Consider the following statements about Ellora: 1. This art-historical site is associated exclusively with Buddhism. 2. The Kailasa temple at Ellora has been built of dressed stone and kiln fired bricks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D, Neither 1 nor 2. Ellora has Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves, and the Kailasa temple was carved out of a single rock, not built of stone blocks and bricks.
The Ellora caves near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, were cut into the basalt hills between about the sixth and tenth centuries. Of the 34 main caves, roughly 12 are Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain, which makes the site a symbol of religious harmony. The Kailasa temple (Cave 16), dedicated to Shiva, was carved from the top down out of one rock during the reign of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I in the eighth century.
A is wrong because statement 1 ignores the Hindu and Jain caves. B is wrong because Kailasa is a monolithic rock-cut temple with no bricks or dressed blocks. C is wrong because both statements are false.
Exam tip: Ellora has caves of three faiths; Ajanta is mainly Buddhist.
Practice Questions
View allConsider the following statements about Ajanta Cave paintings :
1. The paintings depict yakshas, gandharvas and apsaras.
2. The artists have used the technique of providing "multiple perspectives".
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
The Ajanta paintings show yakshas, gandharvas and apsaras among their figures, and their painters used multiple perspectives to show crowded scenes.
Read the full explanation →In which one of the following states are the Guntupalle Buddhist Caves located ?
- A.Andhra Pradesh
- B.Karnataka
- C.Tamil Nadu
- D.Kerala
Show answer
The Guntupalle Buddhist caves lie in the Eluru region of Andhra Pradesh, in the old West Godavari district. Guntupalle is one of the oldest Buddhist sites of the Andhra country, dating back to around the 2nd century BCE.
Read the full explanation →With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
2. Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Sautrantika and Sammitiya were schools of Buddhism, not Jainism, while the Sarvastivada view is correctly stated. After the Buddha's death the Buddhist order split into several early schools, traditionally counted as eighteen.
Read the full explanation →With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs:
1. Parivrajaka - Renunciant and Wanderer
2. Shramana - Priest with a high status
3. Upasaka - Lay follower of Buddhism
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.1 and 3 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
A parivrajaka is a wandering renunciant and an upasaka is a lay follower, but a shramana is an ascetic, not a high-status priest.
Read the full explanation →The art piece "In Memoriam" was a creation of which one of the following European painters?
- A.Thomas Jones Barker
- B.Joseph Noel Paton
- C.Thomas Daniell
- D.Charles D'Oyly
Show answer
The Scottish painter Joseph Noel Paton painted "In Memoriam" in 1858 in response to the revolt of 1857. The painting shows British women and children huddled together, clutching the Bible and waiting helplessly for an attack, an image meant to recall the killings at Kanpur (Cawnpore).
Read the full explanation →