Buddhism and Jainism Quiz: WBPSC Clerkship 2024
A little practice. A step forward.
10 questions on the lives of the Buddha and Mahavira, the Buddhist councils, the Tirthankaras and the Triratna. 📖 Read the detailed topic
Where did Gautama Buddha deliver his first sermon?
After enlightenment the Buddha preached to his first five companions at the Deer Park in Sarnath, known as the Dharmachakra Pravartana. He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, died at Kushinagar and was born at Lumbini.
- First sermon: Sarnath (Isipatana)
- Called Dharmachakra Pravartana
- Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, aged 35
- Many assume the first sermon was at Bodh Gaya because he gained enlightenment there
- Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar: birth to death
| Event | Place |
|---|---|
| Birth | Lumbini |
| Enlightenment | Bodh Gaya |
| First sermon | Sarnath |
| Mahaparinirvana | Kushinagar |
Where did Mahavira pass away?
Mahavira died at Pavapuri at the age of 72. Kundagrama, near Vaishali, was his birthplace. Rajagriha was the Magadhan capital and the site of the first Buddhist council.
- Death: Pavapuri, aged 72
- Birth: Kundagrama, in the Jnatrika clan
- Kaivalya at the age of 42
- Mixing it up with the Buddha's place of death, Kushinagar
- Buddha 80, Mahavira 72: Mahavira lived eight years fewer
Where and under which king was the Third Buddhist Council held?
The Third Council met at Pataliputra under Emperor Ashoka, presided over by Moggaliputta Tissa. The other three options are the places and kings of the first, second and fourth councils.
- Third: Pataliputra, Ashoka
- Presided over by Moggaliputta Tissa
- Hinayana-Mahayana split followed the fourth council
- Every option is a correct pair for some council, so the sequence matters
- Rajagriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Kundalvana in that order
| Council | Place | King |
|---|---|---|
| First | Rajagriha | Ajatashatru |
| Second | Vaishali | Kalashoka |
| Third | Pataliputra | Ashoka |
| Fourth | Kundalvana | Kanishka |
In which language is the Buddhist Tripitaka written?
The Tripitaka (Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma) is written in Pali. Jain scriptures were composed in Prakrit (Ardhamagadhi), which makes the Prakrit option the trap.
- Tripitaka: Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma
- Language: Pali
- Jain scriptures use Prakrit
- Treating Pali and Prakrit as the same
- Buddhist = Pali, Jain = Prakrit
Which Tirthankara of Jainism was Mahavira?
Mahavira was the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism. The one before him, the 23rd, was Parshvanatha. Jainism counts 24 Tirthankaras in all, so there is no 25th.
- Mahavira: 24th and last
- Parshvanatha: 23rd
- Rishabhanatha: first
- Reversing the order of Parshvanatha and Mahavira
- 24 hours end a day, the 24th Tirthankara ends the line
| Tirthankara | Number | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Rishabhanatha | 1st | Bull |
| Parshvanatha | 23rd | Snake |
| Mahavira | 24th | Lion |
Which of the five Mahavratas of Jainism did Mahavira himself add?
Parshvanatha's four vows were ahimsa, satya, asteya and aparigraha. Mahavira added brahmacharya to make five. The other three options existed since Parshvanatha's time.
- Parshvanatha had four vows
- Mahavira's addition: brahmacharya
- Five in all: the Panch Mahavrata
- Thinking ahimsa was Mahavira's own vow, though it came earlier
- Parshvanatha = 4 vows, Mahavira = 5 vows
Who was the first Tirthankara of Jainism?
In the Jain tradition the first Tirthankara is Rishabhanatha (Adinatha). Parshvanatha was the 23rd and Mahavira the 24th. Neminatha was the 22nd, so he is not the first either.
- First: Rishabhanatha (Adinatha)
- 22nd: Neminatha
- 23rd: Parshvanatha, 24th: Mahavira
- Treating Mahavira as the founder of Jainism; he was the reformer and last Tirthankara
- Rishabha has the bull as symbol; 'Adi' means first
Who led the Digambara sect of Jainism?
The group that went south under Bhadrabahu during the Magadhan famine became the Digambaras. Sthulabhadra's followers stayed in Magadha and became the Svetambaras. Moggaliputta Tissa presided over a Buddhist council, not a Jain one.
- Digambara: Bhadrabahu, moved south
- Svetambara: Sthulabhadra, stayed in Magadha
- Digambara means sky-clad
- Swapping the names Sthulabhadra and Bhadrabahu
- Bhadrabahu = Digambara, Sthulabhadra = Svetambara
| Digambara | Svetambara | |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | Bhadrabahu | Sthulabhadra |
| Clothing | Renounced | White robes |
| Base | South India | Magadha |
Into which clan was Gautama Buddha born?
The Buddha belonged to the Sakya clan of kshatriyas; his father Suddhodana was the Sakya chief of Kapilavastu. Jnatrika was Mahavira's clan, the Licchavis ruled the Vaishali republic, and the Mauryas rose to power in Magadha later.
- Buddha: Sakya clan, Kapilavastu
- Mahavira: Jnatrika clan
- Licchavi capital: Vaishali
- Swapping the Sakya and Jnatrika clans
- Sakyamuni = sage of the Sakyas = the Buddha
What does the Buddhist 'Triratna' (Three Jewels) refer to?
The Buddhist Triratna is the Buddha, the Dhamma (teaching) and the Sangha (order). The second option is the Jain Triratna. The third is three of the Jain five vows, and the fourth belongs to the Hindu purusharthas.
- Buddhist Triratna: Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha
- Jain Triratna: right faith, knowledge, conduct
- Both religions use the word, with different meanings
- Mixing up the Buddhist and Jain Triratna
- Buddhist Triratna = person, teaching, community
| Buddhist Triratna | Jain Triratna | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Buddha | Right faith |
| 2nd | Dhamma | Right knowledge |
| 3rd | Sangha | Right conduct |
📊 Topic Analysis
10 questions on the lives of the Buddha and Mahavira, the Buddhist councils, the Tirthankaras and the Triratna.
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