MPPSC 2020 Prelims Paper-I · Question 44 of 100

Correct — A, Kaknam. In its early Brahmi donative inscriptions the site of Sanchi is called Kakanava / Kakanaya (and, in Gupta-period records, Kakanadabota) — 'Kaknam' renders this ancient name. So the ancient name of Sanchi is the Kakanava/Kaknam of the Great Stupa's inscriptions.

• (b)Vetravati — Vetravati is the classical Sanskrit name of the Betwa river (which flows past nearby Vidisha), not a name of Sanchi.
• (c)Besnagari — As printed in the booklet; the place meant is Besnagar (correct spelling) — the ancient city adjoining Vidisha (famous for the Heliodorus/Garuda pillar), a separate site about 10 km from Sanchi, not Sanchi itself.
• (d)Dashpura — Dashapura is the ancient name of Mandsaur in western Madhya Pradesh, not of Sanchi.

Sanchi (Raisen district, MP) is famous for the Great Stupa begun under Ashoka and its carved toranas (gateways). Its ancient name survives in the stupa's Brahmi donative inscriptions as Kakanava/Kakanaya, and in Gupta-period records as Kakanadabota — the 'Kaknam' of this question.

The distractors are all genuine ancient MP names, but of other things: a river (Betwa/Vetravati), the neighbouring Vidisha–Besnagar, and Mandsaur (Dashapura). The task is to attach the right ancient name to Sanchi itself.

• Sanchi's Great Stupa (Stupa No. 1) was begun by Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.
• Ancient name in inscriptions: Kakanava/Kakanaya, later Kakanadabota (Kaknam).
• Vetravati = the Betwa river; Besnagar = ancient Vidisha; Dashapura = Mandsaur.
• Sanchi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, inscribed 1989).

• Choosing Vetravati (that is the Betwa river) or Besnagar (that is Vidisha, not Sanchi)
• Confusing Dashapura (Mandsaur) with Sanchi

MP GK pairs a monument with its ancient name; UPSC asks about Sanchi's art (toranas, its mural link) and Ashokan pillars — hold Sanchi = Kakanava, Vidisha = Besnagar.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Great Stupa at Sanchi was originally commissioned by which Mauryan emperor?

  • (a)Ashoka
  • (b)Bindusara
  • (c)Chandragupta Maurya
  • (d)Brihadratha

  Answer(a) Ashoka — he began the Great Stupa at Sanchi in the 3rd century BCE.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Vetravati is the ancient/classical name of which river of Madhya Pradesh?

  • (a)Betwa
  • (b)Chambal
  • (c)Son
  • (d)Ken

  Answer(a) Betwa — Vetravati is the Sanskrit name of the Betwa, which flows past Vidisha near Sanchi.