UPSC Indian Art and Culture – Chapter 4: Temple Architecture – Nagara, Dravida and Vesara (24 MCQs)

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UPSC Indian Art and Culture – Chapter 4: Temple Architecture – Nagara, Dravida and Vesara (24 MCQs) – 24 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The sanctum of a Hindu temple that houses the main image is called the:

Correct Answer: A [garbhagriha]

Explanation:

The garbhagriha, the 'womb-house', is the small dark sanctum that holds the main image of the deity.

2.  

The ribbed, disc-like stone at the top of a Nagara shikhara is the:

Correct Answer: C [amalaka]

Explanation:

The amalaka is the ribbed, disc-like stone crowning a Nagara shikhara, with the kalasha set above it.

3.  

High enclosure walls with gopurams are a feature of the:

Correct Answer: C [Dravida style]

Explanation:

Dravida temples stand within high enclosure walls entered through gopurams, which later grew taller than the vimana.

4.  

In the Odisha school, the main tower over the sanctum is called the:

Correct Answer: D [deul]

Explanation:

In Odisha the tower over the sanctum is called the deul, preceded by the jagamohana hall.

5.  

The Dashavatara temple at Deogarh belongs to the:

Correct Answer: A [Gupta period]

Explanation:

The Dashavatara temple at Deogarh, Lalitpur district, is a 6th-century Gupta temple with an early Panchayatana plan.

6.  

Which of the following is one of the oldest surviving brick temples of India?

Correct Answer: B [Bhitargaon temple]

Explanation:

The Bhitargaon temple in Kanpur district is a Gupta-period brick temple decorated with terracotta panels.

7.  

The Konark Sun temple was built by:

Correct Answer: D [Narasimhadeva I]

Explanation:

Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty built the Konark Sun temple in the 13th century.

8.  

The Khajuraho temples were built mainly by the:

Correct Answer: B [Chandelas]

Explanation:

The Chandelas built most Khajuraho temples between about 950 and 1050 CE, including Kandariya Mahadeva and Lakshmana.

9.  

A star-shaped (stellate) plan and the use of soapstone are features of:

Correct Answer: A [Hoysala temples]

Explanation:

Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura stand on star-shaped platforms and are carved in soapstone.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal is in the Dravida style.
2. The Papanatha temple at Pattadakal is in the Nagara style.
3. Pattadakal was built by the Hoysalas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

At Pattadakal the Virupaksha is Dravida and the Papanatha Nagara; statement 3 fails as the Chalukyas of Badami built them.

11.  

Assertion (A): Hoysala sculpture shows extremely fine detail.

Reason (R): The Hoysalas used soapstone, which is soft when quarried and easy to carve.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true, and the softness of freshly quarried soapstone is what allowed the Hoysalas' extremely fine carving.

12.  

The Martand Sun temple is located in:

Correct Answer: B [Jammu and Kashmir]

Explanation:

The Martand Sun temple, built by Lalitaditya Muktapida in the 8th century, stands in ruins in Kashmir.

13.  

The Dilwara temples at Mount Abu are:

Correct Answer: D [Jain temples of white marble]

Explanation:

The Dilwara group at Mount Abu, including Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi, consists of Jain temples of white marble.

14.  

River goddesses Ganga and Yamuna at the entrance of the sanctum are typical of:

Correct Answer: D [Nagara temples]

Explanation:

Nagara temples place the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna at the sanctum doorway; Dravida doors have dvarapalas.

15.  

In the Dravida tradition, an elliptical shrine with a rounded back is described as:

Correct Answer: A [gaja-prishta]

Explanation:

Gaja-prishta, 'elephant-backed', also called vrittayata, is the elliptical Dravida shrine with a rounded rear.

16.  

A Nagara shikhara that is broad and short, with slabs rising in a straight slope, is called:

Correct Answer: D [Phamsana]

Explanation:

The phamsana shikhara is broad and short, its slabs rising in a straight slope, often used over mandapas.

17.  

Arrange the following temples in chronological order of construction:

1. Sun temple, Konark
2. Dashavatara temple, Deogarh
3. Kandariya Mahadeva temple, Khajuraho
4. Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-4-3-1]

Explanation:

6th century, 8th century, 11th century, 13th century.

18.  

The Chausath Yogini temple at Mitawali, near Morena, is linked with the:

Correct Answer: C [Kachchhapaghatas]

Explanation:

The circular Chausath Yogini temple at Mitawali near Morena is linked with the Kachchhapaghata dynasty.

19.  

The pran pratishtha of the present Somnath temple in 1951 was performed by:

Correct Answer: B [Dr Rajendra Prasad]

Explanation:

President Dr Rajendra Prasad performed the pran pratishtha of the rebuilt Somnath temple on 11 May 1951.

20.  

The UNESCO site "Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas" was inscribed in:

Correct Answer: B [2023]

Explanation:

The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas – Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura – were inscribed on the World Heritage List in September 2023.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2022

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?

1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
2. A description of the Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present-day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

the installation was done by President Rajendra Prasad in 1951.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2021

With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements :

1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: C [1 and 4]

Explanation:

Statement 1 is true (circular, Kachchhapaghata period) and statement 4 is true (popular belief about the Parliament building).

23.  
UPSC Prelims 2017

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?

1. Arasavalli 2. Amarakantak 3. Omkareshwar

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: A [1 only]

Explanation:

Arasavalli in Srikakulam district has an old Sun temple still in worship; the other two places are not Sun temple sites.

24.  
UPSC Prelims 2014

With reference to the cultural history of India, the term 'Panchayatan' refers to

Correct Answer: C [a style of temple construction]

Explanation:

a central shrine with four subsidiary shrines at the corners.

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