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Art & CultureEasyAsked in: SSC MTS · 19 Jun, 2023, Shift 2

Which temple is also known by the name of Black Pagoda?

  1. A.Omkareshwar Temple, Puri
  2. B.Somnath Temple, Saurashtra
  3. C.Sun Temple, Konark
  4. D.Jagannath Temple, Hyderabad

Correct answer

C. Sun Temple, Konark

Explanation

The correct answer is C, Sun Temple, Konark. The Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha is called the Black Pagoda, a name European sailors gave it because its dark stone tower stood out as a landmark along the coast, in contrast to the whitewashed Jagannath temple at Puri, which they called the White Pagoda. It was built in the thirteenth century by Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the Kalinga style, and the whole structure is shaped as the chariot of the sun god, with twelve pairs of carved stone wheels and seven horses drawing it. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. A is wrong because Omkareshwar is a Jyotirlinga on an island in the Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, not at Puri. B is wrong because the Somnath temple in Gujarat is a Jyotirlinga rebuilt many times after raids. D is wrong because the Jagannath temple stands at Puri in Odisha and is the White Pagoda. Exam tip: Konark is the Black Pagoda and Puri's Jagannath temple the White Pagoda.

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Q1.Art & CultureAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2018, GKHard

Which one of the following statements about the Elephanta Island is correct?

  1. A.It was given its name by the British after a large elephant structure located there.
  2. B.It contains one large cave.
  3. C.It is well-known for a spectacular carving of Vishnu described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana.
  4. D.It is associated with the Pashupata sect.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. It is associated with the Pashupata sect.

The Elephanta caves are Shaiva rock-cut shrines, and their imagery is linked by scholars to the Pashupata order of Shiva worshippers.

Q2.Art & CultureAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2018, GKMedium

The tagline 'Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India' is associated with the logo for

  1. A.Archaeological Survey of India
  2. B.India Tourism Development Corporation
  3. C.Geological Survey of India
  4. D.Geographical Indications (GI) of India
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Geographical Indications (GI) of India

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".

Q3.Art & CultureAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2018, GKMedium

Which one of the following statements about Buddhist Stupas in India is not correct?

  1. A.Ashoka played an important role in popularizing the Stupa cult.
  2. B.They were repositories of relics of Buddha and other monks.
  3. C.They were located in rural areas.
  4. D.They were located close to trade routes.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. They were located in rural areas.

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.

Q5.Art & CultureAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

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?

  1. A.3, 1, 4, 2
  2. B.3, 1, 2, 4
  3. C.1, 3, 2, 4
  4. D.1, 3, 4, 2
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 3, 1, 2, 4

The Qutub Minar came first, then Tughlaqabad Fort, then the Bada Gumbad of the Lodi period and last the Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri.