Question

Testimonies to adopting Persian stone carving techniques in India during the Mauryan period-
(A) Large three-dimensional figurative supports for the roof.
(B) Independent edict pillars with bell-shaped capitals, surmounted by the animal figure.
(C) Replica of wooden structures.
(D) Cylindrical shapes in architectural structures.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• (A) and (C) only
• (D) and (A) only
• (A) and (B) only
• (B) and (C) only

Hint:

The "Mauryan Polish" and the bell-shaped capital on Ashokan pillars are the classic textbook examples of Persian Achaemenid influence on Indian art.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Identify the key features of Mauryan stone art and architecture. The period is noted for its monumental stone pillars and the beginnings of rock-cut architecture.
Step 2: Connect these features to Achaemenid (Persian) influence.

(B) The concept of monolithic, highly polished pillars with distinct bell-shaped (or inverted lotus) capitals and animal finials is the most direct and widely accepted evidence of Persian influence, drawing parallels with the pillars at Persepolis.
(C) The practice of translating wooden architectural forms into stone is a characteristic of early Indian stone architecture. While a native development, the technological leap to monumental stone carving during this period is often linked to the influx of skills and ideas following Alexander the Great's campaigns and contact with the Persian empire.

Step 3: Evaluate other options. (A) and (D) are too generic and not specifically linked to Persian influence in the Mauryan context. The combination of the distinctive pillars and the general shift from wood to stone represents the strongest testimony.