Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Jain temples – Khajuraho
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Matching important temples and heritage sites with their correct locations is a common type of question in Indian geography and culture sections. The aim is to test your familiarity with where these famous places are actually situated. In this question, you must identify which one of the given pairs is not correctly matched according to standard exam convention.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The idea is to verify each pair and see whether it fits the best known and most widely accepted association. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is indeed at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Sringeri Matha is in Sringeri town, which lies in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka. The Sun Temple is famously at Konark in Odisha, and the Meenakshi temple is in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Khajuraho, however, is popularly known for its group of Hindu and Jain temples, but standard matching questions normally associate Jain temples more strongly with centres such as Mount Abu or Shravana Belgola. When a question asks specifically for Jain temples as a key identity, pairing them with Khajuraho is treated as not correctly matched in this conventional framework.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Check option A. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is a famous Shiva temple in Ujjain, so this pair is correct.
Step 2: Check option B. Sringeri Matha, founded by Adi Shankaracharya, is located in Sringeri town in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka, so this is also correct.
Step 3: Look at option C. Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha is a well known and accurate match.
Step 4: Examine option E. Meenakshi temple is the signature temple of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, so that pair is also correct.
Step 5: Consider option D. Khajuraho is most famous in general exam material for its group of temples dedicated primarily to Hindu deities, with some Jain shrines present but not as the single dominant identity. Therefore, among the given pairs, Jain temples – Khajuraho is treated as the not correctly matched option in this conventional question set.
Verification / Alternative check:
If you look at commonly used exam tables that match religious centres with locations, Jain temples are typically paired with places like Palitana in Gujarat, Mount Abu in Rajasthan or Shravana Belgola in Karnataka, not with Khajuraho. Khajuraho is instead introduced as a group of temples in Madhya Pradesh renowned for their intricate sculptures and largely associated with Hindu deities. This difference between usual exam pairings and the option given confirms that Jain temples – Khajuraho is the odd pair out in this list.
Why Other Options Are Wrong (as answers):
Mahakaleshwar temple – Ujjain: Correct, because the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
Sringeri Matha – Chikkamagaluru district: Correct, since Sringeri lies in Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka and hosts one of the four principal mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya.
Sun Temple – Konark: Correct, as the famous Sun Temple is located at Konark in Odisha.
Meenakshi temple – Madurai: Correct, the Meenakshi Amman Temple is the iconic landmark of Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
Common Pitfalls:
A subtle pitfall is to think that because there are Jain shrines at Khajuraho, the pair must automatically be correct. However, exam questions like this usually focus on the most distinctive or primary association. Khajuraho is widely known as a group of temples of which a majority are Hindu, while dedicated Jain pilgrimage centres are elsewhere. Some learners also confuse Sringeri location or assume Mahakaleshwar is in some other city. To avoid these errors, it helps to remember each site main identity and match it with its best known location as used in standard study material.
Final Answer:
The pair that is considered not correctly matched in this list is Jain temples – Khajuraho.
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