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 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (c)
• Pair 1 is correct: Ajanta Cave 26 has a 7-metre reclining Buddha in Mahaparinirvana with celestial beings above and mourning followers below.
• Pair 3 is correct: 'Arjuna's Penance'/'Descent of the Ganga' is the great Pallava relief on two boulders at Mamallapuram.
• Pair 2 is wrong: the colossal rock-cut Varaha rescuing Bhudevi is at Udayagiri Caves (Vidisha, MP), Gupta period — not Mount Abu, which is known for Dilwara Jain temples.
• Hence 1 and 3 only, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- Pair 2 is wrong: the Varaha is at Udayagiri.
- (b) 3 only
- Pair 1 (Ajanta Mahaparinirvana) is also correct.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Pair 2 is wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.