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Flashcards in Art, Culture, Heritage Deck (35)
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1
Q

Explain the Granary in Harrappa? What it denotes?

A
  • suggesting mass storage & distribution system; built on Ravi for easy transportation
  • made by burnt brick kilns
  • two rectangular blocks with a passage separating them; six storage rooms (15*6) in each block
  • rows of air ducts beneath wooden floor with triangular openings for ventilation; granary complex- 55*43m
2
Q

Gandhara School of Buddhist Architecture?

A
  • influenced by Greco-Roman art
  • chief patrons- Sakes, Kushan
  • chief centres- Jalalabad, Begram, Taxila, Bamaran
  • Buddha covered in thick drapery with large and bold fold lining; rich carvings, symbolic expressions, elaborate ornamentation
  • realistic human shape with curly hair & mustache
  • theme- Mahayana Buddhism
  • first to produce image of sad & hungry Buddha
3
Q

Mathura School of Buddha Architecture?

A
  • produced during Kushan period using local red sandstone
  • votive pillars depicting various pattern of life; images fashioned in round for a 360 degree view
  • Buddha’s head & face shaven; no forehead marks; tight dress but frilled from left hand
  • speciality- black terracotta used
4
Q

Amravati School of Buddha Architecture?

A
  • developed in eastern Deccan
  • chief patrons- Satavahana, Ikshvaku rulers (evidence comes from railings, plinths, other stupa parts
  • carvings of Jakarta stories, carved on white marble; depicts humans as central character along with nature; kings, palaces figures prominently
  • long legs, slender frames with physical beauty & sensual expressions
5
Q

Stupas?

A
  • non-rockcut architectural forms
  • hemispherical domes, non enterable solid structure, glorified, beautified, enlarged funerary mound (used as resting place for bones & ashes of Buddha)
  • three primary features- 1. Hemispheric mounds (anda); 2. Square railing (harmika); 3. Central pillar supporting an umbrella form (chattra)
  • two secondary features- 1. enclosure wall with decorated gateways (toranas) at cardinal directions with 3 horizontal stone bars; 2. Circular terrace used as platform for religious rites
  • pillars & crossbars (which were low in relief) were carved with symbols of Buddha such as lotus, elephant, bull, lion, horse, Jatakas
  • in domical stupas, a base, railing, circumvulatory was added in 1st BC
6
Q

Explain the great bath of Indus Valley Civilisation?

A
  • a square pool (1272.5m)
  • constructed by kiln burnt bricks; gypsum & mortar for lining of pool to make it water tight
  • flight of steps on 2 sides facing each other and connects to rooms
  • nearby well fed the pool & dirty water drained through sewage system having corbelled drains 1.83m high
7
Q

Nagarjunkonda Stupas & their types?

In which phase they were created?

A

-in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, have quadrangular monastery, square/rect image shrine, pillared hall, a small stupa on square platform, hemispheric dome on lowdrum encased in sculptured panels
-Ayaka platforms in 4 directions with 5 pillars with engravings
-sculptures symbolises 5 Buddha’s life stages- Birth, Renunciation, Enlightenment, First Sermon, Parivartana
-have many styles named as
Viharas
Chaitya
Pagodas

8
Q

What are Pagoda stupa?

A
  • principle Buddhist architecture; religious multi storeied towers erected as memorial/shrines
  • royal symbol for earlier followers by adding umbrella like structure to symbolise Buddha; later it took over stupa functions
  • 84000 stupas built by Ashoka in 3BC
  • also in China, Japan, Korea, SE Asia
  • Indian pagodas- sculptured, pyramid shaped, taper at top
  • Chinese- stereotypical with tiles & upward curved roof
9
Q

Viharas stupas?

A
  • monasteries made of bricks/rockcut, preying hall with verandah on 3 sides & an open courtyard surrounded by rows of cells & pillared verandah in front
  • monasteries were self contained having Chaitya hall attached to stupa
  • found in Ajanta, Ellora, Nasik, Karle, Kanheri, Bagh, Badami
10
Q

Chaitya stupa?

A
  • worship halls made of bricks/rockcut
  • oldest nagarjunkonda stupa- Maha Chaitya, having a buddha’s tooth
  • largest brick Chaitya in
  • ruins found in eastern AndhraP
  • from 3BC- on west Godavari banks of Guntapillai (oldest), Srikakulam at Salihundan, Kottru at Vishakhapatnam, Krishna at Vijaywada, Guntur, Amravati
11
Q

Rock Cut Architecture?

A
  • no use of support from wood, beam & is carved out from a single stone
  • elements of wooden architecture are retained by skilled mimicking of timber texture, grains on surface
  • relics found here signify important connection btw monks & traders
  • some wealthy traders carved out cave temples during maritime trade btw Rome & SE Asia including pillars, arches, facades
12
Q

Nagarjunkonda Stupas & their types?

In which phase they were created?

A

-in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, have quadrangular monastery, square/rect image shrine, pillared hall, a small stupa on square platform, hemispheric dome on lowdrum encased in sculptured panels
-Ayaka platforms in 4 directions with 5 pillars with engravings
-sculptures symbolises 5 Buddha’s life stages- Birth, Renunciation, Enlightenment, First Sermon, Parivartana
-have many styles named as
Viharas
Chaitya
Pagodas

13
Q

What are Pagoda stupa?

A
  • principle Buddhist architecture; religious multi storeied towers erected as memorial/shrines
  • royal symbol for earlier followers by adding umbrella like structure to symbolise Buddha; later it took over stupa functions
  • 84000 stupas built by Ashoka in 3BC
  • also in China, Japan, Korea, SE Asia
  • Indian pagodas- sculptured, pyramid shaped, taper at top
  • Chinese- stereotypical with tiles & upward curved roof
14
Q

Viharas stupas?

A
  • monasteries made of bricks/rockcut, preying hall with verandah on 3 sides & an open courtyard surrounded by rows of cells & pillared verandah in front
  • monasteries were self contained having Chaitya hall attached to stupa
  • found in Ajanta, Ellora, Nasik, Karle, Kanheri, Bagh, Badami
15
Q

Chaitya stupa?

A
  • worship halls made of bricks/rockcut
  • oldest nagarjunkonda stupa- Maha Chaitya, having a buddha’s tooth
  • largest brick Chaitya in
  • ruins found in eastern AndhraP
  • from 3BC- on west Godavari banks of Guntapillai (oldest), Srikakulam at Salihundan, Kottru at Vishakhapatnam, Krishna at Vijaywada, Guntur, Amravati
16
Q

Rock Cut Architecture?

A
  • no use of support from wood, beam & is carved out from a single stone
  • elements of wooden architecture are retained by skilled mimicking of timber texture, grains on surface
  • relics found here signify important connection btw monks & traders
  • some wealthy traders carved out cave temples during maritime trade btw Rome & SE Asia including pillars, arches, facades
17
Q

Barabar Rock cut architecture?

A
  • oldest; made in maurayan period by Ashoka & Dashrath
  • contain Buddhist & Hindu sculptures
  • caves were used by ascetics of Ajivika Sect (founded by Makkhali Gosala- contemporary of Buddha
18
Q

Badami rock cut architecture?

A
  • cave temples at Badami built in 6th AD in early Chalukya capital
  • 4 cave temples are made from sides of a cliff; 3 Hindu & 1 Jain temple
  • Jain temple contains carved decorative pillars & brackets, detailed sculptures, etched ceiling panels, beautiful murals
  • blend of Nagara & Dravidian styles
19
Q

Kanheri rockcut?

A
  • 1st-10th BC, 109 caves; resting places for travellers on the way of Sopara Kalyan made of basalt
  • most were Viharas for living, studying, meditating; large caves were made Chaityas, congregational hall with a stupa, having simple & unadorned cells for living along with stone plinths used for bed
  • upper part of hill have pipes & cisterns for channeling rainwater to storage tanks
20
Q

Ajanta caves?

A
  • 30 caves built btw 400-650BC to 2 AD; built in 2 phases
  • 1st phase- Viharas for prayers, living; rectangular with small square dormitory cels cut into walls
  • 2nd phase- sanctuary cantered at a large stone statue of Buddha (carved from rock) was added to Viharas at the rear; this change reflected transition from Hinayana to Mahayana
21
Q

Ellora Caves?

A
  • 34 caves excavated on vertical face of Charandari hills
  • contains 12 Buddha caves (1 to 12), 17 Hindu caves (13 to 29), 5 Jain (18 to 34)
  • Kailashnath temple is the last Rock cut architecture excavated from top to bottom as against regular practice of carving from hillside
  • took 100 years for completion starting in 8th century by King Krishna 1 and dedicated it to shiva
22
Q

Raths of Mahabalipuram?

A
  • built in reign of Pallavas (founders of Dravidian style)
  • were scaled down models of actual temples sculpted out of monolith rocks; largest- 42*35ft & hieght of 40ft at maximum
  • most raths are modelled on Buddhist Viharas & Chaityas; later Builth architecture was sophisticated (as in Ellora)
23
Q

Carnatic Music?

A
  • in Kerela, AP, TN, Karnataka
  • restrictions are there, performed as Gayaki
  • Purandaras- father of Carnatic music who codified it
  • Melankara- classification of ragas of S-India; developed by Venkat Mukhi Swami
  • its present form is acquired in 18th century by compilations of Trio- Thayagraja, Shamashastri, Muthuswami Dikshiter
  • compositions have 3 parts- 1. Pallavis (first 2 lines which are repeated in song); 2. Anu Pallavi (followed after pallavi); 3. Charnam (sung at start or in btw also)
24
Q

Types(1) of Carnatic music?

A
  • VARNAM- sung/played in beginning of recitation, revealing the general form of Ragas
  • it has 2 halves- Puravanga & Uttaranga
25
Q

Type (2) of Carnatic music?

A

• KRITI- highly evolved musical song having certain raga, fixed tala or rhythmic cycle

26
Q

Type(3) of Carnatic music?

A
  • RAGAM- melodic improvisation in free rhythm played without mridangam
  • TANAM- another form of free rhythm
27
Q

Type(4) of Carnatic music?

A
  • PALLAVI- short pre-composed melodic theme with words & set of 1 cycle of tala
  • RAGAMALIKA- final part of pallavi where soloist improvises freely & comes back to original theme in the end
28
Q

Harvesrting Seasons?

A
Baisakhi 
Pongal 
Holi
Bihu 
Nabanya 
Diwali
29
Q

Why it is believed that Kalidasa belonged to Gupta period?

Sight some of the important works by Kalidasa.

A

Kuntaleshwar Daitym, a drama that Kalidasa wrote signifies that he belonged to the Gupta period.
Some important works:-
Meghdutam and Abhijnanshakuntalam were written by Kalidasa.

30
Q

Which ancient remains showed the presence of Harappa in central India (extreme right)?

A

Indus Valley Civilisation remains are found in Baghpat village in UP. It is 5000 years old and was discovered in 1957.

31
Q

Ministry of Culture recognises 2 more dances as classical. Name them.

A

Ghoomar and ThangTa

32
Q

Where does the National Republic Day Folk Festival takes place every year?

A

Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi

33
Q

According to Durkheim, what is mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity?

A

Mechanical solidarity means that when a society is united because of similarities. Ex- tribes, castes
Organic solidarity comprises in the new modern societies and is based on differences.

34
Q

Mandana Art

A

A tribal painting art of white chalk on red background seen on walls and floors of houses in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
For warding off evils

35
Q

Komaram Bheem

A
Komaram Bheem (22 October 1901 – 8 October 1940) was a tribal leader who fought against the Asaf Jahi Dynasty for the liberation of Hyderabad. He belonged to Gond tribe.
Telangana government has recently named a district after him.