Q. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was
(a) the mosque for the use of Royal Family
(b) Akbar’s private prayer chamber
(c) the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions
(d) the room in which the nobles belonging to different religions gathered to discuss religious affairs
Answer: (c) the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions
Notes:
- The Ibādat Khāna (House of Worship) at Fatehpur Sikri, built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1575, was a meeting house where he gathered spiritual leaders of different religions to discuss their teachings, aiming for religious reconciliation and understanding.
- Akbar invited scholars from various religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and even atheists, to participate in discussions.
- Through these discussions, Akbar hoped to find common ground and potentially create a syncretic religion, Din-i-Ilahi, which drew from various religious traditions.
- The result of these discussions at the Hall of Prayer led them to the conclusion that all religions lead to the same goal.
Q. In medieval India, the designations ‘Mahattara’ and ‘Pattakila’ were used for
(a) military officers
(b) village headmen
(c) specialists in Vedic rituals
(d) chiefs of craft guilds
Answer: (b) village headmen
Notes:
- In medieval India, the designations “Mahattara” and “Pattakila” were used for village headmen.
- Mahattara:
- This term generally referred to the superior or main village headman, often responsible for overall administration and revenue collection.
- Pattakila:
- This term referred to a subordinate or assistant village headman, who assisted the Mahattara in his duties.
- Functions:
- They were responsible for maintaining law and order, settling disputes, ensuring the collection of taxes, and the welfare of the villagers.