Q22. 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
Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 GS Paper
Explanation :
Correct Answer – b
Besnagar Cave
Besnagar is an archaeological site in Madhya Pradesh, India. While it is not particularly well-known for a Shaivite cave shrine, it is famous for the Heliodorus Pillar, an ancient Garuda Pillar dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Udayagiri Caves, which are located nearby, do contain ancient Hindu and Jain sculptures, but they are not specifically known as a Shaivite cave shrine.
Bhaja Cave
Bhaja Caves are a group of 22 rock-cut caves located in Maharashtra, India, and are well known for their Buddhist architecture and sculptures. They date back to the 2nd century BCE and are an important example of early Buddhist cave art in India.
Sittanavasal Cave
Sittanavasal is a small village in Tamil Nadu, India, famous for its Jain cave shrine known as Sittanavasal Cave. The cave contains ancient Jain frescoes and inscriptions dating back to the 7th-9th centuries CE.