Telangana SCERT Solution Class VI (6) Social Studies Chapter 20 Sculptures and Buildings.
( 1 ) Why do you think Ashoka chose lions and bulls for his pillars rather than cows or parrots ? What animal would you have chosen if you were in his place ? Give reasons for your choice.
In order to portray leadership or courage , lion depicted the perfect example and then it was accompanied by the bull , which manifeststhe emblem of power . Cows or parrots on the other hand did not reveal such powerful inner meanings. Due to this reason, Ashoka chose lions and bulls for his pillars. If I would have been in his place then I would have either chosen eagle or lion because eagle depicted the sign of incisiveness and proficiency. These two skills are extremely essential in the present times.
( 2 ) Many stupas of Andhra Pradesh are on the banks of rivers ( like Salihundam, Nagarjunakonda, Amaravati etc ) . Why do you think the monks selected these places to build stupas ?
These places acted as an evidential ground where multiple Buddhists traces were discovered. The monks mainly chose these places for constructing stupas because these sites acted as the chief Buddhist excavation that depicted the presence in earlier period of historical epoch .Owing to this reason, numerous stupas of Andhra Pradesh are found on the bank of rivers like Salihundam, Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati.
( 3 ) Look at the sculpture showing the calming of the elephant . Who are the people watching the event from a height ?
The powerful influence of Buddha was clearly depicted by an act of calmness of the royal elephant. There was a situation where the royal elephant became so uncontrollable that it was difficult to restore it’s calmness. As, a result of which people who were on the streets became very tensed and there were also other people who was watching the whole incident from a certain height. However, it was the strong influence of Buddha which have made this elephant to control its agitation, which means the moment the elephant perceived Buddha , it immediately controlled it’s agitation and bowed down before him and this story was shown in a panel from Amaravati.
( 4 ) Why do you think only the rock cut Viharas and Chaityas have survived till today ?
The Viharas and Chaityas constituted an essential part of the Buddhists religious life. The Viharas served as the monasteries which were mainly used by the Buddhists monks for the purpose of imparting religious education and Chaityas were small shrine , which served as a prayer hall. So, these sacred structures were closely connected with the Buddhists life. There were pilgrims from several other countries who got enticed by the Buddhist holy places of learning. They are also famous for its architectural gracefulness as they are carved into the rocks. Due to its utility and immense historical significance, it has been shielded . Owing to this reason, the rock cut Viharas and Chaityas have survived till today.
( 5 ) Compare the features of a Chaitya and a temple. Do you think the mode of worship in a Chaitya and a temple would be different ?
- Chaityas were small shrine , which served as a prayer hall. This place was used by the Buddhists for the purpose of worshipping. The Buddhists people used this distinct terminology for executing worship. It is mainly a huge building which depicted the stupa and consisted halls , which was primarily used for conducting worship.Thus, mud, wood and stones were used for the purpose of buildingthese temples and chaityas. There were some temples which were meant for gods and the rest of them were meant for the Buddha. One of the earliest persisting stone temples could be noticed at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh. It did not depict any kind of complex structure and consisted a small room which is also known by the term of garbhagriha, in which the statue of Buddha was retained. The doors and pillars were carved in an elegant style. The temple consisted a flat roof , where there was no tower on it.
( 6 ) Why are the Buddhists Stupas and Chaityas sacred ?
Chaityas were small shrine , which served as a prayer hall. This place was used by the Buddhists for the purpose of worshipping. It is mainly a huge building which depicted the stupa and consisted halls , which was primarily used for conducting worship. Stupas played an essential role in the sphere of transmitting the philosophy of Buddhism.The Buddhists Stupas and Chaityas were regarded as sacred because of the Buddhists monks. They were not only the followers of Buddha but they also imparted knowledge about thecultural tradition of Buddhism.
( 7 ) How did the Buddhists monks probably use the Viharas and Chaityas ?
The Viharas mainly served as the living place or the monasteries of the Buddhists monks. TheViharas mainly referred to a place,which was primarily used for the purpose of rendering religious education. A Vihara not only consisted a small room but it also contained a small shrine , where statue of Buddha was kept at one extreme. This shrine was known by the term of Chaitya and it was used by the monks as a prayer hall. So in this way, the Buddhists monks probably used the Viharas and Chaityas.
( 9 ) Read the first para of page 178 ( Vihara’s were the …….for the monks ) and comment on it .
The Viharas mainly served as the living place or the monasteries of the Buddhists monks. The Viharas mainly referred to a place, which was primarily used for the purpose of rendering religious education. A Vihara not only consisted a small room but it also contained a small shrine , where statue of Buddha was kept at one extreme. This shrine was known by the term of Chaitya and it was used by the monks as a prayer hall.