Ans: C

Exp:

In the early phase of Buddhism, Buddha is depicted symbolically through footprints, stupas, lotus throne, chakra, etc. This indicates either simple worship or paying respect, or at times depicts the historisation of life events.

Gradually narrative became a part of the Buddhist tradition. Thus events from the life of the Buddha, the Jataka stories, were depicted on the railings and torans of the stupas. Mainly synoptic narrative, continuous narrative and episodic narrative are used in the pictorial tradition.

While events from the life of the Buddha became an important theme in all the Buddhist monuments, the Jataka stories also became equally important for sculptural decorations.

The main events associated with the Buddha’s life, which were frequently depicted, were events related to the birth, renunciation, enlightenment, dhammachakrapravartana, and mahaparinibbana (liberation from the cycle of birth.) Among the Jataka stories that are frequently depicted are Chhadanta Jataka, Vidurpundita Jataka, Ruru Jataka, Sibi Jataka, Vessantara Jataka and Shama Jataka.

Ans: B

Exp:

Statement1 is incorrect and statement 2 is correct:

Jainism made the first serious attempt to mitigate the evils of the varna order and the ritualistic Vedic religion. They adopted instead Prakrit, the language of the common people to preach their doctrines. The Sanskrit was denounced due to its toughness and lack of connection with the masses. Further, their religious literature was written in Ardhamagadhi (a Prakrit language), and the texts were eventually compiled in the sixth century AD in Gujarat at a place called Valabhi, a great centre of education. The adoption of Prakrit by the Jainas helped the growth of this language and its literature. Many regional languages developed out of Prakrit, particularly Shauraseni, from which the Marathi language developed. The Jainas composed the earliest important works in Apabhramsha and compiled its first grammar. Jaina literature comprises epics, Puranas, novels, and drama. A large percentage of Jaina writing is still in the form of manuscripts that have yet to be published and which are to be found in the Jaina shrines of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Ans: C

Exp:

The initial schism within the Buddhist community occurred during the second council, held approximately a century after the Buddha’s passing, in Vaisali, Bihar. During this council, the Acariyavadins, who adhered to the traditional teachings, diverged from the Sthaviravadins, followers of the Elder’s Way, forming their distinct school known as the Mahasanghikas. The Mahasanghikas held distinctive views regarding the Buddha’s nature and the concept of arhat (saint), laying the foundation for the eventual emergence of Mahayana Buddhism. Over the following seven centuries, the Mahasanghikas further fragmented into sub-schools, including the Lokottaravadins, Ekavyavaharikas, and Kaukkutikas.

According to a 6th-century CE text, the Mahasanghika school fragmented c. 283 BCE over whether to accept the interpretation of another school, Mahayana, which also claimed to be following the true Dharma and practicing the proper Vinaya. The Caitika, Lokottarvada, and Kukkutika sects all emerge from the Mahasanghika School after this time and continue on with their own traditions.

Sammitiya is a branch of the Hinayana tradition that maintains the perspective that while an individual is intrinsically intertwined with the five skandhas, which constitute their personality, they also represent something beyond the mere accumulation of these components.

Ans: B

Exp:

The Therigatha is a Buddhist text, part of Sutta Pitaka is a collection of verse composed by Bhikkunis. It provides an insight into women’s social and spiritual experiences. It is a collection of short poems of early enlightened women who were elder nuns (having experienced 10 Vassa or monsoon periods). The poems date from a three-hundred-year period, with some dated as early as the late 6th century BCE.

Ans: D

Exp:

Terapanthi and Sthanakavasi sects are two sub-sects of the Shwetambar sect of Jainism. Both these sub-sects believe in non-idol worship.  Svetambara School’s three sub-sects include:

• Sthanakavasi: They believe in praying to Saints rather than to an idol in a temple. The saints wear a muhapatti near their mouth to cover it unlike Murtipujakas
• Murtipujaka (Deravasi): They keep idols of the tirthankaras at their temples and worship them and the saints do not wear a muhapatti.
• Terapanthi: They pray to saints rather than to an idol in a temple, like Sthanakavasi. Terapanthi saints also wear a muhapatti near their mouth to cover it.