The Sunga ruler Bhaga (often identified with King Bhagabhadra) erected a famous monolithic Garuda pillar at which of the following places?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to the art and religious history of the Sunga period in ancient India. It specifically refers to a monolithic Garuda pillar erected by a Sunga ruler named Bhaga, often identified by historians with King Bhagabhadra. Garuda, the mythical bird vehicle of Vishnu, serves as a significant religious symbol, and the location of this pillar is an important landmark in the study of early Vaishnavism and Sunga architecture.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The ruler mentioned is a Sunga king called Bhaga, associated with Bhagabhadra.
• He erected a monolithic Garuda pillar.
• The question asks for the place where this Garuda pillar was set up.
• The options list four ancient cities or sites: Varanasi, Besnagar, Rajagriha and Pataliputra.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall well known archaeological finds. The famous Garuda pillar associated with the Sunga ruler Bhagabhadra is located at Besnagar, near present day Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. This pillar carries an inscription of a devotee, Heliodorus, who is described as a Yavana (Greek) ambassador and a worshipper of Krishna as Vasudeva. Thus, the column is sometimes called the Heliodorus pillar. Knowing this connection points us directly to Besnagar as the correct location.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Sunga dynasty succeeded the Mauryas and ruled parts of northern India. Step 2: The Garuda pillar mentioned in early Vaishnava history is associated with the city of Besnagar near Vidisha. Step 3: This pillar includes an inscription mentioning the Sunga ruler Bhagabhadra (deemed Bhaga in the question). Step 4: The pillar is dedicated to Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, and is a monolithic stone column. Step 5: Among the given options, Besnagar is therefore the historically correct location.

Verification / Alternative check:
Descriptions of the Heliodorus pillar in standard archaeology and history sources consistently identify its location as Besnagar. Varanasi, Rajagriha and Pataliputra are major religious and political centres in other contexts but are not the site of this particular Garuda column. The association of Besnagar with early Vaishnavite worship and Sunga rule reinforces the correctness of this answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Varanasi: Although a very ancient and sacred city on the Ganga, it is not the known site of the Sunga era Garuda pillar described in the question.
Rajagriha: An important centre in early Buddhist and Jain traditions and a capital of Magadha, but not linked to the Heliodorus Garuda pillar of Bhagabhadra.
Pataliputra: The famous imperial capital of the Mauryas and later dynasties, yet again, not the location of this specific monolithic Garuda pillar.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may be tempted to pick a more famous religious city such as Varanasi or a major capital like Pataliputra simply because they are more familiar. Another common mistake is to confuse Besnagar with other archaeological sites in central India. Carefully linking the Garuda pillar, Heliodorus inscription and the Sunga ruler Bhagabhadra to Besnagar helps avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
The Sunga ruler Bhaga (Bhagabhadra) erected the monolithic Garuda pillar at Besnagar.