The question asks to identify the founder of the empire that Ashoka ruled, specifically stating that the founder was Ashoka's grandfather. This requires knowledge of the Mauryan dynasty's lineage.
Correct Option: C) Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Mauryan Empire and the grandfather of Ashoka. He established the empire around 322 BCE after overthrowing the Nanda Dynasty.
The question asks us to identify the correct statements regarding the history of Indian rock-cut architecture. We need to evaluate each statement based on historical facts about rock-cut caves in India.
The Badami cave temples were carved out primarily in the 6th century CE under the Chalukya dynasty. However, the earliest rock-cut caves in India date back to the Mauryan period (3rd century BCE), such as the Barabar Caves. Therefore, Badami caves are not the oldest surviving rock-cut caves.
The Barabar Caves were indeed created for the Ajivikas sect. However, they were commissioned by Emperor Ashoka (grandson of Chandragupta Maurya) and his son Dasharatha Maurya, not Chandragupta Maurya himself. Ashoka's inscriptions in these caves explicitly mention their dedication to the Ajivikas.
The Ellora Caves are famous for representing three major Indian religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. There are Buddhist caves (caves 1-12), Hindu caves (caves 13-29), and Jain caves (caves 30-34). This demonstrates that caves at Ellora were indeed made for different faiths.
Based on this evaluation, only statement 3 is correct.
C) 3 only — Statement 3 is historically accurate. The Ellora caves are a unique example of rock-cut architecture dedicated to three different religious faiths: Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, showcasing a period of religious harmony.
The question asks for the name of the wise man who supported Chandragupta Maurya. This is a historical fact related to the Mauryan Empire. We need to identify the advisor who played a crucial role in Chandragupta's rise to power.
Correct Option: C) Both a and b
The question asks to identify the book in which Chanakya's ideas were compiled. This is a direct factual recall question related to ancient Indian history and literature.
A) Arthashastra — The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian Sanskrit treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. It is attributed to Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta), who was a scholar, teacher, and advisor to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire. It is a foundational text for political science and economics in India.
The question asks to identify the ruler who issued the given inscription, which emphasizes religious tolerance and warns against excessive devotion to one's own sect leading to the denigration of others. This theme is characteristic of a specific ancient Indian emperor known for his policy of Dhamma.
Correct Option: A) Ashoka
The inscription is a direct reflection of Ashoka's policy of Dhamma, particularly his emphasis on religious tolerance and harmony among different sects. His 12th Major Rock Edict explicitly states, "King Priyadarsi, Beloved of the Gods, honors men of all faiths, ascetics and householders, with gifts and honors of various kinds. But the Beloved of the Gods does not value gifts and honors as much as he values the growth of the essential message of all religions. This essential message is achieved in many ways, but its basis is gentleness of speech. Therefore, one should not praise one's own sect or disparage another's sect without reason. On the contrary, other sects should be honored for this or that reason. By doing so, one helps one's own sect to grow and benefits the other sect as well. By doing otherwise, one injures one's own sect and does disservice to the other sect. Whosoever praises his own sect or blames other sects, all through excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely." This matches the given inscription almost verbatim.
The question asks to identify the father of Ashoka, a prominent emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty. This requires knowledge of the genealogy of the Mauryan rulers.
Correct Option: B) Bindusara