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Read the given passage and answer questions that follow.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves, nestled in the rugged hills of Maharashtra, stand as monumental testaments to India’s artistic and spiritual legacy. Carved meticulously between the 2^nd century BCE and the 10^th century CE, these rock-cut sanctuaries embody the seamless blend of devotion, architecture, and aesthetic mastery. The Ajanta caves, primarily Buddhist, depict the evolution of Buddhist thought through exquisite murals, sculptures, and chaitya halls that narrate the Jataka tales—the stories of the Buddha’s previous lives. Their walls come alive with vibrant frescoes that capture both divine and human emotions, executed with natural pigments that have withstood centuries. Ellora, located a short distance away, is celebrated for its religious plurality—housing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments within a single complex. The crowning jewel, the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), carved from a single basalt rock, is a marvel of engineering and imagination. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it replicates Mount Kailasa and symbolizes the cosmic centre of creation. The intricate carvings, soaring pillars, and multi-tiered structures reflect a synthesis of art and devotion unparalleled in world architecture. Together, Ajanta and Ellora transcend time, offering insight into India’s cultural harmony and artistic brilliance. They are not merely monuments but living galleries—chiselled by faith, guided by precision, and preserved as echoes of an era where art was prayer and stone became scripture.

Read the given passage and answer questions that follow.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves, nestled in the rugged hills of Maharashtra, stand as monumental testaments to India’s artistic and spiritual legacy. Carved meticulously between the 2^nd century BCE and the 10^th century CE, these rock-cut sanctuaries embody the seamless blend of devotion, architecture, and aesthetic mastery. The Ajanta caves, primarily Buddhist, depict the evolution of Buddhist thought through exquisite murals, sculptures, and chaitya halls that narrate the Jataka tales—the stories of the Buddha’s previous lives. Their walls come alive with vibrant frescoes that capture both divine and human emotions, executed with natural pigments that have withstood centuries. Ellora, located a short distance away, is celebrated for its religious plurality—housing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments within a single complex. The crowning jewel, the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), carved from a single basalt rock, is a marvel of engineering and imagination. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it replicates Mount Kailasa and symbolizes the cosmic centre of creation. The intricate carvings, soaring pillars, and multi-tiered structures reflect a synthesis of art and devotion unparalleled in world architecture. Together, Ajanta and Ellora transcend time, offering insight into India’s cultural harmony and artistic brilliance. They are not merely monuments but living galleries—chiselled by faith, guided by precision, and preserved as echoes of an era where art was prayer and stone became scripture.

Read the given passage and answer questions that follow.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves, nestled in the rugged hills of Maharashtra, stand as monumental testaments to India’s artistic and spiritual legacy. Carved meticulously between the 2^nd century BCE and the 10^th century CE, these rock-cut sanctuaries embody the seamless blend of devotion, architecture, and aesthetic mastery. The Ajanta caves, primarily Buddhist, depict the evolution of Buddhist thought through exquisite murals, sculptures, and chaitya halls that narrate the Jataka tales—the stories of the Buddha’s previous lives. Their walls come alive with vibrant frescoes that capture both divine and human emotions, executed with natural pigments that have withstood centuries. Ellora, located a short distance away, is celebrated for its religious plurality—housing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments within a single complex. The crowning jewel, the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), carved from a single basalt rock, is a marvel of engineering and imagination. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it replicates Mount Kailasa and symbolizes the cosmic centre of creation. The intricate carvings, soaring pillars, and multi-tiered structures reflect a synthesis of art and devotion unparalleled in world architecture. Together, Ajanta and Ellora transcend time, offering insight into India’s cultural harmony and artistic brilliance. They are not merely monuments but living galleries—chiselled by faith, guided by precision, and preserved as echoes of an era where art was prayer and stone became scripture.

Read the given passage and answer questions that follow.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves, nestled in the rugged hills of Maharashtra, stand as monumental testaments to India’s artistic and spiritual legacy. Carved meticulously between the 2^nd century BCE and the 10^th century CE, these rock-cut sanctuaries embody the seamless blend of devotion, architecture, and aesthetic mastery. The Ajanta caves, primarily Buddhist, depict the evolution of Buddhist thought through exquisite murals, sculptures, and chaitya halls that narrate the Jataka tales—the stories of the Buddha’s previous lives. Their walls come alive with vibrant frescoes that capture both divine and human emotions, executed with natural pigments that have withstood centuries. Ellora, located a short distance away, is celebrated for its religious plurality—housing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments within a single complex. The crowning jewel, the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), carved from a single basalt rock, is a marvel of engineering and imagination. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it replicates Mount Kailasa and symbolizes the cosmic centre of creation. The intricate carvings, soaring pillars, and multi-tiered structures reflect a synthesis of art and devotion unparalleled in world architecture. Together, Ajanta and Ellora transcend time, offering insight into India’s cultural harmony and artistic brilliance. They are not merely monuments but living galleries—chiselled by faith, guided by precision, and preserved as echoes of an era where art was prayer and stone became scripture.