Ancient & Classical Architecture

Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Ajanta Caves, located in Maharashtra, are famous for their Buddhist rock-cut sculptures and paintings, including the grand image of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana in Cave 26. Pair 2 is not correctly matched: The huge image of Varaha Avatar of Vishnu is sculpted on the rock at Udayagiri Caves, near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, not at Mount Abu. Pair 3 is correctly matched: Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, is famous for its rock-cut sculptures, including the iconic "Arjuna's Penance" or "Descent of Ganga" carved on two massive boulders.

Statement 1 is incorrect: No temples or religious places have been discovered in Harappan cities. Statement 2 is correct: Figurines resembling a female deity have been found. They suggest the worship of Mother Goddess. A seal with a male figure sitting in a yogic posture with a trident-like headgear, surrounded by animals, has been found. This has a lot of similarities with Shiva. From this, it is figured that the Harappans might be worshipping Shiva. Statement 3 is incorrect: Based on the Indus seals, it can be said that a large number of animals, including goats, buffaloes, oxen, elephants, dogs, and camels, were domesticated. But the Harappans seem not to have been familiar with the horse.

A chaitya is a Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with a stupa at one end. In modern texts on Indian architecture, the term chaitya-griha is often used to denote an assembly or prayer hall that houses a stupa. Vihara generally refers to a monastery for Buddhist renunciates. The concept is ancient and in early Sanskrit and Pali texts, it meant any arrangement of space or facilities for pleasure and entertainment. The term evolved into an architectural concept wherein it refers to living quarters for monks with an open shared space or courtyard, particularly in Buddhism. The term is also found in Ajivika, Hindu, and Jain monastic literature, usually referring to the temporary refuge for wandering monks or nuns during the annual Indian monsoons. In modern Jainism, the monks continue to wander from town to town except during the rainy season (Chaturmas), the term "vihara" refers to their wanderings. Vihara or vihara hall has a more specific meaning in the architecture of India, especially ancient Indian rock-cut architecture. Here it means a central hall, with small cells connected to it, sometimes with beds carved from stone.

Tribhanga or Tribunga is a (tri-bent pose) standing body position or stance used in traditional Indian sculpture, art, and Indian classical dance forms like Odissi. As compared with the contrapposto pose, Tribhanga, literally meaning three parts break, consists of three bends in the body; at the neck, waist, and knee, hence the body is oppositely curved at the waist and neck which gives it a gentle "S" shape and is considered the most graceful and sensual of the Odissi positions. It has been closely associated with the Hindu deity Krishna who is often portrayed in this posture.

Mural is a painting applied to and made integral with the surface of a wall or ceiling. The term may properly include painting on fired tiles but ordinarily does not refer to mosaic decoration unless the mosaic forms part of the overall scheme of the painting. Ajanta Caves: It is well known that the Ajanta caves have mural paintings. These paintings have Buddhist religious themes and depict the Jatakales. Lepakshi temple: The Lepakshi temple also has mural paintings of Vijayanagara kings. Sanchi Stupa: The Sanchi stupa does not have mural paintings.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The caves at Badami (in Karnataka) were built during the 6th–7th centuries CE under the Chalukyas, but they are not the oldest. The oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India are the Barabar Caves in Bihar, dating to the 3rd century BCE (Mauryan period). Statement 2 is incorrect: The Barabar Caves were indeed made for the Ajivika sect, but they were constructed during the reign of Emperor Ashoka (and later his grandson Dasaratha), not Chandragupta Maurya. Statement 3 is correct: At Ellora, caves were excavated for three different faiths — Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism — reflecting religious harmony during the period (6th to 9th centuries CE).