UPSC Prelims 2023
Indian Art & Culture Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Only two

This question tests the correct pairing of ancient Indian literary works with their respective authors. Out of the four given pairs, only two are correctly matched—Hammira-Mahakavya with Nayachandra Suri and Nitivakyamrita with Somadeva Suri.

❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Devichandraguptam was authored by Vishakhadatta, a renowned Sanskrit playwright, not by Bilhana who was a later Kashmiri poet famous for Vikramankadevacharita.

✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Hammira-Mahakavya was indeed composed by Nayachandra Suri, a Jain scholar and poet, celebrating the valor of Chauhan ruler Hammiradeva.

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Milinda-Panha (Questions of King Milinda) records dialogues between Buddhist monk Nagasena and Indo-Greek King Menander (Milinda), not Nagarjuna who was a later Mahayana philosopher.

✅ Pair 4 – Correct: Nitivakyamrita, a work on political ethics and wisdom, was written by Somadeva Suri, a Jain scholar.

📝 Short Notes: Ancient Indian Literary Works and Authors

• Bilhana: 11th-century Kashmiri poet, authored Vikramankadevacharita and Caurapancasika
• Nagarjuna: 2nd-century CE Mahayana Buddhist philosopher, founder of Madhyamaka school; authored Mulamadhyamakakarika
• Nagasena vs Nagarjuna: Often confused—Nagasena was a Theravada monk (2nd century BCE), while Nagarjuna was a Mahayana philosopher (2nd century CE)
• Vishakhadatta: Also authored Mudrarakshasa, a political drama about Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya
• Jain Literary Contributions: Both Nayachandra Suri and Somadeva Suri represent the rich tradition of Jain scholarship in ethics, politics, and literature

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Only two

Out of the three given pairs, two are correctly matched. Bhaja is correctly associated with Buddhist cave shrines (2nd century BC rock-cut caves near Pune), and Sittanavasal is correctly known for Jain cave shrines (ancient Jain monument in Tamil Nadu). However, Besnagar (Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh) is not particularly known for a Shaivite cave shrine; it is more famous for the Heliodorus Pillar, an ancient Garuda pillar dedicated to Lord Vishnu, along with remains of Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu temples.

✅ Pair 1 (Besnagar : Shaivite cave shrine) – Incorrect: Besnagar (Vidisha) is primarily known for the Heliodorus Pillar (Garuda pillar dedicated to Vishnu), not for a Shaivite cave shrine.
✅ Pair 2 (Bhaja : Buddhist cave shrine) – Correct: Bhaja Caves in Maharashtra are well-known rock-cut Buddhist caves dating to the 2nd century BC.
✅ Pair 3 (Sittanavasal : Jain cave shrine) – Correct: Sittanavasal in Tamil Nadu is famous for its ancient Jain cave shrine with beautiful frescoes.

📝 Short Notes: Famous Cave Shrines of India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Andhra

Dhanyakataka (modern-day Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh) was an ancient city located in the Andhra region of South India. It flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasanghika sect, one of the earliest Buddhist schools that later influenced the development of Mahayana Buddhism. The site is renowned for its magnificent stupa and sculptural art, making it a major pilgrimage and learning centre in ancient times.

📝 Short Notes: Ancient Buddhist Centres in India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Only two

Out of the three statements, only statements 2 and 3 are correct. While stupas were indeed repositories of relics and served as votive and commemorative structures in Buddhist tradition, the concept of stupa itself predates Buddhism and originated as pre-Buddhist burial mounds.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The concept of stupa is not Buddhist in origin; it existed in pre-Buddhist times as burial mounds and was later adopted and transformed by Buddhism into a sacred monument.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Stupas generally served as repositories of relics, containing physical remains or belongings of the Buddha or revered Buddhist monks.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Stupas functioned as votive (devotional offerings) and commemorative structures, marking significant events in Buddha's life or expressing religious devotion.

📝 Short Notes: Stupas in Ancient India

• Pre-Buddhist Origin: Stupas originally existed as burial mounds (chaityas) in ancient India before Buddhism emerged.
• Buddhist Adoption: Buddhism adopted and transformed the stupa into a central religious monument, especially after Buddha's Parinirvana (483 BCE).
• Purpose: Stupas served triple functions - repositories of sacred relics (sarira), commemorative monuments marking important Buddhist events, and votive structures built as acts of devotion.
• Key Components: A typical stupa consists of a hemispherical dome (anda), a square railing (harmika), and an umbrella-like structure (chhatravali).
• Famous Examples: Sanchi Stupa (Madhya Pradesh), Amaravati Stupa (Andhra Pradesh), and Dhamek Stupa (Sarnath) represent different architectural styles and periods.
• Circumambulation: Devotees perform pradakshina (clockwise walking) around stupas as a form of worship and meditation.