Daily Quiz #45 UPSC Prelims Marathon – December 23, 2019

Explanation: In the north-western parts of India including Gujarat and Rajasthan, this school developed under the patronage of the Solanki rulers. The features of this school are:
•The temple walls were devoid of any carvings.
•The garbhagriha is connected with the mandapa both internally as well as externally
•The porticos have decorative arched gateways known as torans.
•A unique feature of this school is the presence of step-tank, known as surya-kund in the proximity of the temple.

Explanation: Under the patronage of the Chola rulers, hundreds of temples were built in South India. It was a continuation of the previous Pallava architecture, with some variations. This is what came to be known as the Dravidian style of temple architecture. The features of the Dravidian style or chola style are:
•Unlike the Nagara temples, the Dravidian temples were surrounded by high boundary walls.
•The front wall had a high entrance gateway known as the gopuram.
•The temple premise was laid out in the panchayatan style with a principal temple and four subsidiary shrines.
•In the Dravidian style, the spire is in the form of a stepped pyramid that rises up linearly rather than curved. It is known as vimana.

Explanation: It is located south of Bhopal in Vidhyan ranges of Madhya Pradesh. The rock shelters have more than 500 rock paintings. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. The oldest paintings are estimated to be 30,000 years old and have survived due to its location deep inside the caves. There is marked continuity in occupancy of the caves from 100,000 BC to 1000 AD with many paintings being painted on top of another. The paintings at Bhimbetka belong to Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Chalcolithic, early historic and medieval period. However, most of the paintings belong to the Mesolithic age.

Explanation: Rampa Revolts led by Alluri Sitarama Raju of the Koyas (1916, 1922-1924; Rampa region in Andhra Pradesh); against British interference; capture and execution of Raju in 1924.

Explanation: A group of westerners led by Madame H.P. Blavatsky (1831-1891) and Colonel M.S. Olcott, who were inspired by Indian thought and culture, founded the Theosophical Society in New York City, United States in 1875. In 1882, they shifted their headquarters to Adyar, on the outskirts of Madras (at that time) in India. The society believed that a special relationship could be established between a person’s soul and God by contemplation, prayer, revelation, etc. It accepted the Hindu beliefs in reincarnation and karma, and drew inspiration from the philosophy of the Upanishads and samkhya, yoga and Vedanta schools of thought. It aimed to work for universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.