Q61. Which of the following represents the correct general chronological sequence of the geographical spread of Buddhism outward from India?
Religious Movements of the 6th Century BC: RAS Prelims MCQs
80 RAS Prelims MCQs on the religious movements of the 6th century BC deal with Buddhism, Jainism and the Ajivikas. Mahavira’s life and doctrines, the Jain schism, royal patrons, the Buddha’s early life, the Four Noble Truths and the Dilwara temples are asked as facts, statements and sequences, and each explanation names the person, place and doctrine.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 61–70 of 80 questions
Q62. Emperor Ashoka sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka. What sacred relic did Sanghamitra allegedly carry with her?
Explanation
According to the Sri Lankan chronicles like the Mahavamsa, Emperor Ashoka’s daughter, Sanghamitra, traveled to the island to establish a female monastic order. She carried a sapling from the original Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, which was planted in Anuradhapura. This tree, known as the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, is still venerated today as one of the oldest historically documented trees.
Q63. The extensive spread of Mahayana Buddhism into China and East Asia during antiquity was heavily facilitated by control over which vital trade route?
Explanation
The Silk Road was the primary conduit for the transmission of Mahayana Buddhism into China and East Asia. Merchant caravans and traveling monks used these ancient trade routes to carry scriptures, icons, and philosophical ideas across difficult terrains. This cultural exchange was facilitated by various Central Asian kingdoms, which served as important intermediaries between the Indian subcontinent and the burgeoning Chinese empires.
Q64. Identify the correct statement regarding the historical spread of Buddhism to Southeast Asia.
Explanation
Southeast Asia became a vibrant center for Buddhist learning, particularly under the Srivijaya Empire based in Sumatra. This maritime power patronized Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, attracting scholars from across Asia, including the famous Chinese traveler I-Tsing. While Theravada eventually became dominant in mainland Southeast Asia, the region’s early history was characterized by a sophisticated synthesis of different Buddhist schools and local traditions.
Q65. The transformation of Buddhism from a localized Magadhan sect into a pan-Asian religion was primarily accelerated by which cause and effect mechanism?
Explanation
The transformation of Buddhism into a pan- Asian religion was largely due to the innovative diplomatic and religious policies of Emperor Ashoka. Instead of military conquest, he utilized Dhamma-vijaya or victory through righteousness. He dispatched missions to various Hellenistic kingdoms, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. This state-sponsored propagation provided the necessary organizational support for the religion to transcend its regional origins and gain international followers.
Q66. Who was the founding philosopher and principal figure of the Ajivika sect in the 6th century BC?
Explanation
Makkhali Gosala was the founder of the Ajivika sect, which was a prominent heterodox movement in the 6th century BC. He was a contemporary of both Gautama Buddha and Vardhamana Mahavira. His teachings offered a radical alternative to the Vedic and even the Buddhist and Jain perspectives of the time, emphasizing a deterministic view of the universe that gained significant popularity for several centuries.
Q67. The central philosophical doctrine of the Ajivika sect, known as ‘Niyati’, translates to which of the following concepts?
Explanation
The core doctrine of the Ajivika sect is Niyati, which posits that everything in the universe is strictly predetermined. According to this view, human effort, free will, and moral actions have no power to change the course of one’s destiny or the process of rebirth. This fatalistic philosophy suggests that all beings must pass through a fixed cycle of existence before reaching a natural end.
Q68. Identify the INCORRECT statement regarding the beliefs of the Ajivika sect.
Explanation
The Ajivikas were unique among ancient Indian sects because they completely rejected the efficacy of Karma. While Buddhists and Jains believed that intentional actions could alter one’s future, the Ajivikas maintained that every event was unchangeably fixed by Niyati. They practiced rigorous asceticism and believed in a predetermined number of lives, but they viewed the concept of Karma as irrelevant to the ultimate outcome.
Q69. To protect and patronize the ascetics of the Ajivika sect, Emperor Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha famously dedicated rock-cut caves located at which site?
Explanation
Despite the eventual decline of the Ajivika sect, they received significant royal support during the Mauryan period. Emperor Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha commissioned the construction of elaborate rock-cut caves in the Barabar and Nagarjuni hills of Bihar. These caves served as residences for Ajivika ascetics during the rainy season and remain remarkable examples of early Indian rock-cut architecture and religious tolerance.
Q70. Find the odd one out among the following philosophical schools based on their classification as heterodox (Nastika) versus orthodox (Astika) in ancient India.
Explanation
Ancient Indian philosophical schools are categorized as either Nastika or Astika. Buddhism, Jainism, and the Ajivika sect are considered Nastika because they reject the supreme authority of the Vedas. In contrast, Nyaya is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy that accept Vedic authority. This fundamental distinction is based on the acceptance or rejection of the revealed scriptures in the Vedic tradition.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 61 | (a) Sri Lanka, Central Asia, China, Japan |
| 62 | (d) A sapling of the original Bodhi tree brought directly from Bodh Gaya |
| 63 | (a) The Silk Road |
| 64 | (b) The Srivijaya Empire was a major center for learning and patronizing Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. |
| 65 | (b) The royal patronage of Ashoka instituting ‘Dhamma’ missions across political borders. |
| 66 | (a) Makkhali Gosala |
| 67 | (c) Absolute determinism or fatalism |
| 68 | (d) They believed that Karma was the ultimate flexible modifier of a person’s future fate. |
| 69 | (c) Barabar and Nagarjuni hills |
| 70 | (b) Nyaya |
Key facts from Religious Movements of the 6th Century BC
- Vardhamana Mahavira belonged to the Jnatrika clan; Jamali was his first disciple, who later rebelled.
- Anekantavada is the Jain doctrine of the manifold nature of reality; Mahavira added the vow of Brahmacharya to the earlier vows.
- A severe twelve-year famine in Magadha is traditionally linked with the split into Digambara and Shvetambara.
- The Hathigumpha inscription records the royal patronage of Jainism by Kharavela of Kalinga.
- Siddhartha studied under Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta; his horse was Kanthaka and his charioteer Channa.
- The Second Noble Truth, Samudaya, identifies craving (Trishna) as the cause of suffering.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Religious Movements of the 6th Century BC?
This page has 80 practice MCQs on Religious Movements of the 6th Century BC (Ancient Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who was the first disciple of Mahavira who later rebelled against him?
Jamali, who was also Mahavira’s son-in-law according to tradition. His rebellion is the first of the Jain schisms recorded in the texts, and it is a common question on Mahavira’s early disciples.
What does the Second Noble Truth say?
The Second Noble Truth, Samudaya, says that suffering has a cause and that the cause is Trishna, craving or desire. The Buddha taught that ending craving ends suffering, which leads to the Third and Fourth Noble Truths.
Which inscription records royal patronage of Jainism by Kharavela?
The Hathigumpha inscription, in Odisha. It is the main epigraphic source on Kharavela of Kalinga and his support for Jainism, and it is the usual answer when a question asks for evidence of ancient Jain royal patronage.