State PCS
The famous painting of 'Bodhisattva Padmapani' is located at:
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Answer: Option C — Ajanta caves
Detailed Solution
The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous paintings of ancient India. It is in Cave 1 of the Ajanta caves near Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) in Maharashtra. It dates from the late 5th century CE, when the Vakataka king Harishena ruled the region.
About the painting:
"Padmapani" means "one who holds a lotus". Padmapani is a form of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism.
He is shown standing gracefully in a "tribhanga" (three-bend) posture, holding a blue lotus in his right hand.
He wears a tall jewelled crown, and his half-closed eyes and gentle expression show calm compassion.
On the other side of the doorway is a matching painting of Bodhisattva Vajrapani (one who holds a thunderbolt).
A Bodhisattva is a being who is close to enlightenment but chooses to delay their own final liberation (nirvana) in order to help all other beings reach it. This is a central idea of Mahayana Buddhism.
Other famous paintings at Ajanta:
- The "Dying Princess" in Cave 16.
- Scenes from the Jataka tales, such as the Mahajanaka and Chhaddanta Jatakas.
- The "Mother and Child before the Buddha" in Cave 17.
The Ajanta paintings were made with the tempera technique on a plaster base and are among the finest examples of classical Indian art. Ajanta became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Ellora caves are known for the Kailasa temple and contain Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves.
- ✗The Bagh caves (Madhya Pradesh) have murals similar to Ajanta's, but not this painting.
- ✗The Elephanta caves (near Mumbai) are known for the sculpture of the three-headed Shiva (Trimurti/Maheshmurti).
Quick tip
Remember: Bodhisattva Padmapani = Ajanta Cave 1 (holding a lotus, Avalokiteshvara); Dying Princess = Cave 16; Trimurti sculpture = Elephanta.
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Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's traditional painting styles (such as Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Gond and Tanjore), handicrafts and textiles, traditional dresses, and the major tribes of each state and their customs. It also includes Geographical Indication (GI) tags given to crafts and products. Questions usually ask which state a painting or craft belongs to, which tribe lives in a region, or what a traditional dress is called. Warli belongs to Maharashtra, Madhubani to Bihar, Pattachitra to Odisha and West Bengal, and Gond art to Madhya Pradesh. Grouping tribes by state, and noting the largest tribe of key states (such as the Bhils and the Santhals), helps with elimination. Practise the paintings, crafts and tribes questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.