PRELIMS REVISION QUIZ (DAY-16)

EKAMRA KSHETRA

Ekamra Kshetra is a beautification project of Odisha Government is aimed at creating space around Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneshwar.

The project has been mired in controversy due to destruction of ancient monuments nearby.

Lingaraj Temple, built in 11th century A.D., is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered as the largest temple of the "temple city" Bhubaneswar.

The main tower of this temple measures 180-feet in height.

It is a classic example of Kalinga style architecture.

It is believed to have been built by the Somvanshi King Yayati I.

Bhubaneswar is called the "Ekamra Kshetra" as the deity of Lingaraja was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in Ekamra Purana, a 13th-century Sanskrit treatise.

Lingaraja Temple complex has one hundred and fifty subsidiary shrines.

Lingaraj is referred to as ‘Swayambhu' – self-originated Shivalinga.

Another important aspect of the temple is that it signifies the syncretisation of Shaivism and Vaishnavism sects in Odisha.

Perhaps because of the rising cult of Lord Jagannath (considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu), which coincided with the completion of the Lingaraja Temple.

The presiding deity of Lingaraja temple is known as Harihara; Hari denotes Lord Vishnu and Hara meaning Lord Shiva.

MANDU GROUP OF MONUMENTS

The Group of Monuments at Mandu - inscribed in the Tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Situated in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh.

Provincial architecture - Malwa Style

Indo-islamic/Afghan architecture in sandstone

There are 61 monuments. The most significant ones are -

1⃣ Jahaz Mahal
2⃣ Hindola Mahal
3⃣ Tomb of Hoshang Shah
(https://t.me/iaspanti/3066)4⃣ Ashrafi Mahal
5⃣ Baz Bahadur's Palace
6⃣ Rani Roopmati's Pavilion

Telegram (https://t.me/iaspanti/3066)
IAS PANTI
Hoshang Shah's Tomb, Mandu – India's oldest marble edifice

Did You Know : Hoshang Shah's tomb in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh is India's first completely-marble tomb.

It is said to be the inspiration for the Taj Mahal.

An inscription on the entrance is said to record the visit of Ustad Hamid Khan Lahori, the architect of the Taj Mahal.

JAHAZ MAHAL

Jahaz Mahal of Mandu, Madhya Pradesh resembles a ship that is about to sail.

It is known as "Ship Palace" as it is built on the narrow strip of land between two water bodies – the waters of the Munj and Kapur tanks.

Hindola Mahal or Swinging Palace in Mandu is an exemplary specimen of Malwa architecture.

HINDOLA MAHAL

This building is "T"-shaped in plan, with a main hall and a transverse projection.

On both sides of the hall are six arched openings. This hall originally had a massive vaulted roof. The side walls are strengthened with massive sloping buttresses which have given the name "swinging palace" to the building.

Architecturally, the palace is assigned to the end of the 15th century A.D.

MONUMENTS BY AURANGZEB

Bibi Ka Maqbara ("Tomb of the Lady") is a tomb located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

It was commissioned in 1660 by Aurangzeb in the memory of his wife Dilras Banu Begum, posthumously known as Rabia-ud-Daurani.

It bears a striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal.

Aurangzeb was not much interested in architecture though he had commissioned the small, but elegant, Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid), which is a white marble mosque inside the Red Fort Complex in Delhi.

Bibi Ka Maqbara is the second largest monument commissioned by Aurangzeb, the largest being the Badshahi Mosque at Lahore.

Badshahi Mosque is the largest mosque of mughal era.

PARI MAHAL

Pari Mahal is a seven terraced garden located at the top of Zabarwan mountain range over-looking the city of Srinagar.

Pari Mahal was built by Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh in the mid-1600s during the reign of Shah Jahan.

It served as a library and an abode for Dara Shikoh.

It was also used as an observatory, for teaching astrology and astronomy.

Out of 9 places submitted by Archaeological Survey of India for inclusion in the Tentative list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, 6 have been selected.

1⃣ Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
2⃣ Ganga Ghats of Varanasi
3⃣ Hire Benkal Megalithic site, Karnataka
4⃣ Maratha military architecture, Maharashtra
5⃣ Bhedaghat-Lametaghat in Narmada Valley, Jabalpur
6⃣ Temples of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

This makes total count of 48 proposals in UNESCO's tentative list of India.

CHAUSATH YOGINI TEMPLE

Chausath Yogini Temple, Mitaoli, also known as Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple, is an 11th-century temple in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh.

It is one of the few well-preserved Yogini temples in India.

The temple is formed by a circular wall with 65 chambers, apparently for 64 yoginis and the Great Goddess, and an open mandapa in the centre of a circular courtyard, sacred to Shiva.

Each of the chambers around the inside of the perimeter wall now contains an image of Shiva.

However, originally these contained 64 Yogini images and probably one image of the great Goddess.

Therefore, the temple is known as Chausath Yogini Temple (Chausath being the Hindi for "64").