Indian History Test-4

Krishnadevaraya (1509-1530), the greatest  emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire, composed Amuktamalyada. Considered a masterpiece in Telugu literature, the epic poem is believed to have been written and dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. The administration of the empire was carried on along the lines indicated in his Amuktamalyada.

The Allahabad Pillar inscription or Allahabad Prasasti is one of the most important epigraphic evidences of the imperialGuptas. It was composed by Harisena, the courtpoet and minister of Samudragupta. It delineatesa vivid description of the reign and conquests of Samudragupta.

Gandhara art was a style of Buddhist visual art that developed from a merger of Greek, Syrian, Persian, and Indian artistic influences during the first few centuries of Christian era. The foreign influence is evident from the sculptures of Buddha in which they bear resemblance to the Greek sculptures. Both Shakas and Kushanas were patrons of Gandhara School.

The Ajanta Caves, comprising rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments, are located in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Elloracaves, one of the largest rock cut monastery-temple caves complexes in the world, are also located near Aurangabad. Ajanta and Ellora caves form one of the major tourist attractions in Mar athwada region of Maharashtra.

Mohen jodaro is interpreted as "Mound of the Dead Men "in Sindhi, and as "Mound of Mohan "(where Mohan is Krishna).The city 's original name is unknowrn Mohenjodaro is located west of the Indus River inLarkana District, Sindh, Pakistan.

The city of Mahabalipuram was largely developed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I in the 7th century AD. The mandapa or pavilions and the rathas or shrines shaped as temple chariots are hewn from the granite rock face, while the famed Shore Temple erected half a century later, is built from dressed stone. The Pancha Rathas shrines were carved during the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I. The purpose of their constructions not known, structures are not completed.

After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, Gautam Buddha went to Sarnath (ancient Isipatana) near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. It was at the deer park in Sarnath that he preached his first discourse onthe Four Noble Truthsto a group of five monks and set in motion the Wheel of Dharma. Sarnath is mentioned by the Buddha as one of the four places of pilgrimage.

The Dilwara Jain temples are located near Mount Abu in Rajasthan. These temples were built by Jain laymen between the 11^th and 13^th centuries AD and are world-famous for their stunning use of marble The Dilwara temples are a sacred pilgrimage place of the jains

The Kailasa temple at Ellora, Maharashtra, was built in the 8^th century by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I as attested in Kannada inscriptions. This is one of the 34 temples and monasteries known collectively as the Ellora Caves. It is a megalith carved out of one single rock.

The 6^th century B.C was an age of religious ferment in the world. In India, it witnessed the birth of Buddhism and Jainism. It was in the same period that Heraclitus preached his new doctrines in the Greek island of Ionia; Zoroaster launched his protest against the prevailing religious superstitions in Iran and Confucius showed a new way of life in China.