PYQP – Art & Culture – Indian Architecture

UPSC – CSE Prelims 2024

EASY

ART & CULTURE – INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

1. Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO:

1. Shantiniketan
2. Rani-ki-Vav
3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Ans. (b)

UPSC – CSE Prelims 2023

ART & CULTURE – INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

1. Consider the following pairs:

Site: Well known for

1. Besnagar : Shaivite cave shrine
2. Bhaja : Buddhist cave shrine
3. Sittanavasal: Jain cave shrine

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Answer :  B

Explanation: Udaigiri represents Shaiva while Besnagar represents Vasudeva, also treated as lord of the lords. Hence pair 1 is incorrectly matched.

Bhaja Caves are the best example of Buddhist cave architecture in India. They are located on a hill village Bhaja in Pune district near Lonavala, Mumbai. Hence pair 2 is correctly matched.

Sittanavasal cave temple was built by Pallava King Mahendravarma (580–630 AD) prior to his conversion from Jainism to Hinduism. Hence pair 3 is correctly matched.

UPSC – CSE Prelims 2019

ART & CULTURE – INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

1. Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of

(a) Chalukya

(b) Chandela

(c)  Rashtrakuta      

(d) Vijayanagara

Ans: (d)

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/k/019pho001000s13u01388000.html

​Vijayanagara Architecture 

• The construction of ‘Kalyana Mandapas‘ was a distinctive feature of temple architecture during the Vijayanagara Empire.
• These were pillared halls primarily used for marriage ceremonies and other religious functions within the temple premises.

UPSC – CSE Prelims 2018

ART & CULTURE – INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

1. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:

1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.

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

Ans: (d)

Fatehpur Sikri

• It is a town in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh.
• The khanqah of Sufi saint Sheikh Salim existed at this place.
• Akbar’s son Jahangir was born at the village of Sikri in 1569 and that year Akbar began construction of a religious compound to commemorate the Sheikh who had predicted the birth.
• After Jahangir’s second birthday, he began the construction of a walled city and imperial palace here.
• The city itself was founded as the capital of Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar.
• The city came to be known as Fatehpur Sikri, the “City of Victory”, after Akbar’s victorious Gujarat campaign in 1573.
• The Buland Darwaza was also built in honor of his successful campaign in Gujarat.
• In 1585, Akbar abandoned it due to a campaign in Punjab.
• The city was built massively and preferably with red sandstone.
• The Buland Darwaza is made of red and buff sandstone, decorated by white and black marble
• White marble encases tomb of the Sufi saint, Salim Chisti.

Tomb of Sufi Saint Salim Chishti

Buland Darwaza

Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

• It is an imposing gateway which was built under the patronage of Nawab Asaf-Ud-daula in 1784.
• It is an example of Awadhi architecture.
• The Rumi Darwaza, which stands sixty feet tall, was modeled after the Sublime Porte (Bab-i-Humayun) in Istanbul.
• It is adjacent to the Asafi Imambara in Lucknow and has become a logo for the city of Lucknow.

Rumi Darwaza

Bara Imambada in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

• It is an imambada built by Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Awadh, in 1784.
• is also called the Asafi Imambara.
• Bara means big, and imambara is a sacred hall built for the purpose of Azadari (Mourning of Moharram).
• It is one of the last major projects of India not incorporating any European elements or the use of iron. 
• At 50 by 16 meters and over 15 meters tall, it has no beams supporting the ceiling and is one of the largest such arched constructions in the world.

Bara Imambada

ART & CULTURE – INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

2. With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?

(a) Avalokiteshvara

(b) Lokesvara

(c) Maitreya            

(d) Padmapani

Ans:(c)

Avalokiteshvara

• Avalokiteshvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas.
• This bodhisattva is variably depicted, described and is portrayed in different cultures as either female or male.
• Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who are destined to become Buddhas but postpone that final state in order to help humanity.
• Avalokiteshvara is also referred to as Padmapani (“Holder of the Lotus”) or Lokeshvara (“Lord of the World”).
• The most famous painting on the walls of the Ajanta caves is that of the Bodhisattva Padmapani.

Maitreya

• According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma.
• According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a successor to the present Buddha, Gautama Buddha.

UPSC – CSE Prelims 2017

ART & CULTURE – INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

1. Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?

1. Arasavalli
2. Amarakantak
3. Omkareshwar

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)  l only

(b)  2 and 3 only

(c)  1 and 3 only

(d)  1, 2 and 3

Ans: (a)

Arasavalli Sun Temple dedicated to the Hindu solar deity Surya, located in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.

The original name Harshavalli means abode of joy. It is believed to have been built in the 7th Century AD by the Kalinga rulers DevendraVarma of Orissa.

Amarkantak  is a pilgrim town in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura Ranges, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. This is where the Narmada River, the Son River and Johila River emerge. The ancient temples of Kalachuri period lie here.

Omkareshwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to God Shiva. It is one of the 12 revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.It is on an island called Mandhata or Shivapuri in the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh; the shape of the island is said to be like the Hindu ॐ symbol.

UPSC – CSE Prelims 2016

ART & CULTURE – INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

1. What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?

1. Both were built in the same period.
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) None of the statements given above is correct

Ans: (b)

• The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India are about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE.
• The temples of Mahabalipuram, in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu portray events described in the Mahabharata, and were built largely during the reigns of Narasimhavarman and his successor Rajasimhavarman and show the movement from rock-cut architecture to structural building. The city of Mahabalipuram was largely developed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I in the 7th century AD.