The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple ? 1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines. 2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni. 3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- (a) 1 and 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (a)
• Statement 1 is correct: Somnath in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, is traditionally the first of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.
• Statement 2 is correct: Al-Biruni, who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni, described the temple's wealth and the 1026 raid in his Kitab al-Hind.
• Statement 3 is wrong: the present temple, rebuilt under Sardar Patel's initiative and K.M. Munshi's supervision, was consecrated (Pran Pratishtha) by President Rajendra Prasad in May 1951, not by S. Radhakrishnan.
• Hence 1 and 2 only, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: Rajendra Prasad, not Radhakrishnan, performed the consecration.
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong; statement 2 is correct.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statement 3 is wrong, so all three cannot be correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.