RAS question
Which folk deity of Rajasthan is credited with bringing camels from Lanka (Sri Lanka)?
Correct answer: (D) Pabuji Rathore.
In Rajasthani folklore, Pabuji Rathore is credited with bringing camels from Lanka to Rajasthan.
Explanation
Pabuji Rathore is the folk deity linked with the camel-origin story in Rajasthan. Rajasthani folklore credits him with bringing camels from Lanka, and this is why he is revered by Raika/Rebari camel herders, with his heroic narrative preserved through the Phad tradition. Sahapedia's account of Indian camel cultures supports the link: the best-known story about the camel's arrival in Rajasthan is told by the Bhopas of Pabuji Rathore, in which Pabuji promises red and brown female camels as a wedding gift and Harmel Raika goes to Lankia to obtain a herd. That tradition explains the belief that the camel came from Sri Lanka.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Gogaji is associated with snake protection, while Pabuji Rathore is associated with the folk tradition of camels coming from Lanka.
- (B) Tejaji is associated with cattle protection, not with the Lanka-linked origin story of camels in Rajasthan.
- (C) Baba Ramdev is associated with communal harmony, while the camel-herder tradition is attached to Pabuji Rathore.
Concept
Rajasthan's folk-deity traditions often connect deities with specific pastoral communities, occupations, and animals. RAS art-and-culture coverage gives recurring importance to folk cults, pastoral communities, and Phad narratives.