Question

The Shunga ruler Bhagabhadra erected a monolithic 'Garuda' at
A. Varanasi
B. Besnagar
C. Rajagriha
D. Pataliputra

Answer 1

Hint: Bhagabhadra was the king of the Indian shunga Dynasty. He ruled central, north and Eastern India around 110 BC. The capital of the Shungas was at Patliputra and is known to have held court at Vidisha.

Complete answer: The name of Bhagabhadra has also appeared in the list of Shungas and in the Puranic records. Heliodorus pillar was found in Vidisha Madhya Pradesh near modern Besnagar through which we know about the king Bhagabhadra. The inscriptions on the pillar are important as it validates that they ruled in the area of Vidisha around hundred BCE. The pillar is dedicated to God Vasudeva or Vishnu and has a surface mounted figure of Garuda.
- The archaeological survey of India has discovered four Gupta Era temples near Varanasi. A monolithic pillar has also been found dating to the Gupta period which was built on the lines of Ashoka pillar. It has 8 lions and a Garuda figure resting on a circle of lotus leaves crowned the bell-shaped capital.
-Rajgriha our Rajgir is an ancient city in the Bihar of Nalanda district. It used to be the first capital of Magadha and became a state into the Mauryan Empire. Ceramics have been found in the City dating about 1000 BC. The Cyclopean wall is also located in the City.
-The remains of the modern period have been discovered in the city of Patliputra which include the ruins of hypostyle 80 pillared halls.
Therefore, option B is correct.

Note: Pillar has been named after the Heliodorous who was the ambassador of Indo-Greek king. The pillar was then sent to Bhagabhadra. The pillar glorifies the ruler as the saviour. The pillar symbolizes joining space, earth and heaven and expresses the cosmic totality of the Deity.