Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Maharashtra.

Key Points

• The Elephanta caves:
  • They are located on Elephanta island (known as the island of Gharapuri) in Maharashtra.
  • They consist of two hills separated by a narrow valley.
  • This temple built in the caves is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
  • Rock-cut "Elephanta caves" were built between the middle of the 5th to the 6th century AD.
  • Elephanta Island is 10 km from the Gateway of India in Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra.
  • These caves have been given the status of World Heritage in 1987 by UNESCO.

Additional Information

• Kashi Vishwanath Temple is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• Junagadh Buddhist Caves is located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat state, India.
• Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple is located near Pathankot City on Shahpur Kandi Dam Road in the Indian state of Punjab.

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 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 festival of Uttarayan is celebrated in Gujarat.

• This festival is also known as Makar Sankranti.
• It is a festival day in the Hindu calendar, devoted to the God of Surya (Sun).
• It is celebrated every year in the lunar month of Magha, which corresponds to the month of January according to the Gregorian calendar, and is the day when the people of India celebrate their harvest.
• It is the first day of the transit of the sun to Makara (Capricorn), marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days.
• In other states this festival is also known as Magh Bihu in Assam, Maghi (preceded by Lohri) in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

The correct answer is James Prinsep.

• James Princep was a European scholar who deciphered the edicts of the Ashoka.

Key Points

• James Prinsep -
  • He was an English scholar, orientalist, and antiquarian.
  • He was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
  • He is best remembered for his understanding of the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts of ancient India.

Additional Information

•  V Gordon Childe -
  • He was an Australian archaeologist specializing in the study of European prehistory.
  • He became the first exponent of Marxist archeology in the Western world.​
• Alexander Cunningham -
  • He became famous as a famous scholar of Indian archaeology, historical geography, and history.
  • He is considered the father of the Archaeological Survey of India.