UPSC CSE Prelims
Indian Architecture Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Indian Architecture
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With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs:
| Famous work of sculpture | Site |
|---|---|
| 1. A grand image of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below | Ajanta |
| 2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rock | Mount Abu |
| 3. “Arjuna’s Penance” /”Descent of Ganga” sculpted on the surface of huge boulders | Mamallapuram |
Which of the pairs given above is/ are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Ajanta Cave 26 houses the grand Mahaparinirvana sculpture of Buddha with celestial musicians above and mourning disciples below, a masterpiece of Buddhist rock-cut art.
❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: The colossal Varaha Avatar sculpture (rescuing Goddess Earth from cosmic waters) is located at Udayagiri Caves, Madhya Pradesh, not Mount Abu; Mount Abu features Dilwara Jain temples.
✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) contains the iconic "Arjuna's Penance"/"Descent of Ganga" – the world's largest open-air rock relief carved on two massive boulders.
Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?
Detailed Explanation:
Chaitya is a Buddhist prayer hall or shrine that contains a stupa at one end, serving as a place of worship and congregation.
Vihara is a residential monastery consisting of a central hall with small cells (living quarters) connected to it, where monks resided, meditated, and studied.
With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:
- The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
- The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
- At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Barabar Caves in Bihar (3rd century BCE, Mauryan period) are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, not the Badami Caves (6th–7th centuries CE, Chalukyas).
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Barabar Caves were made for the Ajivika sect by Emperor Ashoka and his grandson Dasaratha, not by Chandragupta Maurya.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Ellora Caves (6th–9th centuries CE) were excavated for three faiths — Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism — reflecting religious harmony.
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The Nagara, Dravida and the Vesara are the:
Detailed Explanation:
Nagara (Northern style), Dravida (Southern style), and Vesara (Mixed style) are the three main styles of Indian temple architecture.
Nagara features beehive-shaped shikharas, Dravida has pyramidal vimanas, and Vesara combines elements of both styles, prevalent in the Deccan region.
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