SAMPADA LEVEL 1 THEORY EXAM 300 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A+
This comprehensive 300-question practice exam is designed for students
preparing for the Sampada Level 1 Theory certification. It covers all essential
topics including the origin and content of the Natya Sastra, the four types of
Abhinaya (Angika, Vachika, Aharya, Satvika), the Nartana Bheda (Nritta,
Nritya, Natya), the Tala system with its Angas and Jaatis, the Saptaswara
system, and the eight classical dance forms of India (Bharatanatyam, Kathak,
Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam, Odissi, Sattriya). Each
question includes a correct answer and a detailed rationale, making this an
invaluable resource for mastering the theoretical foundations of Indian
classical dance.
1. Who created the Natya Sastra?
A) Lord Brahma
B) Sage Bharata
C) Lord Shiva
D) Sage Tandu
Answer: B
Rationale: The Natya Sastra, the foundational treatise on performing arts
encompassing dance, drama, and music, was created by Sage Bharata .
2. Who is the creator of Natya Veda (the 5th Veda)?
A) Lord Shiva
B) Lord Vishnu
C) Lord Brahma
D) Sage Narada
Answer: C
Rationale: Lord Brahma created the Natya Veda by taking elements from the four
existing Vedas to create a fifth Veda dedicated to performing arts .
3. What is the name of the 5th Veda?
A) Gandharva Veda
,B) Natya Veda
C) Sangeeta Veda
D) Nritya Veda
Answer: B
Rationale: The fifth Veda created by Lord Brahma is called the Natya Veda .
4. Bharata took the Rasa (sentiments) from which Veda?
A) Rig Veda
B) Sama Veda
C) Yajur Veda
D) Atharva Veda
Answer: D
Rationale: Bharata took Rasa, the aesthetic sentiments and emotional flavors, from
the Atharva Veda .
5. Bharata took the speech or word from which Veda?
A) Rig Veda
B) Sama Veda
C) Yajur Veda
D) Atharva Veda
Answer: A
Rationale: Bharata took Vachika (speech and expression through words) from the
Rig Veda .
6. Bharata took the music from which Veda?
A) Rig Veda
B) Sama Veda
C) Yajur Veda
D) Atharva Veda
Answer: B
Rationale: Bharata took musical elements, including Gandharva (musical notes and
melodies), from the Sama Veda .
7. Bharata took the histrionic expression from which Veda?
A) Rig Veda
B) Sama Veda
C) Yajur Veda
D) Atharva Veda
Answer: C
,Rationale: Bharata took histrionic expression (abhinaya and dramatic action) from
the Yajur Veda .
8. The first play staged by the devas was called:
A) Amritamanthana
B) Tripuradaaha
C) Asura Parajaya
D) Purvaranga
Answer: C
Rationale: Asura Parajaya, meaning "the defeat of the demons," was the first play
staged by the devas with Brahma, Sage Swati, and Sage Narada .
9. What were the two plays Brahma showed to Lord Shiva?
A) Ramayana and Mahabharata
B) Amritamanthana and Tripuradaaha
C) Asura Parajaya and Devasura
D) Tandava and Lasya
Answer: B
Rationale: Brahma presented two plays to Lord Shiva: Amritamanthana (the
churning of the ocean) and Tripuradaaha (the burning of the three cities) .
10. Who is the celestial architect according to Natya Sastra?
A) Vishwakarma
B) Brahma
C) Indra
D) Tandu
Answer: A
Rationale: Vishwakarma is identified as the celestial architect in the Natya Sastra
tradition .
11. The gods in charge of the various sections of Asura Parajaya were called:
A) Purvaranga Devata
B) Ranga Devata
C) Natya Devata
D) Sabha Devata
Answer: B
Rationale: The gods who oversaw different sections of the Asura Parajaya
production were known as Ranga Devata .
12. The rituals performed before a play begins are called:
, A) Ranga Puja
B) Natya Vidhi
C) Purvaranga Vidhi
D) Prasada Vidhi
Answer: C
Rationale: Purvaranga Vidhi refers to the pre-performance rituals traditionally
conducted before the commencement of a theatrical presentation .
13. What are Karanas?
A) Hand gestures used in dance
B) Basic body and arm movements accompanied by hasta mudras
C) Rhythmic footwork patterns
D) Costume and makeup guidelines
Answer: B
Rationale: Karanas are fundamental movements that combine body positions, arm
movements, and hand gestures (hasta mudras) to create dynamic poses .
14. How many Karanas are there?
A) 64
B) 108
C) 84
D) 32
Answer: B
Rationale: There are 108 Karanas described in the Natya Sastra .
15. What is an Angahara?
A) A single hand gesture
B) A combination of karanas
C) A type of footwork
D) A costume element
Answer: B
Rationale: An Angahara is formed when a number of Karanas are grouped together
.
16. What are Recakas?
A) Hand gestures
B) Lifting, rotating, and moving the limbs
C) Rhythmic cycles
D) Costume elements
Answer: B
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A+
This comprehensive 300-question practice exam is designed for students
preparing for the Sampada Level 1 Theory certification. It covers all essential
topics including the origin and content of the Natya Sastra, the four types of
Abhinaya (Angika, Vachika, Aharya, Satvika), the Nartana Bheda (Nritta,
Nritya, Natya), the Tala system with its Angas and Jaatis, the Saptaswara
system, and the eight classical dance forms of India (Bharatanatyam, Kathak,
Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam, Odissi, Sattriya). Each
question includes a correct answer and a detailed rationale, making this an
invaluable resource for mastering the theoretical foundations of Indian
classical dance.
1. Who created the Natya Sastra?
A) Lord Brahma
B) Sage Bharata
C) Lord Shiva
D) Sage Tandu
Answer: B
Rationale: The Natya Sastra, the foundational treatise on performing arts
encompassing dance, drama, and music, was created by Sage Bharata .
2. Who is the creator of Natya Veda (the 5th Veda)?
A) Lord Shiva
B) Lord Vishnu
C) Lord Brahma
D) Sage Narada
Answer: C
Rationale: Lord Brahma created the Natya Veda by taking elements from the four
existing Vedas to create a fifth Veda dedicated to performing arts .
3. What is the name of the 5th Veda?
A) Gandharva Veda
,B) Natya Veda
C) Sangeeta Veda
D) Nritya Veda
Answer: B
Rationale: The fifth Veda created by Lord Brahma is called the Natya Veda .
4. Bharata took the Rasa (sentiments) from which Veda?
A) Rig Veda
B) Sama Veda
C) Yajur Veda
D) Atharva Veda
Answer: D
Rationale: Bharata took Rasa, the aesthetic sentiments and emotional flavors, from
the Atharva Veda .
5. Bharata took the speech or word from which Veda?
A) Rig Veda
B) Sama Veda
C) Yajur Veda
D) Atharva Veda
Answer: A
Rationale: Bharata took Vachika (speech and expression through words) from the
Rig Veda .
6. Bharata took the music from which Veda?
A) Rig Veda
B) Sama Veda
C) Yajur Veda
D) Atharva Veda
Answer: B
Rationale: Bharata took musical elements, including Gandharva (musical notes and
melodies), from the Sama Veda .
7. Bharata took the histrionic expression from which Veda?
A) Rig Veda
B) Sama Veda
C) Yajur Veda
D) Atharva Veda
Answer: C
,Rationale: Bharata took histrionic expression (abhinaya and dramatic action) from
the Yajur Veda .
8. The first play staged by the devas was called:
A) Amritamanthana
B) Tripuradaaha
C) Asura Parajaya
D) Purvaranga
Answer: C
Rationale: Asura Parajaya, meaning "the defeat of the demons," was the first play
staged by the devas with Brahma, Sage Swati, and Sage Narada .
9. What were the two plays Brahma showed to Lord Shiva?
A) Ramayana and Mahabharata
B) Amritamanthana and Tripuradaaha
C) Asura Parajaya and Devasura
D) Tandava and Lasya
Answer: B
Rationale: Brahma presented two plays to Lord Shiva: Amritamanthana (the
churning of the ocean) and Tripuradaaha (the burning of the three cities) .
10. Who is the celestial architect according to Natya Sastra?
A) Vishwakarma
B) Brahma
C) Indra
D) Tandu
Answer: A
Rationale: Vishwakarma is identified as the celestial architect in the Natya Sastra
tradition .
11. The gods in charge of the various sections of Asura Parajaya were called:
A) Purvaranga Devata
B) Ranga Devata
C) Natya Devata
D) Sabha Devata
Answer: B
Rationale: The gods who oversaw different sections of the Asura Parajaya
production were known as Ranga Devata .
12. The rituals performed before a play begins are called:
, A) Ranga Puja
B) Natya Vidhi
C) Purvaranga Vidhi
D) Prasada Vidhi
Answer: C
Rationale: Purvaranga Vidhi refers to the pre-performance rituals traditionally
conducted before the commencement of a theatrical presentation .
13. What are Karanas?
A) Hand gestures used in dance
B) Basic body and arm movements accompanied by hasta mudras
C) Rhythmic footwork patterns
D) Costume and makeup guidelines
Answer: B
Rationale: Karanas are fundamental movements that combine body positions, arm
movements, and hand gestures (hasta mudras) to create dynamic poses .
14. How many Karanas are there?
A) 64
B) 108
C) 84
D) 32
Answer: B
Rationale: There are 108 Karanas described in the Natya Sastra .
15. What is an Angahara?
A) A single hand gesture
B) A combination of karanas
C) A type of footwork
D) A costume element
Answer: B
Rationale: An Angahara is formed when a number of Karanas are grouped together
.
16. What are Recakas?
A) Hand gestures
B) Lifting, rotating, and moving the limbs
C) Rhythmic cycles
D) Costume elements
Answer: B
