Art and Culture: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Shantiniketan located in West Bengal is the home of Rabindranath Tagore’s Visva-Bharati University. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023 for its cultural and educational significance. Santiniketan which means ‘abode of peace’ started taking shape in 1901, and it was this place Tagore later put up the foundations of Visva Bharati University. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas: The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas locatd in Karnataka, include the Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebid, and Somnathapura. These temples were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023 for their exceptional architecture and artistry. The shrines are characterized by hyper-real sculptures and stone carvings that cover the entire architectural surface, a circumambulatory platform, a large-scale sculptural gallery, a multi-tiered frieze, and sculptures of the Sala legend. Other sites:

Rani-ki-Vav located in Gujarat is an 11th-century stepwell known for its intricate architecture and sculptures. These stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC. It was included in UNESCO WHS list in 2014. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment. The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries. It was included in the UNESCO WHS list in 2002.

Explanation

Madhyama-vyayoga is one of the thirteen plays attributed to Bhasa. It is a one-act play (Prakarana) that revolves around a family reunion and is based on an episode from the Mahabharata. The play is notable for its dramatic structure, emotional depth, and adherence to classical Sanskrit theatrical conventions. The story unfolds with themes of valor, familial bonds, and moral dilemmas, culminating in a reunion that highlights Bhsa’s skill in dramatizing epic tales.

Explanation

Sanghabhuti was an Indian Buddhist monk from Kashmir who traveled to China towards the end of the 4th century AD. Sanghabhuti is primarily associated with the Sarvastivada Vinaya, a text that outlines the monastic rules and discipline for Buddhist monks and nuns. He traveled to China and collaborated with Chinese scholars to translate and comment on this text, which was crucial for the establishment of Buddhist monastic practices in China.

Explanation

Shakyamuni epithet is widely used in Buddhist texts such as the Lalitavistara Sutra and Mahayana scriptures for Gautama Buddha "Shakyamuni" means "Sage of the Shakya Clan." Gautama Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha in the Shakya clan which ruled the region of Kapilavastu (modern Nepal-India border). Tathagata means "The One Who Has Thus Gone (Tathagata) or Thus Come (Tatha-agata)," referring to Buddha’s enlightened state and transcendence over worldly existence. It is one of the most common epithets used by Gautama Buddha himself in Pali Canon texts like the Digha Nikaya and Majjhima Nikaya. "Nayaputta" is not an epithet of Gautama Buddha; rather, it refers to Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The concept of stupa originates from pre-Buddhist burial mounds in India which were used for funerary purposes such as burial mounds called ’Megalithic cairns’. Buddhism adopted and transformed these existing structures into significant religious monuments. While the architectural form of the Stupa was adapted and refined by Buddhists, its origins are not exclusively Buddhist.

Statement 2 is correct: Stupas were primarily built to serve as repositories of sacred relics. These relics could include the ashes or bodily remains of the Buddha, his disciples, or other revered figures. Example: the Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) is believed to mark the spot where the Buddha delivered his first sermon. The relics were placed in a small chamber called the ’harmika’ at the center of the stupa, making it a focal point for veneration and pilgrimage.

Statement 3 is correct: Stupas serve both votive and commemorative functions often constructed as acts of reverence and offerings to the Buddha or other enlightened figures. They are built to honor important events, individuals, or historical locations. Stupas also function as centers of devotion, meditation, and pilgrimage. For example, the Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Besnagar (located in Madhya Pradesh) is not known for being a Shaivite Cave Shrine. It is known for Garuda Pillar dedicated to lord Vasudeva by Heliodorus, an envoy of an Indo-Greek ruler Antialkidas in the court of Bhagabhadra. Heliodorus followed Vaishnava Sect.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Bhaja (located in Maharashtra) is renowned for its Buddhist cave complex dating back to the 2nd century BCE. The 22 cave complex is part of the early phase of Buddhist rock-cut architecture and include a chaitya (prayer hall) and viharas (monastic cells).

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Sittanavasal (located in Tamil Nadu) is famous for its Jain cave complex which dates back to the 2nd century BCE. The site includes a rock-cut cave temple with beautiful frescoes depicting Jain themes such as the Samavasarana (divine preaching hall).

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Devichandragupta is a Sanskrit play attributed to Vishakhadatta, not Bilhana. The play is based on the historical events surrounding the Gupta king Chandragupta II and his queen Dhruvadevi. Vishakhadatta also authored Mudrarakshasa. Bilhana was an 11th-century Kashmiri poet known for his works like Vikramankadevacharita (a biography of the Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI) and Chaurapanchasika (a collection of love poems).

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Hammira-Mahakavya is a Sanskrit epic poem written by Nayachandra Suri, a Jain scholar. The text narrates the life and exploits of Hammira, a 13th-century Chauhan king of Ranthambor and his resistance against the Delhi Sultanate.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Milinda-panha (Questions of King Milinda) is a Buddhist text that records a dialogue between the Indo-Greek king Menander I (Milinda) and the Buddhist monk Nagasena. The text is attributed to Nagasena, not Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna was a 2nd-century CE philosopher and founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism and is known for works like Mulamadhyamakakarika.

Pair 4 is correctly matched: Nitivakyamrita is a treatise on ethics and polity written by Somadeva Suri, a 10th-century Jain scholar. The text provides guidance on governance, morality, and statecraft, reflecting the Jain emphasis on non-violence and ethical conduct.

Explanation

Dhanyakataka (also spelled Dharanikota or Dharanikonda) was an ancient city located in the present-day Andhra Pradesh region of India. It flourished as a major Buddhist center, particularly under the Mahasanghika school of Buddhism. The city is closely associated with the Amaravati Stupa, one of the most significant Buddhist monuments in India. It was a hub of Buddhist learning and practice during the Satavahana period (2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE) and continued to be important under the Ikshvaku dynasty (3rd-4th century CE). Excavations have revealed Buddhist relic caskets, stupas, and monasteries, confirming its association with Buddhism.

Explanation

The core principle of Jainism revolves around non-violence, with no other religion placing as great an emphasis on this value. Jains hold the belief that souls inhabit plants, animals, and even certain non-living entities such as air and water, similar to humans. The doctrine of non-violence encompasses refraining from causing harm to humans, plants, animals, and the natural world.

Explanation

Ashoka’s Rock Edicts are distributed across South Asia and are categorized as Major and Minor Rock Edicts. These inscriptions highlight Emperor Ashoka’s principles of governance and his promotion of Dhamma, or ethical conduct. Major Rock Edict Sites: Dhauli (Odisha), Girnar (Gujarat), Mansehra and Shahbazgarhi (Pakistan), Jaugada (Odisha), Erragudi (Andhra Pradesh) Kalsi (Uttarakhand), Sopara (Maharashtra) etc. Minor Rock Edict Sites: Sopara (Maharashtra), Maski, Brahmagiri and Gavimath (Karnataka), Bairat (Rajasthan) etc.

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Dhauli is an important site of Ashoka’s Major Rock Edicts in Odisha, located near Bhubaneswar. The inscriptions mention Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma and his remorse after the Kalinga War (261 BCE). The site also features the famous Elephant Carving which symbolizes the emergence of Buddhism.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Erragudi or Yerragudi rock edict is located in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh. It mentions Ashoka’s efforts to spread Dhamma (morality and non-violence). The edicts here are inscribed on a granite rock and are written in Brahmi script and Prakrit language.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Jaugada is not located in Madhya Pradesh. It is actually located in the Ganjam district of Odisha. It is another significant site of Ashoka’s major rock edicts. The edicts here are written in Brahmi script.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Kalsi is actually in Uttarakhand, not Karnataka. It is the only Ashokan Major Rock Edict site in North India. It highlights Ashoka’s message of non-violence, moral conduct, and religious tolerance. The edicts here are inscribed in the Brahmi script and are significant because they mark the northernmost extent of Ashoka’s empire. 4 Art and Culture