Art, Culture, Heritage Flashcards
Explain the Granary in Harrappa? What it denotes?
- suggesting mass storage & distribution system; built on Ravi for easy transportation
- made by burnt brick kilns
- two rectangular blocks with a passage separating them; six storage rooms (15*6) in each block
- rows of air ducts beneath wooden floor with triangular openings for ventilation; granary complex- 55*43m
Gandhara School of Buddhist Architecture?
- influenced by Greco-Roman art
- chief patrons- Sakes, Kushan
- chief centres- Jalalabad, Begram, Taxila, Bamaran
- Buddha covered in thick drapery with large and bold fold lining; rich carvings, symbolic expressions, elaborate ornamentation
- realistic human shape with curly hair & mustache
- theme- Mahayana Buddhism
- first to produce image of sad & hungry Buddha
Mathura School of Buddha Architecture?
- produced during Kushan period using local red sandstone
- votive pillars depicting various pattern of life; images fashioned in round for a 360 degree view
- Buddha’s head & face shaven; no forehead marks; tight dress but frilled from left hand
- speciality- black terracotta used
Amravati School of Buddha Architecture?
- developed in eastern Deccan
- chief patrons- Satavahana, Ikshvaku rulers (evidence comes from railings, plinths, other stupa parts
- carvings of Jakarta stories, carved on white marble; depicts humans as central character along with nature; kings, palaces figures prominently
- long legs, slender frames with physical beauty & sensual expressions
Stupas?
- non-rockcut architectural forms
- hemispherical domes, non enterable solid structure, glorified, beautified, enlarged funerary mound (used as resting place for bones & ashes of Buddha)
- three primary features- 1. Hemispheric mounds (anda); 2. Square railing (harmika); 3. Central pillar supporting an umbrella form (chattra)
- two secondary features- 1. enclosure wall with decorated gateways (toranas) at cardinal directions with 3 horizontal stone bars; 2. Circular terrace used as platform for religious rites
- pillars & crossbars (which were low in relief) were carved with symbols of Buddha such as lotus, elephant, bull, lion, horse, Jatakas
- in domical stupas, a base, railing, circumvulatory was added in 1st BC
Explain the great bath of Indus Valley Civilisation?
- a square pool (1272.5m)
- constructed by kiln burnt bricks; gypsum & mortar for lining of pool to make it water tight
- flight of steps on 2 sides facing each other and connects to rooms
- nearby well fed the pool & dirty water drained through sewage system having corbelled drains 1.83m high
Nagarjunkonda Stupas & their types?
In which phase they were created?
-in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, have quadrangular monastery, square/rect image shrine, pillared hall, a small stupa on square platform, hemispheric dome on lowdrum encased in sculptured panels
-Ayaka platforms in 4 directions with 5 pillars with engravings
-sculptures symbolises 5 Buddha’s life stages- Birth, Renunciation, Enlightenment, First Sermon, Parivartana
-have many styles named as
Viharas
Chaitya
Pagodas
What are Pagoda stupa?
- principle Buddhist architecture; religious multi storeied towers erected as memorial/shrines
- royal symbol for earlier followers by adding umbrella like structure to symbolise Buddha; later it took over stupa functions
- 84000 stupas built by Ashoka in 3BC
- also in China, Japan, Korea, SE Asia
- Indian pagodas- sculptured, pyramid shaped, taper at top
- Chinese- stereotypical with tiles & upward curved roof
Viharas stupas?
- monasteries made of bricks/rockcut, preying hall with verandah on 3 sides & an open courtyard surrounded by rows of cells & pillared verandah in front
- monasteries were self contained having Chaitya hall attached to stupa
- found in Ajanta, Ellora, Nasik, Karle, Kanheri, Bagh, Badami
Chaitya stupa?
- worship halls made of bricks/rockcut
- oldest nagarjunkonda stupa- Maha Chaitya, having a buddha’s tooth
- largest brick Chaitya in
- ruins found in eastern AndhraP
- from 3BC- on west Godavari banks of Guntapillai (oldest), Srikakulam at Salihundan, Kottru at Vishakhapatnam, Krishna at Vijaywada, Guntur, Amravati
Rock Cut Architecture?
- no use of support from wood, beam & is carved out from a single stone
- elements of wooden architecture are retained by skilled mimicking of timber texture, grains on surface
- relics found here signify important connection btw monks & traders
- some wealthy traders carved out cave temples during maritime trade btw Rome & SE Asia including pillars, arches, facades
Nagarjunkonda Stupas & their types?
In which phase they were created?
-in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, have quadrangular monastery, square/rect image shrine, pillared hall, a small stupa on square platform, hemispheric dome on lowdrum encased in sculptured panels
-Ayaka platforms in 4 directions with 5 pillars with engravings
-sculptures symbolises 5 Buddha’s life stages- Birth, Renunciation, Enlightenment, First Sermon, Parivartana
-have many styles named as
Viharas
Chaitya
Pagodas
What are Pagoda stupa?
- principle Buddhist architecture; religious multi storeied towers erected as memorial/shrines
- royal symbol for earlier followers by adding umbrella like structure to symbolise Buddha; later it took over stupa functions
- 84000 stupas built by Ashoka in 3BC
- also in China, Japan, Korea, SE Asia
- Indian pagodas- sculptured, pyramid shaped, taper at top
- Chinese- stereotypical with tiles & upward curved roof
Viharas stupas?
- monasteries made of bricks/rockcut, preying hall with verandah on 3 sides & an open courtyard surrounded by rows of cells & pillared verandah in front
- monasteries were self contained having Chaitya hall attached to stupa
- found in Ajanta, Ellora, Nasik, Karle, Kanheri, Bagh, Badami
Chaitya stupa?
- worship halls made of bricks/rockcut
- oldest nagarjunkonda stupa- Maha Chaitya, having a buddha’s tooth
- largest brick Chaitya in
- ruins found in eastern AndhraP
- from 3BC- on west Godavari banks of Guntapillai (oldest), Srikakulam at Salihundan, Kottru at Vishakhapatnam, Krishna at Vijaywada, Guntur, Amravati
Rock Cut Architecture?
- no use of support from wood, beam & is carved out from a single stone
- elements of wooden architecture are retained by skilled mimicking of timber texture, grains on surface
- relics found here signify important connection btw monks & traders
- some wealthy traders carved out cave temples during maritime trade btw Rome & SE Asia including pillars, arches, facades
Barabar Rock cut architecture?
- oldest; made in maurayan period by Ashoka & Dashrath
- contain Buddhist & Hindu sculptures
- caves were used by ascetics of Ajivika Sect (founded by Makkhali Gosala- contemporary of Buddha
Badami rock cut architecture?
- cave temples at Badami built in 6th AD in early Chalukya capital
- 4 cave temples are made from sides of a cliff; 3 Hindu & 1 Jain temple
- Jain temple contains carved decorative pillars & brackets, detailed sculptures, etched ceiling panels, beautiful murals
- blend of Nagara & Dravidian styles
Kanheri rockcut?
- 1st-10th BC, 109 caves; resting places for travellers on the way of Sopara Kalyan made of basalt
- most were Viharas for living, studying, meditating; large caves were made Chaityas, congregational hall with a stupa, having simple & unadorned cells for living along with stone plinths used for bed
- upper part of hill have pipes & cisterns for channeling rainwater to storage tanks
Ajanta caves?
- 30 caves built btw 400-650BC to 2 AD; built in 2 phases
- 1st phase- Viharas for prayers, living; rectangular with small square dormitory cels cut into walls
- 2nd phase- sanctuary cantered at a large stone statue of Buddha (carved from rock) was added to Viharas at the rear; this change reflected transition from Hinayana to Mahayana
Ellora Caves?
- 34 caves excavated on vertical face of Charandari hills
- contains 12 Buddha caves (1 to 12), 17 Hindu caves (13 to 29), 5 Jain (18 to 34)
- Kailashnath temple is the last Rock cut architecture excavated from top to bottom as against regular practice of carving from hillside
- took 100 years for completion starting in 8th century by King Krishna 1 and dedicated it to shiva
Raths of Mahabalipuram?
- built in reign of Pallavas (founders of Dravidian style)
- were scaled down models of actual temples sculpted out of monolith rocks; largest- 42*35ft & hieght of 40ft at maximum
- most raths are modelled on Buddhist Viharas & Chaityas; later Builth architecture was sophisticated (as in Ellora)
Carnatic Music?
- in Kerela, AP, TN, Karnataka
- restrictions are there, performed as Gayaki
- Purandaras- father of Carnatic music who codified it
- Melankara- classification of ragas of S-India; developed by Venkat Mukhi Swami
- its present form is acquired in 18th century by compilations of Trio- Thayagraja, Shamashastri, Muthuswami Dikshiter
- compositions have 3 parts- 1. Pallavis (first 2 lines which are repeated in song); 2. Anu Pallavi (followed after pallavi); 3. Charnam (sung at start or in btw also)
Types(1) of Carnatic music?
- VARNAM- sung/played in beginning of recitation, revealing the general form of Ragas
- it has 2 halves- Puravanga & Uttaranga
Type (2) of Carnatic music?
• KRITI- highly evolved musical song having certain raga, fixed tala or rhythmic cycle
Type(3) of Carnatic music?
- RAGAM- melodic improvisation in free rhythm played without mridangam
- TANAM- another form of free rhythm
Type(4) of Carnatic music?
- PALLAVI- short pre-composed melodic theme with words & set of 1 cycle of tala
- RAGAMALIKA- final part of pallavi where soloist improvises freely & comes back to original theme in the end
Harvesrting Seasons?
Baisakhi Pongal Holi Bihu Nabanya Diwali
Why it is believed that Kalidasa belonged to Gupta period?
Sight some of the important works by Kalidasa.
Kuntaleshwar Daitym, a drama that Kalidasa wrote signifies that he belonged to the Gupta period.
Some important works:-
Meghdutam and Abhijnanshakuntalam were written by Kalidasa.
Which ancient remains showed the presence of Harappa in central India (extreme right)?
Indus Valley Civilisation remains are found in Baghpat village in UP. It is 5000 years old and was discovered in 1957.
Ministry of Culture recognises 2 more dances as classical. Name them.
Ghoomar and ThangTa
Where does the National Republic Day Folk Festival takes place every year?
Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi
According to Durkheim, what is mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity?
Mechanical solidarity means that when a society is united because of similarities. Ex- tribes, castes
Organic solidarity comprises in the new modern societies and is based on differences.
Mandana Art
A tribal painting art of white chalk on red background seen on walls and floors of houses in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
For warding off evils
Komaram Bheem
Komaram Bheem (22 October 1901 – 8 October 1940) was a tribal leader who fought against the Asaf Jahi Dynasty for the liberation of Hyderabad. He belonged to Gond tribe. Telangana government has recently named a district after him.
