GS PrelimsHistory (Ancient India)Archaeological Sites2023

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?

A

Only one

B

Only two

C

All three

D

None

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation

1. Pair 1: Besnagar (modern Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh) is famous for the Heliodorus pillar, an inscription indicating devotion to Vasudeva (Vaishnavism), and nearby Udayagiri caves which contain both Hindu (Vaishnavite and Shaivite) and Jain iconography. However, Besnagar itself is not primarily known for a Shaivite cave shrine; its main association is with the Heliodorus pillar and early Vaishnavism. Thus, this pair is likely incorrectly matched in its primary identification. 2. Pair 2: Bhaja Caves, located near Lonavala in Maharashtra, are a group of rock-cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BCE. They are renowned as an important early Buddhist cave shrine complex, belonging to the Hinayana phase of Buddhism. Thus, this pair is correctly matched. 3. Pair 3: Sittanavasal Cave, located in Tamil Nadu, is famous for its rock-cut monastery and exquisite frescoes. It is a significant center of Jain art and architecture, serving as a Jain cave shrine and monastic complex, particularly flourishing under Pandya patronage around the 7th-9th centuries CE. Thus, this pair is correctly matched. 4. Therefore, two pairs (2 and 3) are correctly matched.

More History (Ancient India) PYQs

View all History (Ancient India) questions →

Master UPSC Revision

Get 10,000+ topic-wise MCQs, spaced repetition, daily CSAT challenges, and detailed performance analytics.

Coming Soon to Play Store
Coming Soon to Play Store