Static Quiz 26 November 2024 (History)

Hinayana Buddhism
• It means the lesser vehicle.
• The school includes the followers of the original preaching of the Buddha. It is more of an orthodox school.
• They did not believe in idol or image worship of Buddha.
• They believe in individual salvation and try to attain individual salvation through self-discipline and meditation.
• Ultimate aim of Hinayana is thus nirvana.
• One of the sub-sects of Hinayana is Sthaviravada or Theravada.
• The Hinayana scholars used Pali language to interact with the masses.
• Emperor Ashoka patronised Hinayana sect as Mahayana school came into being much later.
• Hinayana school in its original form is almost non-existent in the present age.
• The concept of Bodhisattva is the result of Mahayana Buddhism.

Both the statements are correct.

Brihaspati laid the foundation stone for Charvaka School of Philosophy and it was supposed to be one of the earliest schools that developed a philosophical theory.
• The word ‘Lokayata’ also meant a keen attachment to the physical and material world (loka).
• They argued for a complete disregard of any world beyond this world that was inhabited by a person.

Paishachi: It is also called ‘Bhuta-Bhasa’ (dead language) and it is often regarded as Prakrit. Gunadhya’s Brihatkatha(6th century), an ancient epic is written in Paishachi. It is regarded as an unimportant dialect.

All the statements are incorrect.

Svetambara School: Svetambaras follow the preachings of Prasvanatha, i.e. they believe in only four restraints (except Brahmacharya) to be followed to attain Kevalya. Svetambara believe that the 23rd and 24th tirthankara did marry, unlike thought by Digambara. Sthulabhadra was a great exponent of this school and stayed in Magadha unlike Bhadrabahu who went to Karnataka.

The monks of Svetambara School can have simple white clothing, a begging bowl, a brush to remove insects from their path, books and writing materials with them.

They believe tirthankaras can be men or women, and say that Malli began her life as a princess. Svetambara tradition of Jainism indicates five eternal substances in existence: Soul (jiva), Matter (pudgala), Space (akasha), motion (Dharma) and rest (Adharma), unlike Digambaras which add the sixth eternal substance as time (Kala).

Svetambara School: Its 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.

Digambaras follow all the five constraints (Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha and Brahmacharya) as per the teachings of Mahavira, unlike Svetambaras.

Bhadrabahu was an exponent of Digambara sect and he moved to Karnataka along with his disciples after predicting a long famine.

Digambara School: It has two major sub sects:

• Mula Sangh: the original community
• Bispanthi, Terapanthi and Taranpanthi: the modern Community

Manjusri: One of three protective deities around Buddha is also depicted in Ajanta Caves. He is associated with the Wisdom of Buddha and is a male Bodhisattva with a wielding sword in his hand.