UPSC Prelims 2023 · Question 62 of 97
UPSC Prelims 2023 question on Besnagar Bhaja Sittanavasal Shrines
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2023
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectArt and Culture
- TopicIndian Architecture
- DifficultyHard
- TypeMatch
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?
Show answer
Answer: B. Only two
Analysis
Only pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched → Option (b) Only two.
Statement by statement
Pair 1 – NOT CORRECTLY MATCHED: Besnagar is a Vaishnavite cave shrine — not Shaivite. During the second century BC to third century AD, many rulers from West Asia and Central Asia like the Indo-Greeks, the Shakas, the Parthians, the Kushans adopted Vaishnavism. The Greek ambassador Heliodorus set up a pillar in honour of Lord Vasudeva at Besnagar near Vidhisa in MP around the middle of the second century BC.
Pair 2 – CORRECTLY MATCHED: Bhaja caves are Buddhist caves in Pune. They have apsidal vault roof chaitya halls — a Buddhist cave shrine.
Pair 3 – CORRECTLY MATCHED: Located in a tiny hamlet of Sittanavasal in the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, Sittanavasal Cave is a Jain complex of caves dating back to the 2nd century. It is believed that it was the settlement of certain monks from the eastern parts of India, who came here to preach Jainism.