Buddhism

1. Who among the following did not contribute to the preservation and doc

Who among the following did not contribute to the preservation and documentation of the ancient site of Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh ?

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Shahjahan Begum
John Marshall
Sultan Jehan Begum
J.M. Kenoyer
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Sanchi is a major Buddhist site famous for its stupas. Several individuals played crucial roles in its discovery, excavation, and preservation.
A) Shahjahan Begum and C) Sultan Jehan Begum were the Begums of Bhopal in the 19th and early 20th centuries who provided significant financial support and protection for the site, preventing its destruction and facilitating initial restoration efforts.
B) John Marshall, as the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India in the early 20th century, oversaw extensive excavation, restoration, and documentation work at Sanchi, leading to its modern preservation and understanding.
D) J.M. Kenoyer is a prominent archaeologist known for his extensive work on the Indus Valley Civilization, particularly at sites like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. His research and publications are primarily focused on the Bronze Age cultures of South Asia. He is not known for contributions specifically to the site of Sanchi.
Therefore, J.M. Kenoyer did not contribute to the preservation and documentation of the ancient site of Sanchi.
– Sanchi was preserved from significant damage partly due to the efforts of the Begums of Bhopal.
– John Marshall’s archaeological work was vital for the scientific study and conservation of Sanchi.
– Different archaeologists specialize in different periods and sites; J.M. Kenoyer’s expertise lies primarily with the Indus Valley Civilization.
Major General Henry Taylor was one of the first Europeans to document Sanchi in the early 19th century. Alexander Cunningham also conducted excavations there before John Marshall’s comprehensive work. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1989.

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2. Which one of the following statements with regard to historical import

Which one of the following statements with regard to historical importance of Kushinagar, is correct ?

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Siddhartha Gautama's 'great departure' took place here and he became an ascetic, a Sramana.
Siddhartha Gautama obtained his enlightenment here and he became Buddha.
Buddha gave his first sermon known as Dharmachakra-parivartana sutra.
Buddha passed away here, which is known as Mahaparinirvana.
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Kushinagar is a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site because it is where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, passed away. This event is known as the Mahaparinirvana (the great cessation) and is one of the four principal pilgrimage destinations in Buddhism.
– Mahaparinirvana (passing away) of Buddha occurred at Kushinagar.
– This is one of the four most important sites in Buddhist pilgrimage (Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar).
– Siddhartha Gautama’s ‘great departure’ happened from Kapilavastu/Lumbini.
– Enlightenment happened at Bodh Gaya.
– First sermon (Dharmachakra-parivartana sutra) happened at Sarnath.
The Mahaparinirvana Stupa and Temple in Kushinagar mark the site of Buddha’s final resting place. The site was rediscovered and excavated in the 19th century.

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3. Buddha’s teachings were compiled as Tripitaka — literally meaning thre

Buddha’s teachings were compiled as Tripitaka — literally meaning three baskets to hold different types of texts. Which of the following texts is/are correctly matched according to the subject matter ?

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  • 1. Vinaya Pitaka : Buddha’s teachings
  • 2. Sutta Pitaka : Rules and regulations of the monastic order
  • 3. Abhidhamma Pitaka : Philosophical matters

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

3 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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The correct answer is A. Only the match for Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophical matters) is correctly stated.
– The Tripitaka (Pali) or Tripitaka (Sanskrit) is the traditional collection of Buddhist scriptures, comprising three main divisions or “baskets”:
– Vinaya Pitaka: Contains the rules and regulations for the monastic order (Sangha).
– Sutta Pitaka: Contains the discourses or sermons delivered by the Buddha and sometimes his close disciples. This is where Buddha’s core teachings are compiled.
– Abhidhamma Pitaka: Contains philosophical, psychological, and metaphysical analysis and interpretation of the teachings found in the Sutta Pitaka.
– Let’s check the given matches:
– 1. Vinaya Pitaka : Buddha’s teachings. Incorrect. Buddha’s teachings (discourses) are in the Sutta Pitaka. Vinaya Pitaka is for monastic rules.
– 2. Sutta Pitaka : Rules and regulations of the monastic order. Incorrect. Rules and regulations are in the Vinaya Pitaka. Sutta Pitaka is for teachings/discourses.
– 3. Abhidhamma Pitaka : Philosophical matters. Correct. This pitaka deals with the higher philosophy and metaphysics of Buddhism.
– Therefore, only statement 3 is correctly matched.
– The Tripitaka is the foundational scripture for Theravada Buddhism. Different Buddhist schools may have different versions or additional texts.
– The three pitakas were compiled orally first and later written down centuries after the Buddha’s passing.

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4. Mahavibhasha, an encyclopaedia of Buddhist philosophy is the work of w

Mahavibhasha, an encyclopaedia of Buddhist philosophy is the work of which Buddhist Council ?

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First Council
Second Council
Third Council
Fourth Council
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The correct answer is D.
The Mahavibhasha is a large encyclopaedic commentary on Buddhist philosophy, specifically the Abhidharma text called Jnanaprasthana.
This text is primarily associated with the Sarvastivada school of Buddhism.
It was compiled during the Fourth Buddhist Council, which was held under the patronage of the Kushana emperor Kanishka, traditionally believed to have taken place in Kashmir around the 1st or 2nd century CE.
The Fourth Buddhist Council is considered significant for the systematization of the Sarvastivada Abhidharma and is sometimes seen as a precursor to the development of Mahayana Buddhism, although it was primarily a Hinayana (Sarvastivada) council.

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5. With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by

With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by which of the following epithets ?

  • 1. Nayaputta
  • 2. Shakyamuni
  • 3. Tathagata

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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1 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
None of the above are epithets of Gautama Buddha
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The correct answer is B, which includes epithets 2 and 3.
1. Nayaputta is an epithet associated with Mahavira (Vardhamana), the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, who belonged to the Jnatrika (Naya) clan. It is not an epithet of Gautama Buddha.
2. Shakyamuni means “Sage of the Shakyas”. Gautama Buddha was born into the Shakya clan and is frequently referred to by this title, particularly in Mahayana Buddhism. This is a correct epithet.
3. Tathagata is a term used by Gautama Buddha when referring to himself. Its meaning is debated but broadly translates to “one who has thus come” or “one who has thus gone,” signifying one who has attained ultimate truth. It is one of the principal epithets of Buddha. This is a correct epithet.
Gautama Buddha is also known by other names and titles, such as Siddhartha Gautama (his birth name), Bhagavan (Blessed One), Sugata (Well-Gone), and Jina (Victor, although this term is more strongly associated with Jainism, it is also sometimes applied to Buddha).

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6. Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the en

Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on :

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Prajnaparamita Sutra
Visuddhimagga
Sarvastivada Vinaya
Lalitavistara
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The correct option is C.
Sanghabhuti (or Saṅghabhūti) was an Indian Buddhist monk from Kashmir who traveled to China and arrived in Chang’an in 383 AD. He was known for his expertise in Vinaya texts. He collaborated with Chinese monks and translated several Vinaya texts into Chinese, including a commentary on the Sarvastivada Vinaya, specifically the *Vinaya Piṭaka of the Mūlasarvāstivādins*. This commentary is one of the key works attributed to him in Chinese Buddhist historical records.
Prajnaparamita Sutras are a genre of Mahayana Buddhist texts on perfection of wisdom. Visuddhimagga is a Theravada commentary by Buddhaghosa. Lalitavistara is a Mahayana text detailing the life of the Buddha. Sanghabhuti’s main work in China was related to the Vinaya tradition, specifically of the Sarvastivada school.

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7. With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements :

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements :

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  • 1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.
  • 2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics.
  • 3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None
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Option B is correct.
While the concept of a burial mound structure existed before Buddhism, the Stupa as a distinct religious architectural form, primarily used as a reliquary for relics of the Buddha and other important figures and as a focus for devotion and commemoration within the Buddhist tradition, developed with Buddhism.
Statement 1 is debatable depending on the interpretation of “concept of Stupa”. If it refers to the basic idea of a mound, it existed in pre-Buddhist burial practices. However, if it refers to the specific religious structure central to Buddhism, then its origin is within Buddhism. Given statements 2 and 3, which are definitively correct descriptions of Buddhist stupas, statement 1 is likely intended to be interpreted in the latter sense or is slightly inaccurate. Let’s evaluate the other two.
Statement 2 is correct. Stupas were fundamentally designed as repositories for relics of the Buddha (Sariraka relics) or his prominent disciples, or items associated with them (Paribhoga relics). This was a central purpose.
Statement 3 is correct. Stupas were also built as votive offerings to gain merit and as commemorative structures marking sites associated with the Buddha’s life or other significant events/individuals in Buddhist history.
Considering that 2 and 3 are definitely correct and describe the core function and significance of Buddhist stupas, and statement 1 is potentially misleading as the basic mound concept predates Buddhism, only statements 2 and 3 are correct in the context of describing the Buddhist Stupa.

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8. In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourish

In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasanghikas, located?

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Andhra
Gandhara
Kalinga
Magadha
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Option A is correct.
Dhanyakataka, also known as Amaravati, was a prominent city and a significant Buddhist center located in the Andhra region of ancient India. It flourished under the patronage of the Satavahanas and later the Ikshvakus and was associated with the Mahasanghika school of Buddhism, known for its famous stupa.
Dhanyakataka was situated on the banks of the Krishna River in present-day Andhra Pradesh. It was a major urban, religious, and trade center. The Great Stupa at Amaravati is renowned for its exquisite sculptures illustrating Buddhist themes. While Gandhara (in the northwest), Kalinga (modern Odisha), and Magadha (modern Bihar) were also significant regions with Buddhist connections at various times, Dhanyakataka’s location is firmly established in the Andhra region.

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9. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the followi

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements :

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  • Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism.
  • Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.
  • The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statement 1 is incorrect. Sthaviravadins are associated with the Theravada school of Buddhism, which is considered one of the earliest schools and part of the Hinayana tradition (though Theravadins reject the term Hinayana). Mahayana Buddhism is a later, distinct tradition. Statement 2 is correct. The Mahasanghika school was one of the two main branches of early Buddhism after the Second Buddhist Council. The Lokottaravada sect, known for its transcendental view of the Buddha, was indeed an important offshoot of the Mahasanghika school. Statement 3 is correct. The Mahasanghikas held more liberal views regarding the nature of the Buddha and arhats compared to the Sthaviravadins. Their inclination to view the Buddha as a supramundane or deified being, emphasizing his transcendental nature (as seen in Lokottaravada), contributed significantly to the philosophical basis and popular appeal that characterized the later development of Mahayana Buddhism, which focuses on the universal potential for Buddhahood and the bodhisattva ideal.
The Mahasanghikas’ views on the Buddha’s nature paved the way for Mahayana Buddhism, and Lokottaravada was a Mahasanghika offshoot.
The split between Sthaviravada and Mahasanghika schools occurred primarily over matters of monastic discipline and interpretation of the Dharma. Mahayana Buddhism, which emerged centuries later, built upon some of the philosophical differences initiated by the Mahasanghikas.

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10. With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the foll

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term ‘paramitas’?

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The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style
Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas
Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India
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In the cultural history of India, particularly within Buddhism, ‘paramitas’ (Sanskrit) or ‘pāramī’ (Pali) refers to “perfections” or “transcendent virtues”. These are qualities that a Bodhisattva cultivates and perfects over many lifetimes on their path towards Buddhahood (enlightenment). The traditional list includes six paramitas: generosity, discipline, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom. Some traditions add four more.
‘Paramitas’ is a core concept in Mahayana Buddhism, representing the virtues essential for the Bodhisattva path to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Option A refers to ancient legal and social treatises in Hinduism. Option B describes philosophical schools that reject Vedic authority, which applies to Buddhism but ‘paramitas’ is a specific practice, not the name for these schools. Option D refers to influential merchant organizations common in various periods of Indian history, especially medieval South India.

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