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Q94 (NDA-II/2011) History & Culture › Art & Architecture › Indian painting traditions Answer Verified

The themes of the murals of the Ajanta Caves are 1. Decorative design which include a variety of animals, trees and flowers. 2. Portraits of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. 3. Narrative scenes portraying Jatka stories. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: A
Explanation

The murals of the Ajanta Caves encompass three primary thematic categories. First, decorative designs are extensively used, particularly on ceilings, featuring a rich variety of animals, fruits, flowers, and geometric patterns [t2][t8]. Second, the caves contain numerous portraits and depictions of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, such as the famous Padmapani and Vajrapani, which represent the spiritual and devotional aspects of the site [t1][t3]. Third, the most prominent narrative element consists of scenes portraying Jataka stories, which recount the previous lives of the Buddha [c2][t9]. These narratives also capture secular details of contemporary life, including courtly scenes, festivals, and processions [c2][t7]. Since all three themes—decorative motifs, portraits of divine beings, and narrative Jataka stories—are integral to the Ajanta mural tradition, all statements are correct.

Sources

  1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > Paintings from the past > p. 102
  2. [2] https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/content/cultural-selection-silk-roads-legacy-ajanta-cave-paintings
  3. [3] https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O115443/copy-of-painting-inside-the-oil-painting-gill-robert/
  4. [4] https://ia800507.us.archive.org/35/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.63286/2015.63286.Ajanta-Part-I_text.pdf
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CAPF · 2010 · Q58 Relevance score: 0.35

Which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. The Ajanta caves have been painted with scenes from Jainism. 2. The crowning achievements of Ellora caves is the colossal monolithic Kailasanath temple. 3. The Ajanta caves have been built over a period of eight centuries by different rulers. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

CDS-II · 2025 · Q62 Relevance score: -0.82

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Which one among the following is not correct about the cave paintings at Ajanta?

CDS-II · 2013 · Q112 Relevance score: -2.57

Which of the following are UNESCO recognized world heritage sites ? 1. Caves of Ajanta 2. Temple and caves at Ellora 3. Mandapas of Mahabalipuram 4. Caves of Kanheri Select the correct answer using the code given below :