Buddhism & Jainism — Set 2

Correct Answer: B. Ardha-Magadhi

• **Ardha-Magadhi Prakrit** = language of early Jain Agamas (canonical texts). • Common spoken language of Magadha region where Mahavira preached; later texts in Sanskrit/Apabhramsha. • **12 Angas** are the core Agamas; Digambaras reject them, Shvetambaras accept them. • 💡 Pali = language of Buddhist Tripitaka; Tamil = Sangam literature; Sanskrit = Vedic/Brahmanical texts — none are Agama language.

Correct Answer: C. Alara Kalama

• **Alara Kalama** = first teacher of Siddhartha after renunciation; taught 'sphere of nothingness' meditation. • Second teacher was **Uddaka Ramaputta** — taught 'sphere of neither perception nor non-perception'. • Buddha mastered both but left, concluding neither path led to complete liberation. • 💡 Purana Kassapa = denied moral causation; Makkhali Gosala = Ajivika fatalism; Nigantha Nataputta = Mahavira himself — none taught Buddha meditation.

Correct Answer: C. First Jain Council

• **First Jain Council** at Pataliputra (~300 BCE) = triggered formal Digambara-Shvetambara split. • During a **famine in Magadha**, Bhadrabahu led monks south; Sthulabhadra stayed and compiled Agamas. • Shvetambaras accepted compiled texts; **Digambaras rejected** them as corrupted. • 💡 Second Jain Council = Vallabhi, 5th century CE (not the cause of split); Birth/Death of Mahavira = unrelated to the sectarian division.

Correct Answer: B. The monastic order

• **Sangha** = Buddhist monastic community of monks (Bhikkhus) and nuns (Bhikkhunis). • One of **Triratna** (Three Jewels): Buddha + Dhamma + Sangha; taking refuge in these = Buddhist initiation. • Sangha founded by Buddha at Sarnath with first 5 disciples; Mahaprajapati Gautami began nuns' order. • 💡 Cycle of rebirth = Samsara; Teachings = Dhamma; State of bliss = Nirvana — none of these is Sangha.

Correct Answer: B. Ajatashatru

• **Ajatashatru** = patron of First Buddhist Council (Rajgriha, ~483 BCE) at Sattapanni Cave. • Presided by **Mahakassapa**; Ananda recited Suttas, Upali recited Vinaya. • Held immediately after Buddha's death to preserve his teachings from distortion. • 💡 Ashoka = 3rd Council; Kalashoka = 2nd Council; Kanishka = 4th Council — Ajatashatru alone is 1st Council patron.

Correct Answer: C. Bhadrabahu

• **Kalpasutra** = attributed to **Bhadrabahu**; contains biographies of Jain Tirthankaras. • Covers lives of Parshvanatha, Mahavira, Neminatha, and Rishabhanatha; vital Shvetambara text. • Bhadrabahu also led monks to South India during Magadha famine (c. 300 BCE). • 💡 Hemachandra = Jain scholar of 12th century (Trishashti-shalaka-purusha-charitra); Haribhadra = 8th-century philosopher; Sthulabhadra = led First Jain Council, not Kalpasutra author.

Correct Answer: B. Great Renunciation

• **Horse (Kanthaka)** = symbol of Great Renunciation (Mahabhinishkramana) in Buddhist art. • Siddhartha rode Kanthaka out of Kapilavastu at night, age **29**, with charioteer Channa. • Buddhist symbols: Lotus/Bull = Birth; Bodhi Tree = Enlightenment; Wheel = 1st Sermon; Stupa = Death. • 💡 Nirvana = depicted by Stupa; First Sermon = Dharmachakra/Wheel; Birth = Lotus — Horse specifically means Renunciation only.

Correct Answer: B. Kashmir

• **Fourth Buddhist Council** = held at Kundalavana, **Kashmir**, under Kanishka (~1st–2nd century CE). • Presided by **Vasumitra**; Ashvaghosha assisted; compiled Mahavibhasha commentary on Abhidharma. • This council formally split Buddhism into **Hinayana** (conservative) and **Mahayana** (liberal) sects. • 💡 Gandhara = region but not council venue; Magadha = venue of 1st and 3rd Councils; Avanti = not linked to any Buddhist council.

Correct Answer: B. Rishabhanatha, Neminatha, Parshvanatha, Mahavira

• Correct order: **Rishabhanatha (1st)** → **Neminatha (22nd)** → **Parshvanatha (23rd)** → **Mahavira (24th)**. • Only **Parshvanatha and Mahavira** are considered historical figures; others are mythological. • Trick: **1–22–23–24** = Rishabha → Nemi → Parshva → Mahavira (last four most important). • 💡 All other options shuffle Neminatha or Parshvanatha incorrectly — remember Nemi comes before Parshva (22 < 23).

Correct Answer: D. The Conqueror

• **Jina** = Sanskrit for 'The Conqueror' — one who conquers inner enemies (anger, greed, attachment). • 'Jainism' = religion of Jinas; Mahavira and all 24 Tirthankaras are called Jinas. • Mahavira also called **Vardhamana** (birth name) and **Nirgrantha** (free from bonds). • 💡 Silent One = Muni/Mauni (different concept); Creator = not a Jain concept (Jainism rejects Creator God); Mediator = unrelated to Jainism.