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Religious Geography of India

Matching Sacred Places with Shrines | UPSC Art

Baijnath houses a Shiva temple, Sarnath is where Buddha gave his first sermon, Dilwara is a Jain temple site, and Badrinath is dedicated to Vishnu.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History

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Match list-I with list-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Place)List-II (Monument)
A. Baijnath Dham1. Jain Temple
B. Sarnath2. Shiva Temple
C. Dilwara3. First sermon place of Buddha
D. Badrinath4. Vishnu Temple

[UPPCS (Spl) (Pre) 2004]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


India's sacred geography is defined by specialized pilgrimage sites for various faiths—Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Authentic Source Evidence


  • Baijnath (Uttarakhand): Famous for its 12th-century Shiva temple built by Katyuri kings.

  • Sarnath (UP): The historical site where Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta).

  • Dilwara (Rajasthan): A complex of five marble Jain temples on Mount Abu.

  • Badrinath (Uttarakhand): One of the Char Dhams, dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

    • Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1: Matching Sarnath (B-3) and Badrinath (D-4) are the most reliable ways to solve this given their pan-Indian fame.

  • Logic 2: Dilwara (C-1) is universally associated with Jain marble craftsmanship.

    • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "Who established the modern Badrinath Temple in the 8th century?"

    Adi Shankara.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "These sites represent the institutional hubs that sustained the diverse spiritual traditions of India across centuries."

    Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

    Char Dham 3Tirthankaras 4
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