Ashoka was a patron of Buddhism therefore he used many symbols that are relevant in Buddhism as motifs in the Ashokan pillar. According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha entered his mother’s womb in the form of a white elephant.
First statement is incorrect because though the traces of Pallava and Chalukya temple architecture are available, but its construction is generally attributed to the 8th century Rashtrakuta dynasty. The second statement is also incorrect because the temple is a complete dravida building
Halivakara is a kind of tax in the Gupta era. Halivakara was a plow tax, paid by every cultivator owning a plow.Some of its taxes include Bali, Bhoga, etc.