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ABHYAS PREP: HISTORY AND CULTURE (UPSC AND MPSC) · ANCIENT INDIA

Buddhism and Jainism

Places of the Buddha’s and Mahavira’s lives, and the four Buddhist councils.

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Worked examples

Example 1 · level 1

The Buddha’s first sermon took place at:

  1. Kundagrama, near Vaishali
  2. Sarnath, near Varanasi
  3. Pataliputra, under Emperor Ashoka
  4. Bodh Gaya, in Bihar
Show solution
  1. The Buddha’s first sermon: Sarnath, near Varanasi (called the turning of the wheel of dharma).
  2. The Third Buddhist Council: Pataliputra, under Emperor Ashoka.
  3. Mahavira’s birth: Kundagrama, near Vaishali.
  4. The Buddha’s enlightenment: Bodh Gaya, in Bihar (under a peepal tree, the Bodhi tree).
  5. Source: https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php

Answer: Sarnath, near Varanasi

Example 2 · level 2

Consider the following statements: 1. Mahavira’s death (nirvana) took place at Pataliputra, under Emperor Ashoka. 2. The Buddha’s death (mahaparinirvana) took place at Kushinagar, in Uttar Pradesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show solution
  1. Statement 1 is wrong: it pairs Mahavira’s death (nirvana) with "Pataliputra, under Emperor Ashoka". In fact, Mahavira’s death (nirvana): Pava (Pavapuri).
  2. Statement 2 is correct: The Buddha’s death (mahaparinirvana): Kushinagar, in Uttar Pradesh.
  3. Source: https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php

Answer: 2 only

Example 3 · level 3

Consider the following pairs (Event : Place): 1. The Third Buddhist Council : Vaishali, under King Kalashoka 2. The Fourth Buddhist Council : Kashmir, under Emperor Kanishka 3. Mahavira’s birth : Pataliputra, under Emperor Ashoka How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. Only one pair
  2. Only two pairs
  3. All three pairs
  4. None of the pairs
Show solution
  1. Pair 1 is wrong: The Third Buddhist Council is not Vaishali, under King Kalashoka. The Third Buddhist Council: Pataliputra, under Emperor Ashoka.
  2. Pair 2 is correct: The Fourth Buddhist Council: Kashmir, under Emperor Kanishka.
  3. Pair 3 is wrong: Mahavira’s birth is not Pataliputra, under Emperor Ashoka. Mahavira’s birth: Kundagrama, near Vaishali.
  4. So 1 of the 3 pairs is correctly matched.
  5. Source: https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php

Answer: Only one pair

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