Q. 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?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is incorrect: Besnagar also known as Vidisha is a town located in modern Madhya Pradesh. On the outskirts of Besnagar (Vidisha), stands the quaint Heliodorus Pillar dedicated to the God Vishnu, set up by a Greek named Heliodorus who is said to have adopted Hinduism and became a disciple of Lord Vishnu. Today, the pillar is worshipped by the locals as “Khamba Baba” and so the Besnagar site is well known for Vaishnavite sect not Shaivite sect.
Pair 2 is correct: Bhaja Caves is a group of 22 rock cut caves built during the 2nd century BC. This cave is also known as Bhaje caves and is located in Pune district, near Lonavala, Maharashtra. The Caves belong to the Hinayana Buddhism sect in Maharashtra. The cave consists of numerous stupas and the most prominent excavation is chaitya griha- cave XII.
Pair 3 is correct: Sithannavasal caves located in Pudukottai District of modern Tamil Nadu belong to Jainism. In ancient days the Jain Monks used to live in caves and hillocks so as to perform their ascetic life. They polished the hill for the purpose of poojas and penance in the open shelter.
Source: https://www.buddhist-art.com/blog/bhaja-caves/
https://pudukkottai.nic.in/tourist-place/chithannavasal/
Subject) History
