Art and Culture Questions

• The famous bronze image of Nataraja is an example of Chola art.
• The Chola Dynasty was one of the greatest dynasties in the southern Indian part.
• They defeated the Pallavas to come into power.
• Their dynasty originated in the fertile valley of River Kaveri.
• Society and culture saw great developments during the reign of Cholas.
• Also, during this period Temples were the epicentre of all the social and religious gatherings. Temples and mutts were the centres of learning as well.
• Several Gods and goddesses were worshipped.
• Among these Shiva was the popular source of strength for the faithful ones. Quite a lot of Shiva temples were built along the banks of the river Kaveri.

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• Nataraja (Lord of the Dance), the Hindu god Shiva in his form as the cosmic dancer, is represented in metal or stone in many Shaivite temples, particularly in South India.
• It is an important piece of Chola sculpture.
• Some of the features of the Nataraja sculpture are:
  • The upper right-hand holds the drum, which signifies the sound of creation. All creations spring from the great sound of the damru.
  • The upper left-hand holds the eternal fire, which represents destruction. Destruction is the precursor and inevitable counterpart of creation.
  • The lower right hand is raised in the gesture of Abhay mudra signifying benediction and reassuring the devotee to not be afraid.
  • The lower left-hand points towards the upraised foot and indicates the path of salvation.
  • Shiva is dancing on the figure of a small dwarf. The dwarf symbolises ignorance and the ego of an individual.
  • The matted and flowing locks of Shiva represent the flow of the river Ganges.

The correct answer is Gwalior Gharana.

Key Points

• Gwalior Gharana is the oldest Khayal Gharana in Indian classical music.
• It originated with the beginning of the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542–1605).
• Famous singers: Miyan Tansen, Anant Manohar Joshi, B. R. Deodhar, Narayanrao Vyas etc.
  • Except for Tansen, all the above are awardees of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards.
  • Hence, option 1 is correct.
• The simplicity i.e the selection of well-known ragas is its unique feature.

Additional Information

• Maihar Gharana is one of the oldest schools of Hindustani classical music.
  • It was established by Allaudin Khan in the princely state of Maihar. 
• Indore Gharana is one of the vocal gharanas of Indian classical music.
  • It was founded by Amir Khan. 

The correct answer is Onam.

Key Points

• Onam:
  • It is a harvest festival of Kerala.
  • It was celebrated to commemorate the arrival of King Mahabali.
  • The festival lasts for ten days.
  • It is celebrated every year in August-September.
  • Boat Race is conducted during this festival in Kerala.
• Pongal:
  • Pongal is a four-day-long harvest festival celebrated mostly in the states of South India, especially in Tamil Nadu.
  • The harvest festival is named after the Tamil word, Ponga, which means to boil.
  • The first day of Pongal is called Bogi and is celebrated in honor of Lord Indra.
  • The second day of Pongal is known as Surya Pongal and is dedicated to the Sun God.
  • The third day of Pongal is called Mattu Pongal and is celebrated in the name of cows.
  • The fourth and final day of Pongal is called Kaanum Pongal, which marks the end of the harvest festival for the year.
  • It is celebrated in the month of January every year.
• Bihu:
  • It is a harvest festival that is celebrated to mark the shift in the Sun's solstice.
  • It is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in the state of Assam.
  • It is celebrated three times a year. 
  • Rongali or Bohag Bihu is observed in April, Kongali or Kati Bihu observed in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu observed in January.
• Navratri:
  • It is celebrated as Durga Puja in various parts of Northeast India.
  • It is celebrated among the Hindus as a symbol of victory of goddess Durga for defeating Mahishasura.
  • The nine-day Durga festival, or Navratri is celebrated in September or October. 

The correct answer is Bihar

Important Points

• Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist temple which is located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
• It was built by Emperor Ashoka.
• It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely from bricks.
• It was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2002.

The correct answer is Kalinga Mahotsav, Odisha.

• Kalinga Mahotsav, Odisha is the festival of Martial Dance is celebrated to mark the major victory of peace over war.

Key Points

• Kalinga Mahotsav
  • The festival is celebrated in the month of January and February.
  • It brings together the folk, classical and martial art forms on one stage. Hence, the art form is called Martial Dance.
  • The Kalinga festival was started by a famous Bhubaneswar based Italian Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi.
  • After the bloodiest war of Kalinga, King Ashoka frantically looked for peace and hence this cultural festival in Odisha is held each year to depict the significance of peace over war.

Additional Information

• Durga Puja:
  • The festival; is celebrated with huge pomp and enthusiasm in Kolkata.
  • It is celebrated between the months of September and October, to mark the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasur.
  • In other parts of India, Durga Pooja is celebrated as Navratri.
  • Dussehra marks the culmination of Durga Pooja.
• Chandan Yatra:
  • The festival is celebrated in Puri, Odisha.
  • It is dedicated to Lord Jagannath.
  • The festival is also known as Sandalwood paste festival.
  • It is celebrated in April-May on Akshaya Tritiya.

• Ellora caves with inaccessible hills dated back to 6001000 AD.
• The caves of Ellora Elephanta were built by the Rashtrakuta rulers, they have been built by cutting the walls of high basalt steep rock walls.
• There are about 34 caves which are located 30 km away from the district in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state,
• These are declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• There is also a holy place dedicated to the three religions Hindu, Buddhist and Jain.
• These caves have unique artistic images, public and technical excellence spread all over the world.

The Correct Answer is Vaigai River.

Key Points

• Meenakshi Amman Temple is located on the Southern Bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai., Tamil Nadu. 
• This temple dedicated to Thirukamakottam Udaya Aaludaiya Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva.
• In this temple, both God and Goddess are worshipped together in separate chambers.
• The temple is at the centre of the ancient temple city Madurai.
• It was built by King Kulasekara Pandya.
• It is a complex made in accordance with the Shilpa Shastra and has 5 main entrances with 14  gateway towers or 'gopurams', golden 'Vimanas', holy sanctums and shrines dedicated to the revered Goddess Meenakshi and many others. 
• It is a major tourist attraction, with thousands of devotees visiting the shrines every day.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Aihole.

Key Points

• Lad Khan temple
  • It is located in  Aihole in Karnataka.
  • It is one of the oldest Hindu temples.
  • It is dedicated to Shiva.
  • It is also known as The Chalukya Shiva Temple

Additional Information

• Sanchi is a town in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Sanchi is famous for stupas, monolithic Asokan pillars, Monastries, etc.
• Ellora
  • Ellora caves are located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
  • It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.
• Elephanta
  • They are the rock-cut Caves in Maharastra.
  • It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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 ​Mahabodhi Temple.

Key Points

• The Mahabodhi Temple was built by the Mauryan emperor Great Ashoka in around 260 BCE.
• Mahabodhi Temple - Gaya, is the holiest site for all Buddhists all over the world.
  • It is the world heritage site, where Lord Buddha is said to attain his enlightenment.
  • Literally, the meaning of Mahabodhi is the Great Awakening Temple.

Important Points

• Buddhism is one of the top five religions in the world, in terms of the number of followers. 
• One of the first people we can thank for this was the ancient emperor Asoka.
• Asoka was a third-century BCE ruler of the Maurya Empire, one of the first states to unify nearly the entire Indian subcontinent.
• He was also the first Indian emperor to convert to Buddhism and put massive efforts into spreading the religion across India. 
• There are four major temples associated with the various stages of Buddha's life.
• The Mahabodhi Temple marks one of the most significant.
• it was in this place that the Mahatma Buddha sat under a  and meditated, ultimately achieving enlightenment and becoming the Buddha.
• Emperor Ashoka constructed the Vajrasana or the Diamond Throne, representing the seat of enlightenment.
• He also built a stupa in reverence of Gautama Buddha, which was there till the second century AD.
• During the reign of the Gupta kings in the seventh century AD, the Mahavira Mahabodhi temple was completed.
• The Pala kings of Bengal built the gold-painted statue of Buddha, which is made of Black stone.
• Here Gautama Buddha is seen seated in the Earth-touching posture or the Bhumisparsa Mudra.