UPSC CSE Prelims
Indian Sculpture Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Indian Sculpture
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Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct ?
- It was located in the lower Krishna valley.
- In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size.
- The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Detailed Explanation:
The Amaravati Stupa (Maha Chaitya) was an important Buddhist monument of ancient India.
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Statement 1 is Correct: It was located in the lower Krishna River valley in present-day Andhra Pradesh.
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Statement 2 is Incorrect: Amaravati Stupa was larger than the Great Stupa at Sanchi and is considered one of the largest stupas in India.
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Statement 3 is Correct: The Amaravati School of Sculpture greatly influenced later South Indian art and spread to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia through trade and cultural contacts.
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Therefore, Statements 1 and 3 are correct, making Option B the correct answer.
Statement-wise Analysis
| Statement | Status | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| It was located in the lower Krishna valley. | ✅ Correct | Situated in present-day Andhra Pradesh along the Krishna River. |
| It was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size. | ❌ Incorrect | Amaravati Stupa was actually larger than Sanchi Stupa. |
| Its sculpture influenced South India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. | ✅ Correct | Amaravati art spread through maritime trade and cultural exchanges. |
Amaravati Stupa & Amaravati School of Art
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh |
| River Valley | Lower Krishna Valley |
| Period | Mainly Satavahana Period |
| Also Known As | Maha Chaitya |
| Material Used | White Limestone |
| Art Style | Amaravati School (Andhra School) |
Important Features
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Famous for its intricate narrative relief sculptures depicting Jataka tales and events from Buddha's life.
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Early Buddhist art at Amaravati largely followed the aniconic tradition, later incorporating Buddha images.
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Influenced later Pallava, Chola, Sri Lankan, and Southeast Asian sculpture traditions.
With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Maitreya
Maitreya is recognized in Buddhist tradition as the future Buddha who will appear on Earth to teach the pure dharma when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have been completely forgotten. Avalokiteshvara (also known as Lokesvara or Padmapani) is a compassionate bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism but is not considered a future Buddha destined to save the world.
📝 Short Notes: Key Buddhist Figures
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Maitreya | Future Buddha who will appear in the future to teach dharma; currently resides in Tushita heaven |
| Avalokiteshvara | Bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism; embodies the compassion of all Buddhas |
| Lokesvara | Another name for Avalokiteshvara, meaning "Lord of the World" |
| Padmapani | Form of Avalokiteshvara holding a lotus (padma); depicted in Ajanta Cave paintings |
| Gautama Buddha | Historical Buddha of the current age; achieved enlightenment at Bodh Gaya |
Lord Buddha’s image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’. It symbolizes
Detailed Explanation:
Bhumisparsha Mudra (Earth-touching gesture) depicts the moment when Siddhartha Gautama, under attack by Mara's temptations at Bodh Gaya, touched the ground with his right hand to call upon Earth goddess (Vasudhara/Sthavira) as witness.
The Earth testified to Buddha's accumulated merits, purity, and spiritual worthiness across countless past lives, defeating Mara's claim and confirming his right to enlightenment. The gesture symbolizes witnessing purity and chastity, not physical protection from disturbance.
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