View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is the mother of the gods?
(a) Siva.
(b) Yami.
(c) Aditi.
(d) Mitra.

2. The three vats in "Parjanya, the Cow" are clouds full of rain or vessels full of _____.
(a) Sunlight.
(b) Soma.
(c) Sap.
(d) Milk.

3. In "Varuna the Friend of Vasistha", where does the sun rest all night?
(a) In the river.
(b) In the heart of Vasistha.
(c) In the rock of darkness.
(d) In the valley of the kings.

4. The family of sages who praise Dawn in "Dawn and the Asvins" are called _____.
(a) Gotamas.
(b) Asvins.
(c) Asturas.
(d) Brahmins.

5. Svarbhanu is the demon of _____ in "Atri and the Lost Sun".
(a) Hunger.
(b) Night.
(c) Sunlight.
(d) Eclipses.

6. The _____ in "Indra and the Monkey" is regarded as the indigenous inhabitant, regarded as demonic.
(a) Slave.
(b) Poet.
(c) Demi-god.
(d) Sage.

7. The _____ in "Indra and the Monkey" is the conquering Aryan.
(a) Enemy.
(b) Scapegoat.
(c) Poet.
(d) Ally.

8. Asura is a _____ in early Vedic tradition, before he becomes a demon.
(a) Fertility god.
(b) Frog.
(c) Sky god.
(d) Lion.

9. In stories associated with "Apala and Indra", what is the third skin that is sloughed off of Apala?
(a) A chameleon.
(b) A slave.
(c) A salamander.
(d) A toad.

10. The Maruts are _____ portrayed always as a group.
(a) Wind-gods.
(b) Sun worshipers.
(c) Fertility gods.
(d) Water-gods.

11. Who are the sky and earth parents of?
(a) The bull.
(b) The stars.
(c) The sun.
(d) The maruts.

12. What do the Maruts give Gotama when he prays to them?
(a) Gold.
(b) A fountain.
(c) A son.
(d) Silver.

13. Varuna is called the _____ in the "Deeds of Varuna".
(a) Lord of Soma.
(b) Keeper.
(c) Emperor.
(d) Master of Horse.

14. In "Gambler's Lament", dice are born during a storm and cease to hang like _____ from the nut tree.
(a) Bones.
(b) Pendulums.
(c) Earrings.
(d) Stars.

15. In "Parjanya, the Bull", what is Parjanyas' enormous deadly weapon?
(a) A thunderbolt.
(b) A winged lion.
(c) A scythe.
(d) A mountain.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the section of the book called "Realia", the hymns are characterized by the author as having a _____ element.

2. In "The Deeds of the Asvins", the feet in the phrase 'in three chariots with six horses and a hundred feet' are _____.

3. Urvasi is a _____.

4. _____ are both offenses and Varuna's punishment of those offenses.

5. Who invokes the Asvins to help her find her husband?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 364 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample