Art and Culture: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Middle Path (Madhyamaka Marga) was a core teaching of Gautama Buddha. He rejected extreme asceticism as well as indulgence in sensual pleasures. Jainism of Mahavira advocated extreme asceticism, including rigorous penance, fasting, and self-mortification.

Statement 2 is Correct: Both Buddhism and Jainism did not accept the Vedas as supreme authority. They rejected the idea that Brahmins had a monopoly on religious knowledge. Buddha and Mahavira promoted rationalism, self-experience, and ethical conduct over scriptural authority.

Statement 3 is Correct: Both religions rejected the efficacy of Vedic rituals and sacrifices and instead emphasized the importance of moral conduct, meditation, and self-discipline. They believed that liberation (nirvana in Buddhism, moksha in Jainism) could not be achieved through rituals but only through personal effort and spiritual practice.

Explanation

Mudras in Buddhist iconography are symbolic hand gestures that convey specific spiritual meanings. For example, the Dharmachakra Mudra represents the teaching of the Dharma, while the Bhumisparsha Mudra symbolizes the Buddha’s moment of enlightenment.

Option (b) is correct: The"Bhumisparsha Mudra" hand gesture shown in Lord Buddha’s image symbolizes his calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara. It means ‘touching the earth’ in Sanskrit. This mudra, formed with all five fingers of the right hand extended to touch the ground, symbolizes the Buddha’s enlightenment under the bodhi tree, when he summoned the earth goddess, Vasundhara, to bear witness to his attainment of enlightenment.

Explanation

Jain’s philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by Universal laws. Jainism does not support belief in the creator god. According to Jain doctrine, the universe and its constituents (soul, matter, space, time and motion) have always existed. Jainism believes in the theory of Karma. Both the idea of reincarnation and the universal soul are accepted in Jainism. To break free from the circle of karma and reach salvation, Jainism teaches that one must lead a life of extreme austerity and penance. Jainism theory of Anekantavada stresses that there are many different facets to the ultimate truth and reality, or the "theory of plurality."

Explanation

Indian cave paintings from the Gupta period (4th to 6th century CE) are notable for their refined artistry and spiritual themes, particularly Buddhist iconography. These paintings, found in caves like Ajanta, depict scenes from the life of the Buddha, Jataka tales, and celestial beings with vivid colors and graceful figures.

Option (a) is correct: The Bagh Caves in modern-day Madhya Pradesh are a significant site of ancient Indian art and architecture. Like the Ajanta Caves, these caves are known for their exquisite Gupta-period paintings dating back to the 4th to 6th centuries AD. The themes of the murals include Jataka tales, depictions of Bodhisattvas, and scenes of daily life.

Option (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

The Ellora Caves were primarily created by the Rashtrakuta dynasty between the 5th and 10th centuries for religious purposes, with Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain caves coexisting at the site. The Lomas Rishi Caves, located in Bihar, were created by the Mauryan dynasty around the 3rd century BCE. The Nasik Caves, also known as the PandavLeni Caves, are a group of ancient rock-cut Buddhist caves located in Nashik, Maharashtra. Nasik Caves belong to the Western Kshatrapas and the Satavahanas.

Explanation

Jainism is based on two main philosophical principles:

Anekantavada and Syadvada.Additionally, Jainism emphasizes karma, the moral law of cause and effect, and the goal of achieving liberation (moksha) through non-violence (ahimsa) and self-discipline.

Option (b) is correct: Anekantavada is a fundamental doctrine of Jainism, meaning "the theory of manifold perspectives." It advocates that reality is multifaceted and cannot be fully understood from a single viewpoint, which aligns with Jain teachings of tolerance and non-absolutism. This philosophical approach is unique to Jainism and is not part of the core concepts in Buddhism, Sikhism, or Vaishnavism. Jain Syadvada, the theory of conditional predication suggests that statements about reality are context-dependent.

Explanation

The Baudhayan Sulva Sutras contain one of the earliest known statements of the Pythagorean theorem, relating to the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. This ancient Indian text provided a geometric construction method for determining the length of the hypotenuse based on the other sides of the right-angled triangle. It predates the work of Pythagoras. The theorem is significant in the history of Indian mathematics and geometry.

Explanation

King Kharavela of Kalinga is well-known for his support of Jainism, which helped to spread Jain doctrines within his region during the 1st century BCE. His inscriptions in the Hathigumpha cave (Udayagiri, Odisha) mention Jain religious activities and his support for Jain monks.He reinstalled a Jain idol in Kalinga that had been taken away by Nanda rulers earlier.

Option (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

The spread of Jainism in South India is more closely linked to Bhadrabahu (not Sthalabahu) who migrated to the south with a group of monks during a famine. The Shvetambara sect emerged after the council at Pataliputra but it was not led by Bhadrabahu. the Shvetambaras were the group that remained in the north and adopted the practice of wearing white clothes. Bhadrabahu led the Digambara sect which migrated to the south. Early Jainism was aniconic (did not worship idols). Image worship in Jainism started later (after 1st century CE) under the influence of Hinduism.

Explanation

Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart), authored by Shudraka, is a classic Sanskrit drama. It narrates the love story between Charudatta, a virtuous but impoverished Brahmin merchant, and Vasantasena, a wealthy courtesan. This work, set against the backdrop of urban life in ancient India, explores themes of love, morality, social hierarchy, and political intrigue. Unlike epics or courtly literature, Mrichchhakatika focuses on the lives of ordinary people, providing valuable insights into the socio-economic conditions of the time. Other Sanskrit plays ascribed to Shudraka are Vinavasavadatta, Bhana (short one-act monologue) and Padmaprabhritaka.

Explanation

Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta is a political drama revolving around the strategic acumen of Chanakya (Kautilya) in securing Chandragupta Maurya’s rise to power. The play narrates the clever maneuvering by Chanakya to win over Rakshasa, a loyal minister of the Nanda dynasty, to Chandragupta’s side. It provides valuable insights into Mauryan administrative policies and the importance of realpolitik during this era.

Explanation

The statue of Gomateshwara, also known as Bahubali, at ShravanaBelagola in Karnataka represents Bahubali, the son of the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha, not the last Tirthankara Mahavira. This monolithic statue, approximately 57 feet tall was commissioned by the Ganga dynasty minister and commander Chavundaraya.