With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, 1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India. 2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. 3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.
Smart Elimination
Eliminate Statement 1 by recalling that Mauryan caves (Barabar) are the oldest, while Badami is Chalukyan (much later).
This eliminates options A and D.
Check Statement 3 (Ellora has 3 religions) -> True.
Potential Trap
Chronological Trap: Barabar caves are Mauryan (Ashoka/Dasharatha), not Chandragupta Maurya. Badami caves are Chalukyan (later than Mauryan).
Answer Key & Explanation
Answer: CThe correct answer is Option C.
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Barabar Caves (Bihar) are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, dating back to the Mauryan period (3rd Century BC). The Badami Caves are much later (Chalukya period, 6th Century AD).
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Barabar caves were dedicated to the Ajivika sect, but they were patronized by Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha, not Chandragupta Maurya.
Statement 3 is Correct: Ellora Caves (Maharashtra) are unique because they contain caves related to three faiths: Buddhism (Caves 1-12), Hinduism (Caves 13-29), and Jainism (Caves 30-34), built between the 5th and 11th centuries AD.
Value Addition
- Badami Caves: Famous for Vaishnavite sculptures.
- Barabar Caves: Famous for the Lomas Rishi Cave with its Chaitya arch entrance.
- Ajanta vs Ellora: Ajanta is exclusively Buddhist, while Ellora is secular/multi-religious.
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Foundational question based on core concepts.