Buddhism Archives

11. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the followin

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs :

1.	Parivrajaka	–	Renunciant and Wanderer
2.	Shramana	–	Priest with a high status
3.	Upasaka	–	Lay follower of Buddhism

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

1 and 2 only

1 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2020

Download PDF Attempt Online

Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched.

Parivrajaka refers to wandering ascetics or renunciants who have left their homes and societal ties. Upasaka refers to a lay follower of Buddhism or other Shramana traditions who is not a monk or nun but observes basic precepts. Shramana refers to ascetics and renunciants generally, particularly those who rejected the authority of the Vedas and the Brahmanical system, such as Buddhists, Jains, and Ajivikas. They represent a tradition distinct from the Brahmanical priesthood and are not typically associated with high status within that system.

The Shramana tradition emerged alongside the Brahmanical tradition in ancient India. Both traditions involved spiritual seeking, but differed in their philosophical approaches and practices. The Shramana movement emphasized asceticism, meditation, and personal effort towards liberation.

12. Consider the following : 1. Deification of the Buddha 2. Treading t

Consider the following :

1. Deification of the Buddha
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3. Image worship and rituals

Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Buddhism?

1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

Download PDF Attempt Online

All three listed features are characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism.

Mahayana Buddhism, which developed several centuries after the Buddha’s death, represents a major branch of Buddhism distinct from Theravada (often referred to as Hinayana by Mahayanists).
1. Deification of the Buddha: Mahayana schools tend to view the Buddha not merely as an enlightened human being but often as a transcendent or divine figure, with multiple Buddhas and Bodhisattvas existing.
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas: The ideal path in Mahayana is that of the Bodhisattva – an enlightened being who compassionately delays their own final nirvana to help others achieve enlightenment. This contrasts with the Theravada ideal of the Arhat, who achieves personal liberation.
3. Image worship and rituals: Mahayana Buddhism developed extensive pantheons of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and incorporated elaborate rituals, ceremonies, and image worship as means for devotees to interact with these figures and gain merit towards enlightenment.

Mahayana Buddhism became prevalent in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam) and parts of South Asia (Nepal, Bhutan) and Central Asia, while Theravada Buddhism is dominant in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia).

13. With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future

With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world ?

Avalokiteshvara

Lokesvara

Maitreya

Padmapani

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2018

Download PDF Attempt Online

In Buddhist theology, Maitreya is considered the future Buddha who will appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. According to Buddhist scriptures, Maitreya will be the successor to the present Buddha, Gautama Buddha.

Maitreya is a Bodhisattva who is destined to become a Buddha in the future. The concept of future Buddhas is part of various Buddhist traditions, particularly Mahayana Buddhism.

Avalokiteshvara (also known as Lokesvara and Padmapani in different forms) is a Bodhisattva of Compassion, widely revered in Mahayana Buddhism, but not considered the future Buddha who will attain enlightenment on Earth in a future age.

14. The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and of

The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at

Ajanta

Badami

Bagh

Ellora

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2017

Download PDF Attempt Online

The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at Ajanta.

– The Ajanta Caves, located in Maharashtra, are famous for their rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE.
– They contain masterpieces of ancient Indian art, particularly paintings, which depict the Jataka tales (stories of the Buddha’s previous lives), religious figures, and decorative motifs.
– The mural painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani (the one holding a lotus flower) is located in Cave 1 of Ajanta and is considered one of the finest examples of Indian classical painting and one of the most recognizable images from the caves.

Badami, Bagh, and Ellora also have significant cave complexes with paintings and sculptures. Badami is known for Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain caves. Bagh caves are also Buddhist and contemporary to later Ajanta caves, known for murals (though less well-preserved than Ajanta). Ellora has a mix of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain rock-cut architecture, famous for the Kailasa temple, but the paintings there are different in style and focus compared to the iconic Padmapani at Ajanta.

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

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

1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
2. Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2017

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is B) 2 only.

Sautrantika and Sammitiya were sects of Buddhism, not Jainism. Sarvastivadin was a school of Buddhist philosophy that held the belief that phenomena exist in all three periods of time (past, present, and future), though not in a wholly momentary fashion.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Sautrantika and Sammitiya are sub-schools within the Nikaya Buddhism (often referred to as Hinayana by Mahayana followers). Sautrantikas particularly emphasized the authority of the Sutra Pitaka over the Abhidharma. Sammitiyas were a sub-sect of the Vatsiputriya school known for their controversial doctrine of ‘pudgala’ (person). Statement 2 is correct. The Sarvastivadins (meaning “the doctrine that all exists”) were a prominent early Buddhist school whose central tenet was that the fundamental constituents of reality (dharmas) exist in all three times.

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

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

1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

1 only

2 and 3 only

2 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2016

Download PDF Attempt Online

Statements 2 and 3 are correct descriptions of the Bodhisattva concept, which is central to Mahayana Buddhism. A Bodhisattva is indeed a compassionate being who has attained a high level of enlightenment but chooses to delay their own final Nirvana (salvation) to help all other sentient beings achieve liberation. Statement 1 is incorrect; the concept of Bodhisattva is central to Mahayana Buddhism, while Hinayana (Theravada) focuses on the path to becoming an Arhat, an individual who achieves personal enlightenment and liberation.

The Bodhisattva ideal, characterized by compassion and the vow to save all beings, is a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism.

In Mahayana Buddhism, the path of the Bodhisattva is seen as superior to that of the Arhat, emphasizing universal salvation and the interconnectedness of all beings. Key Bodhisattva vows include the resolve to attain perfect enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings and to liberate all beings from suffering.

17. Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the B

Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3

2 and 3 only

1, 3 and 4

3 and 4 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

The kingdoms of Kosala and Magadha were significantly associated with the life of the Buddha.

Gautama Buddha spent most of his life after enlightenment preaching and travelling within the territories of Kosala and Magadha Mahajanapadas.
– He was born near Kapilavastu, which was located in the foothills bordering the Kosala kingdom.
– He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and gave his first sermon at Sarnath, both of which were in or near the Magadha kingdom.
– He frequently visited and preached in major cities of these kingdoms like Rajagriha (capital of Magadha) and Shravasti (capital of Kosala). Kings like Bimbisara and Ajatashatru of Magadha and Prasenajit of Kosala were his contemporaries and patrons.
Avanti (capital Ujjain) and Gandhara (north-western region) were important Mahajanapadas, but the Buddha’s direct interactions and travels were primarily concentrated in the middle Gangetic plain, encompassing Kosala and Magadha.

The Buddhist scriptures (like the Pali Canon) primarily describe the Buddha’s activities within the geographical area covered by Kosala and Magadha, and neighbouring republics and small kingdoms in the vicinity.

18. With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, co

With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs :
Famous shrine Location

1. Tabo monastery and temple complex : Spiti Valley
2. Lhotsava Lhakang temple, Nako : Zanskar Valley
3. Alchi temple complex : Ladakh

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

Download PDF Attempt Online

Let’s evaluate each pair:
1. Tabo monastery and temple complex: Spiti Valley – Tabo Monastery, also known as the ‘Ajanta of the Himalayas’, is located in the Tabo village of Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh. It is indeed in the Spiti Valley. This pair is correctly matched.
2. Lhotsava Lhakang temple, Nako: Zanskar Valley – Nako village and its famous Lhotsava Lhakang temple are located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, close to the border with Tibet/China. While it is in a high-altitude Himalayan region, it is not in the Zanskar Valley, which is primarily located in the Kargil district of Ladakh. This pair is incorrectly matched.
3. Alchi temple complex: Ladakh – Alchi Monastery is one of the oldest and most famous Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh, known for its beautiful Kashmiri-style paintings. It is located in Ladakh. This pair is correctly matched.
Therefore, pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

– Tabo Monastery is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in the Himalayas, founded in 996 CE.
– Alchi Monastery is known for its unique artistic style which differs from others in Ladakh.
– Both Spiti and Ladakh are regions with significant Buddhist populations and ancient monasteries.

Spiti Valley is located in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, while Zanskar and Ladakh are regions within the Union Territory of Ladakh. These areas are centers of Tibetan Buddhism and house numerous important monasteries and cultural sites.

19. Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the B

Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3

2 and 4

3 and 4 only

1, 3 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

Download PDF Attempt Online

The Kingdoms of Kosala and Magadha were closely associated with the life and activities of the Buddha.

The Buddha spent a significant part of his life preaching and travelling in the Gangetic plains, primarily within the territories of Kosala and Magadha. Important sites related to his life, such as Sravasti (capital of Kosala) and Rajagriha (capital of Magadha) and Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar, and Sarnath (all within or bordering these kingdoms), highlight their central role in his journey and teachings.

Avanti was a powerful kingdom contemporary to the Buddha but located further west (capital Ujjain); it was not as central to his travels and teachings as Kosala and Magadha during his lifetime, although it later became important for Buddhism. Gandhara, in the northwest, became a major center for Buddhism much later, particularly known for Gandhara art during the Kushana period, long after the Buddha’s passing.

20. Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in

Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?

The extinction of the flame of desire

The complete annihilation of self

A state of bliss and rest

A mental stage beyond all comprehension

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2013

Download PDF Attempt Online

The concept of Nirvana in Buddhism is best described as the extinction of the flame of desire.

Nirvana (Pali: Nibbana) is the ultimate spiritual goal in Buddhism. It signifies the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and the cycle of rebirth (samsara). This is achieved by extinguishing the “three poisons” or “three fires”: craving (tanha, desire), aversion (hatred), and ignorance (delusion). Therefore, the extinction of desire, which is seen as a primary cause of suffering and attachment, is a central aspect of achieving Nirvana.

Nirvana is not a place, but a state of being. It is characterized by freedom from suffering, samsara, and the causes of suffering. While sometimes associated with peace and liberation, the core concept revolves around the transcendence of the conditioned existence driven by craving and ignorance.