Solution: Daily Problem Practice for 2021 History Optional [Ancient India: Day 4]

Q. Identify the following places marked on the map and write a short note of about 30 words each. Locational hints for each of the places marked  on the map are given below seriatim. [2.5×6= 15]

(i) Ancient archeological site

Dah Parbatiya

• Near Tezpur in Assam.
• Temple:
  • Ancient temple of the 5^th or 6^th century (late Gupta period).
    • Carvings on the temple door-frame of stone.
    • Carvings of the river Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna.
  • During Ahom period, a Shiva temple was built with bricks over the ruins of an ancient Gupta period temple.
    •  Stone paved layout plan of the sanctum sanctorum and a mandapa.
• The excavations revealed many terracotta plaques in which human figures were shown in a sitting position.

(ii) Ancient capital city

Halebidu

• In Hassan district, Karnataka.
• Capital of the Hoysala kings in 10^th-12^th century.
• Temple complex:
  • Two main Hindu temples:
    • Hoysaleswara temple
      • Two Nandi images on the sides of the Hoysaleswara temple are monoliths.
    • Kedareshwara temple
  • Two Jain basadi.
  • Soapstone was used for the construction of these temples.
  • Temple’s walls covered with depictions from Hindu mythology, animals, birds and shilabalikas or dancing figures.
  • The Jain basadi are also rich in sculptural detail.

(iii) Ancient Buddhist site

Sankissa

• In Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh.
• Ancient city which came into prominence at the time of Gautama Buddha.
• Ashoka installed a Pillar, from which the elephant capital survives.
• Ruins of old monasteries and Buddhist monuments.
• Chinese pilgrims, Xuanzang and Faxian visited.

(iv) Ashokan edict site

Shahbazgarhi

• In Mardan district, Pakistan.
• Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka:
  • Fourteen major edicts
  • located beside one of the ancient trade routes
  • present aspects of Asoka’s dharma
  • carved on two rocks on a hill
  • in Kharoshthi script
  • written from right to left
  • Kharosti suggests influence of Achaemenid.

(v) Rock cut temple site

Masroor Rock Cut Temple

• Near Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.
• Famous for remarkable group of rock cut temples.
• Only example of Nagara style temple built as the rock-cut construction.
• Masroor temple complex:
  • A group of 15 monolithic rock cut shrines;
  • 14 temples are cut only from the outside, but central temple in this complex is also cut from the inside.
  • Now known as Thakurwada, a term for Vaishnavite temples.
  • Idols of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita are placed inside main sanctum-sanctorum.
  • Sculptural detailing on the doors, lintels, walls, shikharas, and column capitals on the main shrine and other smaller temples consist of figurines of gods and goddesses such as Shiva, Parvati, Laksmi and Saraswati, and floral designs.
• Presence of the figure of Shiva in the centre of the lintel suggest that the Temple was originally dedicated to Lord Shiva but it was converted into a Vaishnava temple in recent history.

(vi) Ancient fort site

Sisupalgarh

• In Khurda disctrict, Odisha.
• A ruined fortification.
• One of the largest and preserved early historic fortifications in India.
• Probably represents Tosali mentioned in the edicts of Ashoka at Dhauli.
• Also identified by some scholars with Kalinganagara noted as the capital of the king Kharvela in Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri cave.
• Antiquities which give urban touch include
  • plenty of iron objects,
  • bangles of glass and ivory,
  • semi-precious stones,
  • coin-mould.
• Rouletted ware associated with the Romans and the lockets imitating the Roman coins suggests trade contacts with the foreign countries.

NOTE:

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