With reference to the Puranas, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Information about the Mauryan dynasty is found in the Vishnu Purana. 2. The Vayu Purana throws light on the governance system of the Guptas. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- (a)Both 1 and 2
- (b)Only 1
- (c)Only 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Correct — A, Both 1 and 2. The Puranas preserve dynastic genealogies (vamshanucharita), and historians use them to reconstruct ancient dynasties. The Vishnu Purana contains an account of the Mauryan dynasty (including the rise of Chandragupta Maurya), so statement 1 is correct. The Vayu Purana carries information about the Guptas — their territory and rule in the Ganga valley — throwing light on the Gupta period, so statement 2 is correct. Hence both statements are correct.
- (b)Only 1 — Understates the case — the Vayu Purana also carries information on the Guptas, so statement 2 is correct too.
- (c)Only 2 — Ignores that the Vishnu Purana is a well-known Puranic source for the Mauryan genealogy, so statement 1 is correct.
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2 — Both statements are correct — the Puranas are standard sources for Mauryan and Gupta dynastic history.
The Puranas (18 Mahapuranas) are not merely religious texts. Several — Vishnu, Vayu, Matsya, Bhagavata, Brahmanda — contain 'vamshanucharita', dynastic genealogies that historians use to reconstruct ancient political history. The Vishnu Purana is a key source for the Mauryas, and the Vayu Purana for the Guptas.
The trap is to dismiss the Puranas as purely mythological. In fact they list post-Mahabharata dynasties (Shishunagas, Nandas, Mauryas, Sungas, Andhras/Satavahanas, Guptas). Statement 1 (Vishnu Purana to Mauryas) and statement 2 (Vayu Purana to Guptas) are both standard historiographical facts, so 'Both correct' is the answer.
- The Vishnu Purana gives an account of the Mauryan dynasty, including Chandragupta Maurya's rise.
- The Vayu Purana carries information about the Guptas and their rule in the Ganga valley.
- Puranic 'vamshanucharita' sections preserve dynastic genealogies used to date ancient dynasties.
- The Matsya Purana is likewise a source for the Andhra/Satavahana kings.
- Treating the Puranas as purely religious/mythological with no historical value.
- Confusing which Purana covers which dynasty (Vishnu to Mauryas, Vayu to Guptas, Matsya to Andhras).
History source-based statements — associate each Purana with the dynasty it documents.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Puranic sections that preserve the genealogies of ancient royal dynasties are known as:
- (a)Vamshanucharita
- (b)Nidana
- (c)Kalpa
- (d)Shrauta
Answer(a) Vamshanucharita — the dynastic-genealogy portions of the Puranas.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which Purana is regarded as an important source for the history of the Satavahana (Andhra) dynasty?
- (a)Matsya Purana
- (b)Agni Purana
- (c)Skanda Purana
- (d)Linga Purana
Answer(a) Matsya Purana — it lists the Andhra/Satavahana kings.