Mount Abu’s chief claims to fame are the Jain temple architecture at Dilwara, about 5 km from Nakki lake. Dilwara Temples are one of the finest Jain temples and many even consider them architecturally superior to the Taj Mahal. Built between 11th and 13th century, the most outstanding feature is its exquisite carvings in marble. The two temples, Vimala Vasahi and Luna Vasahi, are singled out by experts as superb examples of architecture. 2. The architecture is marked by carvings that are not just aesthetically beautiful in form but are often presented in a highly poetic context. For instance, one of the marble nayikas (maidens) is depicted as having just emerged from her bath Droplets falling from her long hair are shown being drunk by a swan sitting by her feet. Perhaps the most outstanding feature of Jain temp
le architecture is its carvings and that is an understatement. Wherever one looks, be it pillars, ceilings, walls and floor, Jain temples go to the extreme-and beyond it-when it comes to adorning their temples with the very stone they work with. Jain mythology, saints, gods and goddesses, monks, devotees or just good old religious motifs all find their way in a spectacular rendezvous in marble and rock. 3. Each nook and corner of the Jain temples is so diligently carved that it’s a wonder that the edifice was created out of plain stone. Carving is perhaps not the right word for Jain temples-chiselling would be more appropriate. Their fragile delicacy merged with an architectural lexicon is what constitutes the basis of these amazing temples. Simply put, there is not an inch where one can place one’s hand and not encounter a spectacular frieze. In the temples in Mount Abu even chiseling was put aside, and artisans adopted the sedulous task of thinning the marble into carved images, a worth-noticing architectural splendor. This was done by gently scraping away the surface till a figure eventually emerged, so inticate and fine that it was intelligibly magnificent. This is the reason why the temples in Mount Abu and Ranakpur are said to be the finest Jain temples in the world.
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A. Choose the correct option. (a) The Jain temples of Mount Abu are famous for their _____________________. (i) location (ii) architecture (iii) height (iv) size (b) Many people consider the Jain temples of Dilwara to be architecturally superior to the _______________. (i) Qutub Minar (ii) Taj Mahal (iii) Lotus Temple (iv) Red Fort B. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against the given statements. (a) The chief motifs, carved on these temples are religious motifs and Jain mythology. - __________ (b) The Jain Temples of Mount Abu are located at Dwarka. - ___________ (c)These temples were built between the 11th and 13th centuries. - ___________ (d) The most outstanding feature of the Dilwara Temples is its exquisite carvings in marble. - ___________ C. Fill in the blanks with words/phrases from the passage. (a) Besides chiseling, artisans have thinned the marble into _____________________. (b) The two temples,__________________ and __________________ are the superb examples of architecture. D. (a) Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘elegant’. (Para 1) (b) Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘design’. (Para 2)
Answers
The answers are as follows:
A (a) The Jain temples of Mount Abu are famous for their architecture.
(b) Many people consider the Jain temples of Dilwara to be architecturally superior to the Taj Mahal.
B (a) The chief motifs, carved on these temples are religious motifs and Jain mythology. - True
The chief motifs consist of Jain mythology, saints, gods and goddesses, monks, devotees or just good old religious motifs.
(b) The Jain Temples of Mount Abu are located at Dwarka. -False.
They are located at Dilwara, about 5 km from Nakki Lake.
(c)These temples were built between the 11th and 13th centuries. - True
(d) The most outstanding feature of the Dilwara Temples is its exquisite carvings in marble. - True
C (a) Besides chiseling, artisans have thinned the marble into carved images. (b) The two temples, Mount Abu and Ranakpur are the superb examples of architecture.
D. (a) The word from the passage which means the same as ‘elegant’ is finest.
(b) The word from the passage which means the same as ‘design’ is feature.
Answer:
1.architecture features
Explanation: