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40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995

Heterodox Sects and Patronage

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who used the caves of Barabar as their shelter-house?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma included religious pluralism, where he patronized non-Buddhist heterodox sects like the Ajivikas.

Explanation Inscriptions on the walls of the Lomas Rishi and Sudama caves in the Barabar hills (Bihar) state that King 'Piyadassi' (Ashoka) donated these dwellings to the Ajivika ascetics.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: The Ajivikas were a fatalist sect founded by Makkhali Gosala, highly influential during the Mauryan period.
Logic 2: These are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, known for their glass-like interior polish.

Active Recall

Question

What is unique about the interiors of the Barabar caves?

Answer

They feature a remarkable 'Mauryan Polish' that makes the sandstone surfaces shine like glass, a hallmark of that era's craftsmanship.

Core Insight

The donation of caves to the Ajivikas by a Buddhist emperor like Ashoka is a powerful historical example of state-sponsored secularism.

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