Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Tomb of Sultan Balban.

Key Points

• ​Tomb of Sultan Balban:
  • It is located in Mehrauli, New Delhi.
  • It is considered to be the first structure to have a true dome and an arch.

Additional Information

• Adhai din ka Jhonpra:
  • It is one of the oldest mosques in India and is located in the city of Ajmer, Rajasthan.
  • It is built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
• Quwwat ul Islam Mosque:
  • It is located within the Qutub Minar complex at Mehrauli in Delhi.
  • It was built by the Qutub-ud-din Aibak.
• Alai Darwaza:
  • It is the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque.
  • It is made up of red sandstone.
  • It was built by Alauddin Khalji in 1311 AD.
  • It is located in the Qutb complex, Mehrauli, Delhi.
• Alai Minar An incomplete Minar ambitiously started by Sultan but was left incomplete. 

The correct answer is These are the main two styles of temple architecture in India.

Key Points

• The main component of the Indian temple architecture are the following:
  • Garbhagriha (womb-house):. It is a cave-like structure housing the chief deity of the temple.
  • Mandapa: It is the entrance of the temple.
  • Shikhara/Vimana: It is a mountain-like structure on top. In north India, it is called Shikhara.
    • Shape: Curve.
    • In south India, it is called Vimana.
    • Shape: Pyramidal tower.
  • Amalaka: Notched stone disk at the top of the temple. Mostly seen in north Indian temples.
  • Pedestal: It is a raised platform of stone on which temples are built.

Important Points

Additional Information

• Vesara Architecture:
  • E.g: Ladkhan temple of Aihole.
  • It has two principal components Vimana & Mandapa joined by Antrala.
  • It is a mixture of both Nagara & Dravidian style of temple architecture.
  • It is also known as Chalukya style or Karnataka style.
  • It follows mostly Dravida style up to the boundaries and then Nagara style features in the superstructure.

The Sculpture of Mathura school were influenced by the stories and imageries of all three religions- Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.

Key Points

Mathura School of Art:

• Mathura was a great centre of art and culture during the period of the Kushans.
• In Gandhara art the Greco- Roman influence is strongly present.
• In Mathura art, the important religions of India, such as Brahmanism, Jainism and Buddhism are represented. It is believed that the first Buddha images were carved at Mathura at the same time as in the Gandhara School.
• Mathura has produced Buddha images of various dimensions. The Mathura style evolved with native spirit and elements.
• There are quite a number of female figures on the railings of the stupas, and these are beautifully attired according to Indian taste.
• The spirit of Mathura sculpture displays the peaceful atmosphere. The features are naturalistic rather than realistic.
• The Indian elements derived from the ideal yogi type, namely the lotus feet and the meditative gaze.
• Mathura artists rejected the Greco- Roman realistic features and chose naturalistic features to create the sculptures. The entire figure clothed with refinement. 

 Additional InformationAmaravati School of Sculpture: 

• During the Satavahana period, an aesthetic movement of greater magnitude developed in Andhra Pradesh.
• Several stupas with refined sculptures of exceptional beauty are the contributions of this period.
• The sculptures belonging to Amaravati school are found in the valley of Krishna on the sites and museums of Jaggayyapetta, Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda. 
• The Amaravati style is more elegant and sophisticated. The sculptured panels of Amaravati are characterised by delicacy of forms, and linear grace.
• Numerous scenes of dance and music adorn these reliefs displaying joy of life. The sculptural remains of Amaravati, known as the 'marbles' are created by using white limestone. It creates the illusion of marble and is as fresh as when it was carved.
• It reflects narratives theme based on life of Buddha and Jataka stories Buddha is depicted both in human as well as in animal form
• Both religious and secular images were present in this style.

Gandhara School 

• It was based on Greco-Roman norms encapsulating foreign techniques and an alien spirit.
• The foreign influence is evident from the sculptures of Buddha in which they bear resemblance to the Greek sculptures.
• Grey sandstone (Blue-grey Mica schist to be precise) is used in Gandhara School of Art.
• The Gandharan Buddha image was inspired by Hellenistic realism, influenced by Persian, Scythian, and Parthian models. 
• In this art, Buddha’s curls were altered into wavy hair.
• The head of the Buddha matched very much with Greek God Apollo.
• Gandharan sculptures show strong Greek influences in the depiction of a ‘man-god’ and of wavy hair, sandals and extensive drapery.
• The depiction of Buddha as a ‘man-god’ in Gandharan sculpture is believed to be inspired from Greek mythology.
• Some examples of Gandharan art depict both Buddha and the Greek god, Hercules.

The correct answer is the author of a commentary on Panini's San grammar.

Key Points

• Patanjali
  • He was an ancient sage of India.
  • He has authored several Sanskrit works.
  • The greatest of these are the Yoga Sutras, a classical yoga text.
  • He has also authored a commentary on Panini’s Sanskrit grammar. Hence, Option 4 is correct.
  • Patanjali was a great compiler who used all the concepts and practices related to spirituality/spiritual practice available to him and presented the Yogasutra.

Additional Information

• • Thus he was the founder of ‘Systematic Yoga’.
  • He was also called the founder and father of modern Yoga.
  • The author of the Mahabhasaya, an ancient treatise on Sanskrit grammar and linguistics, is based on the Ashtdhayi of Panini.
  • This Patañjali's life is dated to mid 2nd century BCE by both Western and Indian scholars.
  • This text was titled as a bhasya or commentary on Kātyāyana-Pāṇini's work by Patanjali but is so revered in the Indian traditions that it is widely known simply as Maha-Bhasaya or Great commentary.

The Correct Answer is Bagurumba.

• The most popular Folk dance of Assam is Bagurumba.
• Bagurumba is a folk dance of the indigenous Bodo tribe in Assam and Northeast India.
• It is a traditional dance that is traditionally inherent to one generation to another generation.
• The Bodo women perform the Bagurumba dance with their colorful dokhna, jwmgra and aronai.
• The dance is also called the "butterfly dance" due to its motion that resembles butterflies.
• The Bagurumga dance is usually performed during the Bwishagu festival of the Bodos in the Bishuba Sankranti or in Mid-April.
• As per the Bodo mythology, the Bagurumba dance is favored by a supreme deity called "Bathou" represented by the Size Plant that belongs to the Euphorbia genus.
• The nature of the dance is peaceful and yet it represents the vitality of the spring.
• The origin of the Bagurumba may be found in the original naturalistic beliefs of the Bodo tribes, as it's few songs are just simple images of nature.
• This dance is an amalgamation of rhythm and vivacity.
• The dancer's hop and swing, bend and unbend, and at times, give the impression of fluttering butterflies.
• Bagurumba dance is generally performed by female dancers.
• Musical instruments like Serja (a bowd instrument), Sifung (flute), and Tharkha ( a piece of split bamboo), accompany this dance.
• Along with these, instruments like Kham, a long drum made of wood and goatskin, and Gongona, a musical instrument of a curved horn is also used.

Extra Facts:-

Raut Nacha:-

• It is the folk dance of Chattisgarh.
• This dance is performed by the Yadavas or the Yaduvanshis who are believed to be the descendants of Lord Krishna.
• A close resemblance of Raas Leela, the dance represents a worshipping Lord Krishna and is performed at the time of 'Dev Udhni Ekadashi".

Ragini:-

• It is the folk dance of Haryana.
• Ragini is a term for the feminine counterpart of a Masculine Raga. These are envisioned to parallel the god-goddess themes in Hinduism, and described variously by different medieval Indian Music Scholars.

Maanch:-

• It is the folk dance of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is performed by Malwa in Madhya Pradesh.
• The word Maanch is derived from the Sanskrit folk form. Manch that is the stage.