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Q14·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2025

Mahendravarman I (Pallava Titles)

HistoryAncient: Sangam & South IndianFactual singleHardStatic

Question

Who among the following rulers in ancient India had assumed the titles 'Mattavilasa', 'Vichitrachitta' and 'Gunabhara'?

Options

a

Mahendravarman I

Answer
b

Simhavishnu

c

Narasimhavarman I

d

Simhavarman

Explanation

These titles belong to the Pallava king Mahendravarman I.

He authored the Sanskrit satirical play Mattavilasa Prahasana (hence the title Mattavilasa). He was also called Vichitrachitta (curious-minded) because he pioneered rock-cut architecture without using traditional materials like wood, brick, or mortar.

Royal titles in ancient India often mirror a ruler's literary or architectural innovations.

Answer: (a).

Question details

Year

2025

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q14

Subject

History

Sub-topic

Ancient: Sangam & South Indian

Type

Factual single

Difficulty

Hard

Nature

Static

Source hint

NCERT History Cl.11 Ch.6

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