Question

Who erected the garuda pillar at besnagar?
A. Bhagabhadra
B. Heliodorus
C. Menander
D. Antialkidas

Answer 1

Hint: It was erected around 110 BCE in central india. He was the ambassador to a shunga king. He was a resident of taxila.

Complete Answer:
- Garuda pillar is in vidisha(besnagar) in madhya pradesh. It is near to the sanchi stupa.
- Heliodorous dedicated this pillar to god vasudeva. He was the greek ambassador of greek king antialkidas in the court of the king bhagabhadra. Heliodorous describes himself as bhagavata.
- According to the pillar’s information, heliodorus was converted to vaishnavism.
- The pillar symbolizes the joining of earth, space and heaven. This pillar is neither tapered nor polished as in ashokan pillars.
- The 1st inscription on it describes the private religion of heliodorus.
- The second inscription was a verse from mahabharat.
- The pillar consists of a shaft, a base and a capital and is also carved with bell shaped and flowers on it.

Option A is wrong because he was the king to whom heliodorus was sent.
Option B this is the correct answer.
Option C menander belongs to 150-130 BC hence wrong.
Option D antialkidas was the king who sent heliodorus hence incorrect.

Hence, option B is the correct answer.

Note: The pillar is about 17.7 feet with an octagonal shape capital. This was discovered by Alexander Cunningham. The inscription found on a pillar was in brahmi script.