General Studies Question With Answer Set-8
||General Studies Question With Answer Set-8||GS Question With Answer Set-8||General Studies Questions for has||General Studies Questions for hpas||
Question 1:-Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
Ans. The Indian artworks are influenced by different religions and cultures. Paintings, architecture, folk dance and other art forms are also influenced by the culture and religion. The architectural designs reveal that the structures have been influenced by cross-culture of different Indian philosophies like Buddhism, Jainism, Shaivism, Vaishnavism etc.
Influence of Different Philosophies and Traditions
- Rock cut Architecture Indian rock-cut architecture is mostly religious in nature. Construction of stupas and viharas as part of monastic establishments became part of the Buddhist tradition. After the Buddhists initiated rock-cut caves, Hindus and Jains started to imitate them at Badami, Aihole and Ellora. Although the most glorious art of these Indian empires was mostly Buddhist in nature, subsequently Hindu Empires like the Pallava, Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagara Empires developed their own styles of Hindu art as well.
- Temple Architecture The architectural principles of Hindu temples in India are described in Shilpa Shastras and Vastu Shastras. The temple is dedicated to different sects like Shaivite, Vaishnavite, Shakti cult etc. The architecture varies from region to region. In the North it is called Nagara style, in South it is called Dravidian style. The amalgamation of both is called Vesara style which is found mostly in the central part of India.
- Paintings The oldest surviving frescoes of the historical period have been preserved in the Ajanta Caves. The most significant frescoes of the ancient and early medieval period are found in the Ajanta, Bagh and Ellora. Those that survive are initially illustrations for Buddhist texts, later followed by Jain and Hindu traditions.Mughal painting has developed from the combined influence of the existing miniature tradition and artists trained in the Persian miniature tradition imported by the Mughal Emperor’s court.
- Alvars and Nayanars Some of the earliest Bhakti movements were led by the Alvars and Nayanars. They travelled from place to place singing hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods. The temples developed as centres of pilgrimage. Singing compositions of these poet-saints became part of temple rituals in these shrines, as did worship of the saints’ images
- Sufi Tradition Most of the musical genres in India are in some way related to rituals, religion, and devotion. Sufi music is a form of devotional music which is inspired by the works of Sufi poets. Though Qawwali is the most popular form of Sufi music, there are numerous musical traditions that are connected to the practice of Sufism.
- Bhakti Traditions Bhajan, kirtan, hymns, and sung verses exist in each part of the country though there are specific regional traditions, like the Bauls of Bengal and Sopanam Sangeetam of Kerala. There are the saint poets such as Tulsidas, Surdas, Kabir and Mira who are celebrated in many parts of India. The Vaishnav traditions, the Bhakti, and the Sufi traditions are also known for music as a means of devotional practice.
Thus, the art form in India is largely influenced by the various India philosophies and traditions. It shows the skill of the artisan and the diversity of culture. The diversity is because of the different religious philosophies professed by the ruler.
Read More: – Himachal Pradesh General Knowledge
