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Q49 (CDS-II/2024) History & Culture › Art & Architecture › Buddhist art and architecture Answer Verified

Which of the following is/are the correct components of the 'Lion Capital' at Sarnath? 1. The shaft (stambha-vashti) or the tall tapering column 2. An elliptical top part – the abacus, devoid of any carvings 3. Overflowing inverted petals below the abacus Select the answer using the code given below:

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The Lion Capital of Sarnath, a masterpiece of Mauryan art, consists of several distinct components. The first is the shaft (stambha-vashti), which is a tall, tapering monolithic column made of polished sandstone [1]. Atop this sits the capital, which includes a bell-shaped base featuring overflowing inverted lotus petals. Above the petals is a circular abacus. Contrary to the claim that it is devoid of carvings, the abacus is intricately decorated with four animals—an elephant, a bull, a horse, and a lion—separated by the Dharmachakra or wheels of dharma [3]. The crowning element consists of four majestic lions seated back-to-back, originally supporting a large stone wheel [1]. Therefore, statement 2 is incorrect because the abacus is highly decorated, while statements 1 and 3 accurately describe the structural components of the pillar.

Sources

  1. [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: The Rise of Empires > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 109
  2. [3] https://ia802906.us.archive.org/11/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.49908/2015.49908.A-Guide-To-Sarnath_text.pdf
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