Consider the following pairs: [Art & Culture]

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

Besanagr pillar inscription of Helidorus is an important inscription of the Shungan period at the site of ancient Vidisha.

Helidorus, a Greek ambassador at the court of either the fifth Shungan king Kasiputta Bhagadara or Bhadraka or ninth king Bhagavata.

In this inscription, Helidorus describes himself as a Bhagavata i.e. Worshipper of god Vasudeva Krishna.

Hence, 1st pair is incorrectly matched.

Rock-cut Buddhist monasteries in western ghats are located at sites such as Kondivte, Nadsur, Bhaja, Tulja, Pitalkhora, Kondane, Ajanta, Nasik, Bedsa, Junnar, Karle, Kanheri, Kuda, Mahad, Karadh and Shelarvadi.

Hence, 2nd pair is correctly matched.

Sittanavasal is the earliest example of a Jain cave painting of south India. The name Sittanvasal means the abode of the Siddhas [Jain saints who have won their spiritual freedom]

Hence, 3rd pair is correctly matched.

Early Cave architecture in India can be traced to Mauryans in the form of Lomas Rishi and Sudama caves in Barabar Hills.

Udaygiri and Khandagiri [near the site of Sisupalgarh] in Odisha is one of the oldest groups of rock-cut Jain caves.

Read: Previous Year UPSC History Questions (PYQs) With Explanation 2023