Test: Indian Architecture, Sculpture & Pottery- 2 - UPSC

• Udayaragiri caves (not to be confused with Udayagiri-Khandagiri Caves in Odisha): It is located in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. Created in the early 5th century AD under the patronage of Chandragupta II, it is famous for having numerous sculptures on the hill walls.

• The sculpture of Varaha or Boar incarnation of the Vishnu is notable. The caves have one of the earliest Hindu sculptures. It also has caves dedicated to Shiva, Narasimha (half-lion, half-man), Narayana (resting Vishnu) and Skanda.

• Stupas became larger and more decorative in the post-Mauryan period. 

• Stone was increasingly used in place of wood and brick. 

• The Shunga dynasty introduced the idea of torans as beautifully decorated gateways to the stupas. The torans were intricately carved with figures and patterns and were evidence of Hellenistic influence.

• Mathura School developed in and around Mathura, Sonkh and kankalitala.

• Madurai school doesn’t exist.

• There exists some difference between Greek and Roman styles and Gandhara School integrates both the styles. 

• The idealistic style of Greeks is reflected in the muscular depictions of Gods and other men showing strength and beauty. Lots of Greek mythological figures from the Greek Parthenon have been sculpted using Marble.

• On the other hand, Romans used art for ornamentation and decoration and is realistic in nature as opposed to Greek idealism. 

• Roman art projects realism and depicts real people and major historical events. The Romance used concrete in their sculptures. They were also famous for their mural paintings.

Both statements are correct.

The Gupta period (4th to 6th century AD) is often referred to as the Golden Age of India due to its significant achievements in art, literature, science, and philosophy.

1. The Gupta period saw remarkable progress in temple architecture. The rock-cut caves of Ajanta, the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, and the Dasavatara temple at Deogarh are some examples of Gupta-era temple architecture.

2. Buddhist and Jain art also flourished during the Gupta age. The Buddhist art of the Gupta period is characterized by its elegance and simplicity, seen in the Buddha images at Sarnath and Bodh Gaya. Jain art of the period is known for its intricate details, seen in the Jain temples at Deogarh and Mathura.

• The Ajanta caves were inscribed by the Buddhist monks under the patronage of the Vakataka kings - Harishena being a prominent one. 

• The figures in these caves were done using fresco painting and demonstrate considerable naturalism. 

• The colours were obtained from local vegetation and minerals. The outlines of the paintings were done in red colour and then the inside was painted. 

• One of the striking features is the absence of blue colour in the paintings. Cave No. 16 is one of the most elegant specimens of cave architecture. 

• The paintings are generally themed around Buddhism - the life of Buddha and Jataka stories.

• Of the 29 caves, 5 were developed during the Hinayana phase while the remaining 24 were developed during the Mahayana phase of Buddhism.

•  During the Gupta period, a new school of sculpture developed around Sarnath. It was characterised by the use of cream coloured sandstone and the use of metal.

• The sculptures of this school were immaculately dressed and lacked any form of nakedness. The halo around the head of Buddha was intricately decorated. Example: Sultanganj Buddha (7.5 ft high).