6th Standard, Social, History, Chapter 6
ANCIENT DYNASTIES OF SOUTH INDIA
EXERCISES
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words.
1. Thirukkural was composed by Thiruvalluvar.
2. The great poet of Sangam period is Thiruvalluvar.
3. The famous king of the Sathavahana dynasty was Gowthameeputra Saatakarni
4. The capital of Kadamba was Banavasi.
5. The Halmidi inscription is the earliest Kannada inscription.
6. Pulakeshi III defeated the Harshavardhana North Indian emperor.
7. The place Aihole is known as ‘Cradle of Temple’.
8. The Idol Gomateshwara at Shravanabelogola was built by Chavundaraya, Prime minister of King Rachamulla
9. The famous ruler of Ganga was Durvineetha,
10. Chavundaraya wrote ‘Chavundaraya Purana.
II. Answer the following questions in one sentence.
1. Who was the heroine of the epic Shilappadigaram?
Answer: Kannagi is the heroine of the Tamil epic ‘Silappadigaram’
2. Name two epics of the Sangam Age.
Answer: The two epics of the Sangam Age are,
1. ‘Manimegalai’
2. ‘Thirukkural’
3. What is a ‘‘Chaitya’’?
Answer: Sathavahanas contributed considerably to architecture. Three types of Buddhist structures that developed during their time are Chaityas, Viharas and Stupas. Chaityas are the prayer halls of Buddhists.
4. Where do you find ‘Chaityas’ of Sathavahana times?
Answer: The Chaitya found near Karle in Maharashtra is very big and beautiful. The Chaitya found near Kanheri is famous.
5. Where do you find ruins belonging to Sathavahana times in Karnataka?
Answer: We can see Sathavahana architecture at Sannati and Banavasi in Uttara Kannada of Kalburagi districts.
6. What is a ‘Shreni’?
Answer: There were guilds called ‘Shrenies’ in cities. Associations formed to protect the interests of trades like ‘Dhanika Shreni’ for corn merchants. Likewise, there were Shrenis for oil millers, black smiths, bronze-smiths, potters and others, each shreni had a leader called Shreshti or setty.
7. Who was the famous king of the Kadambas?
Answer: Mayura sharma was the founder and famous king of this dynasty.
8. Which was the capital of the Chalukyas of Badami? In which district it is located?
Answer: The capital city of Badami Chalukyas was Vatapi (Badami). It is located in Bagalkote district.
9. Mention three places where Badami Chalukyan architecture found.
Answer: The places where Badami Chalukyan architecture found are,
1. Badami
2. Aihole,
3. Pattadakal
4. Mahakoota and Nagarala
10. Who was the most famous king of Pallavas? What was the title he had assumed?
Answer: Narasimha Varma was the most famous king of Pallavas. He had assumed the title ‘Mahamalla’.
11. The capital of Gangas Talakadu, is in which district?
Answer: The capital of Gangas Talakadu, is in Kolar district.
II. Discuss.
1. “All persons are equal by birth” – How is this saying of Thirukkural relevant even today?
Answer: Thiruvalluvar’s statement, “All persons are equal by birth,” is relevant today as it champions humanism by emphasizing that a person’s worth comes from their actions, not their birth circumstances. This ancient ideal challenges the persistence of caste-based discrimination and inequality, offering a rational basis for treating everyone with compassion and respect, aligning with modern human rights principles of equality and social justice. Thirukkural has 1300 stanzas. It has many cryptic statements like: Dharma is having a spotless mind. All human beings are equal by birth.
2. Factors that were responsible for prosperity during Sathavahana’s time.
Answer: The factors were responsible for prosperity during Sathavahana’s time are as follows.
( i) Agrahars were established for the education among them in Shivamogga district (Sthana Kunduru) was an important center of education.
(ii) Sathavahanas contributed considerably to architecture. Three types of Buddhist structures that developed during their time are Chaityas, Viharas and Stupas.
(iii) Sathavahanas time was prosperous due to internal and external trading.
(iv) The East and West coasts of the empire had a number of ports. Bharukacha (present boach), Sopara and Kalyana near Mumbai and there were many such ports on the West coast.
(v) India’s trade relations with the Roman Empire of Europe was well-established during the Sathavahanas period. As many commodities were exported to Europe from India, so in return, gold was imported in large quantities.
(v) There was a foreign trade carried through the ports of east coast. Sathavahana kingdom became much prosperous due to lucrative foreign trade.
3. What might have been the reasons for the decline of the ancient royal dynasties?
Answer: Ancient royal dynasties declined due to various internal and external factors. They are,
1. A strong empire could collapse if the rulers who followed a capable king were weak or incapable of managing the vast territory and challenges.
2. Financial difficulties could arise from excessive spending on the army and bureaucracy, large grants to religious groups.
3. Attacks from powerful foreign groups, such as the Indo-Greeks, Sakas, or Kushanas, could weaken an empire and claim its territory.
4. The growth of powerful regional kingdoms or groups within and around the empire could challenge and ultimately overthrow the ruling dynasty.
4. Write a short note on Pampa, Ponna and Srivijaya.
Answer: Pampa, also known as Adikavi, wrote classic epics like Adi Purana and Vikramarjuna Vijaya, while Ponna wrote Santipurana and earned the title “supreme poet in two languages” for his command of Kannada and Sanskrit.
Pampa: Pampa was the greatest Kannada Poet, He composed the first epic poem in Kannada. Hence, Pampa is called ‘Adi Kavi’ of Kannada. The Kannada poems composed before Pampa was not found so far. Pampa was in the court of Arikesari of Vemulavada, ‘Adipurana’ and ‘Vikramarjuna Vijaya’ are Pampa’s greatest epics that influence other major Kannada poets. Ponna is another Kannada epic poet who belongs to this period.
Ponna: Sri Ponna was another celebrated 10th-century Kannada Jain poet. His main work is Santipurana, a biography of the 16th Jain Tirthankar, Shantinatha. He was patronized by King Krishna III of the Rashtrakuta dynasty and was honored with the title Ubhaya Kavichakravathi (“supreme poet in two languages”) for his mastery of both Kannada and Sanskrit.
Srivijaya: Sri Vijaya, a poet in the court of Amoghavarsha Nrupathunga, a Rashtrakuta king.
Some historians believe Kavirajamarga may have been co-authored by a poet in the king’s court, the Kannada language theorist Sri Vijaya.
It was influenced by or written in part by the famous King Amoghavarsha I of Rashtrakuta, and some historians say it is based in part on Kavyadarsha, the Sanskrit text. Kavirajamarga has been co-authored by the Kannada language theorist Sri Vijaya, a poet in the king’s court.
5. What is special about Kailasa temple and Elephanta cave?
Answer: The Kailasa Temple of Ellora is a Monolithic Temple carved out of 100 meters high rock. The credit for its construction goes to Krishna I of Rashtrakuta King. Such an architecture is not seen anywhere in the world. It is a feast for the eyes to see the wonderful sculptor. The story of Ravana lifting mount kailasa, the sculptor is picturesque.
The glory of the Rashtrakuta sculptural wealth is best seen in the rock-cut cave at Elephanta. Elephanta is a tiny island near Mumbai port. At Elephanta one is wonderstruck by the relief work depicting three-faced Mahesha, which is also called Trimurti.
6. State the military achievements of Govinda III.
Answer: Govinda III was the ablest among the Rashtrakuta emperors. He established supremacy of the Rashtrakutas in south India. Thereafter, he led a military expedition in north India and victoriously marched upto the Himalayan region. His court poet described the victory thus: “Govinda’s war-elephants tasted the holy waters of the Ganga”.
7. Why is Amoghavarsha considered a notable emperor?
Answer: Amoghavarsha Nripathunga was the son of Govinda III. When he ascended the throne he was a youth of fourteen. He ruled for more than 60 years. He was a scholar. Amoghavarsha Nripathunga was deeply concerned with the welfare of his subjects. He built the city of Manyakheta (Malkhed in Kalburgi district) which became the Rashtrakuta capital. Sulaiman, a foreign traveller who visited the Rashtrakuta Empire, stated that Rashtrakuta Empire was one among the four mighty empires of the world. (The other empires being the Roman, the Arab and the Chinese).
8. Why is Vikramaditya VI considered the greatest emperor of the Kalyana Chalukya dynasty?
Answer: The greatest emperor of the dynasty was Vikramaditya VI. His long rule witnessed remarkable progress in Karnataka. During his reign Chalukya-Vikrama saka was commenced. Vikramaditya VI patronised several eminent scholars. Bilhana, who was one among them, wrote Vikramankadeva-charita, a biography of Vikramaditya VI. Vignaneshwara was another outstanding scholar in his court. His work Mitakshara samhite is considered an authority on the Hindu law.
9. Write short notes on Vikramankadeva-charita, Mitakshara Samhite and Manasollasa.
Answer: Vikramaditya VI patronised several eminent scholars. Bilhana, who was one among them, wrote Vikramankadeva-charita, a biography of Vikramaditya VI. Vignaneshwara was another outstanding scholar in his court. His work Mitakshara samhite is considered an authority on the Hindu law
The reign of Someshwara III, son of Vikramaditya VI, was marked by peace and prosperity.
The emperor patronised arts and literature. He wrote Manasollasa in Sanskrit which deals with several branches of knowledge. Being a renowned scholar he was aptly called
Sarvana Chakravarti.
10. Which temple is known as the Emperor among the Temples? Why?
Answer: The Mahadeva temple at Itagi (Koppala district) is known as the Emperor among the Temples. Because this temple is the best among the Chalukya temples. An inscription describes this temple as “the Emperor among the Temples”.
11. Mention any two features of the Hoysala temples.
Answer: The main features of the Hoysala temples are as follows.
1. Not only the platform but also the walls, sanctum and tower of the Hoysala temples are star-shaped. A star-shaped wall surface gives scope for the play of light and shade in a very effective way. As a result the sculptures appear sharper and more projected outward.
2. Hoysala temple. Unlike other temples, it stands on a high platform (jagali) which is star-shaped.
3. The main attraction of this temple are the madanika sculptures. Madanikas are delicately carved female figurines in different poses.
12. What is meant by Bhuvaneshwari?
Answer: The four pillars of Navaranga in Belur Chennakeshava temple are lathe-turned. The delicately carved ceiling of Navaranga is called Bhuvaneshwari.
13. Where do we find the great temples of the Hoysalas?
Answer: There are about 100 Hoysala temples found in Hassan, District, The most important among them are at Halebidu and Beluru and Somanathapura. Most of the Hoysala temple are located in Hassan, Tumkuru and Mandya District.
14. Name the great poets and their literary works of the Hoysala period.
Answer: The notable poets of the Hoysala period were Janna, Harihara and Raghavanka. Janna was the greatest among them and he was called Kavichakravarti. Harihara wrote in a style known as ragale. He also wrote an epic. Raghavanka wrote several poems which set a new trend in the development of Kannada language. Andayya wrote literary works in Achha Kannada. During this period, the vachanas enriched Kannada literature.
15. Why is the Brihadishvara temple famous for?
Answer: The Chola’s contribution to architecture is also remarkable. The Brihadishvara temple at Tanjavur is world famous, it is 1000 year old. The tall vimana of Brihadishvara temple is the tower which is raised above the sanctum. The vimana rises in thirteen storeys as if touching the sky. Its height is 61 m (200 feet). The Brihadishvara is the largest and the tallest of all Indian temples. It is recognised as the world Heritage site. It is a common feature to install a statue of bull (Nandi) right in front of Shiva temples. The single-stone bull at the Brihadishvara temple is the largest in south India.
16. What are the achievements of Rajaraja Chola?
Answer: Rajaraja Chola was a powerful ruler and an able administrator. His vast empire included all the regions south of the Tungabhadra as well as Sri Lanka and the Maldives. To keep his empire secure, he built a strong army and navy. The marvellous Brihadishvara temple is his contribution.
17. What are the special features of the Chola village administration?
Answer: The village administration under the Chola Empire was exemplary. The administration was largely left to the village assemblies. The assemblies were elected bodies. For day to day administration, various committees were formed with specific functions. They were required to submit accounts periodically. They use to remove disqualified members out of the assembly. On the whole, the committees functioned more or less on the lines of the present day village panchayats.
Activities:
- Collect pictures of artefact’s of Pallava and Chalukya times with information.
- Read life-stories of Harshavardhana and Pulikeshi-II (Source: Bharatha Bharati Pustaka Sampada).
- Collect the pictures of the structural monuments of the Rashtrakuta and the Kalyana Chalukya Age with short description.
- Locate on the map the capitals and architectural centres of the Rashtrakutas and the Kalyana Chalukyas.
- Make a model of Gommata using clay or any other material.
- If you have chance to visit shravanabelagola enjoy the artifacts at Shravanabelagola. View and gather information about Veeragallu’s around you.
- Collect the pictures of the Hoysala and the Chola sculptures and architecture with brief description.
- Locate on the map the historical places associated with the Hoysalas and the Cholas.
