Prelims 2014 · Art and Culture · Question 25
With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs — Famous work of sculpture : Site.
- A grand image of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below : Ajanta
- 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
- "Arjuna's Penance"/"Descent of Ganga" sculpted on the surface of huge boulders : Mamallapuram.
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Answer
1 and 3 only
1. Buddha's Mahaparinirvana — Ajanta: Correct. Ajanta Cave 26 has the famous large reclining Buddha in Mahaparinirvana, with celestial figures above and mourning disciples below.
2. Varaha Avatar rock sculpture — Mount Abu: Incorrect. The famous monumental Varaha relief is at Udayagiri (near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh), not Mount Abu.
3. 'Arjuna's Penance'/'Descent of Ganga' — Mamallapuram: Correct. This is the celebrated Pallava-period open-air rock relief at Mamallapuram.
Therefore, pairs 1 and 3 only are correctly matched.