1. The Ajanta Caves, particularly those rebuilt or expanded during the Gupta-Vakataka period, serve as a “visual encyclopedia” of ancient India. How do these paintings reflect the socio-economic conditions of the time?
- The depiction of foreign figures (Persians/Greeks) suggests continued international diplomatic and trade ties.
- The use of expensive pigments like Lapis Lazuli indicates trade links with the Afghanistan region.
- The focus on court scenes alongside Jataka tales shows the deep integration of royal patronage with religious life.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]
Notes:
Ajanta is not just religious; it is a mirror of the 5th-century world. The pigments and diverse ethnicities portrayed prove that even as the Mauryan Empire was long gone, the Gupta-Vakataka world remained a hub of global culture and wealth.
2. Match the Following correctly:
| List I (Cave Feature) |
List II (Site) |
| A. Dancing Nataraja Sculpture |
1. Badami Cave 1 |
| B. Pandavleni Caves |
2. Nashik Caves |
| C. Painted Celestial Nymphs |
3. Sigiriya (or Ajanta influence) |
| D. Trimurti Sculpture |
4. Elephanta Caves |
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
[A] A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
[B] A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
[C] A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
[D] A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4]
Notes:
A-1: The 18-armed Nataraja is a highlight of Badami’s Brahmanical caves.
B-2: Nashik Caves are also known as Pandavleni Caves.
C-3: Painted Celestial Nymphs are associated with Sigiriya or Ajanta influence.
D-4: The colossal 20ft high ‘Sadashiva’ (Trimurti) is the centerpiece of Elephanta Caves.
3. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
| Cave Site |
Associated River/Feature |
| Ajanta |
Waghora River |
| Bagh |
Baghani River |
| Elephanta |
Arabian Sea Island |
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]
Notes:
Ajanta caves are located in a horse-shoe shaped gorge of the Waghora River. Bagh caves lie on the banks of the Baghani river, which is a tributary of the Narmada. Elephanta caves are situated on Gharapuri Island in Mumbai harbor, part of the Arabian Sea. Thus, all three pairs are correctly matched.
4. What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?
- Both were built in the same period.
- Both belong to the same religious denomination.
- Both have rock-cut monuments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (UPSC Prelims 2016)
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] None of the statements given above is correct
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [3 only]
Notes:The correct answer is
[B] 3 only. Both Ajanta and Mahabalipuram are iconic examples of Indian rock-cut architecture, representing different eras and styles.
- Rock-cut Monuments (Statement 3 – Correct): Ajanta consists of 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments carved into a basalt horseshoe-shaped cliff. Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is famous for its monolithic rock-cut structures, including the Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) and the Descent of the Ganges bas-relief.
- Time Period (Statement 1 – Incorrect): These sites were built in vastly different eras. Ajanta was constructed in two phases: the first from the 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE (Satavahana period), and the second in the 5th and 6th centuries CE (Vakataka period). Mahabalipuram was primarily built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries CE.
- Religious Denomination (Statement 2 – Incorrect): Ajanta is exclusively Buddhist, featuring Chaityas (prayer halls) and Viharas (monasteries). In contrast, Mahabalipuram is primarily Hindu, dedicated to deities like Shiva, Vishnu, and Krishna, although it reflects broader Vedic and Puranic themes.
- Geographic Context: Ajanta is located in the Sahyadri ranges (Maharashtra) and is famous for its fresco paintings. Mahabalipuram is a coastal site in Tamil Nadu, known for its Shore Temple and intricate stone carvings.
5. 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? (UPSC Prelims 2014)
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1 and 3 only]
Notes:The correct answer is
[C] 1 and 3 only.
- Pair 1 – Correct (Ajanta): The Mahaparinirvana of Buddha is a colossal sculpture located in Cave 26 at Ajanta. It depicts the reclining Buddha at the moment of his death/liberation, flanked by celestial musicians in the upper registers and his grieving disciples and followers below.
- Pair 2 – Incorrect (Udayagiri, not Mount Abu): The famous rock-cut relief of the Varaha Avatar (Boar incarnation) of Vishnu rescuing Goddess Earth is located at the Udayagiri Caves in Madhya Pradesh (dating to the Gupta period). Mount Abu is primarily renowned for the Dilwara Jain Temples, which feature intricate white marble carvings rather than early rock-cut Vaishnavite reliefs.
- Pair 3 – Correct (Mamallapuram): This massive open-air relief, carved on two monolithic boulders, is famously known as “Arjuna’s Penance” or the “Descent of Ganga.” It is a hallmark of Pallava art in Tamil Nadu, depicting a rich tapestry of gods, humans, and animals converging toward a central cleft representing the holy river.
6. Consider the following historical places:
- Ajanta Caves
- Lepakshi Temple
- Sanchi Stupa
Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings? (UPSC Prelims 2013)
[A] 1 only
[B] 1 and 2 only
[C] 1, 2 and 3
[D] None
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]
Notes:The correct answer is
[B] 1 and 2 only. While all three sites are monumental landmarks of Indian heritage, only Ajanta and Lepakshi are celebrated for their extensive and historically significant mural paintings.
- Ajanta Caves (Statement 1 is Correct): The Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra are world-renowned for their Buddhist murals dating from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. These paintings predominantly depict the Jataka tales (stories of the Buddha’s previous births) and scenes from the life of the Buddha. They are characterized by expressive gestures and the use of the “fresco-secco” technique.
- Lepakshi Temple (Statement 2 is Correct): The Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi (Andhra Pradesh), built during the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century, contains some of the finest examples of post-medieval mural art in India. The ceilings of the mandapas are covered with large-scale paintings depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the incarnations of Shiva. The style is noted for its distinct profiles and elongated eyes.
- Sanchi Stupa (Statement 3 is Incorrect): Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh is a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture and sculpture, but it is not known for mural paintings. Its fame rests on the magnificent stone carvings on its four gateways (Toranas), which depict various events of the Buddha’s life and Buddhist symbols. Unlike the caves at Ajanta or Bagh, Sanchi does not have a tradition of wall paintings.
7. Consider the following:
- Ajanta Caves
- Sanchi Stupa
- Bharhut Stupa
- Lepakshi Temple
Where in the above can you find Jataka Tales depicted in various scenes?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 1 & 2
[C] Only 1, 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
Jataka tales are prominently depicted in Ajanta Caves, Sanchi Stupa, and Bharhut Stupa. Ajanta contains famous murals, such as in Cave 17, while Sanchi and Bharhut display stone carvings of Jataka scenes on their stupas. Lepakshi Temple, however, features mural paintings of puranic scenes, not Jataka tales.
8. There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings? (UPSC Prelims 2010)
[A] Bagh caves
[B] Ellora caves
[C] Lomas Rishi cave
[D] Nasik caves
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bagh caves]
Notes:
Ajanta Caves feature well-preserved Gupta period frescoes (c. 5th century CE), exemplifying the golden age of Indian art with vibrant Buddhist narratives. The Bagh Caves, located in Madhya Pradesh, contain the other primary surviving Gupta-era paintings, stylistically akin to Ajanta in technique, color palette (reds, yellows, greens), and themes like Jataka tales. These are dated paleographically and stylistically to the Gupta era (320-550 CE). Ellora has later paintings (post-Gupta, 6th-10th CE), Lomas Rishi is Mauryan rock-cut (3rd BCE, no paintings), and Nasik is Satavahana (2nd BCE-2nd CE). Scholarly consensus confirms only Ajanta and Bagh as key Gupta cave painting sites, though Bagh’s are more faded.
9. Which state is the host of 11th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival (AIFF)?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Kerala
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The 11th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival (AEIFF) has been launched in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra on 28 January. Ilaiyaraaja, legendary music composer and Padma Vibhushan awardee, was honoured with the Padmapani Award for his contribution to Indian cinema. The festival opened with the screening of the Spanish film ‘Siret’ and will continue until Sunday, showcasing national and international films. It is organised with support from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Maharashtra’s Department of Cultural Affairs.
10. Who has been selected for the ‘Padmapani Award’ at the 11th Ajanta–Ellora International Film Festival?
[A] A.R. Rahman
[B] Ilaiyaraaja
[C] Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
[D] M.M. Keeravani
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ilaiyaraaja]
Notes:
Recently, veteran music composer Ilaiyaraaja was announced as the recipient of the Padmapani Award at the 11th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival. The award recognises his unmatched contribution to Indian cinema and music. It includes a Padmapani memento, a citation certificate, and a cash prize of two lakh rupees. The 11th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival will be held from 28 January to 1 February at Mahatma Gandhi Mission, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Department of Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra.
