History & Civics
With reference to the picture given alongside, answer the following:
(a) Identify the temple given in the picture. Where is it located? To whom is this temple dedicated?
(b) Mention the architectural features of this temple.
(c) Briefly describe the famous educational institution set up during this period.
Gupta Age
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Answer
(a) The given temple is Dashavatara Temple (also called Vishnu temple). It is located in Deogarh.
This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the God of preservation, who is shown asleep on the coil of the giant serpent called Sheshnaga.
(b) The architectural features of Dashavatara temple are:
- It was built of stone and bricks on a 1.5 metre high platform.
- Four stairways outside the platform provide access to the temple.
- Its exterior is decorated with scenes from Ramayana. The entrance and pillars were adorned with countless paintings and carvings.
- It was the first North Indian temple with a Shikhara or tower, although a part of it has disappeared.
(c) The educational institution set up during this period was Nalanda University. It was the most renowned educational institution of ancient India. It was located at Nalanda in Rajagriha in Bihar. The University of Nalanda had imposing buildings. There were at least eight colleges built by different patrons including one by Balaputradeva, King of Sumatra. The Nalanda University provided various facilities like libraries to the students. There were three great libraries called Ratnasagar, Ratanadadhi and Ratnaranjak. There were more than 10,000 students and teachers. They came from Korea, Mangolia, Japan, China, Tibet, Ceylon and various parts of India. The subjects of Study at Nalanda University were all the four Vedas, logic, grammar, medicine, sankya, yoga, nyaya and the Buddhist works of the different schools. Nalanda university was a post graduate institution. Only the most brilliant were admitted to the university through an admission examination in which hardly 20% students qualified. It was destroyed by Mohammad-bin-Bakhtiyar Khilji, a general of Mohammad Ghori.
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