Question 7 from UPSC CSE 2014 - Culture

Question

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

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 and 3 only

Strategy: Identify the correct locations for three specific Indian artworks: the Mahaparinirvana panel, Arjuna's Penance, and the Varaha avatar sculpture. Use knowledge of their distinct iconography and historical context to validate the pairings and identify the incorrect one.

Key Info: **Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra)**
Famous for exquisite Buddhist mural paintings and rock-cut sculptures dating from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE. The Mahaparinirvana mural at Ajanta depicts the Buddha's passing, with the sorrowful congregation of followers below and celestial musicians above, exemplifying Gupta-era style and religious expression.

**Varaha Avatar Sculpture**
The colossal Varaha relief belongs to the Udayagiri caves, near Vidisha (Bhilsa), Madhya Pradesh, carved in the Gupta period (early 5th century CE). It shows Vishnu as a boar lifting the Earth goddess Bhudevi from cosmic waters, surrounded by attendants. Mount Abu (Rajasthan) is famous for Dilwara Jain temples, but not for such a distinctive Varaha sculpture.

**Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Tamil Nadu**
Site of the monumental rock relief 'Arjuna's Penance' or 'Descent of Ganga', an enormous open-air bas-relief on two boulders. Created in the Pallava period (7th–8th century CE), it illustrates both the story of Arjuna's penance for Pashupata astra and the descent of river Ganga to earth, featuring intricate figures of gods, animals, and hermits—in a signature South Indian art context.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3