Art Culture – GK Questions

Gwalior inscription (875 CE) of Pratihara king Mihir Bhoja is written in early Nagari script and Sanskrit. It documents the construction of a sun temple and provides insights into Pratihara patronage of art and religion.

Harappan steatite seals (c. 2600-1900 BCE) feature animals (unicorn, bull, elephant), ritual scenes, and brief inscriptions. Used for trade, administration, or religious purposes, they remain key to understanding Indus civilization.

Purulia Chhau features vibrant, oversized masks made of clay and paper-mache, representing gods, demons, and animals. Mask-making is a specialized craft in Charida village, integral to this UNESCO-recognized dance form.

Shilp Guru award (Ministry of Textiles) honors master artisans in handicrafts for excellence, innovation, and mentorship. Recipients receive a cash prize, tamrapatra, and angavastram, supporting traditional craft livelihoods.

Subhashita Ratna Kosha (10th century) by Kashmiri king Vallabhadeva collects over 2,000 Sanskrit epigrams (subhashitas) on morality, politics, and life. It reflects the sophisticated literary culture of medieval Kashmir.

Chinese fishing nets (Cheena vala) in Kochi, Kerala, were introduced by 14th-century Chinese traders. These shore-operated lift nets exemplify historical Indo-Chinese maritime exchange and sustainable fishing practices.

Hathigumpha inscription (1st century BCE, Odisha) by Kharavela is written in Prakrit using Brahmi script. It details his military campaigns, public works, and patronage of Jainism, serving as a key historical source for Kalinga.

Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu, c. 1000-500 BCE) is a major Iron Age burial site with urns containing skeletal remains, iron tools, and pottery with graffiti symbols. These findings illuminate early Tamil society and proto-writing systems.

Sopana Sangeetham is Kerala's temple music tradition, performed on steps (sopana) leading to sanctum. Characterized by slow, devotional rendering of ragas, it accompanies rituals in Krishna temples like Guruvayur.

ICCR establishes Visiting Professor/Chair positions in foreign universities to teach Indian languages, philosophy, and culture. This soft diplomacy initiative strengthens global understanding of India's heritage.

Charaka Samhita (c. 2nd century CE) systematized Ayurvedic medicine in Sanskrit. Translated into Arabic as 'Kitab-i-Susrad' during Abbasid Caliphate, it influenced medieval Islamic and European medical knowledge.

Himalayas are sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, housing pilgrimage sites like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Amarnath, and Kailash. The range symbolizes spiritual ascent and is protected through eco-religious traditions.

Pallava Grantha script spread to Southeast Asia via trade and cultural exchange, influencing Khmer (Cambodia), Mon (Myanmar), and early Thai scripts. This demonstrates India's soft power in ancient Asian literacy traditions.

Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves (2nd century BCE, Odisha) were excavated under Kalinga king Kharavela for Jain monks. Inscriptions and sculptures depict Jain Tirthankaras, ascetics, and court life, reflecting early Jain patronage.

Dafli (frame drum) is used in Rajasthani folk music and Qawwali performances. Its jingles and rhythmic patterns accompany devotional songs, creating an ecstatic atmosphere in Sufi shrines and folk gatherings.

Gambhari Devi, a Chhau dancer from Purulia (West Bengal), received Padma Shri in 2021 for preserving and promoting this martial dance form. She trains young artists and performs internationally, sustaining cultural heritage.

Surya Siddhanta (c. 4th-5th century CE) is a foundational Sanskrit text on astronomy, detailing planetary orbits, eclipses, trigonometry, and cosmology. It influenced later Indian and Islamic astronomical traditions.

Dhangars are pastoral nomads of Maharashtra who practice transhumance: moving sheep/goat herds between Deccan plateau (monsoon) and coastal Konkan (winter). Their traditional knowledge supports sustainable grassland management.

Tamil-Brahmi script (c. 3rd century BCE-3rd century CE) is the earliest writing system for Tamil, found on cave inscriptions, pottery, and coins in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. It adapted Brahmi to Tamil phonetics.

Harappan weights (c. 2600-1900 BCE) followed a precise binary system up to 16, then decimal multiples. Made of chert, they facilitated trade across the Indus region, reflecting sophisticated metrology and administrative control.