Buildings, Paintings and Books - Long Answer Questions
It is 7.2m high and weights over 3 tonnes. Made about 1500 years ago (Gupta period, mentions 'Chandra'). Ideally, it has not rusted in all these centuries, showing advanced metallurgy.
Stupa means a mound. It has a small box (relic casket) at the centre containing bodily remains (teeth, bone, ashes) of the Buddha or his followers. It is covered with earth and brick.
A path laid around the stupa, surrounded by railings. Devotees walked around it in a clockwise direction as a mark of devotion.
Temples carved out of a huge, single piece of rock (like a sculpture). Example: The Rathas at Mahabalipuram.
The main room in a Hindu temple where the image of the chief deity was placed. Priests performed rituals here.
A tower built on top of the garbhagriha to mark it as a sacred place. Example: Bhitargaon temple (early brick temple).
A hall in the temple where people could assemble.
Ajanta caves were hollowed out of hills. The paintings illustrate Jataka tales and Buddhist life. Since caves were dark, paintings were done in torchlight. The colours (plants/minerals) are vivid even after 1500 years.
Grand, long compositions about heroic men and women, and include stories about gods. Examples: Mahabharata, Ramayana, Silappadikaram, Manimekalai.
A Tamil epic composed by Ilango Adigal about 1800 years ago. It is the story of Kovalan and Kannagi.
Composed by Sattanar around 1400 years ago. It describes the story of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi.
Vyasa (also credited with Mahabharata). Puranas contain stories about gods (Vishnu, Shiva, Durga) and how to worship them. They were written in simple Sanskrit to be heard by everybody.
A mathematician and astronomer. He wrote 'Aryabhatiyam' in Sanskrit. He stated that day and night were caused by the rotation of the earth on its axis. He also found a scientific explanation for eclipses.
While numbers were used earlier, Indian mathematicians invented a special symbol for zero. This system was adopted by Arabs and then Europe.
A well-known system of health science developed in ancient India. Famous practitioners: Charaka (1st-2nd century CE) and Sushruta (4th century CE).
He wrote 'Sushruta Samhita' which speaks about elaborate surgical procedures.
A Jataka tale shown in a sculpture at Bharhut. The monkey king saved his followers from a human king's archers by making a bridge with his own body.
Manuscripts were written on palm leaves or birch bark. Many were eaten by insects or destroyed, but many survived in temples and monasteries.
Paper was invented in China by Cai Lun. Made from beaten plant fibres, cloth, rope, and bark.
They made religious knowledge accessible to women and Shudras who could not study Vedas.
Buildings, Paintings and Books - Important Facts
Iron pillar is 7.2 meters high.
It weighs over 3 tonnes.
It was made 1500 years ago.
Chandra (Gupta) is mentioned on it.
It has not rusted.
Stupa means mound.
Relic casket contains bones/ashes/teeth.
Pradakshina patha is for circumambulation.
Railings and gateways were decorated.
Amaravati stupa had magnificent sculptures.
Bhitargaon temple (UP) is 1500 years old (baked brick).
Mahabalipuram Rathas are monolithic.
Aihole was the capital of Chalukyas.
Durga temple at Aihole is 1400 years old.
Garbhagriha is the main shrine.
Shikhara is the tower.
Mandapa is the assembly hall.
Ajanta caves were monasteries.
Ajanta paintings were made in torchlight.
Colors were made from plants and rocks.
Silappadikaram by Ilango (1800 yrs ago).
Manimekalai by Sattanar (1400 yrs ago).
Kalidasa wrote in Sanskrit.
Meghaduta is a poem by Kalidasa.
Puranas mean 'Old'.
Puranas were written in simple Sanskrit.
Vyasa compiled Mahabharata and Puranas.
Valmiki wrote Ramayana.
Mahabharata is about war between Kauravas and Pandavas.
Bhagavad Gita is in Mahabharata.
Ramayana is about Rama's exile.
Aryabhata wrote Aryabhatiyam.
He explained day/night rotation.
He calculated the circumference of a circle.
Zero was invented in India.
Ayurveda: Science of Life.
Charaka Samhita (Medicine).
Sushruta Samhita (Surgery).
Paper invented by Cai Lun (China).
Paper reached Baghdad 1800 years ago.
Stupas were built by kings/queens.
Devotees gave gifts for decoration.
Ivory workers paid for Sanchi gateway.
Hindu temples worship Vishnu, Shiva, Durga.
Tamil epics were lost for centuries.
Manuscripts were on palm leaf/birch bark.
Jatakas were stories of ordinary people.
Monkey King story is carved at Bharhut.
Zero reached Europe via Arabs.
Buildings, Paintings and Books - Important Dates
Iron Pillar / Bhitargaon Temple / Aryabhata
Silappadikaram composed
Manimekalai composed