Question

Which of the following museums display the Didarganj Yakshi?

• A. National Museum, New Delhi
• B. Indian Museum, Kolkata
• C. Nalanda Museum, Nalanda
• D. Bihar Museum, Patna

Hint:

Important ancient Indian art centers:
• Sarnath → Buddhist sculptures
• Mathura → Kushana sculptures
• Bihar Museum → Didarganj Yakshi Mauryan polish is one of the defining features of early Indian stone sculpture.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: The Didarganj Yakshi is one of the most celebrated sculptures of ancient Indian art. It is famous for:
• its polished stone surface,
• artistic beauty,
• and Mauryan-period sculptural style. The sculpture is currently displayed in the Bihar Museum, Patna.

Step 1: Understanding the Didarganj Yakshi sculpture. The Didarganj Yakshi was discovered near Didarganj in Bihar. It is regarded as:
• one of the finest examples of ancient Indian sculpture,
• a masterpiece of stone polishing,
• and an important representation of Yakshi art traditions. The statue is often associated with Mauryan artistic influence because of its mirror-like polish.

Step 2: Understanding where it is displayed. The sculpture was traditionally housed in the Patna Museum, but later it became part of the Bihar Museum collection in Patna. Thus, the correct answer is Bihar Museum, Patna.

Step 3: Analyzing all the options carefully.
• Option (A) National Museum, New Delhi: The Didarganj Yakshi is not permanently displayed here.
• Option (B) Indian Museum, Kolkata: The Indian Museum contains many ancient sculptures, but not the Didarganj Yakshi.
• Option (C) Nalanda Museum, Nalanda: Nalanda Museum mainly preserves Buddhist antiquities from Nalanda.
• Option (D) Bihar Museum, Patna: The Didarganj Yakshi is displayed in Bihar Museum, Patna. Therefore, this option is correct.

Step 4: Historical and artistic importance of the sculpture. The Didarganj Yakshi is significant because:
• it demonstrates advanced stone carving,
• it reflects ancient Indian artistic excellence,
• and it helps historians study Mauryan-era art traditions. It is considered one of the iconic sculptures of ancient India.

Step 5: Final conclusion. Since the Didarganj Yakshi is displayed in Bihar Museum, Patna, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{\text{Bihar Museum, Patna}} \]