Question 37 from UPSC CSE 2023 - Art & Culture

Question

Consider the following pairs:
1. Besnagar - Shaivite cave shrine
2. Bhaja - Buddhist cave shrine
3. Sittanavasal - Jain cave shrine
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Only two

Strategy: Focus on identifying the specific religious association of each site. Besnagar is historically linked to Vaishnavism, not Shaivism, through the Heliodorus pillar dedicated to Lord Vasudeva (Vishnu). Bhaja Caves are recognized Buddhist shrines, and Sittanavasal is a celebrated Jain cave site. This detailed understanding helps confirm the correct religious alignments.

Key Info: ### Besnagar
Located near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Besnagar is renowned for the Heliodorus pillar, erected by the Greek ambassador Heliodorus in the 2nd century BCE. This pillar is dedicated to Lord Vasudeva (an aspect of Vishnu), signifying early Vaishnavite devotion and the adoption of Indian religious practices by foreigners. There is no association with Shaivite cave shrines at Besnagar.

### Bhaja Caves
The Bhaja Caves, situated near Pune, Maharashtra, are rock-cut Buddhist monuments dating to the 2nd century BCE. They feature distinctive chaitya (prayer halls) with apsidal (vaulted) roofs and vihara (monastic) structures. These caves are considered among the earliest examples of Buddhist cave architecture in India.

### Sittanavasal Caves
In Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu, the Sittanavasal Caves are Jain cave shrines from around the 2nd century BCE. They are celebrated for their exquisite mural paintings, created using natural dyes. The complex functioned as a Jain monastery, and its art and architecture provide important evidence of Jain religious and cultural activity in southern India.

Collectively, these sites illustrate the diversity and widespread distribution of ancient rock-cut architecture associated with different Indian religious traditions.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Only one

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: All three

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: None

Consider the following pairs: Besnagar - Shaivite cave shrine Bhaja - Buddhist cave shrine Sittanavasal - Jain cave shrine How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following pairs:

Besnagar - Shaivite cave shrine

Bhaja - Buddhist cave shrine

Sittanavasal - Jain cave shrine
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?