Art, Architecture and Literature Flashcards
Who wrote “Mricchakatika”?
Sudraka in 248 AD - Social drama interlinked with a love affair.
Describe the Sittanvansal cave paintings
Patronized by Pandyas, found on Jain shrines and Tirumalaipuram caves
Nagara Style Architecture Examples
Sun Temple Konark
Dashavatara Vishnu Temple Deogarh (UP)
Vishwanatha Temple, khajuraho
Linga Raja Temple and baitala Deula (Bhubaneshwar)
Examples of Dravidian temples (Chola Style)
Virupaksha Temple (Hampi)
Brihadishwara Temple (Tanjore TN)
Gangaikondacholapuram Temple
THREE Features of Nagara Style Temples
Rekha - straight line
Pidhadeul - square building, pyramid roof
Khakra deula - rectangular building
Shadow Dancing Puppetry from Odisha
Ravanachayya
Natya Shastra
Written by Bharata Muni
2nd Century BCE
source book of drama, dance and music
When did the Tanjore paintings originate?
During 16th and 17th Centuries
Who wrote Meghadutha
Poem written by Kalidasa.
It is divided into: Purva Megha and Uttara Megha
Who wrote Mudrarakshasa
Vishakadatta
during Chandragupta maurya’s reign
in Sanskrit
Who wrote Malavikagnimitra
Kalidasa (in Sanskrit)
Love story between Shunga emperor and a handmaiden
When was the Kailash temple at Ellora built?
During Rashtrakuta king Krishna’s reign in 8th Century AD
What is Bhand Pather
Kashmiri dance, drama and acting
uses Surnai, Nagara and Dhol instruments
What is Tamaasha?
Maharashtrian folk dance, similar to Gondhal, Jagran and Kiran
Features “Murkis” or female actresses
What is Maach?
Madhya Pradesh theatre form
Mythological themes
Dialogues (bol), Rhyme (vanag), tune (Rangat)
What is “Dhashavtara”
Theatre form of Konkan and Goa coast
Where are Nagi and Nakti bird Sanctuaries?
Bihar _ Ramsar Sites on Nakti dam
What are Aham and Puram in Sangam Literature?
Aham - subjective love poems (feminine)
Puram - objective statements of glory, valor (masculine)
SIX major Literary Works of the SANGAM PERIOD?
- Tolkappiyam by Tolkappiyar
- Silappadikaram by Ilango-Adigal and
- Manimekalai by Chattanar
- Tirukkural by Thiruvalluvar
- Ettutogal
- Pattupattu
Trinity of Carnatic Music
Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Syama Sastri
Three gems of Ancient Kannada Literature
Pampa, Ponna and Rana
Kavitryam
Nannaya, Thikkana, Errana
(Translated mahabharata into Telugu)
Who were the “Thevaram”? (7th and 8th Century AD)
Sundarar, Sambandar and Appar
They wrote Tirumurai
Painted Grey Ware
Rig Vedic Period
Ochre Colored Pottery
4th to 2nd Millennium BCE
Bronze Age Culture
Indo Gangetic Plain
Northern Black Polished Ware
Early Mauryan Period
Harappan Pottery (3)
Plain with a fine red or grey slip, mostly wheel-made
Black Painted Ware - rare, with geometric patterns
Little pots made of faience - perfume bottles found in Mohenjodaro and Harappa
Tanjore Quartet that revived Mohiniyattam
Ponnaya, Chinnaya, Sivananda, Vadivelu
Who are “Nathpanthis”
Followers of Gorakhnath and Matsyendranath
Believed in supernatural powers and tantric practices,
Shaivate sub-tradition
Denounced Caste System
What are saguna and nirguna forms of Bhakti tradition?
Saguna - with attributes (Shiva, Vishnu, etc)
Nirguna - God without attributes
What are Gurbani?
Hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib, compiled by Guru Arjun
Contains Guru Nanak’s, Baba Farid’s, Ravidas’ and Kabir’s hymns.
What is Pandavani
Theatre performance from Chhattisgarh - features tales from Mahabharata
What is Laman?
Songs from Kulu Valley (Himachal pradesh) - call and answer type duets with men and women
What is Mando?
Goan Regional Music
What is Villu Pattu?
“Bow Song” from TN
What is Kirthana Ghosha
Collection of Vaishnavate poems by Shankaradeva (15th Century AD)
What is a Kamaicha?
Bowed Flute played by Manganiars of Rajasthan
Oldest instrument with links to Africa and West Asia
Dance Treatises of India (5)
- Natya Shastra by Bharata
- Brihaddesi by Matanga
- Sangeeta Ratnakara by Sharangadeva
- Sangeeta Sudhakara by Haripala
- Swaramelakanidhi by Ramamatya
What is “Khayal”?
Music Style attributed to Amir Khusrau,
consists of short songs of 2-8 lines called Bandish
Gharanas of this style include: Gwalior, Tirana, Patiala, Agra and Bhendibazaar
What is Thumri?
Vocal style of Indian music from UP
Poorab and Punjab are two variants of this style
What are the three sub schools of Nagar style temple architecture?
- Odisha School: Lavish outsides and plain interiors, Shikhara known as Rekha Deal, Square ground plan. Eg. Sun Temple Konark
- Khajuraho/Chandela School: Erotic, lavishly decorated, made of sandstone and panchayatana style. Eg. Kandariya Mahadev Temple & Lakshmana temple - Khajuraho
- Solanki School/Maru-Gurjara Style: Devoid of carvings, decorative archways called torans, step tank called surya kund. Eg. Modhera sun temple (Gujarat)
Describe the temple architecture in South India that began under the Pallava Ruler Mahendravarman i (610-630AD)
- Mahendra: Rock cut temples called Mandapas.
- Narasimha: Rock cute temples with intricate sculptures. Mandapas separated into RATHAS. eg. pancha ratha temple
- Rajasimha: structural temples. Eg. Shore temple of Mahabalipuram.
- Nandivarman: smaller temples.
Describe the Dravidian style temples under the Cholas
High boundary walls, panchayatana style of layout, vimana in the form of a steep pyramid. Entrance guarded by dwaarapaalas. Water tank inside the temple.
Eg. Brihadiswara temple and Ganagaikondacholapuram temple.
What is “Anandmath”?
Novel by Bankim Chandra Chatoopadyay about the Sanyasi Revolt
The national song “Vande Mataram” was adopted from this novel
What is “Devi Chaudhurani”?
Novel by Bankim Chandra Chatoopadyay about women’s role in resistance to alien rule
What was the play written by DEENBANDHU MITRA about the Indigo Revolt of 1856-60?
NEEL DARPAN
Who wrote “The Indian War of Independence”?
V.D. Savarkar
What was the main message of Ashoka’s Major Rock Edicts?
promotion of Dhamma (righteousness), compassion, and moral conduct, encouraging people to respect their elders, animals, and religious diversity.
What does Ashoka’s Major Rock Edict 1 discuss?
Major Rock Edict 1 discusses Ashoka’s remorse for the Kalinga War and his commitment to peace, non-violence, and the welfare of his people.
What is the language and script used in Ashoka’s Edicts?
Edicts were primarily written in Prakrit, using the Brahmi script, though some were written in Greek and Aramaic
What is the focus of Ashoka’s Major Rock Edict 3?
religious tolerance
What does Ashoka’s Major Rock Edict 5 highlight?
ethical conduct
What is discussed in Major Rock Edict 7?
spread of Dharma beyond India
Which Major Rock Edict talks about Ashoka’s first Dharma Yatra to Bodh Gaya and the Budhi Tree?
Rock Edict 8
Which Major Rock Edict addresses Ashoka’s public welfare measures?
Major Rock Edict 6 highlights Ashoka’s efforts to promote welfare activities such as the establishment of hospitals, development of infrastructure, etc.
Where can Ashoka’s 14 Major Rock Edicts be found?
- Across the Indian subcontinent and in Afghanistan and Pakistan
- In India: Kalsi, Dhauli, Girnar, Erragudi, Sannati Jaugada and Lumbini
What is the importance of the Maski Minor Rock Edict of Karnataka?
- Shortest Edict
- Dharma Shasana asking people to follow the tenets of Buddhism
- Contains the name “Ashoka” instead of Devanampiya
How many Pillar Edicts did Ashoka have?
- 7 Pillar Edicts
- Located in Kandahar, Delhi-Topra, Meerut, Allahabad, Lauriya Nandangarh, and Sarnath
What is the significance of the DELHI-TOPRA PILLAR for Ashoka’s Pillar Edicts?
- Only Delhi-Topra has all SEVEN major pillar edicts present.
- Prakrit language, Brahmi script
- Summary of all accomplishments of Ashoka
- Moved from Topra to Delhi by Feroz Shah Tughlaq and renamed MINAR-I-ZARRIN
Which book talks about the transfer of Ashoka’s Delhi-Topra pillar from Topra to Delhi by Feroz Shah Tughlaq?
Tarikh-I-Firuz-Shahi
The pillar was renamed as Minar-i-Zarrin
What is Ashoka’s Pillar Edict I about?
- Ashoka’s moral and ethical conduct
- stresses truthfulness, non-violence, and compassion
What does Ashoka’s Pillar Edict II emphasize?
- Ashoka’s vision for justice and ethical behavior
- Dhamma as the minimum of sins
What is the impact of the Lion Capital at Sarnath?
- symbol of Indian heritage and Buddhism.
- adopted as the National Emblem of India in 1950,
- symbolizes strength, courage, and righteousness
Importance of the Sarnath Pillar?
- Pillar at Sarnath marks the place where Buddha gave his first sermon
- features the Lion Capital
What are Punch-Marked Coins?
- earliest coins in India, dating back to around 6th century BCE.
- made of silver or copper
- Issued by various Mahajanapadas - primarily used during the Maurya period
What were the key features of the Indo Greek/Kushana Coins?
- issued by Indo-Greek rulers (around 2nd century BCE) such as Menander I.
- Greek inscriptions and Hellenistic designs, particularly in Gandhara and Mathura regions
- Kushana kings introduced portrait of the king and deities
What is the importance of Roman coins found in India?
- discovered in places like Arikamedu (Tamil Nadu)
- evidence of trade relations (spices, silk, and precious stones) between India and the Roman Empire during the 1st to 3rd centuries CE.
What are the TWO peculiar features of the Satavahana Coins?
- silver coins with inscriptions in Prakrit and images of royal figures
- first gold coins in India, featuring both Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts
What are the Gupta coins known for?
- Use of high-quality gold
- intricate designs and artistic craftsmanship
- inscriptions in Sanskrit
Three main characteristics of Chalukya coins?
- copper, silver, and gold coins.
- depicted the king and religious symbols (such as Shiva and Vishnu).
- blend of Indian and foreign influences
What is the significance of coins of the Delhi Sultanate?
- silver tanka and **copper jital **coins
- Iltutmish standardized the tanka coin
- Ala-ud-Din Khilji introduced a regularized system of coinage with high-quality silver.
What are the Mughal coins known for?
silver rupee introduced by Mughals became the standard currency in India
