UPSC Indian Art and Culture – Chapter 5: South Indian Temple Art – Pallavas to the Nayakas (21 MCQs)

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UPSC Indian Art and Culture – Chapter 5: South Indian Temple Art – Pallavas to the Nayakas (21 MCQs) – 21 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 monolithic rathas of Mamallapuram were made mainly under:

Correct Answer: D [Narasimhavarman I]

Explanation:

Narasimhavarman I Mamalla had the monolithic rathas and rock reliefs carved at Mamallapuram, the port named after him.

2.  

The Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram was built by:

Correct Answer: D [Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)]

Explanation:

Narasimhavarman II Rajasimha (c. 700) built the structural Kailasanatha at Kanchipuram, along with the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram.

3.  

The Vaikunta Perumal temple at Kanchipuram is linked with:

Correct Answer: C [Nandivarman II]

Explanation:

The Vaikunta Perumal temple at Kanchipuram belongs to the last Pallava phase, under Nandivarman II.

4.  

The Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur was completed around:

Correct Answer: D [1010 CE]

Explanation:

Rajaraja I completed the Brihadeeswarar (Rajarajeswaram) temple at Thanjavur in about 1010 CE, his 19th regnal year.

5.  

Gangaikonda Cholapuram was built by:

Correct Answer: B [Rajendra I]

Explanation:

Rajendra I founded Gangaikonda Cholapuram as his new capital after his Ganga campaign and built its Brihadeeswarar temple.

6.  

The ninth-century stone temple known as Vijayalaya Cholisvaram is located at:

Correct Answer: A [Narthamalai]

Explanation:

Table 5.2 places the Vijayalaya Cholisvaram, a ninth-century stone temple, at Narthamalai in Pudukkottai district.

7.  

Chola bronze images were made by the:

Correct Answer: A [lost-wax process]

Explanation:

Chola bronzes were cast by the lost-wax (cire perdue) method: a clay-coated wax model is melted out and replaced by molten metal.

8.  

The Vettuvan Koil at Kazhugumalai is associated with the:

Correct Answer: D [Pandyas]

Explanation:

The unfinished monolithic Vettuvan Koil at Kazhugumalai, Thoothukudi district, was cut from the top of a rock under the Pandyas.

9.  

The stone chariot and musical pillars are features of the:

Correct Answer: A [Vitthala temple, Hampi]

Explanation:

The Vitthala temple at Hampi has both the famous stone chariot shrine and pillars that give musical notes when struck.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The Great Living Chola Temples include the Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur.
2. The Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram is part of the Great Living Chola Temples.
3. The Shore Temple is part of the Great Living Chola Temples.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Thanjavur (1987) and Darasuram (added 2004) are in the Great Living Chola Temples; the Pallava Shore Temple is not.

11.  

Assertion (A): Vijayanagara temples often have a Kalyana mandapa.

Reason (R): The Kalyana mandapa was used for the ritual marriage of the deity and the goddess.

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

Explanation:

Both are true, and the hall's purpose – hosting the deity's ritual marriage – explains why Vijayanagara temples built Kalyana mandapas.

12.  

Arjuna's Penance, the great relief at Mamallapuram, is carved on:

Correct Answer: C [two huge boulders]

Explanation:

Arjuna's Penance is an open-air relief cut on two huge boulders, with the natural cleft between them representing the river.

13.  

The Thousand-pillared hall is a famous feature of the temple at:

Correct Answer: D [Madurai Meenakshi]

Explanation:

The Thousand-pillared hall is a celebrated feature of the Meenakshi–Sundareswarar temple complex at Madurai.

14.  

A temple with seven enclosures on an island in the Kaveri is:

Correct Answer: A [Ranganathaswamy, Srirangam]

Explanation:

The Ranganathaswamy temple stands on Srirangam island in the Kaveri and is enclosed by seven prakarams.

15.  

Very tall gateway towers called raya gopurams are linked with:

Correct Answer: A [Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara]

Explanation:

The very tall raya gopurams of Vijayanagara temples are mostly associated with Krishnadevaraya's building activity.

16.  

In later South Indian temples, which part grew larger and more prominent than the vimana?

Correct Answer: B [Gopuram]

Explanation:

From the later Pandya period onward, gateway gopurams grew larger and taller than the vimana over the sanctum.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order of construction:

1. Airavatesvara temple, Darasuram
2. Shore Temple, Mamallapuram
3. Pudhu Mandapam, Madurai
4. Brihadeeswarar temple, Thanjavur

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Explanation:

c. 700, c. 1010, 12th century, 17th century.

18.  

The best-known Chola bronze, Shiva dancing within a ring of fire, is:

Correct Answer: C [Nataraja]

Explanation:

Nataraja shows Shiva as Lord of Dance performing the ananda tandava within a ring of fire, standing on the dwarf of ignorance.

19.  

Hampi was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in:

Correct Answer: A [1986]

Explanation:

The Group of Monuments at Hampi, the Vijayanagara capital, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986.

20.  

The Pudhu Mandapam at Madurai is associated with:

Correct Answer: C [Thirumalai Nayak]

Explanation:

The Pudhu Mandapam at Madurai was built by the Madurai Nayaka ruler Thirumalai Nayak in the seventeenth century.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2019

Building 'Kalyaana Mandapas' was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of:

Correct Answer: D [Vijayanagara]

Explanation:

a pillared hall for the ritual marriage of the deity.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U06 · Indian Art and Culture (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-indian-art-culture

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