NCERT 6th Class (CBSE) Social Science: Flowering of Culture and Science

Question: Write in brief about Kalidasa’s Meghaduta.

Answer: Kalidasa’s Meghaduta is a best-known poem. It is one of his best literary creation. It is in Sanskrit. It was written during the Gupta reign. There is a description of monsoon in this famous book. The monsoon cloud is imagined to be a messenger between lovers who are separated from one another.

The poet beautifully describes the breeze that will carry the cloud northwards. It is a cool breeze. It blows with fragrance of the earth. It is delightful, swollen by the cloud’s showers. Elephants inhale it deeply. It causes the wild figs to ripen. It blows gently with the cloud. This description is very sensuous and appealing. It creates a real picture of the cloud and the breeze. Kalidasa was really a poet at par.

Question: What are Puranas? Mention some of their features.

Answer: The term Purana literary means old. The Puranans are collections of old Hindu religions stories. Here are some of their features:

1. They contain stories about gods and goddesses such as: Vishnu, Shiva, Durga or Parvati.
2. They also contain details on how these deities were to be worshipped.
3. There are accounts as well about the creation of the world and about kings.
4. Puranas unlike Vedas could be read and heard by everybody including women and Shudras

Question: Describe the contribution of Aryabhatta to Science.

Answer: The name of Aryabhatta emerged during this period. He became famous as a mathematician and astronomer. He wrote a book in Sanskrit known as the Aryabhatiyam. He stated that day and night were caused by the rotation of the earth on its axis, even though it seems as if the sun is rising and setting everybody. He developed a scientific explanation for eclipses as well. He also found a way of calculating the circumference of a circle, which is nearly as accurate as the formula we use today.