Buildings, Paintings and Books

MAHATMA SCHOOLS
(Affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi)
History – Grade VI
Chapter – 10: Buildings, Paintings and Books
I. Key Concepts:
Shikhara: A tower built on the top of the garbhagriha to mark this out as a
sacred place.
Stupa: The word Stupa means a mound. A Buddhist religious building.
II. Very Short Answers:

1. What do you know about the monolithic temples at Mahabalipuram?
Ans: Each of these temples were carved out of a huge, single piece of
stone.
2. Why did only Kings or queens decide to build stupas and temples?
Ans: Building stupas and temples was an expensive affair. Ordinary
people could not think about it.
3. How were the gifts brought by the devotees used?

Ans: The gifts brought by the devotees were used to decorate stupas and
temples.
4. How were paintings done in the dark caves?

Ans: The caves were dark. So the paintings were done with the torchlight.
5. Which gods and goddesses were mentioned in the stories of the Puranas?
Ans: Vishnu, Shiva, Durga or Parvati were mentioned in the stories of
the Puranas.
6. How were the Puranas different from the Vedas?

Ans: Women and Shudras were not allowed to study the Vedas, but
these people could read and hear the verses of the Puranas.
7. Where are the stories told by ordinary people preserved?

Ans: The stories told by ordinary people are preserved in the Jatakas and
the Panchatantra.
III. Short Answers:
1. What are the main features of Ajanta paintings?

Ans:
 The paintings of Ajanta are world-famous. Ajanta is a place where
several caves were hollowed out of the hills over centuries.
 Most of these were Buddhist monasteries while some of them were
decorated with paintings.
 The caves are dark inside and therefore most of these paintings were
done in the light of torches.
 The colours are vivid even after 1500 years.
 These colours were made of plants and minerals.
2. Write in brief about Kalidasa’s Meghaduta.

Ans: Kalidasa’s Meghaduta is the best-known poem. It is one of his best
literary creations. It is in Sanskrit. It was written during the Gupta period.
There is a description of monsoon in this famous book. The monsoon
cloud is imagined to be a messenger between lovers who are separated
from one another.
The poet beautifully describes the breeze that will carry the cloud
northwards. It is a cool breeze. It blows with the fragrance of the earth. It
is delightful, swollen by the cloud’s showers. Elephants inhale it deeply.
It causes the wild figs to ripen. It blows gently with the cloud. This
description is very sensuous and appealing. It creates a real picture of the
cloud and the breeze. Kalidasa was really a poet at par.
3. What are Puranas? Mention some of their features.

Ans: The term Purana literary means old. The Puranas are collections of
old Hindu religious stories. Here are some of their features:
 They contain stories about gods and goddesses such as
Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, or Parvati.
 They also contain details on how these deities were to be worshipped.
 There are accounts as well about the creation of the world and about
kings.
 Puranas unlike Vedas could be read and heard by everybody
including women and Shudras.
4. Describe the contribution of Aryabhatta to Science.

Ans: The name of Aryabhatta emerged during this period. He became
famous as a mathematician and astronomer. He wrote a book in Sanskrit
known as the Aryabhatiyam. He stated that day and night were caused by
the rotation of the earth on its axis, even though it seems as if the sun is
rising and setting everybody. He developed a scientific explanation for
eclipses as well. He also found a way of calculating the circumference of
a circle, which is nearly as accurate as the formula we use today.
5. Write a few lines on the Iron Pillar located at Mehrauli, Delhi.

Ans:
 The Iron Pillar located at Mehrauli, Delhi was made about 1500 years
ago.
 It is made of iron. Its height is 7.2 m, and its weight is over 3 tones.
 It was probably built during the Gupta dynasty.
 It is amazing that the pillar has not rusted in all these years.
 The pillar is a remarkable example of the skill of Indian craftspeople.
 The pillar is famous all over the world.
IV. Long Answers:
1. What are stupas? Mention some of their striking features.

Ans: Stupas are Buddhist religious buildings made of brick and stone.
There are several kinds of stupas.
 Some are round and tall while some are big and small. Here are some
striking features of stupas.
 There is a small box, known as a relic casket, placed at the centre or
heart of the stupa. The box contains bodily remains of the Buddha or
his followers, or things they used, as well as precious stones and
coins.
 This box was covered with earth. Later, a layer of mud brick or baked
brick was added on top. And then, the dome-like structure was
sometimes covered with carved stone slabs. ‘
 A path called the pradakshina patha was laid around the stupa. This
was surrounded by railings. The entrance to the path was through
gateways.
 Devotees walked around the stupa in a clockwise direction, as a mark
of devotion.
2. Describe the earliest Hindu temples.

Ans: Some Hindu temples were also built during this period. The deities
worshipped in these shrines were Vishnu, Shiva and Durga. The most
important part of the temples was the garbhagriha, which was a room
where the image of the chief deity was placed. It was at this place that
priests performed religious rituals and devotees offered worship to the
deity.
The garbhagriha had a tower known as the shikhara built on its top. This
marked the place as a sacred one. Building shikharas require careful
planning. Most temples also had a mandapa. This was a hall like structure
meant for the common people to assemble.
Mahabalipuram and Aihole in south India were famous for their temples.
These were stone temples. The monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram
were very beautiful. Each of these temples was carved out of a huge,
single piece of stone. It is therefore they are known as monoliths. The
Durga temple at Aihole was built about 1400 years ago.
V. Hots:
1. Describe the two Sanskrit epics the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

(Or)
Why are the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana so popular even
today?
Ans: The Mahabharata and Ramayana are the most popular of the epics
and other religious books of the Hindus. They are also famous among the
followers of other religions. The causes of their popularity are almost the
same. The story of the Mahabharata tells family drama followed by a
great war between the two groups of the same family, the Kauravas, and
Pandavas. Here, we learn how were the fights for the right cause. The
Pandavas are dethroned and banished diplomatically by their cousin
Duryodhana. They are always subjected to humiliation and injustice.
Finally, they are put in a great battle to get their own right.
In the Mahabharata, we know how much tolerance one should have, how
one can fight for a justified cause, how we should respect our elders, etc.
There are so many teachings of the ideal life in it. The Gita, which
constitutes a part of the Mahabharata is considered as a great epic. It
unfolds all the mysteries of life, the life before, and life after.
In the same way, the Ramayana, written in the most popular language of
the time, teaches us the high ideals of life. Rama, the most prominent
character, shows how a man should follow the ideals of life. He possesses
all the virtues of a highly idealistic and realistic human being. He follows
the system in a humble way. He fights for justice and his right. This story
is told in a very realistic way. It seems to be the story of a common man.
So, it has a great appeal in our society today.

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MAHATMA SCHOOLS

(Affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi)

II. Very Short Answers:

3. How were the gifts brought by the devotees used?

4. How were paintings done in the dark caves?

6. How were the Puranas different from the Vedas?

7. Where are the stories told by ordinary people preserved?

1. What are the main features of Ajanta paintings?

2. Write in brief about Kalidasa’s Meghaduta.

3. What are Puranas? Mention some of their features.

4. Describe the contribution of Aryabhatta to Science.

5. Write a few lines on the Iron Pillar located at Mehrauli, Delhi.

IV. Long Answers:

1. What are stupas? Mention some of their striking features.

2. Describe the earliest Hindu temples.

1. Describe the two Sanskrit epics the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

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