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Question 27 of 55 · Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age
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The large copper (metal) statue of the Buddha discovered at Sultanganj in Bihar has been dated to the:

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Answer: Option B — Gupta period

Detailed Solution

The Sultanganj Buddha, a large standing statue of the Buddha made of copper, discovered at Sultanganj in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar, has been dated to the Gupta period (around the 5th-7th century CE).

About the Sultanganj Buddha:

  • It is about 2.3 metres (7.5 feet) tall and weighs over 500 kg.
  • It is the largest complete metal statue surviving from ancient India.
  • It was cast in separate parts that were joined together.
  • It shows the Buddha standing, with the right hand raised in blessing.
  • The robe is thin and clings to the body, with fine folds, typical of the Gupta (Sarnath) style.

It was discovered in 1861-62 by a British railway engineer, E. B. Harris, during the construction of the East Indian Railway.

It was taken to England, and is now in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Gupta art:

  • The Gupta period is regarded as the classical age of Indian art.
  • Gupta sculptures show calm, spiritual faces, graceful bodies and simple, refined ornamentation.
  • The two main schools of Buddhist sculpture in the Gupta period were Mathura (with thick, pleated robes) and Sarnath (with thin, transparent robes).
  • The seated Buddha from Sarnath, in the "dharmachakra mudra", is one of the finest Gupta sculptures.

Metal casting:

Gupta temples:

The earliest structural temples were built in the Gupta period, such as the Dashavatara temple at Deogarh and the temples at Sanchi (Temple 17), Tigawa and Bhitargaon.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗The Mauryan period is known for polished stone pillars.
  • ✗The Kushana period is known for the Gandhara and Mathura schools.
  • ✗The Pala period (8th-12th centuries) is known for bronze and stone sculptures from Bengal and Bihar.

Quick tip

Remember: Sultanganj Buddha = Gupta period (copper, about 2.3 m, largest complete ancient Indian metal statue; now in Birmingham); Sarnath Buddha = dharmachakra mudra.

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Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age, 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 the period after the Mauryas: the Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Shakas and Kushanas, followed by the Gupta Empire, often called the classical age of India, and the reign of Harshavardhana. It includes art, literature, science and administration in these periods. Exams test the rulers and their achievements (Kanishka and the fourth Buddhist council, Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription, Chandragupta II and Fa-Hien), the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art, and Gupta scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata and Varahamihira. Harsha's reign is usually tested with Hiuen Tsang and Nalanda University. Practise the post-Mauryan and Gupta age 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.

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