Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
The Sun temple of Multan is mentioned by Hiuen Tsang, Abuzaiyid, Al-Masudi and Alberuni.
The pilgrimage to Sambapur was associated with Sun worship.
Codes:
Only 1 is correct
Only 2 is correct
Both 1 and 2 are correct
Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
During the ancient and early medieval periods, the Sun Temple of Multan was one of the famous centres of Sun worship in the Indian subcontinent. Its reputation was so widespread that travellers and Arab-Persian writers visiting or describing India at different times recorded it.
The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) mentioned the famous Sun temple at Multan during his travels in the 7th century. His account describes the temple, the image of the Sun and the large number of pilgrims visiting the shrine.
Later, the accounts of Abuzaiyid, Al-Masudi and Alberuni also mention the Sun temple of Multan. Alberuni described the famous image at Multan as dedicated to the Sun and associated it with Aditya.
Statement 2 is also correct. Sambapur or Sambapura was associated with the tradition of Sun worship. In the Puranic tradition, Samba, the son of Krishna, has a special association with the worship of the Sun.
According to the tradition, Samba worshipped the Sun for relief from disease and was associated with the establishment of a Sun temple. Sambapura has also been associated with Mulasthana, or Multan, which was an important centre of Sun worship.
Thus, the Sun Temple of Multan was recorded in the accounts of travellers and writers, and the pilgrimage tradition of Sambapur was also associated with Sun worship.