UPSC 2023 Art and Culture Questions with Answers

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.