Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Ajanta.

Some important paintings at Ajanta are:

• Scenes from the Jataka stories of the life of the Gautama Buddha, the Buddha’s former lives as a bodhisattva, etc.
• Paintings of various Bodhisattvas in tribhanga pose in Cave 1:
  • Vajrapani (protector and guide, a symbol of Buddha’s power),
  • Manjusri (manifestation of Buddha’s wisdom) and
  • Padmapani (Avalokitesvara) (symbol of Buddha’s compassion).
• The Dying Princess in Cave.no 16.

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.

Concept:

• There are two major kinds of dance forms in India :
  • Classical Dance
  • Folk Dance
• Classical dance is a kind of dance that brings several techniques and specific movements.
• There are 8 types of classical dances in India according to scholars.
• Indian classical dancing started in 200 BCE in India.
• Folk dance is a dance form developed by people that reflect the life of the people of a particular area.

Explanation:

• Bharatanatyam is a classical dance which was originated in the modern-day region of Tamil Nadu.
• Bharatanatyam is based on the Hindu religious theme.
• It was originally performed by females in the temples.
• "Abhinaya Darpan" by Nandi Keshwara and "Natya Shastra" by Bharat Muni are considered the original source of Bharatanatyam.

​Thus, Bharatanatyam is not a dance from Karnataka.

Additional Information

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 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.