UPSC Prelims 2014 Q85: Art & Culture – Sculpture & Iconography
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?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
Famous sculptures and their sites
| Pair | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A grand image of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana with celestial musicians above and sorrowful followers below - Ajanta | Correct | In Cave 26 at Ajanta |
| 2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar rescuing Goddess Earth, sculpted on rock - Mount Abu | Incorrect | It is at the Udayagiri caves, near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh (Gupta period) |
| 3. 'Arjuna's Penance' / 'Descent of Ganga' on huge boulders - Mamallapuram | Correct | A Pallava rock relief of the 7th century |
What Mount Abu is known for:
| Site | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dilwara temples | Jain temples of white marble, built by the Solankis |
| Style | Fine carving of ceilings and pillars |
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Varaha image is at Udayagiri, not Mount Abu.
- (b) Incorrect. Pair 1 is also right: the Mahaparinirvana image is at Ajanta.
- (c) CORRECT. Mahaparinirvana - Ajanta and Arjuna's Penance - Mamallapuram are right.
- (d) Incorrect. Pair 2 is wrong; Mount Abu has Jain marble temples.
Key point
Mahaparinirvana of Buddha: Ajanta Cave 26. Varaha rescuing the Earth: Udayagiri (Madhya Pradesh, Gupta). Arjuna's Penance: Mamallapuram (Pallava).
Remember
Varaha panel = Udayagiri, not Mount Abu.
Common mistakes
- Placing the Varaha panel at Mount Abu.
- Confusing Udayagiri in Madhya Pradesh with Udayagiri in Odisha.
- Forgetting that Mount Abu's fame is its Jain Dilwara temples.
Exam tip
Mount Abu = Jain marble. Udayagiri = Gupta Varaha.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — An Introduction to Indian Art (Later Mural Traditions; Temple Architecture and Sculpture)
- Archaeological Survey of India — Udayagiri Caves, Vidisha