UPSC Prelims 2023 Q82: Art & Culture – Architecture & World Heritage
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All three
- (d) None
Answer: (b) Only two
Explanation
Cave Shrine Sites — Correct Matches
| Pair | Site | Claimed For | Verdict | Correct Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Besnagar | Shaivite cave shrine | WRONG | Besnagar (MP) is famous for the Heliodorus Pillar — a Vaishnava monument erected by the Greek ambassador Heliodorus in honour of Vasudeva (Vishnu). Not a Shaivite cave shrine. |
| 2 | Bhaja | Buddhist cave shrine | CORRECT | Bhaja Caves (Maharashtra, near Pune) are Hinayana Buddhist rock-cut caves from the 2nd century BCE — featuring a chaitya (prayer hall) and viharas (monastic cells). One of the oldest surviving rock-cut Buddhist monuments. |
| 3 | Sittanavasal | Jain cave shrine | CORRECT | Sittanavasal Cave Temple (Tamil Nadu) is a Jain rock-cut monument with remarkable Pallava-era frescoes depicting Jain cosmology and lotus pond imagery. |
Pairs 2 and 3 correct → Only two.
Answer: (b) Only two.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'Only one' — both Bhaja (Buddhist) and Sittanavasal (Jain) are correctly matched.
- (b) CORRECT. Bhaja is a Buddhist cave shrine and Sittanavasal is a Jain cave shrine — both correctly matched. Besnagar is a Vaishnava site (Heliodorus Pillar), not Shaivite caves.
- (c) Incorrect. 'All three' — Besnagar is associated with Vaishnavism (Heliodorus Pillar), not Shaivite cave shrines.
- (d) Incorrect. 'None' — Bhaja and Sittanavasal are definitively Buddhist and Jain cave sites respectively.
Key point
Besnagar = Vaishnava (Heliodorus Pillar, NOT Shaivite cave). Bhaja = Buddhist cave ✓. Sittanavasal = Jain cave ✓. Two of three pairs correct. Besnagar is the trap — Heliodorus Pillar = earliest non-Indian Vaishnava devotee.
Remember
Bhaja Caves are a Buddhist cave shrine and Sittanavasal is a Jain cave shrine — both correctly matched. Besnagar is NOT a Shaivite cave; it is famous for the Heliodorus Pillar, a Vaishnava monument.
Common mistakes
- Not knowing the Heliodorus Pillar connection to Besnagar — this is a frequently tested UPSC fact: a Greek diplomat erected a Garuda pillar at Besnagar in 2nd century BCE.
- Confusing Shaivite and Vaishnava sites — Besnagar is specifically Vaishnava (Garuda pillar for Vasudeva/Vishnu), not a cave shrine at all.
- Not knowing Sittanavasal is Jain — its Tamil Nadu location and Pallava-era connection are important for UPSC art and culture.
Exam tip
Besnagar = Heliodorus Pillar = Vaishnava (earliest foreign Vaishnava). Bhaja = Buddhist (near Pune, 2nd c BCE). Sittanavasal = Jain (TN, Pallava frescoes). Remember Besnagar ≠ cave + ≠ Shaivite = both wrong claims in the question.
Sources
- ASI — Bhaja Caves, Sittanavasal Cave Temple
- NCERT Class 12 History — Rock-cut Architecture and Cave Art