Memorizing chronicles — Magadha: UPSC Prelims PYQ 2016
With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynasty histories, and epic tales was the profession of which of the following?
- Sharamana
- Parivraajaka
- Agrahaarika
- Magadha
Explanation
Option (d) is correct
- A class of important court officials in the later Vedic Age (c. 1000-600 BC) were the sutas, also called magadhas, whose special duty was to compose, collect and preserve vamsa, i.e., royal and priestly genealogies. Between 400 BC and AD 400, this oral tradition of history and legend had been given a fixed literary form.
Option (a) is incorrect
- The word Shramana means one who performs the act of austerity and asceticism. It refers to several Indian religious movements parallel to the Vedic religion.
- The various Shramana schools include:
- Jainism
- Buddhism
- Ajivikas
- Ajnanas
- Charvakas
Option (b) is incorrect
- Parivrajaka refers to a wandering ascetic who has forsaken all material comforts and possessions in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
Option (c) is incorrect
- The fifth to seventh centuries saw the formation of about half a dozen states, some large and others small; some independent and others feudatory. Each practised expansion through war and through land grants to Buddhists and brahmanas. The number of endowments had increased to such a degree that eventually an officer called agraharika had to be appointed to look after them.
Answer: (d) Magadha; Difficulty Level: Hard
