Buddhism and Jainism: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Art and Culture)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Buddhism and Jainism (Art and Culture). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2022Art and Culture · Buddhism and Jainism
Q1. With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts: 1. Nettipakarana 2. Parishishta Parvan 3. Avadanasataka 4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana Which of the above are Jaina texts?
Explanation
Parishishta Parvan also called the Sthaviravali Charita. It was written by Hemachandra (12th century CE). It is a Jain historical text that provides biographies of Jain monks and rulers who supported Jainism. It contains details about Chandragupta Maurya’s conversion to Jainism under the guidance of Bhadrabahu. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana is a Jain Purana written by Hemachandra in the 12th century CE. It details the lives of 63 great Jain figures (Shalaka Purushas), including the 24 Tirthankaras, 12 Chakravartins, 9 Vasudevas, 9 Balabhadras, and 9 Prati-Vasudevas. Nettipakarana (The Guidebook) is an ancient Pali Buddhist text. It is part of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Pali Canon and serves as a guide for interpreting Buddhist teachings. Avadanasataka(Century of Noble Deeds) is a Buddhist text written in Sanskrit. It is a collection of Buddhist legends and moral stories, emphasizing karmic consequences and rebirth.
UPSC 2022Art and Culture · Buddhism and Jainism
Q2. With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:
Historical person -
Known as
1. Aryadeva
Jaina scholar
2. Dignaga
Buddhist scholar
3. Nathamuni
Vaishnavite scholar
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Explanation
ryadeva was a Mahayana Buddhist monk, a disciple of Nagarjuna and a Madhyamaka philosopher. His key work "Catuataka" (Four Hundred Verses) elaborates on Madhyamaka philosophy. His writings are important sources of Madhyamaka in both East Asian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. Dignaga, a Buddhist logician and author of the Pramasamuccaya (Compendium of the Means of Valid Knowledge) laid the foundations of Buddhist logic. Nathamuni (9th-10th century CE) was a Vaishnavite scholar and theologian. He is credited with compiling the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of hymns by Tamil Alvars, which became a foundational text in Sri Vaishnavism. He was also the guru of Yamunacharya and predecessor of Ramanuja in the Vishishtadvaita tradition.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2022
(b) 2 and 4 only
2
2022
(c) Only two pairs
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Buddhism and Jainism?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Buddhism and Jainism (Art and Culture), asked from 1996 to 2024. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Buddhism and Jainism?
Questions on Buddhism and Jainism (Art and Culture) are available for 20 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
