Question 1

Who among the following was the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty?

Accepted Answer

Dantidurga was the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. In the mid-eighth century, he overthrew his Chalukya overlord and performed a ritual called hiranya-garbha, which helped him to be reborn as a Kshatriya.

Question 2

What did the term 'Hiranya-garbha' literally mean?

Accepted Answer

The term 'Hiranya-garbha' literally means the 'golden womb'. When this ritual was performed with the help of brahmans, it was thought to lead to the 'rebirth' of the sacrificer as a Kshatriya, even if he was not one by birth.

Question 3

Which dynasty ruled over the region around Delhi and Ajmer?

Accepted Answer

The Chahamanas, later known as the Chauhans, ruled over the region around Delhi and Ajmer. They attempted to expand their control to the west and the east, where they were opposed by the Chalukyas of Gujarat and the Gahadavalas of western Uttar Pradesh.

Question 4

Who was the best-known Chahamana ruler who defeated Sultan Muhammad Ghori in 1191?

Accepted Answer

Prithviraja III was the best-known Chahamana ruler. He defeated an Afghan ruler named Sultan Muhammad Ghori in 1191, though he was defeated by him the very next year in 1192.

Question 5

Which city was captured by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025 and is famous for its wealthy temple?

Accepted Answer

Mahmud of Ghazni raided the wealthy temple of सोमनाथ (Somnath) in Gujarat in 1025. He plundered much of the wealth and used it to create a splendid capital city at Ghazni.

New Kings and Kingdoms