UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 16
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?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct Option: C
Explanation: Ajanta houses a Mahaparinirvana Buddha relief; Mamallapuram is famous for the rock-cut Descent of the Ganga. The Varaha relief is mislocated.
Statement/Pair-wise Analysis:
Pair 1: Correct - Ajanta Cave 26 contains a large reclining Buddha in Mahaparinirvana.
Pair 2: Incorrect - The celebrated Gupta-era Varaha relief is at Udayagiri, not Mount Abu.
Pair 3: Correct - The monumental Arjuna’s Penance/Descent of the Ganga bas-relief is at Mamallapuram.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - includes incorrect pair 2; omits correct pair 3.
B: Incorrect - omits correct pair 1.
C: Correct - includes all and only the correct items.
D: Incorrect - includes incorrect pair 2.