Civil Services Prep

Prelims 2014 · Art and Culture · Question 84

With reference to the cultural history of India, the term 'Panchayatan' refers to

  1. an assembly of village elders
  2. a religious sect
  3. a style of temple construction
  4. an administrative functionary

Answer

a style of temple construction

  • (a) an assembly of village elders — This is related to panchayat, not Panchayatan. Verdict: Incorrect.
  • (b) a religious sect — Panchayatan is not a sect; though Panchayatana puja refers to worship of five deities, in cultural-history questions UPSC uses Panchayatan mainly for temple architecture. Verdict: Incorrect.
  • (c) a style of temple construction — Panchayatan denotes a temple layout with one main shrine and four subsidiary shrines at the corners. Verdict: Correct.
  • (d) an administrative functionary — The term has no such administrative meaning in this context. Verdict: Incorrect.
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