Buddhism — UPSC Prelims PYQs

What does an empty seat represent in early Buddhist iconography?

Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct? 1. It was located in the lower Krishna valley. 2. In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size. 3. The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia. Select the answer using the code given below:

Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese pilgrim, travelled to India during the reign of

Consider the following statements: 1. There are no parables in Upanishads. 2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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:

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

Consider the following pairs: Site Well known for 1. Besnagar : Shaivite cave shrine 2. Bhaja : Buddhist cave shrine 3. Sittanavasal : Jain cave shrine How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

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

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: Historical person Known as 1. Aryadeva Jaina scholar 2. Dignaga Buddhist scholar 3. Nathamuni Vaishnava scholar How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism. 2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of the Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism. 3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered Mahayana Buddhism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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?

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

Consider the following statements: 1. Deification of the Buddha 2. Trading the path of Bodhisattvas 3. Image worship and rituals Which of the above is/are the features/features of Mahayana Buddhism?

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

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?

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the 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. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following pairs: Place of Pilgrimage Location 1. Srisailam Nallamala Hills 2. Omakareshwar Satmala Hills 3. Pushkar Mahadeo Hills Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

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 Lhakhang: Zanskar Valley 3. Alchi Temple Complex: Ladakh Which of the above pairs given is/are correctly matched?

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

Lord Buddha’s image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called “Bhumisparsha mudra”. It symbolises:

With reference to the history of Ancient India, which of the following was/were common to both Buddhism and Jainism? 1. Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment 2. Indifference to the authority of Vedas 3. Denial of the efficacy of rituals Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

With reference to the history of Ancient India, which of the following was/were common to both Buddhism and Jainism? 1. Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment 2. Indifference to the authority of Vedas 3. Denial of the efficacy of rituals Select the correct answer using the codes given below: