Buddhism & Buddhist Art

Statement 1 is Correct: The Amaravati Stupa, historically known as the *Maha Chaitya*, is located in the lower Krishna River valley in the Guntur district of modern-day Andhra Pradesh. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Amaravati Stupa was actually larger than the Great Stupa at Sanchi. At its peak, the Amaravati Stupa had a diameter of approximately 50 meters and a height of about 27 meters, making it the largest stupa in India. In contrast, the Sanchi Stupa has a diameter of roughly 36.5 meters. Therefore, it was not "next only to Sanchi" in size. Statement 3 is Correct: The Amaravati school of art (also known as the Vengi or Andhra school) had a profound and lasting impact on later South Indian sculpture, including Pallava and Chola art. Facilitated by robust maritime trade networks along the eastern coast of India, the Amaravati style and its sculpted products were widely exported. Its influence is prominently visible in Sri Lanka (especially the Buddha images at Anuradhapura) and across various parts of Southeast Asia (such as Thailand and Java). Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

In early Buddhist art (such as at Sanchi, Bharhut, and Amaravati), the Buddha was not depicted in human form. Instead, sculptors used specific physical symbols to represent his presence and the major events of his life. This is known as the aniconic phase of Buddhist iconography. - The meditation of the Buddha is represented by the Empty Seat (Vajrasana or Bodhimanda). It is often depicted under a parasol or the Bodhi tree, signifying the exact spot at Bodh Gaya where he sat in deep meditation to attain awakening.
- The Buddha's First Sermon (*Dharmachakrapravartana*) is symbolized by the Wheel (Dharmachakra), representing the "turning of the wheel of law" at Sarnath.
- The Buddha's Mahaparinibbana (his physical death and final liberation) is represented by the Stupa.
- The Buddha's Mahabhinishkramana (the Great Departure or Renunciation) is represented by a Riderless Horse (Kanthaka), symbolizing Prince Siddhartha leaving his royal palace to seek truth. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

The correct answer is B. Chandragupta II. Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II (also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya) of the Gupta dynasty. He arrived around the early 5th century CE, seeking Buddhist texts and studying the practices of Buddhism in India. His travel accounts provide valuable information about Gupta India’s society, administration, and Buddhism. The other rulers listed do not align with the period of Fa-hien’s visit.

*  Statement 1 is incorrect. Chandraketugarh, located in West Bengal, not Odisha, was an ancient port city known for its extensive trade networks. *  Statement 2 is correct. Inamgaon is a well-known archaeological site in Maharashtra, providing valuable insights into the Chalcolithic period. *  Statement 3 is correct. Kerala has numerous megalithic sites, The megalithic monuments at Mangadu consisted of 28 hard compact and unhewn laterite blocks within an area of 5 cents of land. * Statement 4 is incorrect. Salihundam, is a village and panchayat in Gara Mandal of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. It is a historically important Buddhist monument of ancient Kalinga, not rock-cut caves. Therefore, the correctly matched rows are 2 and 3.

1. Nayaputta: This term means 'the son of Naya' and is NOT associated with Gautama Buddha rather this epithet is used for Mahavira. 2. Shakyamuni: This epithet means 'Sage of the Shakya clan'. Gautama Buddha belonged to the Shakya clan, making this a correct epithet. 3. Tathagata: This term means 'one who has thus gone' or 'one who has thus come'. It signifies enlightenment and is a common epithet for Gautama Buddha. Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Sanghabhuti was a prominent Buddhist scholar known for his work on the Sarvastivada school of Buddhism, particularly their Vinaya texts. Vinaya texts focus on monastic rules and discipline.  He traveled to China to translate these texts, making them accessible to Chinese Buddhists. Let's look at the other options: * Prajnaparamita Sutra: These sutras are central to Mahayana Buddhism and focus on the concept of 'emptiness' (sunyata). While important, they are not primarily associated with Sanghabhuti's work. * Visuddhimagga: This text, meaning 'Path of Purification,' is a comprehensive Theravada Buddhist treatise written by Buddhaghosa, not Sanghabhuti. * Lalitavistara: This Mahayana sutra narrates the life of the Buddha and is not directly linked to Sanghabhuti's scholarship.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The concept of a stupa predates Buddhism; it originally served as a pre-Buddhist burial mound. However, it was later adopted and popularized by Buddhism as a key religious monument. Statement 2 is correct: A stupa typically housed relics of the Buddha or revered monks, serving as a sacred repository. Statement 3 is correct: Stupas also functioned as votive and commemorative structures, built to honor significant events or express devotion.

* Dhanyakataka was an ancient city situated in the region of South India (Andhra Pradesh).  * It was a significant Buddhist centre, particularly associated with the Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism during ancient times.  * The Mahasanghika sect (considered to be the origin of Mahayana Sect) was one of the early Buddhist schools that emerged in India, and Dhanyakataka played a crucial role in its development and propagation.

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Besnagar (Bhilsa or Vidisha) in Madhya Pradesh, is not particularly well-known for a Shaivite cave shrine. Archaeological excavations revealed remains of Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu temples, but the site is more famous for the Heliodorus Pillar, an ancient Garuda pillar dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Pair 2 is correctly matched: Bhaja Caves (near Pune, Maharashtra) are a group of 22 rock-cut caves built during the 2nd century BC and are well known for their Buddhist architecture and sculptures. Pair 3 is correctly matched: Sittanavasal (Pudukottai district, Tamil Nadu) is a village known for its Jain cave shrine, considered to be among the oldest Jain monuments in India.

* Alexander Rea (1858-1924) was a British archaeologist who worked mainly in South British India. He is known for unearthing a sarcophagus from the hillocks of Pallavaram in Tamil Nadu. * Albert Henry Longhurst (1876-1955) was a British archaeologist and art historian, working in India and Ceylon. From 1927 to 1931 he was in-charge of the systematic digging of Nagarjunakonda. * Robert Sewell (1845-1925) worked in the civil service of the Madras Presidency during the period of colonial rule in India. Sewell undertook archaeological work at the Buddhist stupa at Amaravati, which had already been largely destroyed prior to his arrival. The site had previously been surveyed by Colin Mackenzie and Walter Elliot (1803-1887) * James Burgess (1832-1916), was the founder of the Indian Antiquary in 1872 and an important archaeologist of British India in the 19th century. From 1886-89 he was Director General, Archaeological Survey of India. * Walter Elliot (1803-1887), visited the Amaravati site in 1854, collecting sculpture panels that later became crucial for understanding South Indian Buddhist art.