Consider the following pairs:

Site Well known for

1. Besnagar Shaivite cave shrine.

2. Bhaja Buddhist cave shrine

3. Sittanavasal Jain cave shrine

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2023: General Studies (SET - A - Held on 28 May)

Answer 1

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

Pair 1:
Besnagar - Shaivite Cave Shrine
- Incorrect:
- Besnagar (in modern-day Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh) is not primarily known for a Shaivite cave shrine.
- It is famous for the Heliodorus Pillar, which was erected by Heliodorus, a Greek ambassador who became a follower of the Bhagavata (Vaishnavite) sect.
- Archaeological remains in Besnagar also indicate the presence of Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu structures, but it does not feature a Shaivite cave shrine.
- Hence, Pair 1 is incorrect.
Pair 2:
Bhaja - Buddhist Cave Shrine
- Correct:
- The Bhaja Caves are a group of 22 rock-cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BCE, located in Pune, Maharashtra.
- These caves are among the earliest examples of Buddhist rock-cut architecture in India.
- They include viharas (monasteries) and chaityas (prayer halls).
- Hence, Pair 2 is correct.
Pair 3:
Sittanavasal - Jain Cave Shrine
- Correct:
- Sittanavasal is an ancient Jain rock-cut cave located in the Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu, dating back to the 2nd century BCE.
- It is known for its Jain cave shrine, rock-cut architecture, and paintings, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Jain ascetics.
- Hence, Pair 3 is correct.
Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2: Only two.