Samacheer Kalvi 7th Social Science Art and Architecture of Tamil Nadu Exercise Solutions

How to Use This Page

This page provides complete exercise solutions for Chapter 2: Art and Architecture of Tamil Nadu from the Samacheer Kalvi 7th Social Science textbook (History, Term 3). Read each question, attempt it on your own first, then compare with the answers below. Use the Key Concepts section for a quick revision before exams.

Key Concepts (Quick Recap)

• Five Epochs of Tamil Architecture: Pallava, Early Chola, Later Chola, Vijayanagara/Nayak, and Modern
• Pallava Epoch (A.D. 600-850): Transition from rock-cut to free-standing structural temples; Mahendravarman pioneered rock-cut architecture at Mandagapattu
• Early Chola Epoch (A.D. 850-1100): Known for magnificent vimanas; Brihadeeshwara Temple at Thanjavur is the hallmark
• Later Chola Epoch (A.D. 1100-1350): Known for beautiful gopurams; Dharasuram temple is notable
• Vijayanagara/Nayak Epoch (A.D. 1350-1600): Decorated mandapas, ornamental pillars, massive gopurams, music pillars
• Shore Temple at Mamallapuram: Oldest structural temple in South India; UNESCO World Heritage Site (1984)
• Pancha Pandava Rathas: Five monolithic rock-cut shrines at Mahabalipuram
• Sittanavasal Paintings: Early Pandya frescoes in Pudukkottai district; lotus pond is notable
• Rameswaram Temple: Longest set of corridors in the world, built by the Sethupathis

Exercise Solutions

I. Choose the Correct Answer (MCQs)

Q1. Which is the oldest structural temple in south India?

• a) Shore Temple ✓
• b) Mandagapattu
• c) Kailasanatha Temple
• d) Vaikuntha Perumal Temple

Q2. In which year were the Mamallapuram monuments and temples notified as a UNESCO World Heritage site?

• a) 1964
• b) 1994
• c) 1974
• d) 1984 ✓

Q3. What was the special feature of the architecture of early Chola period?

• a) bas-reliefs
• b) vimanas ✓
• c) corridors
• d) gopurams

Q4. Where is the Azhakiya Nambi Temple situated?

• a) Tirukkurungudi ✓
• b) Madurai
• c) Tirunelveli
• d) Srivilliputhu

Q5. Who built the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple?

• a) Mahendravarman
• b) Narasimhavarman
• c) Rajasimha
• d) Rajaraja II ✓

Q6. The Pallava Epoch in Tamil Nadu is ________

• a) A.D. 600-850 ✓
• b) A.D. 850-1100
• c) A.D. 1350-1850
• d) A.D. 1100-1350

Q7. The Pallava king ________ was a pioneer in rock-cut architecture.

• a) Narasimhavarman
• b) Mahendravarman ✓
• c) Simha Varman
• d) Vaathabi Kondan

Q8. The ________ Penance, carved on the face of a granite boulder, is a magnificent relief.

• a) Arjun's ✓
• b) Sivam
• c) Vishnu
• d) Thirumal

Q9. In the Siva temple of Pandyas, the ________ is carved out of the mother rock.

• a) Vimanam
• b) Gopuram
• c) lutes
• d) linga ✓

Q10. Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai and Nellaiappar Temple in Tirunelveli represent examples of ________ architectural style.

• a) Pandya's ✓
• b) Cheran
• c) Chola
• d) Vijayanagar

Q11. The maturity attained by ________ architecture is reflected in the two magnificent temples of Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

• a) Cheran
• b) Cholas ✓
• c) Pandyas
• d) Vijayanagar

Q12. ________, near Kumbakonam, is a Later Chola period temple.

• a) Kalugumalai
• b) Arykkudi
• c) Dharasuram ✓
• d) Thiruvadalan

Q13. The cave temple at ________ (near Karaikudi) belongs to the 13th century.

• a) Irrukkaikudi
• b) Arykkudi
• c) Varalanpadi
• d) Pillayarpatti ✓

Q14. The practice of fitting the ________ with sculptures continued during the Nayak period.

• a) Mandapam
• b) Gopuram
• c) lutes
• d) niches ✓

Q15. The Later Chola period was known for beautiful ________

• a) Mandapam
• b) Gopuram ✓
• c) Nandi
• d) Theppakulam

II. Fill in the Blanks

1. Mandagapattu was the first rock-cut cave temple built by the Pallava king Mahendravarman. 2. The early Chola architecture followed the style of Sembian Mahadevi. 3. The most celebrated mandapam in Madurai Meenakshiamman temple is the Pudumandapam. 4. Later Chola period was known for beautiful gopurams. 5. Vijayanagar period's unique feature is the mandapam. 6. The Pallava epoch witnessed a transition from rock-cut to free-standing temples. 7. Mandagapattu temple was the first rock-cut temple built by Mahendravarman. 8. The Kanchi Kailasanatha Temple was built by the Pallava king Rajasimha. 9. The monolithic sculpture made at Mahabalipuram is Pancha Pandava Rathas. 10. The Mamallapuram monuments and temples were notified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. 11. Early Pandyas were the contemporaries of the Pallavas. 12. The Vettuvankoil, a monolithic temple at Kazhugumalai, is hewn out of a huge boulder on four sides. 13. Many early Pandya images are unearthed now in Tirumalai Nayakkar museum at Madurai. 14. Sittanavasal was a residential cave of the Jain monks. 15. The Sethupathis ruled Ramanathapuram and contributed to the Ramanathaswamy temple architecture.

III. Match the Following

Match A (Textbook Exercise):

Match B (Additional Exercise):

IV. Find Out the Wrong Pair / Assertion-Reason / Odd One Out

Q1. Find the wrong pair: 1. Krishnapuram Temple - Tirunelveli 2. Kudalazhagar Temple - Azhwar Tirunagari ✗ (Wrong pair; Kudalazhagar Temple is in Madurai) 3. Sethupathis - Feudatories of Madurai Nayaks 4. Jalagandeshwara temple - Vellore

Q2. Assertion (A): The predominance of corridors of Rameswaram Temple is striking. Reason (R): The Temple has the largest set of corridors in the world.

• a) R is not the correct explanation of A
• b) R is the correct explanation of A ✓
• c) A is correct but R is wrong
• d) Both A and R are wrong

Q3. Find the odd one out: Srivilliputhur, Azhaharkoil, Srirangam, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai Answer: Kanchipuram (it belongs to the Pallava epoch while the others belong to later periods)

Additional - Find the wrong pair: 1. Iravatheswara - Indira's elephant 2. Pillayarpatti - A beautiful Ganesha 3. Rameshwaram Temple - Theppakulam ✗ (Wrong pair; Rameshwaram Temple is known for corridors, not Theppakulam) 4. 1000 pillar mandapams - Meenakshi Amman Temple 5. Gangai Konda Solapuram - Chola Capital

Additional - Assertion (A): The Thanjavur Big Temple is one of the highest temples in the world. Reason (R): Due to its massive height, the shikhara is called the Dakshina Meru. Answer: b) R is the correct explanation of A ✓

V. True or False (with corrections)

VI. Very Short Answers (1-2 sentences)

Q1. What are the Pancha Pandava Rathas? The Pancha Pandava Rathas are five monolithic rock-cut shrines at Mahabalipuram — Draupadiratha, Dharmarajaratha, Bheemaratha, Arjunaratha, and Nagula-Sahadeva Ratha — exemplifying the Tamil Dravidian tradition.

Q2. Write a note on the paintings of Sittanavasal. Sittanavasal in Pudukkottai district features outstanding early Pandya fresco paintings, including a notable lotus pond praised for its excellent execution of colours and exposition of the scene.

Q3. What is the special feature of the Thanjavur Big Temple? The Thanjavur Big Temple, completed around A.D. 1010 under Rajaraja, features a remarkable 216-foot vimana (one of the tallest man-made shikharas globally) and a huge Nandi bull statue carved from a single rock.

Q4. What are the striking features of Rameswaram Temple? The Rameswaram Temple, built by the Sethupathis, has the longest set of corridors in the world. The outer corridor is roughly 7 metres high and stretches about 120 metres, with many pillars decorated with ornate carvings.

Q5. Write a short note about the specialities of Mamallapuram. The Mamallapuram monuments and temples, including the Shore Temple complex, were notified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, featuring rock-cut monuments and structural temples of the Pallava era.

Q6. Write about Kazhugumalai sculpture. The Vettuvankoil at Kazhugumalai is a monolithic temple hewn out of a huge boulder on four sides. At the top, sculptures of Uma Maheswarar, Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, and Brahma are found.

Q7. Write about Pillayarpatti Karpaka Vinayagar temple. The cave temple at Pillayarpatti (near Karaikudi) belongs to the 13th century. It is important for its sculptures and an inscription, with a beautiful Ganesha carved facing the entrance.

Q8. What are the specialities of Gangaikonda Cholapuram? Gangaikonda Cholapuram served as the Chola capital, built by Rajendra Chola. The temple is 55 metres tall, with a sanctum of two storeys and an outer wall with projections, niches, and recesses on three sides.

VII. Short Answers (3-5 sentences)

Q1. Describe the Pallava epoch's transition from rock-cut to free-standing temples. Pallava king Mahendravarman was a pioneer in rock-cut architecture. Initially, temples were carved directly out of rock — the Mandagapattu temple was his first rock-cut creation, featuring two front pillars and a simple sanctum cut into one side of the wall with a projecting front mandapa. Over time, structural temples replaced rock-cut architecture, giving sculptors wider scope to exercise their skills. The Shore Temple at Mamallapuram and the Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchi exemplify this transition to free-standing structural temples.

Q2. How did Vijayanagara and Nayak architecture differ from Pallava and Later Chola architecture? Vijayanagara and Nayak architecture introduced a new form of construction featuring decorated mandapas, ornamental pillars, life-size images, gopuras, prakaras, music pillars, floral works, and stone windows. Unlike the Pallava focus on rock-cut shrines and the Chola emphasis on vimanas, this epoch emphasised massive gopurams on four sides, tanks attached to temples, and niches fitted with sculptures. Notable examples include the 1000-pillar mandapam at Madurai, the Ranganatha temple complex at Srirangam, and the Jalagandeshwara temple at Vellore.

Q3. What are the key features of Early Pandya architecture? Early Pandyas were contemporaries of the Pallavas. Their rock-cut and structural temples are significant. In their Siva temples, the linga was carved out of the mother rock. The cave temple at Pillayarpatti (13th century) features a beautiful Ganesha sculpture. The Sittanavasal paintings in Pudukkottai are outstanding examples of early Pandya fresco art, with the lotus pond scene being particularly notable for its colour execution.

VIII. Detailed Answers (Paragraph-length)

Q1. The Pallava epoch witnessed a transition from rock-cut to free-standing temples — Explain. The Pallava epoch (A.D. 600-850) marks a significant transition in Tamil architecture from rock-cut cave temples to free-standing structural temples. Pallava king Mahendravarman was the pioneer of rock-cut architecture in South India. His first creation was the Mandagapattu cave temple, which featured two front pillars and a simple sanctum cut into the rock wall with a projecting front mandapa (pavilion). Under later Pallava rulers like Narasimhavarman and Rajasimha, the architecture evolved towards structural temples that were built rather than carved. The Pancha Pandava Rathas at Mamallapuram represent the monolithic rock-cut tradition, while the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram and the Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchi represent the full flowering of structural temple architecture. The Mamallapuram monuments were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Structural temples gave sculptors wider scope to use their skills, allowing for more elaborate ornamentation and larger scale constructions.

Q2. Discuss how the architecture of the Vijayanagara and Nayak period was different from that of the Pallavas and Later Cholas. The Vijayanagara and Nayak period (A.D. 1350-1600) introduced distinctly different architectural features compared to earlier epochs. While the Pallavas were known for rock-cut cave temples and the transition to structural temples, and the Cholas were known for towering vimanas (as in the Brihadeeshwara Temple at Thanjavur with its 216-foot vimana), the Vijayanagara-Nayak era emphasised decorated mandapas, ornamental pillars, life-size sculpted images, massive gopurams on all four sides, music pillars, floral works, stone windows, prakaras (compound walls), and tanks attached to temples. Notable examples include the Alakiya Nambi temple at Tirukkurungudi with its relief sculptures, the Ranganatha temple complex at Srirangam, the Adinatha temple at Azhwar Tirunagari, the Nellaiyappar temple at Tirunelveli, the 1000-pillar mandapam at Madurai, the Meenakshi Amman Temple, and the Jalagandeshwara temple at Vellore. The practice of fitting niches with sculptures continued and expanded during this period, making the Nayak period arguably the most ornate phase of Tamil temple art.

Q3. Explain how Dravidian architecture is of indigenous origin. Dravidian architecture is of indigenous origin and evolved over centuries without foreign influence. The earliest examples of the Tamil Dravidian architectural tradition are the 7th-century rock-cut shrines at Mahabalipuram. Scholars attribute the absence of earlier monuments in South India to the likelihood that earlier temples were built in wood and were destroyed by natural forces over time. In Tamil Nadu, temple architecture evolved through five distinct stages: the Pallava Epoch (A.D. 600-850), Early Chola Epoch (A.D. 850-1100), Later Chola Epoch (A.D. 1100-1350), Vijayanagara/Nayak Epoch (A.D. 1350-1600), and the Modern Epoch. Each stage built upon the previous one, showing a natural evolution of form and technique rather than foreign importation. The monolithic Pancha Pandava Rathas, the grand vimanas of the Chola era, and the ornate mandapas and gopurams of the Nayak period all demonstrate a continuous indigenous tradition.

Common Mistakes

1. Confusing Pallava and Chola contributions: Students often attribute the Brihadeeshwara Temple to the Pallavas — it was built by the Chola king Rajaraja. 2. Mixing up epochs: Remember the correct time periods — Pallava (600-850), Early Chola (850-1100), Later Chola (1100-1350), Vijayanagara/Nayak (1350-1600). 3. Wrong pair for Kudalazhagar Temple: It is in Madurai, not Azhwar Tirunagari. 4. Attributing all temple features to one dynasty: Vimanas are a Chola speciality; gopurams became prominent in the Later Chola and Vijayanagara periods; rock-cut temples are Pallava innovations. 5. Forgetting the Sethupathis' role: The Rameswaram Temple was built by the Sethupathis (feudatories of the Madurai Nayaks), not by a major dynasty. 6. Confusing Early Pandyas with Later Pandyas: Early Pandyas were contemporaries of the Pallavas, not the Later Cholas. 7. Misidentifying the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple builder: It was built by Rajaraja II, not Rajasimha or Mahendravarman.

Exam Checklist

• [ ] Can you list all five epochs of Tamil architecture with their time periods?
• [ ] Can you identify the Pallava contribution (rock-cut to structural transition)?
• [ ] Can you name the speciality of each dynasty — Pallava (rock-cut/structural), Early Chola (vimanas), Later Chola (gopurams), Vijayanagara/Nayak (mandapas, ornamental pillars)?
• [ ] Can you explain the significance of the Shore Temple and Pancha Pandava Rathas?
• [ ] Do you know the features of the Thanjavur Big Temple (216-ft vimana, single-rock Nandi)?
• [ ] Can you describe the Rameswaram Temple corridors?
• [ ] Can you identify the Sittanavasal paintings and their significance?
• [ ] Can you match temples to their locations (Shore Temple-Mamallapuram, Kailasanatha-Kanchi, etc.)?
• [ ] Can you explain why Dravidian architecture is of indigenous origin?
• [ ] Can you discuss how Vijayanagara/Nayak architecture differs from earlier styles?