For which of the following the words Aadi (आड़ी), Hiyali (हीयाली) are popular in Rajasthani language ?

Correct — option (4), Riddles.

Aadi and hiyali are Rajasthani words for a riddle (paheli).

An article in Parishodh (Panjab University, 1975) lists gudha, hiyali, aadi, pahadi, pali and phiyali as words generally used in Rajasthan for a riddle.

The Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute's Rajasthan ke Nath Sampraday aur Sahitya (1997) treats hiyali as a poetic style equal to the paheli, used as a test of intelligence, and finds it in Rajasthani Jain literature of the 12th–13th centuries.

The same book lists aadiye, gudha and antarlapika among the forms inside hiyali compositions. For hiyali compositions it names Dharmasi (Dharmavardhan) and Samaysundar (17th century).

In a tale from Vijaydan Detha's Batan ri Phulwari, a Thakurani poses an aadi, and the Thakur, skilled at explaining such riddles, cannot find its meaning.

The idea to remember: aadi and hiyali = riddles (paheli).

Why the others are wrong

• (1)
  Idioms — An idiom is a muhavara: a fixed phrase whose meaning differs from its words. It is used in speech, not posed for someone to solve.

  Aadi and hiyali name a puzzle set as a test of wit. Idioms would be the answer for muhavara, not for aadi or hiyali.

• (2)
  Proverb — A proverb, the kahavat, states a piece of ready-made wisdom; a riddle hides an answer to be found.

  The Parishodh list puts aadi and hiyali with gudha, pahadi, pali and phiyali, all words used for a riddle. Proverb would be the answer for kahavat.

• (3)
  Phad — Phad is not a verbal form. It is a painted cloth scroll: the Nagaur District Gazetteer describes the Pabuji-ki-pad, with paintings of Pabuji's life, carried by Bhopas who sing the story while the scroll is shown.

  Phad would be the answer for a folk deity's painted story scroll.

Rajasthani folk literature has many short oral forms. The riddle is one of them: a question phrased so that its answer is hidden, meant to test the listener's wit.

Rajasthani has several names for it. Parishodh lists gudha, hiyali, aadi, pahadi, pali and phiyali, and notes the Sanskrit word prahelika.

Hiyali also became a literary form. The RORI volume finds it in Rajasthani Jain literature of the 12th–13th centuries and notes that the Gorakh-bani uses the word hiyali in the same sense.

Key facts

• Aadi and hiyali are Rajasthani words for a riddle (paheli); the Sanskrit word is prahelika.
• A 1975 Parishodh article lists gudha, hiyali, aadi, pahadi, pali and phiyali as Rajasthani words for a riddle.
• RORI's Rajasthan ke Nath Sampraday aur Sahitya (1997) finds the hiyali style in Rajasthani Jain literature of the 12th–13th centuries.
• For hiyali compositions, the same book names the poets Dharmasi (Dharmavardhan) and Samaysundar (17th century).
• Phad is a painted scroll: the Pabuji-ki-pad shows Pabuji's life and is performed by Bhopas.

Common traps

• Mixing riddle and proverb: a riddle hides an answer to be guessed, while a proverb states a ready-made truth.
• Taking phad for a literary form: it is a painted scroll, even though Bhopas sing its story aloud.
• Treating hiyali as only oral: it was also a written verse form in Rajasthani Jain literature.

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2018 here once that paper is published on this site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which of the following is not a Rajasthani word for a riddle?

  • (a)Gudha
  • (b)Hiyali
  • (c)Aadi
  • (d)Kahavat
  Answer(4) — Kahavat means a proverb. Options (1), (2) and (3) all appear in the Parishodh list of Rajasthani words used for a riddle.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  In the folk tradition of Rajasthan, the 'Pabuji ki Phad' is a —

  • (a)riddle
  • (b)proverb
  • (c)painted scroll showing the life of Pabuji
  • (d)dance form
  Answer(3) — The Nagaur District Gazetteer describes the Pabuji-ki-pad as a scroll with paintings of Pabuji's life, carried and performed by Bhopas. Option (1) would be an aadi or hiyali, option (2) a kahavat, and option (4) does not describe a painted scroll.