Material Culture (Sculptural Traditions)

1.Origin and Early Traditions

• Bhimbetka Rock SheltersImportance 4/5
  Where are the Bhimbetka rock shelters, and which periods do they span? Remember the natural pigments used and the subjects painted. Why do the paintings lie in layers over one another? Know their UNESCO status, and why they show that Indian art has a continuous history before the Indus Valley Civilisation.
• Prehistoric Figurines and Features of Prehistoric ArtImportance 2/5
  What materials were used for prehistoric figurines, and what themes (fertility, ritual) do they show? Understand the general features of prehistoric art: scale, finishing, purpose and who made it. Was this art meant to be beautiful in the modern sense?
• Character of Harappan Sculpture and Its Defining AbsenceImportance 4/5
  Understand the general character of Harappan sculpture: its scale, whether it was portable, and its standardised forms. Which kind of sculpture is missing from it altogether? Be clear about which dynasty first produced that kind in India.
• Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daroImportance 5/5
  Remember the site, the approximate date, the material and the casting technique of the Dancing Girl (what lost-wax means, in simple terms). Know her main features, such as the arms, the bangles and the posture. Why is she counted among the earliest and finest lost-wax castings of the subcontinent? Which museum holds her today? Do not confuse her material with that of the Priest-King or the Male Torso.
• Priest-King and Male TorsoImportance 4/5
  Remember the site and the material of each sculpture. What are the Priest-King's features (robe pattern, eyes, headband)? Why is "Priest-King" only a convention? Understand the Torso's modelling and what its neck socket suggests. Which later school continued to use the Torso's stone, and is it the same stone as the Mauryan Chunar sandstone?
• Harappan Terracotta Figurines (Mother Goddess, Animals)Importance 3/5
  What are the features of the Mother Goddess figurines, and what do they suggest about popular religion? Understand how they link to later fertility-goddess worship. Which animals were modelled, which figures had movable parts, and which animal appears most often?
• Unicorn and Pashupati Seals and the Indus ScriptImportance 4/5
  Know the material and the imagery of the Unicorn seal and the Pashupati seal. Who read the Pashupati figure as an early Shiva, and is that reading agreed by all? Remember the approximate number of Indus signs. Why does the undeciphered script limit what we can say about Harappan belief and administration?
• Harappan Materials and Motifs (Steatite, Faience, Trefoil)Importance 2/5
  What are steatite and faience, and what did the Harappans make from each? What is the trefoil motif, and where does it appear? Understand what faience shares with Egypt and Mesopotamia, what the trefoil shares with Mesopotamia, and what this suggests about contact between early civilisations.
• Prehistoric Art and Harappan Sculpture ComparedImportance 3/5
  Be able to contrast prehistoric art and Harappan sculpture on medium, scale, technique, purpose, who made it, key sites, and what each led to in later art.

2.Mauryan Sculpture

• Mauryan Transformation in Indian SculptureImportance 4/5
  Know the period of Mauryan sculpture. Why is it called the first monumental, state-sponsored stone tradition in India? Understand how it differs in scale from the small Harappan craft tradition, and in polish from later sculpture.
• Ashokan Phase and the Role of ArtImportance 3/5UPSC 2015
  Remember the years of Ashoka's reign. How did pillars and edicts help him govern? What did Dhamma mean to Ashoka, and was it only a Buddhist idea?
• Foreign Influences on Mauryan ArtImportance 4/5
  Which empire influenced Mauryan art, and how did it come into contact with north-west India? Remember the two elements Mauryan sculpture took from it.
• Lomas Rishi Cave (Barabar Caves)Importance 4/5UPSC 2013
  Where is the Lomas Rishi cave, and what is its rock? Remember its polished interior and the arch carved on its front. Which religious community received the Barabar caves from Ashoka, and what does this show about Mauryan religious patronage?
• Chunar Sandstone and Monolithic Ashokan PillarsImportance 3/5UPSC 1997
  Where is Chunar sandstone quarried, and why did it suit the pillars? What does "monolithic" mean? Understand what carrying such pillars over long distances says about Mauryan administration.
• Mauryan PolishImportance 5/5UPSC 1997
  What is the Mauryan polish, and how was it probably produced? Know why its exact method is not fully understood. Why is it used to identify Mauryan work? Does Shunga or Gupta sculpture have it? Understand how the dating debate over the Didarganj Yakshi relates to the polish.
• Components of an Ashokan PillarImportance 4/5UPSC 1997
  Remember the four parts of an Ashokan pillar: shaft, bell capital, abacus and animal capital. For each, know its form and the symbolism attached to it.
• Scripts of the Ashokan Edicts (Brahmi, Kharosthi)Importance 3/5
  Which scripts do the Ashokan edicts use, and where was each used? Remember the direction and origin of Kharosthi and its present status. Who deciphered Brahmi, in which year, and why did this change our knowledge of Ashoka?
• Sarnath Lion CapitalImportance 5/5UPSC 1998
  Where was the Sarnath Lion Capital found? Know its parts: the lions, the animals and wheels on the abacus, and the lost crowning wheel. When was it adopted as the National Emblem, and what is the source of the motto? Which part of it appears on the national flag? Do not confuse it with Sanchi or Rampurva.
• Other Animal Capitals (Rampurva, Lauria Nandangarh, Sankisa)Importance 3/5
  Which animal crowns the Lauria Nandangarh capital? Remember each site's notable feature: the naturalistic bull of Rampurva, the Lauria Nandangarh shaft that still stands in place, and the legend linked to Sankisa.
• Meaning of the Yaksha–Yakshi TraditionImportance 3/5
  Who are yakshas and yakshis, and what are they linked with? Understand what their sculptures beside Ashokan art show about popular and state art existing together.
• Didarganj YakshiImportance 4/5
  Where was the Didarganj Yakshi found, and what is it made of? Remember its polish and features: the fly-whisk, jewellery and drapery. Why do scholars disagree about its date?
• Parkham and Besnagar YakshasImportance 2/5
  Where were the Parkham and Besnagar Yakshas found, and what is the general form of each? What does the inscription on the Parkham figure suggest about how craft was organised?

3.Post-Mauryan Sculpture Schools

• Post-Mauryan Political Setting and Kushana PatronageImportance 3/5UPSC 2001
  Which regional powers rose after the Mauryan decline (c. 185 BCE), and where? Know the period of the Kushanas and Kanishka I. Why did the Kushana position between Central Asia, Rome, China and India make their art cosmopolitan? Which two schools did they support?
• From Aniconic to Iconic Buddha ImagesImportance 5/5
  What is aniconism? Remember the symbols used for the Buddha and what each stands for, and the sites where this style dominated. When and where did human images of the Buddha first appear? Did one school alone start this, and what causes are debated?
• Setting and Material of the Gandhara SchoolImportance 4/5UPSC 1996
  Know the region, period and patrons of the Gandhara school. Which stone is its main material, and what are that stone's properties? When was stucco used? Remember its key sites.
• Stylistic Character of Gandhara SculptureImportance 5/5UPSC 1998
  Understand the Greek and Roman features of Gandhara art: hair, drapery, face, musculature, moustache and halo, each with its parallel. What are its narrative reliefs, and which Bodhisattva is prominent? Why had Hellenistic influence been present in the region since Alexander? Is Gandhara art Buddhist alone?
• Setting and Material of the Mathura SchoolImportance 4/5
  Where did the Mathura school work, and under whose patronage? Which older tradition was it rooted in? Know its stone, the quarry, and how to tell it apart from Chunar sandstone. How long did the tradition last?
• Stylistic Character of the Mathura BuddhaImportance 5/5
  Know the Mathura Buddha's head, robe, body, posture and expression. Which folk tradition shaped its build? Was its style Hellenistic or indigenous? Which innovation in standing Buddha images is credited to Mathura?
• Religious Range of Mathura Art and the Kanishka StatueImportance 4/5
  For how many faiths did Mathura make images, and how does this differ from Gandhara? Remember the headless Kanishka statue: what is its dress, and what does it show about Mathura's output?
• Setting and Material of the Amaravati SchoolImportance 4/5
  Where is Amaravati, and on which river? Know its great stupa, the period, and the dynasties that patronised it in order. Which stone was used, and what visual effect does it give? Which other site shares this material?
• Stylistic Character of Amaravati SculptureImportance 4/5UPSC 2026
  Understand the features of Amaravati reliefs: movement, crowded panels, decorative framing and continuous narrative (what the term means). How do later panels show the shift from symbols to human images of the Buddha?
• Present Location of the Amaravati PanelsImportance 2/5
  Which British officials surveyed the Amaravati stupa and moved its finest sculptures to Madras and London? Remember the century and where most panels are held today. Why does this matter for the debate on returning cultural heritage?
• Gandhara, Mathura and Amaravati ComparedImportance 5/5
  Be able to tell the three schools apart on material, period, patronage, influence, Buddha depiction, drapery, main format, key sites and present collections. Remember the quick rule that pairs each stone with its style.
• Ushnisha and Sanghati Across the SchoolsImportance 3/5
  What are the ushnisha and the sanghati? How do Gandhara, Mathura and Gupta sculptors each treat the hair and ushnisha, and how do they show the sanghati?

4.Gupta Sculpture — The Classical Zenith

• Gupta Period as the Setting of Classical SculptureImportance 3/5
  Know the period and the main Gupta rulers. Why is the age called a "golden age", and which fields of learning flourished alongside sculpture? Which faiths enjoyed patronage?
• Gupta Synthesis and the Canonical IconImportance 4/5
  What did Gupta sculpture take from the Mathura school, what from Gandhara, and what did it leave behind? Understand what "canonical forms" means and how far they reached across faiths, centuries and Southeast Asia.
• Stylistic Features of Gupta SculptureImportance 5/5
  Understand spiritual idealism in Gupta art. How are the face, body, drapery and halo (prabhamandala, prabhavali) treated? Does Gupta stone carry the Mauryan polish?
• Iconographic Canons (Tala System, Vishnudharmottara Purana)Importance 3/5
  What is the tala system, and how does it fix a figure's proportions? Which texts set out the rules for images? What is the Chitrasutra?
• Gupta Sculpture Compared with Gandhara and MathuraImportance 4/5
  Be able to contrast Gupta sculpture with Gandhara and early Mathura work on material, body, drapery, face, halo, aesthetic aim and legacy.
• Seated Buddha of SarnathImportance 5/5
  Know the date, material, mudra and posture of the Sarnath Seated Buddha. How are its robe, face and halo treated? Where is it held today, and how did it influence art across Asia? Be careful not to confuse its mudra with that of standing or meditating Buddhas.
• Gupta-Phase Standing Buddha of MathuraImportance 2/5
  How did the Gupta phase change the older Mathura type of standing Buddha? Which gesture is standard for it?
• Mudras of Buddha Images (Dharmachakra, Abhaya, Varada, Dhyana)Importance 4/5UPSC 2012
  For each of the four mudras, remember the hand position, its meaning, and the kind of image it goes with.
• Udayagiri Varaha PanelImportance 5/5UPSC 2014, 2015
  Where is the Udayagiri Varaha panel, and under which ruler was it made? Know the myth it shows and its scale. How can it be read as political allegory? Understand its dual function, devotional and political.
• Deogarh Dashavatara Temple Panels and DoorwayImportance 4/5
  What are the three wall panels of the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh, and what does each show? What does Anantasayana mean? Which river goddesses flank the doorway, with which vehicles, and why did this become a standard feature of Nagara temple doors?
• Gupta-Phase Tirthankara ImagesImportance 2/5
  What are the standard features of a Gupta-period Tirthankara image? Why does it carry no ornaments or weapons?

5.Early Medieval Rock-Cut Sculpture

• Early Medieval Rock-Cut Phase: Period, Patrons and PluralismImportance 3/5
  Know the period and the dynasties linked to Elephanta and to Ellora. Which faiths stood side by side in these complexes, and why did rulers support several?
• Basalt and Subtractive CarvingImportance 3/5
  How does basalt differ from sandstone as a carving stone? What is subtractive, top-down carving, and why could mistakes not be corrected?
• Elephanta Caves: Location, Patronage and StatusImportance 4/5
  Where are the Elephanta caves? Which dynasties are named as patrons, and why is the attribution disputed? How many caves are there, and which faiths do they belong to? Know their UNESCO status.
• Maheshmurti (Trimurti) of ElephantaImportance 5/5
  Know the size of the Maheshmurti and the names and character of its three faces, with the cosmic function given to each. Whom do all three faces show? Be careful of the common belief that they stand for Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
• Other Elephanta PanelsImportance 4/5
  What do the Gangadhara, Ardhanarishvara, Nataraja and Yoga Dakshinamurti panels show? Understand the meaning given to each, such as Purusha and Prakriti, and teaching through silence.
• Ellora Cave Complex and Its Three TraditionsImportance 5/5
  How many caves are at Ellora? Remember the cave numbers and date span for each of its three faiths, and its UNESCO status. Does the numbering follow the order of construction?
• Buddhist Caves at Ellora (Vishvakarma, Tin Thal)Importance 3/5
  What type of cave is Cave 10 (Vishvakarma), and what is unusual about its stupa? Know the storeys and purpose of Cave 12 (Tin Thal). How do both link to Mahayana Buddhism?
• Kailasanatha Temple, Ellora (Cave 16)Importance 5/5
  Who built the Kailasanatha Temple, and of which dynasty? Understand its monolithic, top-down method of carving. Which earlier temple does it copy, and what does that choice suggest? Was the patron a Chalukya?
• Sculptural Panels of the Kailasanatha TempleImportance 3/5
  What does the Ravana panel show, and what contrast lies at its centre? Know the other named panels at the temple.
• Jain Caves at Ellora (Indra Sabha)Importance 3/5
  Which caves at Ellora are Jain, and what is their date? Know the features of Cave 32 (Indra Sabha). How does the carving in Jain caves differ from that in the Hindu caves?
• Kailasanatha at Ellora and at KanchipuramImportance 4/5
  Both temples share a name. Be able to tell them apart by dynasty and by method of construction.

6.Chola Bronze Tradition

• Chola Bronze Tradition: Period, Patrons and ContinuityImportance 4/5
  Know the period and the two peak rulers with their reign dates. Did bronze casting begin with the Cholas? What came after them under the Vijayanagara and Nayaka dynasties, and how did quality change?
• Bhakti Movement and the Demand for Processional BronzesImportance 4/5
  Who were the Nayanars and Alvars? Remember their numbers and period. Which Nayanars composed the Tevaram, and what is the Alvars' hymn collection? Understand why Bhakti created a need for icons that could be carried out of the temple.
• Utsava Murti and Mula VigrahaImportance 4/5
  What do utsava murti and mula vigraha mean, and what is each made of? How do they differ in use? What is abhisheka?
• Lost-Wax Casting of Chola BronzesImportance 5/5
  Understand the stages from wax model to finished bronze. Why does the clay mould contain organic matter? Why is the method called "lost wax"?
• Panchaloha AlloyImportance 4/5
  What does Panchaloha mean? Know the metals in it and which is the base. Why were the precious metals added, apart from their money value?
• Uniqueness of Each Casting and the Illegal Export of BronzesImportance 3/5
  Why is every Chola bronze unique, and why can a lost piece not be replaced? Understand the issue of temple theft, illegal export and efforts to bring bronzes back.
• Nataraja: Ananda Tandava and the Four HandsImportance 5/5UPSC 1995
  What does "Nataraja" mean, and what is the Ananda Tandava posture? For each of the four hands, remember what it holds or shows and what it stands for.
• Nataraja: Feet, Ring of Fire and HairImportance 4/5
  Who is Apasmara, and what does he stand for? What does the raised foot show? Know the meaning of the ring of fire, the matted hair with the river Ganga, and the crescent moon and skull.
• Coomaraswamy's Essay "The Dance of Shiva"Importance 2/5
  Who wrote the essay "The Dance of Shiva", and in which year? How did it make the Nataraja known across the world?
• Somaskanda and Kalyanasundara MurtiImportance 4/5
  Which figures appear in the Somaskanda group, and in the Kalyanasundara Murti? Know how the Somaskanda was used as a processional (utsava) bronze, and how the Kalyanasundara Murti was used in temple ritual.
• Standing Vishnu, Devi Bronzes and the Tribhanga PostureImportance 3/5
  Remember the attributes and posture of the standing Vishnu bronze, and how Devi images were used. What is the tribhanga posture, and where is it most marked?
• Alvar and Nayanar Saint BronzesImportance 3/5
  Which saints are most often shown in bronze? What part do these images play in processions?

7.Jain Sculpture Tradition

• Jain Values and the Tirthankara in SculptureImportance 3/5
  Which three Jain values shape sculpture, and how does each show in an image? What is a Tirthankara? Remember how many there are, and who the first and the last are.
• Digambara and Shvetambara SectsImportance 3/5
  What does each sect's name mean? What does each believe about the clothing of monks? In which regions is each strong?
• Digambara and Shvetambara Tirthankara Images ComparedImportance 4/5
  Be able to contrast the two kinds of image on clothing, ornament, eyes, body surface and favoured posture, and understand the reason behind each difference.
• Tirthankara Postures and the Srivatsa MarkImportance 4/5
  What are kayotsarga and padmasana? Which monument is cited as an example of kayotsarga, and does it show a Tirthankara? What does the srivatsa mark look like, and what does it tell us about an image?
• Gommateshvara (Bahubali), ShravanabelagolaImportance 5/5UPSC 2002, 2009
  Know the place, district, date, height and stone of the Gommateshvara statue. Who built it, and under which dynasty? Whom does it show, and what is his place in Jain belief? Know its posture and the vines. What is the Mahamastakabhisheka, how often is it held, and with which substances?
• Dilwara Temples, Mount AbuImportance 4/5
  Where are the Dilwara temples, and what are they made of? How many are there? For the two main temples, remember the year, dedication and builder. Do not confuse them with Ranakpur.
• Ranakpur Jain TempleImportance 4/5
  Know the district, date and dedication of the Ranakpur temple. Who were its royal patron and its merchant financier? What is the chaumukha plan, and what does it symbolise? How many pillars does it have?
• Jain Temples at Khajuraho (Parsvanatha)Importance 3/5
  What are the date and dynasty of the Parsvanatha Temple at Khajuraho? Which faith does it belong to, and what do its outer carvings include? Is erotic sculpture found only on Hindu temples?

8.Regional Medieval Sculpture

• Khajuraho Temples: Period, Dynasty and MaterialImportance 4/5
  Know the dates, the dynasty and state, and the stone of the Khajuraho temples. How many temples survive out of the original number? Remember the Kandariya Mahadeva temple as a key example.
• Mithuna Figures of KhajurahoImportance 4/5
  What does mithuna mean, and roughly what share of Khajuraho's sculpture is mithuna? Understand the four scholarly interpretations. Why is it a mistake to reduce Khajuraho to erotic art?
• Surasundaris and Male Divine FiguresImportance 3/5
  Who are the surasundaris, and which scenes from daily life do they show? What do these poses convey? Know the main male deity forms found at Khajuraho.
• Hoysala Sculpture: Material and Main TemplesImportance 4/5
  Which stone did the Hoysalas use, and why is it prized for fine carving? Remember the three main temple sites, with each temple's name and date. Which three temples form the 2023 UNESCO World Heritage inscription "Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas"?
• Horizontal Frieze SystemImportance 3/5
  What is shown in the horizontal bands on Hoysala temple walls? In which order is the wall read?
• Darpana Sundaris and Bracket FiguresImportance 3/5
  Who are the darpana sundaris, and at which temple are they best known? What are the bracket figures (salabhanjika, madanika), where do they stand, and what job do they do?
• Pala and Sena Sculpture: Context and MaterialImportance 4/5
  Know the dates and region of the Pala and Sena dynasties. Which Buddhist monastic centres flourished under them? Which stone marks Pala work, and how does it look?
• Pala Buddhist Imagery and Its Spread Across AsiaImportance 4/5
  Which Vajrayana deities received standard forms in Pala art? Where did Pala images spread, and through which network? How does the Pala style relate to Gupta art?
• Sena PhaseImportance 2/5
  What was the religious focus of Sena sculpture, and which deities appear most? How does its style differ from Pala style?
• Odishan Sculpture and the Konark Sun TempleImportance 4/5UPSC 2015
  Know the dynasty, period and stone of Odishan sculpture. What does the Konark programme include? What do the wheels and their spokes stand for?
• Pallava Sculpture at MahabalipuramImportance 4/5UPSC 2014, 2015
  Know Arjuna's Penance (Descent of the Ganga): its scale and the two readings of its subject. What evidence does each reading use? What is the Govardhana relief in the Krishna mandapa?
• Rashtrakuta, Kashmiri and Solanki TraditionsImportance 2/5
  For each of these three traditions, remember the period, the medium and one or two key features or examples, such as Modhera, torana gateways and Kashmiri bronzes.

9.Materials, Techniques and Stylistic Transitions

• Properties of Sculptural MaterialsImportance 3/5
  For each major material, know its main properties and when it was most used. Why does stone suit permanence while bronze suits portability?
• Identifying Schools by MaterialImportance 5/5
  Which material marks each school or tradition: Gandhara, Mathura, Amaravati, Pala, Hoysala and Chola? Which materials were used by more than one school or period?
• Lost-Wax, Subtractive Carving, Modelling and Monolithic WorkImportance 3/5
  What do these four terms mean? How does modelling differ from carving? Remember the main monolithic works. Where is the earliest known lost-wax object of the subcontinent found, and is it older than the Dancing Girl?
• High Relief, Low Relief, Stucco and RepousséImportance 3/5
  What are these four techniques, and where is each typical? Why does low relief suit storytelling? How does repoussé differ from casting?
• Transitions in Scale, Material and SubjectImportance 3/5
  For scale, material and subject, understand what changed over time, what it changed to, and what drove the change.
• Transitions in Representation and StyleImportance 3/5
  Understand the move from symbols to human images of the Buddha, and from naturalism to idealism. What drove each?
• Transitions in Surface, Function and Geographical ScopeImportance 3/5
  Understand the changes in surface treatment, function and geographical spread, and what drove each. How did the common Gupta style split into regional styles between the 8th and 13th centuries? Did styles follow one single line, or exist side by side?
• All Major Schools ComparedImportance 4/5
  For each major tradition, be able to recall its period, material, style, patron and a key example.
• Matching Dynasties to Schools and Indian Sculpture AbroadImportance 4/5
  Which dynasty goes with which school or site? Know the three routes by which Indian sculpture influenced art abroad.

1. 1.

   Consider the following statements regarding the Mauryan polish:
   1. It is a mirror-like surface finish achieved on sandstone through grinding, polishing and burnishing.
   2. Its technique is fully understood and has been successfully replicated in the modern era.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
2. 2.

   Mauryan art took its bell-shaped (inverted lotus) capital form and its high-polish surface technique from the artistic vocabulary of which one of the following empires?

   1. AThe Kushana Empire
   2. BThe Achaemenid Persian Empire
   3. CThe Parthian Empire
   4. DThe Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
3. 3.

   Consider the following statements regarding an Ashokan pillar:
   1. The shaft was carved from a single piece of stone, and Chunar sandstone was consistently used for it.
   2. The abacus is a circular platform placed below the bell capital.
   3. The bell capital is an inverted-lotus form regarded as Persian-influenced.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
4. 4.

   Consider the following pairs:

   Famous sculpture	Site
   1. Varaha rescuing Bhudevi from the primordial ocean	Udayagiri
   2. Three-headed Shiva (Maheshmurti)	Ellora
   3. Arjuna's Penance (Descent of the Ganga)	Mahabalipuram

   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
5. 5.

   Consider the following statements:
   Statement-I: The facade of the Lomas Rishi cave in the Barabar group carries a carved chaitya-arch that imitates wooden prototypes.
   Statement-II: The Lomas Rishi cave was commissioned by Ashoka for Buddhist monks.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
6. 6.

   Consider the following statements regarding early Buddhist art:
   1. In the aniconic phase, the Bodhi tree was used to symbolise the Buddha's Enlightenment.
   2. In the aniconic phase, the stupa was used to symbolise the Buddha's First Sermon.
   3. The human image of the Buddha first appeared in Gandhara alone, and Mathura adopted it only later.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
7. 7.

   Match List I with List II:

   List I (School)	List II (Material)
   A. Gandhara	1. Black basalt
   B. Mathura	2. Red Sikri sandstone
   C. Amaravati	3. Grey schist
   D. Pala	4. White limestone

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   1. AA-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
   2. BA-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
   3. CA-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
   4. DA-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
8. 8.

   Consider the following statements regarding the Gandhara school of sculpture:
   1. It flourished under the patronage of the Satavahanas.
   2. Grey schist was its primary medium, and stucco was used extensively in its later phases.
   3. The halo (prabhamandala) appears for the first time in Indian art in the Gandhara tradition.
   Which of the statements given above are correct?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
9. 9.

   The robust, broad-chested physique of the Buddha in the Mathura school reflects the influence of which one of the following traditions?

   1. AThe Greek kouroi tradition
   2. BThe Roman portrait tradition
   3. CThe Achaemenid court tradition
   4. DThe Yaksha folk tradition
10. 10.

    Consider the following statements:
    1. The Mathura school produced images for Buddhist, Jain and Brahmanical traditions.
    2. The Gandhara school was primarily Buddhist.
    3. The headless Kanishka statue from Mathura shows him in Indian dress.
    4. The Mathura school worked under Kushana patronage but was rooted in older indigenous artistic traditions.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
11. 11.

    Consider the following statements regarding the Amaravati school:
    1. The great Amaravati Stupa stands on the Krishna river.
    2. Its sculpture consists mainly of freestanding images rather than narrative relief panels.
    3. It was patronised first by the Ikshvakus and later by the Satavahanas.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
12. 12.

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Gandhara sculpture shows strong Greco-Roman features.
    Statement-II: Greek-influenced art had been present in north-west India since Alexander's campaigns, for over three centuries by the Kushana period.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
13. 13.

    Consider the following statements regarding Gupta sculpture:
    1. Drapery is rendered as a paper-thin membrane that is almost invisible.
    2. Body proportions follow the tala system based on the Shilpashastra canons.
    3. The halo is elaborately decorated with floral, geometric and flame patterns.
    4. Gupta stone carving does not carry the Mauryan polish.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
14. 14.

    Match List I with List II:

    List I (Mudra)	List II (Hand position)
    A. Dharmachakra	1. Both hands resting in the lap, right over left, palms upward
    B. Abhaya	2. Right hand raised, palm outward, fingers pointing upward
    C. Varada	3. Right hand extended downward, palm outward
    D. Dhyana	4. Both hands raised, right hand turned outward

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    1. AA-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
    2. BA-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
    3. CA-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
    4. DA-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
15. 15.

    Consider the following statements regarding the Udayagiri Varaha panel:
    1. It was commissioned under Chandragupta II.
    2. Chandragupta II appears in the procession depicted in the panel.
    3. Bhudevi is shown seated on the lap of Varaha.
    4. It is a purely devotional work with no political reading.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
16. 16.

    Which one of the following correctly describes the river goddesses that flank the doorway of the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh?

    1. AGanga with the tortoise and Yamuna with the makara
    2. BGanga with the lion and Yamuna with the makara
    3. CGanga with the makara and Yamuna with the lion
    4. DGanga with the makara and Yamuna with the tortoise
17. 17.

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: The three faces of the Maheshmurti at Elephanta represent the Hindu triad of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
    Statement-II: In the Elephanta context, all three faces are aspects of Shiva alone.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
18. 18.

    Consider the following pairs:

    Ellora cave	Description
    1. Cave 12 (Tin Thal)	The only chaitya hall at the site
    2. Cave 16	Kailasanatha Temple (Hindu)
    3. Cave 32	Indra Sabha (Jain)

    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
19. 19.

    The Kailasanatha Temple at Ellora (Cave 16) was commissioned by which one of the following rulers?

    1. AKrishna I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty
    2. BA Chalukya king of the Badami line
    3. CAshoka of the Mauryan dynasty
    4. DA Pallava king of the Kanchipuram line
20. 20.

    Consider the following statements:
    1. The Kailasanatha Temple at Ellora is a monolithic structure carved top-down from a single basalt cliff.
    2. The Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram is also a Rashtrakuta rock-cut monolith.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
21. 21.

    Consider the following statements regarding the lost-wax casting of Chola bronzes:
    1. The clay mould was mixed with materials such as sand, cow dung and rice husks to allow gases to escape.
    2. Chola bronzes were mass-produced in series from reusable moulds.
    3. The molten alloy was poured in before the wax was melted out of the mould.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. CAll three
    4. DNone
22. 22.

    Match List I with List II:

    List I (Element of the Nataraja icon)	List II (Meaning)
    A. Damaru in the upper right hand	1. Protection
    B. Fire in the upper left hand	2. Creation
    C. Abhaya mudra of the lower right hand	3. Liberation
    D. Gajahasta of the lower left hand	4. Destruction

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    1. AA-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
    2. BA-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
    3. CA-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
    4. DA-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
23. 23.

    Consider the following statements:
    1. The Nayanars were Tamil Vaishnava poet-saints.
    2. The Alvars were twelve Tamil Vaishnava poet-saints and are the Vaishnava counterparts of the Nayanars.
    3. The utsava murti is a portable processional bronze, whereas the mula vigraha is the fixed stone image in the innermost sanctum.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
24. 24.

    Consider the following statements regarding Jain Tirthankara images:
    1. Digambara images are completely nude, with open eyes in an unfocused gaze.
    2. The Shvetambara sect is dominant in South India, in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
    3. Shvetambara images are shown primarily in the padmasana posture.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
25. 25.

    Consider the following statements regarding the Gommateshvara statue at Shravanabelagola:
    1. It represents the last Tirthankara of the Jains.
    2. It was commissioned by Chavundaraya, a minister and general of the Western Ganga dynasty.
    3. The Mahamastakabhisheka of the statue is performed every 12 years.
    4. It is carved from a single marble block.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
26. 26.

    Consider the following pairs:

    Jain temple	Detail
    1. Vimala Vasahi, Dilwara	Dedicated to Adinatha (Rishabhanatha)
    2. Luna Vasahi, Dilwara	Built by Vimala Shah
    3. Ranakpur Jain Temple	Financed by the merchant Dharna Shah

    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
27. 27.

    Consider the following statements regarding the Khajuraho temples:
    1. They were built under the Chandela dynasty, c. 950-1050 CE.
    2. Mithuna figures make up most of the sculpture at Khajuraho.
    3. Only about 25 of the original 85 temples survive.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
28. 28.

    Consider the following statements regarding Hoysala sculpture:
    1. It is executed in black basalt.
    2. The Chennakesava temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebidu and the Kesava temple at Somanathapura are its primary sites.
    3. The darpana sundaris of Belur's Chennakesava temple are among its most celebrated figures.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
29. 29.

    Consider the following statements:
    1. Red Sikri sandstone is the characteristic material of Pala sculpture.
    2. Sena sculpture is lighter and plainer in style than Pala sculpture.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
30. 30.

    Which one of the following associations of a dynasty with a school of sculpture is correct?

    1. ASatavahanas - the Gandhara school
    2. BChandelas - Hoysala soapstone sculpture
    3. CPalas - the Chola bronze tradition
    4. DKushanas - the Gandhara and Mathura schools

1. 1.

   UPSC 2026

   Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct ?
   1. It was located in the lower Krishna valley.
   2. In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size.
   3. 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 :

   1. A1 only
   2. B1 and 3 only
   3. C2 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
2. 2.

   UPSC 2013

   With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:
   1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
   2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
   3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
3. 3.

   UPSC 1998

   Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?
   I. Lothal: Ancient dockyard
   II. Sarnath: First Sermon of Buddha
   III. Rajgir: Lion capital of Asoka
   IV. Nalanda: Great seat of Buddhist learning
   Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
   Codes:

   1. AI, II, III and IV
   2. BIII and IV
   3. CI, II and IV
   4. DI and II
4. 4.

   UPSC 2015

   With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

   1. ALingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar
   2. BRock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
   3. CRock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram
   4. DVaraha Image at Udayagiri
5. 5.

   UPSC 2014

   With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs :

   	Famous work of sculpture
   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?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
6. 6.

   UPSC 2012

   Lord Buddha's image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It symbolizes

   1. ABuddha's calling of the Earth to watch over Māra and to prevent Māra from disturbing his meditation
   2. BBuddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Māra
   3. CBuddha's reminder to his followers that they all arise from the Earth and finally dissolve into the Earth, and thus this life is transitory
   4. DBoth the statements (a) and (b) are correct in this context
7. 7.

   UPSC 2009

   Mahamasthakabhisheka, a great religious event, is associated with and done for who of the following?

   1. ABahubali
   2. BBuddha
   3. CMahavir
   4. DNataraja
8. 8.

   UPSC 2002

   Which one of the following statements is correct?

   1. AThe statue of Gomateshwara at Sravanabelagola represents the last Tirthankara of Jains
   2. BIndia’s largest Buddhist monastery is in Arunachal Pradesh
   3. CThe Khajuraho temples were built under Chandela Kings
   4. DThe Hoysalesvara temple is dedicated to Siva
9. 9.

   UPSC 2001

   Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

   1. AHarappan Civilisation … Painted Grey Ware
   2. BThe Kushans … Gandhara School of Art
   3. CThe Mughals … Ajanta Paintings
   4. DThe Marathas … Pahari School of Painting
10. 10.

    UPSC 1998

    Assertion (A): The Gandhara School of art bears the mark of Hellenistic influence.
    Reason (R): Hinayana form was influenced by that art.

    1. ABoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    2. BBoth A and R are true, but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
    3. CA is true, but R is false
    4. DA is false, but R is true
11. 11.

    UPSC 1997

    Which one of the following statements regarding Asokan stone pillars is incorrect?

    1. AThese are highly polished
    2. BThese are monolithic
    3. CThe shaft of pillars is tapering in shape
    4. DThese are parts of architectural structures
12. 12.

    UPSC 1996

    Which one of the following sculptures invariably used green schist as the medium?

    1. AMaurya sculptures
    2. BMathura sculptures
    3. CBharhut sculptures
    4. DGandhara sculptures
13. 13.

    UPSC 1995

    Bronze icons of Nataraja cast during the Chola period invariably show the deity with

    1. Aeight hands
    2. Bsix hands
    3. Cfour hands
    4. Dtwo hands