Famous Temples — Set 5

Correct Answer: B. Pandavas

• **Pandavas** = The 'Pancha Rathas' at Mahabalipuram are named after the five Pandava brothers and their wife Draupadi. • **five monolithic chariot structures** — The Pancha Rathas are unique for being carved from single rocks, resembling chariots. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Ramayana brothers: Characters like Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna are from the Ramayana, not associated with Pancha Rathas; Sapta Rishis: Seven great sages in ancient Indian tradition, not related to these structures; Dashavatara: Refers to the ten primary avatars of Vishnu.

Correct Answer: B. Jagannath Temple

• **Jagannath Temple** = The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is known as the 'White Pagoda' by European sailors. • **Black Pagoda** — This term was used for the Konark Sun Temple, providing a contrast to the Jagannath Temple's White Pagoda. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Konark Sun Temple: Known as the 'Black Pagoda' due to its dark color and magnetic properties; Lingaraja Temple: A prominent Shiva temple in Bhubaneswar, not referred to as a pagoda; Mukteswara Temple: A 10th-century Shiva temple in Bhubaneswar, noted for its architecture.

Correct Answer: C. Madurai

• **Madurai** = The historic Meenakshi Amman Temple, famous for its 14 gopurams, is located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. • **14 gopurams** — These prominent tower gates are a distinguishing feature of the Meenakshi Amman Temple. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Chennai: Capital of Tamil Nadu, known for Marina Beach and Kapaleeshwarar Temple; Coimbatore: A major industrial city, not the location of Meenakshi Amman Temple; Tiruchirappalli: Famous for the Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar Temple, not Meenakshi Amman Temple.

Correct Answer: B. Lakshmi and Narayan

• **Lakshmi and Narayan** = The famous Birla Mandir in Jaipur is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Narayan) and his consort Goddess Lakshmi. • **white marble** — The material entirely used for the construction of the Birla Mandir in Jaipur. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Shiva and Parvati: Worshipped in many temples, but not the primary deities of this specific Birla Mandir; Radha and Krishna: Popular deities, especially in Vaishnavism, but the Jaipur Birla Mandir focuses on Lakshmi-Narayan; Rama and Sita: Central figures of the Ramayana, honored in temples like Ayodhya's.

Correct Answer: B. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib

• **Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib** = Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib is the Sikh shrine located in Delhi where Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred. • **1783** — The year when Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib was established in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Gurdwara Bangla Sahib: A prominent Gurdwara in Delhi associated with Guru Har Krishan; Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib: Marks the spot where Guru Tegh Bahadur's body was cremated; Gurdwara Majnu ka Tilla: The oldest Sikh shrine in Delhi, associated with Guru Nanak Dev.

Correct Answer: B. China

• **China** = The Hanging Temple, also known as Hanging Monastery, is an ancient temple constructed into a cliff face. • **1,500 years ago** — This unique temple was built over 1,500 years ago, demonstrating ancient engineering prowess. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Japan: home to many temples, but not the Hanging Temple; Bhutan: known for its monastery, Paro Taktsang, but not the Hanging Temple; Tibet: has numerous monasteries, but the Hanging Temple is in China.

Correct Answer: A. Chidambaram Temple

• **Chidambaram Temple** = The Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram is renowned for its bronze Nataraja idol, representing Shiva as the Lord of Dance. • **108 karanas** — The temple features unique carvings that depict the 108 karanas, or dance poses, of Bharatanatyam. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Meenakshi Temple: famous for its intricate architecture in Madurai, but not primarily for Nataraja bronze; Brihadisvara Temple: a grand Chola temple in Thanjavur known for its Vimana, not specifically Nataraja bronzes; Kapaleeshwarar Temple: a Shiva temple in Mylapore, Chennai, but not specifically known for its Nataraja bronze sculptures.

Correct Answer: B. Madhya Pradesh

• **Madhya Pradesh** = Amarkantak, a significant pilgrimage town and the source of the Narmada river, is located in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh. • **Three rivers** — Amarkantak is the unique origin point for three major rivers: the Narmada, Son, and Johila. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Chhattisgarh: borders Madhya Pradesh, but Amarkantak lies within MP; Gujarat: the Narmada flows through Gujarat, but originates in MP; Maharashtra: the Narmada forms part of its border, but its source is in MP.

Correct Answer: C. Andhra Pradesh

• **Andhra Pradesh** = The revered Mallikarjuna Temple, a significant Jyotirlinga shrine, is situated in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh. • **Shakti Peetha** — This temple is unique as it is revered as both one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Karnataka: home to many temples, but Mallikarjuna is in AP; Tamil Nadu: known for its Dravidian temples, but Mallikarjuna is in AP; Telangana: a neighboring state, but Srisailam is firmly in Andhra Pradesh.

Correct Answer: C. Badrinath

• **Badrinath** = Badrinath, located in Uttarakhand, is the northernmost of the four revered Char Dham pilgrimage sites in India. • **3,100 meters** — The temple is situated in the Himalayas at a significant elevation of approximately 3,100 meters (10,170 feet) above sea level. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Puri: the easternmost Char Dham site in Odisha; Dwarka: the westernmost Char Dham site in Gujarat; Rameswaram: the southernmost Char Dham site in Tamil Nadu.