Civil Services Prepby Garima Malik & Nitin Sangwan Account

UPSC Prelims · General Studies

Ancient, medieval & culture

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Indian art and culture / Architecture

Dravida temples: Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara and Nayaka

Practise 1 PYQ

Concepts to cover

  1. Pallava phases: Mahendra (caves), Mamalla (rathas, Arjuna's Penance), Rajasimha (Shore, Kailasanatha Kanchi), Nandivarman (Vaikuntha Perumal)
  2. Chola temples: Brihadisvara Thanjavur (Rajaraja), Gangaikondacholapuram (Rajendra), Airavatesvara Darasuram; Great Living Chola Temples (UNESCO)
  3. Vimana, gopuram, prakara, mandapa, tank; storeyed pyramidal tower; guardian dvarapalas
  4. Pandya contribution: tall gopurams, Srirangam and Madurai enlargements
  5. Vijayanagara: kalyana mandapa, Raya gopuram, Vitthala and Virupaksha temples, Hazara Rama, Lepakshi; Nayaka: Meenakshi Madurai, thousand-pillar halls
Where to study

An Introduction to Indian Art Part I, Class XI, ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture

  • ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture, pp. 2-35 (printed 69-102)
  • ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture, The Dravida or South Indian Temple Style (Pallava phases, Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram); Five Rathas, Mahabalipuram, pp. 16-18 (printed 83-85)
  • ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture, The Dravida or South Indian Temple Style (Brihadeshwara at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram); Brahadeeshwarar, Thanjavur, pp. 15-18 (printed 82-85)
  • ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture, The Dravida or South Indian Temple Style (vimana, gopuram, prakara, mandapa, tank), pp. 15-16 (printed 82-83)
  • ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture, The Dravida or South Indian Temple Style (Pandya and Nayaka gopurams: Srirangam, Madurai), pp. 15-18 (printed 82-85)
  • ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture, The Dravida or South Indian Temple Style; Architecture in the Deccan (Vijayanagara and Nayaka temples: Hampi, Lepakshi, Madurai), pp. 15-23 (printed 82-90)

Indian Art and Culture · Nitin Singhania

  • ch. 2

Tamil Nadu State Board Class XI History, Volume I

  • Lesson 9 Cultural Development in South India, pp. 143-163 (printed 139-159)
  • Lesson 9 Cultural Development in South India, 9.2 Pallavas; 9.5 Mamallapuram (Pallava architecture), pp. 148-157 (printed 144-153)
  • Lesson 11 Later Cholas and Pandyas, Brihadishvarar Temple; Darasuram Temple, p. 198 (printed 194)
  • Lesson 11 Later Cholas and Pandyas, Temples (Pandya temples and gopurams), pp. 206-207 (printed 202-203)

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: India, properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (with inscription years) and Tentative List

  • Cultural properties: Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
  • Cultural properties: Great Living Chola Temples (1987, 2004)

Themes in Indian History Part II, Class XII, Theme 7 An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara

  • Theme 7 An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara, 5. The Sacred Centre (Virupaksha and Vitthala temples, gopurams, mandapas), pp. 15-18 (printed 184-187)
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