Consider the following historical places: 1. Ajanta Caves 2. Lepakshi Temple 3. Sanchi Stupa Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.1, 2 and 3
- D.None
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, 1 and 2 only. Ajanta and Lepakshi both carry painting on their walls and ceilings, while Sanchi does not, so the first two alone fit. The Ajanta caves in Maharashtra hold the finest surviving Buddhist murals in India, painted in the tempera technique between the second century BCE and the fifth century CE, with the Bodhisattva Padmapani and the Jataka scenes among the best known. The Veerabhadra temple at Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh is covered with Vijayanagara murals of the sixteenth century, including the large ceiling panels of Shiva and the vividly painted Nataraja. A is wrong because Lepakshi is left out of it. C is wrong because Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh is famed for its stupas and for the carved gateways of its toranas, which is sculpture, not painting. D is wrong because two of the three places do have murals. Exam tip: Ajanta stands for painting, Sanchi for sculpture on stupa railings and gateways.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following statements about the Elephanta Island is correct?
- A.It was given its name by the British after a large elephant structure located there.
- B.It contains one large cave.
- C.It is well-known for a spectacular carving of Vishnu described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana.
- D.It is associated with the Pashupata sect.
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The Elephanta caves are Shaiva rock-cut shrines, and their imagery is linked by scholars to the Pashupata order of Shiva worshippers.
Read the full explanation →The tagline 'Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India' is associated with the logo for
- A.Archaeological Survey of India
- B.India Tourism Development Corporation
- C.Geological Survey of India
- D.Geographical Indications (GI) of India
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In November 2018 the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion of the Commerce Ministry launched a common logo for GI-tagged products with the tagline "Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India".
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- A.Ashoka played an important role in popularizing the Stupa cult.
- B.They were repositories of relics of Buddha and other monks.
- C.They were located in rural areas.
- D.They were located close to trade routes.
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Stupas grew up near towns and along trade routes, where traders and townspeople could visit and fund them. A stupa is a hemispherical mound built over relics of the Buddha or of revered monks.
Read the full explanation →Who was/were the 10th century composer(s) of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham?
- A.Alvars
- B.Nayanars
- C.Appar
- D.Sambandar
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The Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 4,000 sacred verses of Tamil Vaishnavism, is the work of the twelve Alvars, gathered into one collection in the 10th century.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following : 1. Tughlaqabad Fort 2. Bada Gumbad in Lodhi Garden 3. Qutub Minar 4. Fatehpur Sikri Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of building the above monuments?
- A.3, 1, 4, 2
- B.3, 1, 2, 4
- C.1, 3, 2, 4
- D.1, 3, 4, 2
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