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. (a) Only one
- B. (b) Only two
- C. (c) All three
- D. (d) None
Answer: B
Explanation
The Besnagar pillar, also known as the Heliodorus pillar, is associated with Vaishnavism (dedicated to Lord Vasudeva), not Shaivism. Thus, pair 1 is incorrectly matched. Bhaja caves are indeed well-known Buddhist rock-cut caves, making pair 2 correctly matched. Sittanavasal caves are famous Jain rock-cut cave shrines, particularly for their frescoes and early Jain monastic settlements, making pair 3 correctly matched. Therefore, only two pairs (2 and 3) are correctly matched. This question assesses knowledge of ancient Indian religious sites and their affiliations, a core topic in UPSC Art & Culture.