Consider the following pairs :
Site : Well known for
- Besnagar : Shaivite cave shrine
- Bhaja : Buddhist cave shrine
- Sittanavasal : Jain cave shrine
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Only two
Out of the three given pairs, two are correctly matched. Bhaja is correctly associated with Buddhist cave shrines (2nd century BC rock-cut caves near Pune), and Sittanavasal is correctly known for Jain cave shrines (ancient Jain monument in Tamil Nadu). However, Besnagar (Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh) is not particularly known for a Shaivite cave shrine; it is more famous for the Heliodorus Pillar, an ancient Garuda pillar dedicated to Lord Vishnu, along with remains of Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu temples.
✅ Pair 1 (Besnagar : Shaivite cave shrine) – Incorrect: Besnagar (Vidisha) is primarily known for the Heliodorus Pillar (Garuda pillar dedicated to Vishnu), not for a Shaivite cave shrine.
✅ Pair 2 (Bhaja : Buddhist cave shrine) – Correct: Bhaja Caves in Maharashtra are well-known rock-cut Buddhist caves dating to the 2nd century BC.
✅ Pair 3 (Sittanavasal : Jain cave shrine) – Correct: Sittanavasal in Tamil Nadu is famous for its ancient Jain cave shrine with beautiful frescoes.
📝 Short Notes: Famous Cave Shrines of India
| Site | Location | Religious Association | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhaja Caves | Maharashtra (near Pune) | Buddhist | 22 rock-cut caves, 2nd century BC, Hinayana architecture |
| Sittanavasal | Tamil Nadu (Pudukottai) | Jain | Ancient Jain cave temple with frescoes, Ardhanari cave |
| Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra (Mumbai) | Shaivite (Hindu) | UNESCO site, famous Trimurti sculpture of Shiva |
| Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra (Aurangabad) | Buddhist | UNESCO site, 30 caves with paintings and sculptures |
| Ellora Caves | Maharashtra (Aurangabad) | Buddhist, Hindu, Jain | 34 caves, Kailasa temple (Cave 16), UNESCO site |
| Badami Caves | Karnataka | Hindu & Jain | 4 caves, Chalukyan architecture, 6th century |
| Udayagiri Caves | Madhya Pradesh (Vidisha) | Hindu (Vaishnavite) | Gupta period, Varaha sculpture |
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