful god of the early Aryans: The maximum number of hymns (250) have been written in adoration of this, god in the Rigveda. He was considered to be the god of rain and battle. The Aryans prayed to him for rain showers on time and victory in battle. He could at the blink of an eye destroy the forts of the enemy.
(3) Agni: The Agni was another major god of the early Aryans: He was associated, with the marriage and cremation ceremonies. Without him, no religious ceremony was complete. 200 hymns have been written in the adoration of the god Agni.
(4) Sun: Surya (Sun) was also an important god of the early Aryans: He eradicated darkness from the world. He rode on a chariot driven by seven horses to go around in the sky.
(5) Rudra: Rudra was considered to be the god of storm. He was very cruel and destructive. People were afraid of him and tried to keep him pleased.
(6) Soma: The Soma god was very important in the religious life of the early Aryans: The somras was considered to be a sacred nectar which when consumed could make one immortal.
Question 5.
What do you know about Varuna and Indra?
Or
Describe the Lord Varuna of Aryans:
Answer:
(1) Varuna: Varuna was the greatest god of the early Aryans: He sat on a throne. He was considered to be the master of truth and dharma. He was called the Creator of the sky, earth and the sun. The moon shone and stars twinkled according to his instructions. He was omnipotent and omnipresent. He knew about all the incidents that took place in the world. He had several eyes. No evil doer could escape his eagle eyes. He punished the sinners. He could grant the gift of life and could even annul death. Hence the evildoers prayed to him for forgiveness.
(2) Indra: Indra was the second most important and powerful god. The maximum number of hymns (250) in the Rigveda have been written in the praise of this god. Such was his spark that the illumination caused by several suns would faint in its comparison. He was considered to be the god of rain and battles. The Aryans prayed to him for showers of rain and for obtaining victory in battles. He was so brave that he even defeated the demons. He could destroy the forts of the enemies at the wink of an eye. He could eradicate all darkness. He could change several forms. He was so powerful that all the gods were terrified of him.
Question 6.
Explain in your words the Aryan god ‘Agni’?
Answer:
Agni. Agni was another major god of the early Aryans: He was considered importand for two reasons. First, he was considered the master of all homes. He was associated with marriage and customs associated with the last rites. Secondly, no yajna could be accomplished without him. He was responsible for making the offerings made by the devotees reach the gods. Agni supposedly had 7 tongues and 1000 eyes. If he ever got angry he could destroy everything in a moment. Dry wood, ghee and butter were his favourite food. There are 200 incantations in the Rigveda in the praise of Agni.
Question 7.
What was the importance of Yajnas in the social and religious life of the Aryans?
Or
What do you know about the mode of worship of the Rigvedic Aryans?
Answer:
The early Aryans performed several yajnas to please the gods and goddesses. These yajnas were performed very carefully because they feared that a small mistake could anger their gods. First, an altar was built for performing the yajna. Then the sacred fire was lit up. Then to it were added ghee, milk, rice and somras. Several animals like sheep, goats and horses etc. were also sacrificed during these yajnas. The custom of human sacrifice was not prevalent at that time. There were several kinds of yajnas. The simplest among them were the family yajnas. The bigger yajnas were planned well in advance. These yajnas were organized by the kings and rich people of society. Purohits (priests) in large numbers participated in these yajnas.
The purohits who read Mantras during Yajnas were called Udgatris and those who offeced sacrifices were called Hotris. They were given gold, animals and crops as donation. The prime objective of these yajnas and sacrifices was to please gods. They felt that this would help them to obtain victory in the battle, acquisition of wealth, increase in the number of their children, and they would have a long life. The early Aryans thought that each yajna led to the rebirth of the world and if the yajnas would not be performed, there would be darkness in the whole world. These yajnas also enhanced the knowledge of Mathematics, Geography and animal anatomy.
Question 8.
How did the early Aryans dispose off their dead?
Answer:
During the period of the early Aryans the dead were cremated. The dead was taken to the cremation ground by his wife and other relatives. After this, the dead was placed on the funeral pyre. If the dead were a Brahman, a stick was placed in his right hand and if he were a Kshatriya, a bow would be placed in his hand and if he were a Vaishya, a plough stick would be placed in his hand. His wife would keep sitting by his pyre till she was told, ‘Oh ! lady get up and come back among the live people.’ After this, the fire was lit in the pyre from the havan-kund and the incantation was read, “Tread on the path of the elders.” The remains were collected when the dead body was completely burnt and they were buried in the earth in a vessel.
Question 9.
What do you mean by Rita and Dharjnan?
Answer:
There is a description of the words Rita and Dharman in the Rigveda and other Vedic texts. The Rita implies a system according to which this world runs. According to the Rita, the day breaks in the morning and the sun, moon and stars appear bright. The earth revolves around the sun. The tides rise and fall in the seas. Hence, the Rita is a truth and Anrita is falsehood. The word ‘Dharman’ means rule. The Dharman were set by the gods. These apply to the materialistic world, human beings and to the sacrifice made. Actually, Dharman includes the rules for life and customs. The good human beings lead their fives according to the Dharman.
Answer in One Word to One Sentence:
Question 1.
How old is Indus Valley Civilization?
Answer:
5,000 years.
Question 2.
When was Indus Valley Civilization discovered?
Answer:
Indus Valley Civilization was discovered in 1921.
Question 3.
Which goddess was mostly worshipped by people of Indus Valley?
Answer:
Mother goddess.
Question 4.
What was Mother goddess considered as?
Answer:
Mother goddess was considered to be, a symbol of power.
Question 5.
Which god was mostly worshipped by people of Indus Valley?
Answer:
Lord Shiva.
Question 6.
Which god and goddess were worshipped more by Indus Valley people?
Answer:
Mother goddess and Lord Shiva were mostly worshipped by Indus Valley people.
Question 7.
Name the animals worshipped by people of Indus Valley.
Answer:
Question 8.
Which animal was mostly worshipped by people of Indus Valley?
Answer:
Bull.
Question 9.
Why did people of Indus Valley worship the trees?
Answer:
Because they believed the trees to be the dwelling place of gods and goddesses.
Question 10.
Which tree was considered the most sacred by people of Indus Valley?
Answer:
Pipal.
Question 11. Name two trees worshipped by people of Indus Valley.
Answer:
Question 12.
Which bird was considered the most sacred by people of Indus Valley?
Answer:
Dove.
Question 13.
Which mark was considered the most sacred by people of Indus Valley?
Answer:
Svastik.
Question 14.
How many Rishis were worshipped by people of Indus Valley?
Answer:
Saptrishis (Seven Rishis).
Question 15.
Name any two Rishis among Saptrishis.
Answer:
- Vishishtha,
- Vishwamittara.
Question 16.
Why did people of Indus Valley worship water?
Answer:
People of Indus Valley considered water the symbol of purity and cleanliness.
Question 17.
Where is ‘Great Bath’ discovered?
Answer:
Mohenjodaro.
Question 18.
How were dead of people of Indus Valley cremated?
Answer:
They usually buried their deads.
Question 19.
How many graves are found at Harappa?
Answer:
57.
Question 20.
From which centre, signs of Sati system are found of Indus Valley?
Answer:
Signs of Sati system are found in Lothal centre of Indus Valley.
Question 21.
Which fact is related that people of Indus Valley believed in life after death?
Answer:
Utensils containing food items and some other things were found buried along with dead.
Question 22.
Whom did early Aryans worship?
Answer:
Nature and Natural forces.
Question 23.
What is meant by the Vedic gods?
Answer:
The Vedic gods are those that came into existence after the creation of the world.
Question 24.
State the total number of gods worshipped by the early Aryans:
Answer:
33.
Question 25.
Into how many categories were the Vedic gods divided?
Answer:
Three.
Question 26.
Who were the Vedic gods?
Answer:
The Vedic Gods were Varuna, Indra, Agni, Rudra, Surya and Soma.
Question 27.
Who were the major gods of early Aryans?
Answer:
Varuna, Indra, Agni, Sun and Rudra.
Question 28.
Who was Varuna?
Answer:
Varuna was the chief god of the early Aryans:
Question 29.
Give the main function of the Varuna.
Answer:
He punished the sinners.
Question 30.
Who were rain and agni gods of early Aryans?
Answer:
Indra and Agni were gods of Rain and Agni of early Aryans:
Question 31.
Who was the god of rain and war of early Aryans?
Answer:
Indra.
Question 32.
Who was Indra?
Answer:
Indra was god of rain and war of early Aryans:
Question 33.
How many hymns have been written in adoration of Indra god in Rigveda?
Answer:
250.
Question 34.
What is meant by Agni god?
Answer:
He was related to marriage and cremation ceremonies.
Question 35.
Which god was considered as the lord of the houses of early Aryans?
Answer:
Agni.
Question 36.
How many hymns have been given in praise of Agni god in Rigveda?
Answer:
200.
Question 37.
Whose son was the sun believed to be by the early Aryans?
Answer:
Early Aryans believed the sun to be son of Aditi and Deuce.
Question 38.
Who was Rudra?
Answer:
Rudra was god of storms of the early Aryans:
Question 39.
Name the two major goddesses of the early Aryans:
Answer:
Usha and Prithvi.
Question 40.
Usha was considered the goddess of which thing by the early Aryans?
Answer:
The goddess of Morning.
Question 41.
What type of boon was expected from the Vedic gods?
Answer:
Boons of victory in battles, acquisition of wealth, increase in number of progeny and long life.
Question 42.
Was human sacrifice prevalent in the early Aryans’ Age?
Answer:
No.
Question 43.
What early Aryans do to please the gods?
Answer:
Yajnas.
Question 44.
Name two animals of the age of the early Aryans who were sacrificed while performing the Yajnas.
Answer:
Question 45.
What were those Purohits called who read Manters during Yajnas?
Answer:
Udgatris.
Question 46.
What were those Purohits called who offered sacrifices during Yajnas?
Answer:
Hotris.
Question 47.
Why did early men worshipped their forefathers?
Answer:
They would direct them, they would help to remove the difficulties and provide them wealth and power.
Question 48.
How did the early Aryans dispose of their deads?
Answer:
The early Aryans cremated their deads.
Question 49.
What is meant by Rita?
Answer:
Rita is a system by which the world runs.
Question 50.
What is meant by Dharman?
Answer:
Dharman were rules set by the gods.
Fill in the blanks:
1. The people of Indus Valley mostly worshipped ………………..
Answer:
Mother goddess.
2. The people of Indus Valley mostly worshipped a lord named …………….
Answer:
Shiva.
3. The people of Indus Valley worshipped …………. tree very much.
Answer:
Pipal.
4. The people of Indus Valley considered Saptrishi as the symbol of ……………
Answer:
Heaven.
5. Water was considerd to be a symbol of …………… by the people of Indus Valley.
Answer:
purity.
6. The people of Indus Valley believed in ………….. after death.
Answer:
life.
7. The total count of gods of the early Aryans were …………..
Answer:
33.
8. ……………. was the greatest god of the early Aryans:
Answer:
Varuna.
9. The number of hymns …………….. have been written in adoration of god Indra in the Rigveda.
Answer:
250.
10. The ………….. was associated with the marriage and cremation ceremonies.
Answer:
Agni.
11. Rudra was considered to be the god of ……………
Answer:
storm.
12. The early Aryans called the river goddess as …………..
Answer:
Saraswati.
13. The …………….. implies a system according to which the world ran.
Answer:
Rita.
14. The word ‘Dharman’ means ………….
Answer:
rule.
15. The early Aryans performed several ………….. to please gods and goddesses.
Answer:
Yajnas.
True or False:
1. The people of Indus Valley did not give any importance to Mother goddess.
Answer:
False
2. The people of Indus Valley worshipped Shiva.
Answer:
True
3. The people of Indus Valley worshipped crocodile.
Answer:
True
4. The people of Indus Valley did not consider the Pipal tree sacred.
Answer:
False
5. Sapt-Rishis were worshipped by the people of Indus Valley.
Answer:
True
6. The people of Indus Valley had strong belief in Yajnas.
Answer:
True
7. The people of Indus Valley had no belief in magic and charms as well as ghosts and spirits.
Answer:
False
8. Dead were often buried by the people of Indus Valley.
Answer:
True
9. The early Aryans Worshipped a total number of 33 crore gods.
Answer:
False
10. Indra was the greatest god of the early AryAnswer:
Answer:
False
11. There are 200 Mantras in the Rigveda in the praise of Agni.
Answer:
True
12. The early Aryans believed in Usha goddess erf dawn.
Answer:
True
13. The early Aryans had full faith in oneness of God.
Answer:
True
14. The early Aryans built temples to worship their gods.
Answer:
False
15. The early Aryans performed many Yajnas to please their gods.
Answer:
True
16. The early Aryans worshipped their forefathers.
Answer:
True
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Which one was the mostly worshipped by the people of Indus Valley?
(a) Shiv Ji
(b) Mother Goddess
(c) Trees
(d) Snakes.
Answer:
(b) Mother Goddess
2. Which god was worshipped by the people of Indus Valley?
(a) Varuna
(b) Indra
(c) Shiva
(d) Agni
Answer:
(c) Shiva
3. Which animal was not worshipped by the people of Indus Valley?
(a) Elephant
(b) Lion
(c) Bull
(d) Horse
Answer:
(d) Horse
4. Which tree was considered the most sacred by the people of Indus Valley?
(a) Pipal
(b) Babool
(c) Neem
(d) Date palm
Answer:
(a) Pipal
5. Which one of the following Rishis was not among Saptrishis?
(a) Vishwamitra
(b) Vashishtha
(c) Jamdagani
(d) Indra
Answer:
(d) Indra
6. Which one of the following is a false fact?
(a) People of Indus Valley worshipped Swastik
(b) People of Indus Valley worshipped Linga and Yoni
(c) People of Indus Valley believed in magic and charms
(d) People of Indus Valley worshipped their forefathers.
Answer:
(d) People of Indus Valley worshipped their forefathers.
7. Which one of the following was worshipped by the people of Indus Valley?
(a) Dove
(b) Hawk
(c) Pigeon
(d) Parrot
Answer:
(a) Dove
8. How many gods were worshipped by the Early Aryans?
(a) 11
(b) 22
(c) 33
(d) 44.
Answer:
(c) 33
9. Who was the chief god of the Early Aryans?
(a) Indra
(b) Varuna
(c) Agni
(d) Surya
Answer:
(b) Varuna
10. For which god maximum hymns have been given in the Rigveda?
(a) Varuna
(b) Indra
(c) Agni
(d) Rudra
Answer:
(b) Indra
11. Which one of the following was considered the god of rain and war?
(a) Soma
(b) Rudra
(c) Surya
(d) Indra
Answer:
(d) Indra
12. Which one of the following god was, associated with marriage and cremation ceremonies?
(a) Agni
(b) Soma
(c) Varuna
(d) Vishnu
Answer:
(a) Agni
13. Which one of the following was not the sky god of the Early Aryans?
(a) Vanina
(b) Surya
(c) Indra
(d) Mitra
Answer:
(c) Indra
14. Which one of following was called the morning goddess?
(a) Uma
(b) Usha
(c) Ratri
(d) Saraswati
Answer:
(b) Usha
