Prelims 1996 · archive
MediumWhich one of the following temples figured in the news regarding the institution of the Devadasi?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) Jagannath Puri Temple
The devadasi tradition of temple dancers is most closely tied to the Jagannath temple at Puri in Odisha, where women danced to the Gitagovinda. The question rests on a 1990s news context.
- ✓ (a) Puri's temple had devadasis (maharis) who danced to the Gitagovinda in the temple.
- ✗ (b) Pashupatinath in Nepal is not associated with the devadasi system.
- ✗ (c) Khajuraho is known for sculpture, not a living devadasi institution.
- ✗ (d) Chausath Yogini temple is a Tantric yogini shrine.
Remember · Devadasi system: women dedicated to temples; Puri's Jagannath temple is the classic Odisha example.
Sources
- Devadasi, Britannica ↗ · reference work “they danced to musical recitations of the Sanskrit poem Gitagovinda in the temple dedicated to the god Krishna in Puri”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 1996, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 1996: the answer shown is the generally accepted one, and the sources above explain the facts behind it. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·