The three relief panels, 'Vishnu reclining on Sheshnaga', 'Penance of Nar-Narayana' and 'Gajendra Moksha' belongs to:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The three iconic relief panels—'Vishnu reclining on Sheshnaga' (Anantasayi Vishnu), 'Gajendra Moksha', and the 'Penance of Nar-Narayana'—are the defining sculptural features of the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh. This temple is a masterpiece of the Gupta period, dating to the 6th century CE, and is a key structural temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The panels are placed in large niches on the three exterior walls of the sanctum: 'Vishnu reclining on Sheshnaga' is on the south wall, 'Gajendra Moksha' on the north wall, and 'Penance of Nar-Narayana' on the east wall, making their location a classic reference point in the study of Indian art history.

The incorrect option is 1:
The Virupaksha Temple is a major monument located in Pattadakal, Karnataka, and is a significant example of Chalukyan architecture, dating to the 8th century CE. Unlike the Vishnu-centric Deogarh temple, the Virupaksha Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva (Virupaksha). Its elaborate carvings primarily depict scenes from Shaiva mythology, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata, and it is not the source of the three specific Vishnu panels mentioned.

The incorrect option is 2:
The Mahabodhi Temple is an ancient and extremely important site of Buddhist pilgrimage in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. It marks the location where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment to become the Buddha. Therefore, the temple's structure, iconography, and all its primary relief sculptures and panels are dedicated entirely to the life of the Buddha and Buddhist narratives, having no thematic or historical connection to the Vishnu-related panels in the question.

The incorrect option is 3:
The name Kailashnath Temple refers to two famous and distinct temples in India: the magnificent rock-cut temple at Ellora and a structural temple at Kanchipuram. Both are grand temples primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva (Kailashnath, or Lord of Mount Kailash), constructed during the Rashtrakuta and Pallava periods, respectively. Despite being highly important architectural and sculptural sites, they do not feature the specific combination of the 'Vishnu reclining on Sheshnaga', 'Gajendra Moksha', and 'Penance of Nar-Narayana' panels.