Miniature painting developed in eastern India (Bengal, Bihar and Odisha) during the rule of which dynasty?

The earliest Indian miniature paintings developed in eastern India under the Pala rulers of Bengal and Bihar (8th-12th century CE). These paintings were made as illustrations in Buddhist religious manuscripts written on palm leaves.

Features of Pala miniature paintings:

They were painted on narrow palm-leaf manuscripts, and the wooden covers of the manuscripts were also painted.

They illustrate Buddhist texts, especially Mahayana and Vajrayana texts such as the "Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita" (Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 lines), with images of the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Buddhist goddesses such as Tara.

They use sinuous, flowing lines and soft, muted colours.

Figures are usually shown with a single eye visible (in profile) or in three-quarter view.

Natural colours were used, made from minerals and plants.

The Pala kings were great patrons of Buddhism. Great monastic universities such as Nalanda and Vikramashila (founded by the Pala king Dharmapala) flourished under them, and many illustrated manuscripts were produced in these monasteries. When these centres were destroyed at the end of the 12th century, monks carried the Pala art style to Nepal and Tibet, where it influenced Nepali and Tibetan painting.

In western India, a parallel miniature tradition called the "Western Indian" or Jain style developed around the same time, illustrating Jain texts such as the "Kalpasutra". Later schools of miniature painting include the Mughal, Rajput (Rajasthani) and Pahari schools.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Chola dynasty is famous for bronze sculptures, such as the Nataraja, and for temple murals at Thanjavur.
• ✗The Rashtrakuta dynasty built the Kailasa temple at Ellora.
• ✗The Satavahana period saw early paintings at Ajanta.