What is the classical feature of Ashokan pillars?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Answer: Option (A) is correct.
Explanation:
- Emperor Ashoka's pillars are considered the most exquisite examples of Mauryan-era architecture. The most prominent classical feature of these pillars is the animal sculptures mounted atop them, among which the lion is the most prominent. The 'Lion Capital of Sarnath' is the most famous example of this, having been adopted as the National Emblem of India.
- These pillars were carved from 'monolithic' stones, meaning that the entire pillar was sculpted from a single block of rock. These pillars were primarily constructed using sandstone from Chunar (Uttar Pradesh) and were finished with a distinctive, lustrous polish that remains intact to this day.
Additional Points:
- •Geographical Extent: These pillars are not confined solely to South India; rather, they have been discovered across the entire Indian subcontinent (spanning from Afghanistan to Karnataka and the Terai region of Nepal).
- •Material: These pillars were not made of bronze or silver, but of sandstone.
- •Structure: The main components of a standard Ashokan pillar are: the shaft, the base, the inverted lotus capital, and the animal capital.
- •Other Animals: In addition to the lion, figures of other animals—such as the elephant (at Sankisa), the bull (at Rampurva), and the horse—are also found on some of the pillars.
Potential Exam Questions and Answers:
1.Question: Which type of stone was primarily used in the construction of Ashoka's pillars?
Answer: Grey sandstone from Chunar.
2.Question: From where was the 'Dharmachakra' (Wheel of Law) featured in India's National Emblem derived?
Answer: From the capital of the Ashokan pillar at Sarnath.
3.Question: For what primary purpose did Ashoka utilize his pillars?
Answer: For the propagation of Dhamma and the dissemination of royal edicts.