QUIZ – 2020: INSIGHTS STATIC QUIZ, 17 March 2020 – Art and Culture

Solution: a)

The Vaisheshika school believes in the physicality of the Universe and is considered to be the realistic and objective philosophy that governs the universe. The Kanada is often considered the founder of this school. They argue that everything in the universe was created by the five main elements: fire, air, water, earth and ether (sky).

As this school has a very scientific approach, they also developed the atomic theory, i.e. all material objects are made of atoms.

On the subject of god, even though they argue for scientific thinking, they believe in god and consider him the guiding principal.

Solution: d)

Mohiniattam is essentially a solo dance performance by women in the state of Kerala. Mohiniattam combines the grace and elegance of Bharatnatyam with the vigour of Kathakali. There is a marked absence of thumping of footsteps and the footwork is gentle.

Mohiniattam generally narrates the story of the feminine dance of Vishnu. The Lasya aspect (beauty, grace) of dance is dominant in a Mohiniattam recital. Hence, it is mainly performed by female dancers.

Solution: d)

Brihadisvara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It follows Dravidian architecture. It is called as Dhakshina Meru (Meru of south). Built by Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Great Living Chola Temples”, along with the Chola dynasty era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple. Built out of granite, the vimana tower above the sanctum is one of the tallest in South India.

Solution: d)

Tholu Bommalata is the shadow puppet theatre tradition of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Tholu Bommalata literally means “the dance of leather puppets”. The puppeteers make up some of the various entertainers who perform all night and usually re-enact various stories from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Its performers the part of a group of wandering entertainers and peddlers who pass through villages during the course of a year and offer to sing ballads, tell fortunes, sell amulets, perform acrobatics, charm snakes, weave fishnets, tattoo local people and mend pots.

Solution: c)

Ancient temples of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan share many traits. The most visible is that they are made of sandstone.

Some of the oldest surviving structural temples from the Gupta Period are in Madhya Pradesh. Keep in mind that Rajasthan is the region of sandstones.

The hills had their own tradition of wooden buildings with pitched roofs. At several places in the hills, therefore, you will find that while the main garbhagriha and shikhara are made in a rekha-prasada or Latina style, the mandapa is of an older form of wooden architecture. Sometimes, the temple itself takes on a pagoda shape.