Art & Culture Test 5

Answer – D

Harsha himself authored three plays – Ratnavali, Priyadarsika and Nagananda

Answer – C

Harsha was a great patron of learning. His biographer Banabhatta adorned his royal court. Besides Harshacharita, he wrote Kadambari.

Answer – A

• Mahendravarman I introduced the rock-cut temples, which is considered as first stage of four stages of Pallava architecture.
• The second stage of Pallava architecture is represented by the monolithic rathas and Mandapas found at Mamallapuram.
• Narasimhavarman I took the credit for these wonderful architectural monuments. The five rathas, popularly called as the Panchapanadava rathas, signifies five different styles of temple architecture. The mandapas contain beautiful sculptures on its walls

Answer – A

Pallavas introduced the art of excavating temples from the rock. In fact, the Dravidian style of temple architecture began with the Pallava rule. It was a gradual evolution starting from the cave temples to monolithic rathas and culminated in structural temples.

Answer – B

• In the next stage, Rajasimha introduced the structural temples. These temples were built by using the soft sand rocks. The Kailasanatha temple at Kanchi and the Shore temple at Mamallapuram remain the finest examples of the early structural temples of the Pallavas.
• The last stage of the Pallava art is also represented by structural temples built by the later Pallavas. The Vaikundaperumal temple, Muktheeswara temple and Matagenswara temples at Kanchipuram belong to this stage of architecture.

Answer – C

Tamil literature had developed considerably during Pallava rule. The Nayanmars and Alwars composed religious hymns in Tamil. The Devaram composed by Nayanmars and the Nalayradivyaprabandam composed by Alwars represent the religious literature of the Pallava period.

Answer – C

• The Pallavas introduced the art of excavating temples from the rock.
• In fact, the Dravidian style of temple architecture began with the Pallava rule.
• It was a gradual evolution starting from the cave temples to monolithic rathas and culminated in structural temples

Answer – C

• Rajasimha introduced the structural temples. These temples were built by using the soft sand rocks.
• The Kailasanatha temple at Kanchi and the Shore temple at Mamallapuram remain the finest examples of the early structural temples of the Pallavas.

Answer – C

• The art and architecture of the Rashtrakutas were found at Ellora and Elephanta.
• At Ellora, the most remarkable temple is the Kailasa temple. It was excavated during the reign of Krishna I. It is carved out of a massive block of rock 200 feet long, and 100 feet in breadth and height.
• The temple consists of four parts – the main shrine, the entrance gateway, an intermediate shrine for Nandi and mandapa surrounding the courtyard. The temple stands on a lofty plinth 25 feet high. The central face of the plinth has imposing figures of elephants and lions giving the impression that the entire structure rests on their back. It has a three-tiered sikhara or tower resembling the sikhara of the Mamallapuram rathas. In the interior of the temple there is a pillared hall which has sixteen square pillars. The Kailasa temple is an architectural marvel with it beautiful sculptures. The sculpture of the Goddess Durga is shown as slaying the Buffalo demon. In another sculpture Ravana was making attempts to lift Mount Kailasa, the abode of Siva. The scenes of Ramayana were also depicted on the walls. The general characteristics of the Kailasa temple are more Dravidian.

Answer – A

• Chalukyas were great patrons of art. They developed the vesara style in the building of structural temples.
• However, the vesara style reached its culmination only under the Rashtrakutas and the Hoysalas.

Answer – C

• A mosque is generally large with an open courtyard, surrounded on three sides by cloisters and the Qibla Liwan in the west.
• In Qibla Liwan, the mihrab and the mimbar for the Imam are located. People faced the mihrab while offering prayers as it indicated the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca.

Answer – A

• Pragadeeswara also called Big Temple at Tanjore built by Rajaraja I is a master-piece of South Indian art and architecture
• Siva temple at Gangaikondacholapuram was built by Rajendra I.
• The Airavathesvara temple at Darasuram in Tanjore District and the Kampaharesvara temple at Tribhuvanam are examples of later Chola temples.

Answer – A

The bronzes of the Chola period are world-famous. The bronze statues of Nataraja or dancing Siva are master pieces.

Answer – D

The development of Tamil literature reached its peak during the Chola period. Sivakasintamani written by Thiruthakkadevar and Kundalakesi belonged to 10th century. The Ramayana composed by Kamban and the Periyapuranam or Tiruttondarpuranam by Sekkilar are the two master-pieces of this age.

Answer – D

• The development of Tamil literature reached its peak during the Chola period. Sivakasintamani written by Thiruthakkadevar and Kundalakesi belonged to 10th century.
• The Ramayana composed by Kamban and the Periyapuranam or Tiruttondarpuranam by Sekkilar are the two master-pieces of this age.
• Jayankondar’s Kalingattupparani describes the Kalinga war fought by Kulotunga I.
• The Moovarula written by Ottakuthar depicts the life of three Chola kings. The Nalavenba was written by Pugalendi.
• The works on Tamil grammar like Kalladam by Kalladanar, Yapperungalam by Amirthasagarar, a Jain, Nannul by Pavanandhi and Virasoliyam by Buddhamitra were the products of the Chola age

Answer – C

• The most important source for the reign of Samudragupta is the Allahabad Pillar inscription. It describes his personality and
• This inscription is engraved on an Asokan pillar. It is written in classical Sanskrit, using the Nagari script.
• It consists of 33 lines composed by Harisena.
• It describes the circumstances of Samudragupta’s accession, his military campaigns in north India and the Deccan, his relationship with other contemporary rulers, and his accomplishments as a poet and scholar

Answer – C

• At Tirupati, life-size standing portrait statues were cast in bronze, depicting Krishnadevaraya with his two queens, Tirumalamba and Chinnadevi.
• The standing king and queens are depicted in praying posture, that is, both hands held in the namaskara mudra.

Answer – C

The Chalukya king, Mangalesha, patronised the excavation of the Badami caves. Badami was the capital of the western Chalukyan dynasty which ruled the region from 543 to 598 CE. Hence statement 1 is true
Stylistically speaking, the painting represents an extension of the tradition of mural painting from Ajanta to Badami in South India. Hence statement 2 is true.

Answer – C

• When the Pandyas rose to power, they too patronised art. Tirumalaipuram caves and Jaina caves at Sittanvasal are some of the surviving examples.
• A few fragmented layers of paintings can be seen in Tirumalaipuram.
• In Sittanavasal, the paintings are visible on the ceilings of shrines, in verandas, and on the brackets.
• Hence both statements are true.

Answer – D

• In the eleventh century, when the Cholas reached their zenith of power, that masterpieces of Chola art and architecture began to appear.
• The temples of Brihadeswara at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram were built during the reigns of Rajaraja Chola and his son, Rajendra Chola. Hence all statements are correct.