Match List - I with List - II:
| List-I | List-II | ||
| (A) | Empty seat | (I) | Strength and wisdom |
| (B) | Stupa | (II) | Meditation of the Buddha |
| (C) | Elephant | (III) | Mahaparinibbana |
| (D) | Women holding onto a tree | (IV) | Shalabhanjika |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (A)-(II), (B)-(III), (C)-(I), (D)-(IV)
(A) Empty seat — this matches (II) Meditation of the Buddha. Early sculptors showed the Buddha’s presence through symbols, and the empty seat was meant to indicate the meditation of the Buddha, who attained enlightenment while meditating under a tree.
(B) Stupa — this matches (III) Mahaparinibbana. The stupa was meant to represent the mahaparinibbana.
(C) Elephant — this matches (I) Strength and wisdom. Animals were often used as symbols of human attributes; elephants were depicted to signify strength and wisdom.
(D) Women holding onto a tree — this matches (IV) Shalabhanjika. The sculpture of a woman swinging from the edge of the gateway, holding onto a tree, could be a representation of a shalabhanjika, a woman whose touch, according to popular belief, caused trees to flower and bear fruit.
NCERT (2026-27): “9.2 Symbols of worship … Art historians had to acquire familiarity with hagiographies of the Buddha in order to understand Buddhist sculpture. According to hagiographies, the Buddha attained enlightenment while meditating under a tree. Many early sculptors did not show the Buddha in human form – instead, they showed his presence through symbols. The empty seat (Fig. 4.14) was meant to indicate the meditation of the Buddha, and the stupa (Fig. 4.15) was meant to represent the mahaparinibbana. Another frequently used symbol was the wheel (Fig. 4.16). This stood for the first sermon of the Buddha, delivered at Sarnath.… 9.3 Popular traditions Other sculptures at Sanchi were perhaps not directly inspired by Buddhist ideas. These include beautiful women swinging from the edge of the gateway, holding onto a tree (Fig.4.17). Initially, scholars were a bit intrigued about this image, which seemed to have little to do with renunciation. However, after examining other literary traditions, they realised that it could be a representation of what is described in Sanskrit as a shalabhanjika. According to popular belief, this was a woman whose touch caused trees to flower and bear fruit. It is likely that this was regarded as an auspicious symbol and integrated into the decoration of the stupa.… …animals were often used as symbols of human attributes. Elephants, for example, were depicted to signify strength and wisdom.…” |