Saturday, January 18, 2020

MONUMENTS OF INDIA - 3 - ANSWERS


1. C. Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur






“Brihadishvara Temple”, also called “Rajarajesvaram” or “Dhakshina Meru”, is a temple dedicated to Shiva located in South bank of Kaveri river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of a fully realized Dravidian architecture. Built by Tamil king Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples".



In 2010, Govt of India (Reserve Bank of India) issued Rs 1000 Commemorative Coin to celebrate 1000 years of existence of the Temple. It was the first 1000 Rupees coin to be released in the Republic of India coinage. This coin was a Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT).






Earlier on 1 April 1954, the Reserve Bank of India had released Rs. 1000 currency notes featuring a panoramic view of the Brihadishvara temple. It was in circulation until 1975, when the then Government demonetised all Rs. 1,000 currency notes.






2. A. Nanded, Maharashtra






"Hazur Sahib", located on the banks of the River Godavari in the city of Nanded, Maharashtra, is one of the five takhts in Sikhism. The structure is built at the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji left his earthly life. The inner room of the Gurdwara is called the “Angitha Sahib” and is built over the place where Guru Gobind Singh was cremated in 1708. The Gurdwara was built between 1832 and 1837 by order of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780–1839).





3. B. Chandigarh





The “Open Hand Monument” is a symbolic structure designed by the architect Le Corbusier and located in Sector – 1 of the Capitol Complex of Chandigarh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the emblem or symbol of the “Government of Chandigarh” and symbolizes "the hand to give and the hand to take; peace and prosperity, and the unity of mankind". The 26 metres (85 ft) high sculpture has been designed to rotate in the wind to reflect the constant changes in life.






4. A. Nizamuddin Dargah







Nizamuddin Dargah is the dargah (mausoleum) of Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya (1238 - 1325 CE), one of the greatest Sufi saints of India. Situated in the Nizamuddin West area of Delhi, the Dargah is visited by thousands of pilgrims every week. The site is also known for its evening qawwali devotional music sessions. The descendants of Nizamuddin Auliya look after the whole management of Dargah Sharif.


“Kun Faya Kun” a song in the movie Rockstar (2011) composed by A. R. Rahman, was shot at the Dargah, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Nizami Bandhu. Nizami Bandhu is an Indian musical group composed of Ustad Chand Nizami, Shadab Faridi and Sohrab Faridi Nizami. They perform Qawaali written by the poet Amir Khusro in honour of Nizamuddin Auliya.



(Ranbir Kapoor with Nizami Bandhu singers in ‘Rockstar’ at Nizamuddin Dargah)


The Dargah has also been featured in movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015). Arziyan, a qawaali in the film Delhi 6 (2009) composed by A. R. Rahman is dedicated to Nizamuddin Auliya.








5. C. Sarnath








“Dhamek Stupa” (also known as “Dharmarajika Stupa”, which can be translated as the “Stupa of the reign of Dharma”) is a massive stupa located at Sarnath, 13 km away from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.



The "Dhamek Stupa" marks the spot where the Buddha gave the first sermon to his first five Brahmin disciples after attaining enlightenment, "revealing his Eightfold Path leading to Nirvana". The Dhamek Stupa was built in 500 AD to replace an earlier structure commissioned by the great Mauryan king Ashoka in 249 BC, along with several other monuments, to commemorate the Buddha's activities in this location. However, the basement seems to have survived from Ashoka's structure.


In its current shape, the stupa is a solid cylinder of bricks and stone reaching a height of 43.6 meters and having a diameter of 28 meters.

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