Previous Year Question
With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
The chronological position of the given options is:
Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli: It was created during the Mauryan period under Emperor Ashoka, around the third century BCE. The forepart of the elephant is carved out of living rock above the Ashokan edicts. It is therefore the earliest among the options.
Varaha Image at Udayagiri: The Udayagiri caves belong to the fourth–fifth centuries CE and are associated with the reign of Gupta ruler Chandragupta II. Cave 5 depicts Vishnu in his Varaha incarnation rescuing the Earth goddess.
Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram: These were created by the Pallava rulers during the seventh and eighth centuries CE.
Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar: The present monumental temple was built in the eleventh century CE and represents the mature Kalinga school of temple architecture.
Thus, the chronological order is:
Dhauli Elephant → Udayagiri Varaha → Mahabalipuram Monuments → Lingaraja Temple