Consider the following pairs: Site-Well known for. 1)Besnagar -Shaivite cave shrine 2) Bhaja -Buddhist cave shrine. [2023]

Consider the following pairs:

Site	Well known for
Besnagar	Shaivite cave shrine
Bhaja	Buddhist cave shrine
Sittanawasal	Jain cave shrine

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched

Besnagar (Bhilsa or Vidisha) in Madhya Pradesh is not especially known for having a Shaivite cave shrine.
It is known for the Heliodorus Pillar (Garuda Pillar), dedicated to the God Vishnu, set up by a Greek named Heliodorus (the Greek ambassador to the Shunga) 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“.

Photograph of an ancient stone pillar standing on a raised platform between two large trees under a clear blue sky. The pillar features detailed carvings near the top and is situated in an open area with buildings and power lines visible in the background

Photograph of an informational plaque titled "History of the Pillar," describing a column called Khamb Bābā worshipped by fishermen and bearing inscriptions in Brāhmī and Prākrit languages. The text details the column's dedication as a Garuda pillar to god Vāsudeva (Vishnu) by Heliodoros, a Greek ambassador to an Indian king, noting its approximate date as 150 BCE

Image Source: Vidishaonline

Pair 2 is correctly matched

Bhaja rock-cut caves in Maharashtra are among the examples of Buddhist cave architecture in India.
In western India, many Buddhist caves dating back to the second century BCE onwards have been excavated. Mainly three architectural types were executed—(i) apsidal vault-roof chaitya halls (found at Ajanta, Pitalkhora, Bhaja); (ii) apsidal vault-roof pillarless hall (found at Thana-Nadsur); and (iii) flat-roofed quadrangular hall with a circular chamber at the back (found at Kondivite). The main Hinayanist rock-cut caves are at Bhaja, Kondane, etc. The Bhaja cave complex consists of a group of 22 rock-cut caves. These rock-cut caves are further divided into two main groups – Chaityas (prayer halls) and Viharas (monastic caves).

Pair 3 is correctly matched

Sittanavasal is the name used synonymously for the hamlet and the hillock that houses the Arivar Kovil (temple of Arihats – Jains who conquered their senses. The artwork on the ceiling of the sanctum and the ardha mandapam of Arivar Kovil is an early example of post-Ajanta cave paintings of the fourth to sixth centuries, done using the fresco-secco technique (a process that dispenses with preparation of the wall with wet plaster). It is considered by historians to be one of the oldest inhabited areas in the district, and a major centre of Jain influence. This is the only place in Tamil Nadu where we can see Pandya paintings.

Map showing locations of major murals in India with labeled points highlighting historical and artistic significance. Key murals include Ajanta Paintings, Ellora Paintings, and Sittanavasal Paintings, with details on techniques, pigments, religious symbolism, and notable features like early inscriptions and cave settings

Photograph of an ancient stone wall featuring three seated Buddha statues carved in meditation pose, illuminated by light from an open doorway on the right. A large, circular, weathered stone carving is centered on the ceiling above the statues, highlighting historical and religious significance of the site