With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs:
Famous work of sculpture Site
- 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?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: C. 1 and 3 only
The Mahaparinirvana sculpture depicting Buddha's final moments, surrounded by celestial beings and grieving followers, is a prominent artwork found in Ajanta Caves. Similarly, the relief sculpture depicting Varaha Avatar rescuing Bhudevi (Goddess Earth) is a significant rock-cut sculpture, but it is famously located at Udayagiri Caves in Madhya Pradesh, not Mount Abu. The "Arjuna's Penance" or "Descent of Ganga" relief is a colossal and iconic rock-cut sculpture located at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) in Tamil Nadu, a masterpiece of Pallava art.
Source: UPSC gs1 2014