Architecture in Ancient India

1. One of the frequent representations of Shri Lakshmi in sculpture is in

One of the frequent representations of Shri Lakshmi in sculpture is in her Gaja-Lakshmi form. Consider the following statements about such Gaja-Lakshmi form :

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  • 1. The goddess sits or stands on a lotus.
  • 2. She is flanked by two swans.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect.
Gaja-Lakshmi is a specific and popular iconographic form of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, representing prosperity, abundance, and good fortune.
In the Gaja-Lakshmi form, the goddess is consistently depicted seated or standing on a lotus (Padma). She is flanked by two elephants (Gaja), who are often shown pouring water over her from pots, symbolizing abhishekam (ritual bathing). Swans (Hamsa) are not typically associated with the Gaja-Lakshmi iconography; they are more commonly associated with Saraswati.

2. What is Hallisalasya as depicted in Bagh cave paintings?

What is Hallisalasya as depicted in Bagh cave paintings?

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A classical dance form
A folk dance form
A folk form of theatre
A percussion music instrument
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Hallisalasya depicted in Bagh cave paintings is identified as a folk dance form.
The Bagh cave paintings, contemporary to the Ajanta caves, are known for their vibrant depictions of Buddhist and secular themes, including elaborate dance scenes.
The “Hallisalasya” scene in Cave 4 at Bagh depicts a group of women performing a circular dance, often identified as a Hallisa dance. This is generally considered a type of folk or popular group dance form prevalent in ancient India, rather than a classical dance form as understood in later periods.

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3. Which one among the following temples is the earliest in time ?

Which one among the following temples is the earliest in time ?

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The Sun Temple at Martand
The Jandial Temple
The Gupta Temple at Deogarh
The Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram
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The Jandial Temple is the earliest temple among the given options.
– The Jandial Temple, located near Taxila (present-day Pakistan), is a well-preserved temple complex built in the Hellenistic style, featuring Ionic columns. It is generally dated to the Indo-Greek period, around the late 2nd or early 1st century BCE.
– The Gupta Temple at Deogarh (Dashavatara Temple) is a prime example of Gupta period architecture, typically dated to the late 5th or early 6th century CE.
– The Sun Temple at Martand in Kashmir was built by King Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty in the 8th century CE (around 725-753 CE).
– The Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram was built by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) around the early 8th century CE (circa 700-728 CE).
Comparing the dates, the Jandial Temple (2nd-1st century BCE) is significantly earlier than the others, which belong to the Gupta or post-Gupta periods (5th century CE onwards).
The Jandial temple’s architecture reflects the cultural synthesis that occurred in the Gandhara region due to the interaction of Indian and Hellenistic influences. It represents a unique example of a structure resembling classical Greek temples on the Indian subcontinent.

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4. Which one of the following does not describe one part of the classic H

Which one of the following does not describe one part of the classic Hindu temple ?

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Garbhagriha
Mandapa
Tribhanga
Antarala
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Tribhanga does not describe one part of the classic Hindu temple.
Garbhagriha, Mandapa, and Antarala are integral parts of the ground plan and superstructure of a classic Hindu temple. The Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) is the innermost chamber housing the main deity. The Mandapa is a pillared hall or porch leading to the Garbhagriha, used for congregational purposes. The Antarala is a vestibule or antechamber connecting the Mandapa to the Garbhagriha. Tribhanga, however, is a dynamic pose or stance in Indian classical dance (like Odissi, Bharatanatyam) and sculpture, characterized by three bends in the body (at the neck, waist, and knee), creating an S-shaped curve. It is an aesthetic principle applied to figural representation, not an architectural component of the temple structure itself.
Other common parts of a Hindu temple include the Shikara or Vimana (towering superstructure), Gopuram (entrance gateway, especially in South Indian temples), Vahana (mount of the deity, often placed facing the Garbhagriha), and Prakara (compound wall).

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5. Consider the following pairs : Site Well known for

Consider the following pairs :

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SiteWell known for
1. Besnagar: Shaivite cave shrine
2. Bhaja: Buddhist cave shrine
3. Sittanawasai: Jain cave shrine

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Only one
Only two
All three
None
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Only two of the given pairs are correctly matched.
The Bhaja caves are renowned Buddhist rock-cut caves. The Sittanavasal caves are famous for Jain paintings and sculptures. Besnagar (Vidisha) is historically significant for the Heliodorus Pillar, a structure associated with Vaishnavism, not a Shaivite cave shrine.
Bhaja Caves are located near Lonavala, Maharashtra, dating back to the Hinayana phase of Buddhism (2nd century BC). Sittanavasal is located in Tamil Nadu and its caves contain important examples of Jain art from the Pallava period (7th century AD) and later Pandyas. Besnagar, near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, is known for the Heliodorus pillar, which is a Garuda column erected by Heliodorus, a Greek ambassador, dedicating it to Vasudeva (a deity identified with Vishnu), indicating the early prevalence of Vaishnavism in the region around the 2nd century BC.

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6. With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which o

With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

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Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar
Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Varaha Image at Udayagiri
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Let’s determine the approximate period for each option:
A) Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar: Construction primarily in the 11th century CE (Kalinga dynasty).
B) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli: Associated with Ashoka’s rock edicts from the 3rd century BCE (Maurya Empire). The elephant is carved from a boulder above the edicts.
C) Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram: Created mainly during the Pallava dynasty, from the 7th to 8th centuries CE.
D) Varaha Image at Udayagiri: The famous relief of Varaha rescuing the Earth (Bhu Devi) at Udayagiri Caves is from Cave 5, dating to the early 5th century CE (Gupta period, likely during the reign of Chandragupta II).
Comparing the dates (3rd century BCE, 5th century CE, 7th-8th centuries CE, 11th century CE), the Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli is the earliest among the given options.
– Requires knowledge of the periods of major Indian art and architectural sites.
– Chronological ordering of the listed sites.
– Dhauli Elephant dates back to the Maurya period under Ashoka.
The Dhauli elephant is one of the earliest surviving examples of Indian rock-cut sculpture on a large scale. Udayagiri Caves are famous for their Gupta-era sculptures and inscriptions. Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is renowned for its monolithic rock-cut temples (rathas) and structural temples. The Lingaraja Temple is a prime example of later Kalinga architecture.

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7. With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the

With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs:

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Famous work of sculptureSite
1. A grand image of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers belowAjanta
2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rockMount Abu
3. “Arjuna’s Penance”/”Descent of Ganga” sculpted on the surface of huge bouldersMamallapuram

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1 and 2 only
3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched. The famous sculpture of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with celestial musicians and sorrowful followers is located in Cave 26 at Ajanta. The large rock relief depicting “Arjuna’s Penance” or the “Descent of Ganga” is a prominent sculpture at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram). Pair 2 is incorrectly matched; the iconic huge image of Varaha Avatar rescuing Goddess Earth is found at the Udaigiri Caves in Madhya Pradesh, not Mount Abu.
– Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra) are famous for Buddhist rock-cut caves with paintings and sculptures.
– Mamallapuram (Tamil Nadu) is known for its Pallava period rock-cut architecture and sculptures, including the famous Descent of Ganga panel.
– Udaigiri Caves (Madhya Pradesh) are known for Gupta period sculptures, including the large Varaha relief. Mount Abu is famous for Jain Dilwara Temples.
These sites represent significant achievements in ancient and medieval Indian art and architecture, showcasing diverse religious themes (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain) and artistic styles across different dynasties and regions. Ajanta and Mamallapuram are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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8. With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan

With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to

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an assembly of village elders
a religious sect
a style of temple construction
an administrative functionary
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The term ‘Panchayatan’ in the cultural history of India refers to a specific style of temple construction.
A) an assembly of village elders: An assembly of village elders is typically referred to as a Gram Panchayat or similar terms depending on the historical period and region, not Panchayatan.
B) a religious sect: While ‘pancha’ means five, and some religious traditions might involve groups of five or specific sets of deities, ‘Panchayatan’ in the context of cultural history specifically denotes an architectural style.
C) a style of temple construction: The Panchayatan style of temple architecture is a layout where the main shrine is built on a raised platform, and four subsidiary shrines are located at the four corners, making it a group of five (pancha) shrines dedicated typically to a principal deity in the center and four other deities. This forms a complete ‘mandala’ pattern. This is the correct meaning of Panchayatan in this context.
D) an administrative functionary: An administrative functionary would not be referred to by this term.
– Panchayatan is a style of Hindu temple architecture.
– It features a main shrine surrounded by four subsidiary shrines.
Famous examples of temples built in the Panchayatan style include the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh (Uttar Pradesh) and the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), although the latter is sometimes debated as a strict Panchayatan due to the integration of subsidiary shrines into the main structure’s platform. This style became prominent during the Gupta period and continued in later periods.

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9. Consider the following historical places: 1. Ajanta Caves 2. Lepa

Consider the following historical places:

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  • 1. Ajanta Caves
  • 2. Lepakshi Temple
  • 3. Sanchi Stupa

Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?

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1 only
1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 3
None
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Ajanta Caves are world-renowned for their ancient Buddhist mural paintings dating back primarily to the Gupta period and earlier. The Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi is famous for its extensive Vijayanagara period mural paintings on ceilings, depicting epic scenes. Sanchi Stupa is primarily known for its architectural structure and the elaborate carvings on its gateways (toranas), but not for significant surviving mural paintings.
Mural paintings are paintings applied directly onto a wall or ceiling surface. India has a rich tradition of mural painting, found in caves, temples, palaces, and homes across different periods and regions.
Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra) represent some of the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly painting. Lepakshi Temple (Andhra Pradesh) is a prominent example of Vijayanagara architecture and painting. Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) is one of the oldest Buddhist sites and is known for the Great Stupa built by Ashoka, with its beautifully carved gateways added later. While walls existed at Sanchi, the site is primarily celebrated for its sculpture and architecture, not its paintings.

10. With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, conside

With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements :

  • 1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
  • 2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
  • 3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only
2 and 3 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statement 3 is correct. At Ellora, caves were carved for different religious faiths, specifically Buddhism (caves 1-12), Hinduism (caves 13-29), and Jainism (caves 30-34).
Statement 1 is incorrect. The caves at Badami belong to the 6th century CE (Chalukya period). The oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India are generally considered to be the Barabar Caves, dating back to the Mauryan period (3rd century BCE).
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Barabar rock-cut caves were indeed made for Ajivikas, but they were built by Emperor Ashoka (c. 268-232 BCE) and his successor Dasharatha, who were part of the Maurya dynasty but were not Chandragupta Maurya.
The Ellora Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for their synthesis of three different religious traditions in one complex. The Barabar Caves are located in Bihar and represent some of the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India. The Badami Cave Temples in Karnataka are known for their blend of North Indian Nagara and South Indian Dravidian styles.

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