Page-25 of GS-I: Indian Culture

'The Taj Mahal is a poem in marble, a romantic conception of heavenly beauty on earth.' Give a critical account of its architecture and picturesque setting to bring out its two aspects mentioned in the above quotation.

Taj Mahal is a living monument of the perfect synthesis of the Islamic and Indian styles of architecture. The master-piece of Shah Jahan’s art remains the Taj Mahal at Agra, begun bythe prince in 1646 as a tomb for his ..

Mauryan court-art, with all its dignified bearing, monumental appearance and civilized quality, forms but a short and isolated chapter of the history of Indian art. Discuss.

The most important function of the Mauryan pillars was to impress and over-awe the populace with the power and majesty of its rulers. This is evident from the compactness of the solid animal figures, their exaggerated forms and their conventional ..

Write a note on the Utsava Murtis tradition and Tamalana System with reference to ancient metal sculpture in India.

In the early medieval period, a great relationship of adoration and love was developed between devotees and the deities worshipped in the Brahamanical traditions. The human form of deities made it easy for the devotees to relate themselves to them. ..

Mention the distinctive features of Vesara style and discuss how it developed under the Chalukyas and the Hoysalas describing the architecture of one temple of each dynasty.

The Vesara style has characteristics of both the Northern as well as Dravidian temple architecture. It has spire shaped structure on top known as the Shikhara.  The salient features of this style are that it reduces the height of the ..

Kusana period is known for rise of a new art movement with abundant dimensions and creativity. Examine.

The rise and growth of the Kushans as a political power (1st century to 3rd century AD) coincided with a great cultural ferment in the region. The age of maturity in Indian classical art began now. Artistic activities were fairly ..

While keeping in focus Kautilya's Arthashastra, examine the fort architecture of ancient India. What major changes occurred in the same after advent of Muslim conquerors? Examine.

Arthashastra has listed the following types of forts: Jala-durga(Water fort) Antardvipa-durga(island fortress): surrounded by natural (sea or river) water bodies. Sthala-durga(plain fortress): surrounded by artificial moats or irrigated by a river. Giri-durga(Hill fort) Guha-durga: Located in a valley surrounded by hills, ..

Critically examine the impact of religious and spiritual themes on the evolution of Indian art forms.

Indian painting traditions are deeply intertwined with religious and spiritual themes, reflecting the cultural and philosophical ethos of their respective eras. These themes serve not only as subject matter but also as a means of expressing the spiritual beliefs and ..