How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Extra Questions and Answers SST Chapter 8

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How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Extra Question Answer

Extra Questions of How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7

How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Very Short Question Answer

Question 1.
What does ‘sacredness’ signify in Indian traditions?
Answer:
‘Sacredness’ signifies deep spiritual or religious significance attributed to places, objects, or journeys.

Question 2.
How is sacredness reflected in India’s geography?
Answer:
Sacredness is reflected in India’s geography through the reverence of natural features like rivers, mountains, and forests as holy entities.

Question 3.
Name a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site in India.
Answer:
Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodh Gaya. This is the place where Buddha attained enlightenment.

Question 4.
What are ‘Takhts’ in Sikhism?
Answer:
‘Takhts’ in Sikhism are seats of authority. For example; Akal Takht in Amritsar and Takht Sri Patna Sahib in Patna.

Question 5.
Which Jain site is renowned for its temples on a hill?
Answer:
Shatrunjaya Hill in Saurashtra (Gujarat).

Question 6.
How do tribal communities view natural elements?
Answer:
Tribal communities view natural elements by or often sacredness. For instance, the Dongria Khond tribe reveres Niyamgiri Hills.

Question 7.
What is the Char Dham Yatra?
Answer:
The Char Dhan Yatra is a pilgrimage to four sacred sites :

• Badrinath
• Dwarka
• Puri
• Rameswaram.

Question 8.
Which pilgrimage involves a 21-day walk to Pandharpur?
Answer:
The Pandharpur Wari in Maharashtra.

Question 9.
What connects the 12 Jyotirlingas in India?
Answer:
They are sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, a major Hindu deity.

Question 10.
What is the significance of the 51 Shakti Pithas?
Answer:
They are sacred sites believed to be locations where parts of Goddess Sati’s body fell.

Question 11.
Why is the Ganga River considered sacred?
Answer:
The Ganga River is considered sacred because it is revered as a goddess and believed to purify sins and offer salvation.

Question 12.
What are the roles of sacred groves play in ecology?
Answer:
They preserve biodiversity and are protected due to their religious significance.

Question 13.
Which mountain is sacred to the Maori people in New Zealand?
Answer:
Mount Taranaki.
It is considered an ancestor and granted legal status.

Question 14.
What environmental issue affects sacred rivers like the Yamuna?
Answer:
It is mainly Pollution. Industrial waste and sewage discharge have affected this sacred river.

Question 15.
How can sacredness aid in environmental conservation?
Answer:
In the following ways:

• By fostering respect for nature.
• By leading to protective measures for sacred sites.

Question 16.
Where is Mawphlong’s sacred groves?
Answer:
Shillong

Question 17.
Where is Kalkai temple situated?
Answer:
At Village Mulshi, Maharashtra.

Question 18.
Name the state where Udaiyankudukadu Karum-bayiramkondan is situated.
Answer:
Tamil Nadu

Question 19.
What is called that tree or the tree descendant oftheoriginal treeunder which the Buddha attained enlightenment?
Answer:
Bodhi tree

Question 20.
Where is Lord Balaji situated?
Answer:
Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh

Question 21.
Where is Prayagraj located?
Answer:
At the confluence of 3 rivers- Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Sarasvati.

Question 22.
Who listed the Kumbh Mela as an ‘intangible heritage of the world’?
Answer:
UNESCO

Question 23.
Mention an estimated figure of Participants in the Kumbh Mela of 2025.
Answer:
About 600 million

Question 24.
Name the places where the Kumbh Mela has been held.
Answer:
Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain

Question 25.
Where does the concept of Kumbh Mela originate from?
Answer:
From the legend of amrita manthana

Question 26.
Write the extract from the following couplet :
“gange cha yamune chaiva Godavari sarasvati
Narmade sindhu kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru”
Answer:
Extract of the couplet :
Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, And Kaveri, may you manifest in this water.

Question 27.
Where is Toda, a tribal community, found?
Answer:
In the Nilgiri of Tamil Nadu

Question 28.
What do you mean by relic?
Answer:
A part of the something that belonged to a holy person.

Question 29.
Which religion has dense networks of pilgrimage sites, covering the entire geography of India?
Answer:
Hinduism

How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Short Question Answer

Question 1.
Discuss the significance of pilgrimages (tirthayatras) in India.
Answer:
The significances of pilgrimages (tirthayatras) are following :

• Pilgrimages keep our traditions and customs alive.
• It helps in keeping our faiths sound and develops feelings of spirituality.
• It shows the unity concerning our culture.

Question 2.
What are the impact on social, and economic aspects of society concerning pilgrimage?
Answer:
Their Impact on Social Aspects of Society :

• They foster social bonds among pilgrims from different regions.
• Develop respect for different customs.
• Spread love and develop good habits of helping each other.

Their Impact on Economic Aspects of Society :

• Open an opportunity for tourism
• Generate employment as travel agents, shops and others.
• Development in infrastructures like roads, transport, hotels, etc.

Question 3.
What is sacred geography, and how does it contribute to the cultural and spiritual unity of India?
Answer:
Sacred geography is a link to various holy sites across India.
Contribution to The Cultural and Spiritual Unity of India : The sacred geography contribution to the cultural and spiritual unity of India is as follows :

• They make networks and connect different regions spiritually such as Char Dham and Jyotirlingas.
• Pilgrims traveling these routes experience diverse cultures, promoting unity.

Question 4.
Examine the concept of sacred ecology in India and its role in environmental conservation.
Answer:
Concept of Sacred Ecology : Sacred ecology may be directly or indirectly linked or interacted between nature and ethical values. According to this concept, natural elements like mountains, rivers, forests, and animals are considered divine, or the living place of deities.
Role of Sacred ecology in environmental conservation :

• It helps maintain the environment clean and safe.
• It helps to prohibit ill activities like hunting or killing, polluting, etc.
• It considers the environment or environmental elements divine.

Question 5.
Highlight some points that help in determining the sacred geography beyond India.
Answer:
The following point will highlight the sacred geography beyond India:

• Ancient Greece had many sacred landmarks, from the mountains to sacred groves.
• The Native Americans used to have a special bond with Nature, which they viewed as sacred.
• The Maoris, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, regard the Taranaki Maunga mountain as their ancestor and therefore as sacred.

Question 6.
Write some benefits from a pilgrimage to trade.
Answer:
The benefits from a pilgrimage to trade are as follows :

• During Pilgrimage, Pilgrims need several essential goods that are easily available on the way. That gives a great relief to the Pilgrims.
• The interactions between Pilgrims and merchants are beneficial for both from an economic point of view.
• The trade routes and pilgrimage routes often overlap.

Question 7.
Give an example of ancient India where trees, forests and sacred Groves are considered important.
Answer:
There are various examples of trees that are considered important in many respects. In many parts of India, trees are decorated with offerings like turmeric and kumkum.
The Pipal tree is sacred to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. The Pipal tree is known as the ‘Bodhi tree’ (ashvattha in Sanskrit).
There are many texts, that describe these trees, forests and Sacred Groves.

How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Long Question Answer

Question 1.
“The concept of sacredness in India integrates religion, geography, and cultural traditions”. Justify the statement, and what role does it play in unifying the nation’s diverse communities?
Answer:
“The concept of sacredness in India integrates religion, geography, and cultural traditions”. The statement is correct for the following reasons :

• The word sacredness cannot be justified only with the deep religious or spiritual significance, and worthy of respect or reverence.
• The word sacredness covers the whole aspect of the quality of nature, the universe, the life, the landscape, the water bodies, and the vegetation.
• In simple words, the pure (revered) quality of everything useful for all living and preparing a platform for all life, spirituality, faiths, etc., would be very revered and respected by all.

Roles of Sacredness in Unifying the Nation’s Diverse Communities :

• The sacredness brings the people of different religions/castes on the same platform where they find themselves equal. For example: People of different religions visit each other sacred places.
• The sacredness delivers moral value among the masses, consequently, they help each other without discrimination and share their foods, stories, and traditions.
• The sacredness makes a good relationship with nature and its products. They are therefore respected by the people. For example: The Ganga and The Yamuna rivers are worshipped by all communities. The forest and mountains are also worshipped by many people.
• The sacredness brings a feeling among the people to preserve our natural resources.
• The sacredness brings a feeling of ‘Unity in Diversity’ among the people.

Question 2.
In what ways do sacred places across different religions in India contribute to interfaith harmony and cultural integration?
Answer:
There are many ways the sacred places across different religions in India contribute to interfaith harmony and cultural integration. Those ways are as follows :

• Visiting sacred places by the community.
• Sacred sites like Dargah Sharif and Velankanni Church are visited by people of various faiths.
• Participating in different religious festivals and respecting other traditions.
• Such places encourage respect and understanding among different religions.
• Showing unity through architecture.
• Some architectural structures like the Lotus Temple in Delhi and Belur Math in West Bengal are open for all religions for meditation and prayer.
• Sharing culture and traditions and forming a close bond.
• They serve as common grounds for cultural exchange and harmony.

Question 3.
What challenges do sacred sites in India face today, and what measures can be taken to ensure their preservation?
Answer:
The following challenges sacred sites in India face today :

• Face threats like pollution and urbanization.
• Experience overexploitation and neglect harm their sanctity.
• Encounter deadly landslides and flooding.
• Meet overcrowding due to their cultural and spiritual significance.

Measure taken to ensure their preservation :

• Active participation of the Community in preserving their cultural and ecological value.
• Involvement of Government agencies and NGOs to take initiative in protecting the historical sites.
• Enact proper laws/ guidelines for the common public and tighten the security to protect these sites.

How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Case Based Questions

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :

The Kumbh Mela originates in the legend of ampita manthana. The devas and asuras (i.e., more or less, gods and demons), traditional enemies, for once joined forces in churning the cosmic ocean to extract amrita, the divine nectar that would give them immortality. To prevent the asuras from getting the amrita, Vişhnu, in the form of Mohini, a beautiful lady, snatched the pitcher or kumbha which contained the amrita. In the process, a few drops fell over four places – Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, and Ujjain. These are the places where the Kumbh Mela has been held, and a dip in the rivers there during a prescribed period is considered most auspicious.

(i) What is amrita manthana?
a) A force
b) Churning the cosmic ocean to extract amrita
c) A manthan activity for finding wealth
d) None of these
Answer:
b) Churning the cosmic ocean to extract amrita

(ii) Who is Mohini in the passage?
a) A beautiful lady
b) An incarnation of Vishnu
c) Both (a) and (b)
d) None of these
Answer:
c) Both (a) and (b)

(iii) Where is the Kumbh Mela held?
a) Nasik
b) Ujjain
c) Prayagraj
d) All of these
Answer:
d) All of these

Picture Based Questions:

Question 1.
In the image, a pandharpur wari tradition has been shown, where is it celebrated?
a) Madhya Pradesh
b) Manipur
c) Maharashtra
d) Karnataka
Answer:
c) Maharashtra

Question 2.
How old is this tradition?
a) 700 years old
b) 800 years old
c) 100 years old
d) 600 years old
Answer:
b) 800 years old

Question 3.
What is wari means?
a) Pilgrims
b) Pilgrimage
c) Both Pilgrims and Pilgrimage
d) None of these
Answer:
b) Pilgrimage

Map Based Questions:

Question 1.
Locate and Label the following things on the given map of India with appropriate symbols.

1. Mount Abu
2. Sabarimala Temple
3. Shatrunjaya Hills
Answer:
1. – C, 2. – A, 3. – B

Class 7 How the Land Becomes Sacred Extra Questions for Practice

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Name a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site in India.

Question 2.
What are ‘Takhts’ in Sikhism?

Short Answer Type Questions:

Question 1.
Examine the concept of sacred ecology in India and its role in environmental conservation.

Long Answer Type Questions:

Question 1.
Who is Tirthankara? Why are they considered important in some religions?

Passage Based Questions:

The Niyam Dongar hill in the Niyamgiri Range of Jharkhand is sacred to the Dongria Khond tribe. They believe that the hill is the abode of Niyam Raja, the supreme deity who provides everything they need for sustenance. Cutting trees here is prohibited and considered a sign of disrespect to the deity. In the early 2000s, the Government of Sikkim identified several sacred mountains, caves, lakes, rocks and hot springs that were to be protected against all forms of damage.

Question 1.
Where is the Niyam Dongar hill located?
(a) Jharkhand
(b) Niyamgiri Range
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these

Question 2.
Who lives in the Niyam Dongar Hill?
(a) The Saint
(b) Niyam Raja
(c) Tirthankara
(d) Pilgrims

Question 3.
Who identified and protected sacred places in the early 2000s?

Picture Based Questions:

Question 1.
Look at the image, and name it.

(a) Takht Sri Patna Sahib
(b) The Akal Takht
(c) Takht Sri kehsgarh Sahib
(d) None of these

Question 2.
The image refers to which community?
(a) Hindu
(b) Muslim
(c) Sikh
(d) Christian

Map Based Questions:

Locate and Label the following things on the given map of India with appropriate symbols.

1. Mount Abu
2. Sabarimala Temple
3. Shatrunjaya Hills