Figs. 4.32 and 4.33 are two scenes from Sanchi. Describe what you see in each of them, focusing on the architecture, plants and animals, and the activities. Identify which one shows a rural scene and which an urban scene, giving reasons for your answer.
Vaishnavism and Shaivism are the two branches of Hinduism. In the case of Vaishnavism, Lord Vishnu was regarded as the chief deity. In the case of Shaivism Lord Shiva was regarded as the chief deity. Both traditions were part of the Bhakti movement. Bhakti movement emphasised on the love and devotion of the devotee to : the God. This tradition of Vaishnavism and Shaivism also impacted the tradition of architecture and sculpture. The temples developed the house deities. The initial temples were small and simple. It was a small room called Garbhagriha. Later it expanded, a tall structure was built on the garbhagriha. It was called Shikhara. The walls of the temple were decorated with suitors. Soon temples were built that had huge entrances and big halls for the comfort of visitors.
Many of these temples were carved out of rocks. These artificial caves were turned into temples. The tradition of article caves is old who had renounced the world. The most important were the Ajivikas, which developed as a sect during the reign of Asoka. A good example of the rock-cut temple is the Kailash Nath temple of the 8th Century. It was carved out of a single piece rock. There is a copper plate inscription at the temple of Ellora wherein the sculptor exclaims, “How did I make it!” Sculpture was yet another way of expression. Deities were given many shapes and forms in the sculpture. Shiva has been shown in the form of Linga. Many deities have shown in different forms, sometimes grotesque. There were also combinations of man and animal forms.
Discuss the role of the begums of Bhopal in preserving the stupa at Sanchi.
Were the ideas of the Upanishadic thinkers different from those of the fatalists and materialists? Give reasons for your answer.
Discuss how and why stupas were built.
Summarise the central teachings of Jainism.
Why do you think women and men joined the sangha?
Discuss the development in sculpture and architecture associated with the rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism.
To what extent does knowledge of Buddhist literature help in understanding the sculpture at Sanchi?
Read this short inscription and answer:
In the year 33 of the maharaja Huvishka (a Kushana ruler), in the first month of the hot season on the eighth day, a Bodhisatta was set up at Madhuvanaka by the bhikkhuni Dhanavati, the sister’s daughter of the bhikkhuni Buddhamita, who knows the Tipitaka, the female pupil of the bhikkhu Bala, who knows the Tipitaka, together with her father and mother.
(a) How did Dhanavati date her inscription?
(b) Why do you think she installed an image of the Bodhisatta?
(c) Who were the relatives she mentioned?
(d) What Buddhist text did she know?
(e) From whom did she learn this text?
List the items of food available to people in Harappan cities. Identify the groups who would have provided these.
Discuss the evidence of craft production in Early Historic cities. In what ways is this different from the evidence from Harappan cities?
Explain why patriliny may have been particularly important among elite families.
How do archaeologists trace socio-economic differences in Harappan society? What are the differences that they notice?
Describe the salient features of mahajanapadas.
Discuss whether kings in early states were invariably Kshatriyas.
Would you agree that the drainage system in Harappan cities indicates town planning? Give reasons for your answer.
How do historians reconstruct the lives of ordinary people?
Compare and contrast the dharma or norms mentioned in the stories of Drona, Hidimba and Matanga.
List the materials used to make beads in the Harappan civilisation. Describe the process by which any one kind of bead was made.
This is a statement made by one of the best-known epigraphists of the twentieth century, D.C. Sircar: “There is no aspect of life, culture and activities of the Indians that is not reflected in inscriptions.” Discuss.
Discuss the evidence that suggests that Brahmanical prescriptions about kinship and marriage were not universally followed.
How do historians reconstruct the lives of ordinary people?
Look at Fig. 1.30 and describe what you see. How is the body placed? What are the objects placed near it? Are there any artefacts on the body? Do these indicate the sex of the skeleton?
On Map 1, use a pencil to circle sites where evidence of agriculture has been recovered. Mark an X against sites where there is evidence of craft production and R against sites where raw materials were found.
How important were gender differences in early societies? Give reasons for your answer.
List the raw materials required for craft production in the Harappan civilisation and discuss how these might have been obtained.
Discuss the main features of Mauryan administration. Which of these elements are evident in the Asokan inscriptions that you have studied?
List the materials used to make beads in the Harappan civilisation. Describe the process by which any one kind of bead was made.
Discuss whether kings in early states were invariably Kshatriyas.