Q160. Stupas, chaityas and viharas expanded significantly during approximately 200 BCE–300 CE primarily because they were:
[SSC Selection Post – 2025]
A. Secular administrative offices
B. Religious and monastic structures
C. Military forts
D. Irrigation systems
Answer: B. Religious and monastic structures
Explanation: Stupas enshrined relics, chaityas functioned as worship halls and viharas housed monks. Their widespread construction accompanied Buddhism’s institutional and geographical expansion.
Q159. Ajanta is exceptional because its surviving paintings represent major phases separated by several centuries. Which religion dominates their themes?
[SSC Selection Post – 2025]
A. Buddhism
B. Zoroastrianism
C. Islam
D. Judaism
Answer: A. Buddhism
Explanation: Ajanta’s murals span early and later phases of Buddhist patronage. They depict Jatakas, Buddha’s life, Bodhisattvas and scenes illustrating Buddhist religious ideals.
Q158. Which artistic influence is especially visible in Buddha sculptures of the Gandhara School?
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A. Hellenistic
B. Aztec
C. Japanese
D. Gothic
Answer: A. Hellenistic
Explanation: Gandhara Buddhist sculpture combined Indian religious subjects with Greco-Roman artistic conventions, visible in naturalistic anatomy, wavy hair, deeply folded robes and classical facial modelling.
Q157. The Gandhara School of art is most closely associated with:
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A. Buddhism
B. Zoroastrianism
C. Sikhism
D. Sufism
Answer: A. Buddhism
Explanation: Gandhara became famous for Buddhist sculpture, particularly anthropomorphic Buddha and Bodhisattva figures executed with strong Greco-Roman stylistic influence during Kushana-era patronage.
Q156. Which sculpture at Sanchi is NOT directly derived from Buddhist doctrinal symbolism?
[UPSC NDA – 2025]
A. Empty throne
B. Wheel
C. Bodhi tree
D. Shalabhanjika
Answer: D. Shalabhanjika
Explanation: The empty throne, wheel and Bodhi tree function as early Buddhist symbols. Shalabhanjika derives from older fertility and tree-spirit traditions absorbed into Buddhist decorative art.
Q155. Which of the following is NOT a defining concept of Mahayana Buddhism?
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A. Bodhisattva ideal
B. Devotional Buddha imagery
C. Buddha’s salvific role
D. Buddha being an incarnation of Vishnu
Answer: D. Buddha being an incarnation of Vishnu
Explanation: Bodhisattvas, devotional worship and expanded conceptions of Buddhahood are Mahayana features. Buddha’s identification as a Vishnu avatar belongs to later Hindu traditions.
Q154. In Buddhist ethics, ‘Metta’ primarily means:
[SSC CGL – 2025]
A. Loving-kindness
B. Ritual sacrifice
C. Royal authority
D. Ascetic starvation
Answer: A. Loving-kindness
Explanation: Metta denotes benevolent loving-kindness directed towards all beings. It is one of Buddhism’s four Brahmaviharas, alongside compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity.
Q153. Which of the following was NOT regarded as one of Buddha’s important disciples in the question asked?
[SSC CGL – 2025]
A. Ananda
B. Sariputta
C. Moggallana
D. Susima
Answer: D. Susima
Explanation: Ananda, Sariputta and Moggallana are prominent disciples in Buddhist tradition. Susima does not occupy the same position among Buddha’s celebrated principal disciples.
Q152. The ‘Harmika’ of a Buddhist stupa is best described as:
[SSC CGL – 2025]
A. Square railing-like enclosure above the dome
B. Underground monastery
C. Entrance staircase
D. Painted cave wall
Answer: A. Square railing-like enclosure above the dome
Explanation: Harmika is the small square enclosure crowning the stupa’s hemispherical dome. From it rises the central yasti supporting one or more ceremonial umbrellas.
Q151. Which sequence correctly represents the broad chronological development of these Buddhist art centres?
[SSC CGL – 2025]
A. Mathura–Sanchi–Bharhut
B. Bharhut–Sanchi–Mathura
C. Sanchi–Mathura–Bharhut
D. Mathura–Bharhut–Sanchi
Answer: B. Bharhut–Sanchi–Mathura
Explanation: Bharhut represents an early phase of Buddhist narrative relief; Sanchi’s gateways followed, while Mathura became a major centre of anthropomorphic Buddhist sculpture during the Kushana age.
