Which of the following statement is NOT true about the ‘Mahanavami Dibba’ structure?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The ministers inspected King’s army and the armies of the nayakas on the Mahanavami day of the festival.
On the last day of the festival, it was the king who inspected his army and the armies of the nayakas in a grand ceremony in an open field; the nayakas brought him rich gifts and the stipulated tribute.
Option (1) Rituals associated with the Mahanavami Dibba coincided with Mahanavami festival. — Correct statement. The rituals associated with the platform probably coincided with Mahanavami, the great ninth day of the ten-day festival held in September and October.
Option (2) The ministers inspected King’s army and the armies of the nayakas on the Mahanavami day of the festival. — Incorrect statement. The inspection was done by the king, not by his ministers, and on the last day of the festival.
Option (3) The ceremonies performed were imbued with symbolic meanings of power, prestige and suzerainty of the Vijayanagara rayas. — Correct statement. The Vijayanagara kings displayed their prestige, power and suzerainty on this occasion, and the ceremonies were imbued with deep symbolic meanings.
Option (4) Dances, wrestling matches and processions of horses, elephants, chariots and soldiers took place. — Correct statement. Dances, wrestling matches and processions of caparisoned horses, elephants, chariots and soldiers marked the occasion.
NCERT (2026-27): “4.1 The mahanavami dibba … Rituals associated with the structure probably coincided with Mahanavami (literally, the great ninth day) of the ten-day Hindu festival during the autumn months of September and October, known variously as Dusehra (northern India), Durga Puja (in Bengal) and Navaratri or Mahanavami (in peninsular India). The Vijayanagara kings displayed their prestige, power and suzerainty on this occasion. The ceremonies performed on the occasion included worship of the image, worship of the state horse, and the sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals. Dances, wrestling matches, and processions of caparisoned horses, elephants and chariots and soldiers, as well as ritual presentations before the king and his guests by the chief nayakas and subordinate kings marked the occasion. These ceremonies were imbued with deep symbolic meanings. On the last day of the festival the king inspected his army and the armies of the nayakas in a grand ceremony in an open field. On this occasion the nayakas brought rich gifts for the king as well as the stipulated tribute.…” |