PSC OBJECTIVE INDIAN HISTORY

The first dicourcse of Buddha at Deer Park in Sarnath is called
(a) Mahabhiniskraman
(b) Mahamastabhisheka
(c) Mahaparinirvana
(d) Dharmachakrapravartan
Answer: Dharmachakrapravartan

Who, according to Jains, was the founder of Jainism ?
(a) Parsavanatha
(b) Arishtanemi
(c) Rishabha
(d) Mahavira
Answer: Parsavanatha

Which one of the following is a doctrine said to have been added by Mahavira to the four other doctrines propounded by previous teachers ?
(a) Observe brahmacharya
(b) Do not acquire property
(c) Do not commit violence
(d) Do not speak a lie
Answer: Observe brahmacharya

In India, Jainism spread during the reign of
(a) Harshavardhana
(b) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
(c) Samudragupta
(d) Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: Chandragupta Maurya

Who delivered his first sermon at Sarnath ?
(a) None of these
(b) Buddha
(c) Mahavira
(d) Shankaracharya
Answer: Buddha

Right belief, Right knowledge and Right action are the three jewels of
(a) Buddhists
(b) Kabir Panthis
(c) Jains
(d) Shaivites
Answer: Jains

Buddhism and Jainism both gave stress on
(a) Worship of God
(b) None of these
(c) Self-mortification
(d) Non-violence
Answer: Non-violence

In which of the following languages were the original Buddhist religious texts written ?
(a) Sanskrit
(b) Magadhi
(c) Pali
(d) Brahmi
Answer: Pali

Lord Buddha was born in
(a) Bodh Gaya
(b) Pataliputra
(c) Lumbini
(d) Vaishali
Answer: Lumbini

A well-known patron of the Mahayana form of Buddhism was
(a) Kanishka
(b) Ashoka
(c) Ajatashatru
(d) Bimbisara
Answer: Kanishka

Which of the following statements about Buddha and Mahavira is not correct ?
(a) Both advocated a simple, puritan and austere life.
(b) They were Kshatriyas by birth.
(c) Both had the same attitude towards the concept of Varnas.
(d) They were born in the same century.
Answer: Both had the same attitude towards the concept of Varnas.

The representation of Buddha as a human figure appeared for the first time in the sculptures found at
(a) Mathura
(b) Bodh Gaya
(c) Sanchi
(d) Bharhut
Answer: Mathura

With which religion is Kaivalya associated ?
(a) Buddhism
(b) Sikhism
(c) Hinduism
(d) Jainism
Answer: Jainism

The famous ruler of ancient India who, towards the end of his life, is said to have converted to Jainism was
(a) Samudragupta
(b) Ashoka
(c) Bindusara
(d) Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: Chandragupta Maurya

The district line of demarcation between Digambaras and Shvetambaras is about
(a) Existence of god
(b) Wearing of dress
(c) Doctrine
(d) Sacred texts
Answer: Wearing of dress

Gautama Buddha was brought up by
(a) Sangamitra
(b) Mahaprajapati
(c) Mayadevi
(d) Kundavi
Answer: Mahaprajapati

The first Buddhist Council was held in the reign of
(a) Bimbisara
(b) Kanishka
(c) Ashoka
(d) Ajatashatru
Answer: Ajatashatru

Who was the greatest Buddhist commentator of the Bhuddhist canonical literature ?
(a) Vasumitra
(b) Nagarjuna
(c) Ashvaghosha
(d) Buddhaghosha
Answer: Ashvaghosha

The extreme form of Ahimsa or non-violence is practiced in
(a) Buddhism
(b) None of these
(c) Hinduism
(d) Jainism
Answer: Buddhism

The phrase The Light of Asia is applied to
(a) Buddha
(b) Mahavira
(c) Alexander
(d) Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: Buddha

The Great Buddhist Council in 483 B.C. was held at
(a) Kashmir
(b) Rajagriha
(c) Ujjain
(d) Pataliputra
Answer: Rajagriha

Which of the following Buddhist texts lays down the regulations for management of Sangha and rule of conduct for the monks ?
(a) Adhibhamma-pitaka
(b) None of these
(c) Vinaya-Pitaka
(d) Sutta-Pitaka
Answer: Vinaya-Pitaka

Which of the following was not common to Jainsim and Buddhism?
(a) Both regarded rigid penance and austerity essential for salvation.
(b) Both were antagonistic to the practice of animal sacrifices.
(c) Both were started by members of Kshatriya caste.
(d) Both denied the authority of the Vedas.
Answer: Both regarded rigid penance and austerity essential for salvation.

Ambapali whose name occurs in the early Buddhist literature was
(a) None of these
(b) The author of the work Buddhacharita
(c) A num from Vaishali
(d) A courtesan of Pataliputra
Answer: None of these

Jainism had the patronage of
(a) Pushyamitra Sunga
(b) Samudragupta
(c) Kanishka
(d) Kharavela
Answer: Kharavela

Apabhramsa is a work of the
(a) Jains
(b) Ajivikas
(c) Budddhists
(d) Brahmins
Answer: Jains

gave women an important place in their cult.
(a) Kalmukhas
(b) Ajivikas
(c) Jains
(d) Buddhists
Answer: Kalmukhas

Ashoka was much influenced by a Buddhist monk called
(a) Ambhi
(b) Upagupta
(c) Vasubandhu
(d) Asvaghosha
Answer: Upagupta

Jainism was divided into two sects known as
(a) Ajivika and Nyaya Vaisesika
(b) Svetambara and Digambara
(c) Kapalika and Kalamukha
(d) Mahayana and Hinayana
Answer: Svetambara and Digambara

Which one of the following is the most fundamental difference between Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism ?
(a) Casteless Society
(b) Worship of Stupa
(c) Worship of gods and goddesses
(d) Emphasis on ahima
Answer: Worship of gods and goddesses

Buddha was born in the year
(a) 576 B.C.
(b) 534 B.C.
(c) 567 B.C.
(d) 581 B.C.
Answer: 567 B.C.

Which of the following beliefs doesnt belong to Mahavira's Triratna ?
(a) Right conduct
(b) Right recollection
(c) Right Faith
(d) Right knowledge
Answer: Right recollection

Which of the following religions got spread in different parts of Asia ?
(a) None of these
(b) Buddhism
(c) Jainism
(d) Hinduism
Answer: Buddhism

Atman is everything and everything is Atman is the ??.doctrine.
(a) Buddhist
(b) Zoroastrain
(c) Jain
(d) Pantheistic
Answer: Pantheistic

Which of the following is known as the Jain Temple City ?
(a) Girnar
(b) Allahabad
(c) Rajagriha
(d) Varanasi
Answer: Girnar

The Fourth Buddhist Council was held at
(a) Rajagriha
(b) Kundalavana
(c) Vaishali
(d) Patliputra
Answer: Kundalavana

Which of the following features is not associated with Buddhism and Jainism ?
(a) Emphasis on rituals and sacrifices
(b) Rejection of the authority of Vedas
(c) Rejection of the caste system
(d) Atheism
Answer: Rejection of the authority of Vedas

The introduction of Buddhism into China is traditionally attributed to
(a) Nagarjuna
(b) None of these
(c) Samprati
(d) Kashyapa Mantanga
Answer: Kashyapa Mantanga

Tripitakas are the sacred books of
(a) Shaivism
(b) Buddhism
(c) Jainism
(d) Hinduism
Answer: Buddhism

The last of the 24 Jain Trithankaras was
(a) Parsva Nath
(b) Arishtanemi
(c) Rishabha
(d) Mahavira
Answer: Mahavira

The First Buddhist Council met at
(a) Rajagriha
(b) Kanauj
(c) Kashmir
(d) Pataliputra
Answer: Rajagriha

Both Vardhaman Mahavira and Gautama Buddha preached their doctrines during the reign of
(a) Ajatashatru
(b) Harshavardhana
(c) Udayi
(d) Bimbisara
Answer: Bimbisara

The Fouth Buddhist Council was held by
(a) Ashoka
(b) Harashvardhana
(c) Chandragupta
(d) Kanishka
Answer: Kanishka

Nirvana is associated with
(a) Jainism
(b) Sikhism
(c) Buddhism
(d) Hinduism
Answer: Buddhism

Who amongst the following was not sent to Sri Lanka for the propagation of Buddhism ?
(a) Bhadrasara
(b) Sona
(c) Rashtriya
(d) Uttriya
Answer: Sona

The famous Indo Greek king who embraced Buddhism was
(a) Menander
(b) Alexander
(c) Strato I
(d) Democritus
Answer: Menander

Buddhism became a world wide religion with the efforts of
(a) Kanishka
(b) Harsha
(c) Ashoka
(d) Bindusara
Answer: Ashoka

Buddha attained Nirvana at?..
(a) Sarnath
(b) Kushinagar
(c) Bodh Gaya
(d) Sanchi
Answer: Kushinagar

Which of the following rulers did not embrace Buddhism ?
(a) Kanishka
(b) Samudragupta
(c) Ashoka
(d) Harsha
Answer: Samudragupta

Which of the following is not a feature of Hinduism?
(a) Belief in God
(b) Emphasis on ritualism
(c) Doctrine of ahimsa
(d) Reverence for Veda
Answer: Doctrine of ahimsa

Mahavira was born at
(a) Sravasti
(b) Rajagriha
(c) Vaisali
(d) Pataliputra
Answer: Vaisali

Buddha's preachings were mainly in regard to
(a) Idol worship
(b) Practice of rituals
(c) Belief in one God
(d) Purity of thought and conduct
Answer: Purity of thought and conduct

Who among the following rulers held a religious assembly at Prayag every five years ?
(a) Ashoka
(b) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
(c) Kanishka
(d) Harshavardhana
Answer: Harshavardhana

During the time of Harshavardhana, a great Buddhist assembly was held at
(a) Nalanda
(b) Purushapura
(c) Pataliputra
(d) Prayag
Answer: Nalanda

The crux of early Buddhism was
(a) Rigorous penance
(b) Idol worship
(c) Belief in fatalism
(d) Renunciation of desire
Answer: Renunciation of desire

The spread of Jainism in Karnataka is attributed to
(a) Ashoka
(b) Narasimavarma Pallava
(c) Kanishka
(d) Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: Chandragupta Maurya

The gifts bestowed upon the Ajivikas by Ashoka are recorded in the inscription at
(a) Sanchi
(b) Sarnath
(c) Barbara
(d) Bhabru
Answer: Barbara

Buddha has been described as an ocean of wisdom and compassion in
(a) The Light of Asia
(b) Amarakosa
(c) Jataka tales
(d) Buddhacharita
Answer: Amarakosa

Mark the correct sequence of places with regard to Buddha.
(a) Kapilavastu, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar
(b) Kapilavastu, Sarnath,Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar
(c) Sarnath, Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya, Kapilavastu
(d) Bodh Gaya, Kapilavastu, Sarnath, Kushinagar
Answer: Kapilavastu, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar

Which one of the following places was famous as a seat of Mahayana learning ?
(a) Taxila
(b) Sarnath
(c) Varanasi
(d) Nalanda
Answer: Nalanda

Who was the first king to have the image of Lord Buddha inscribed on his coins ?
(a) Kanishka
(b) Harshavardhana
(c) Ashoka
(d) Dharmpala
Answer: Kanishka

Idol worship in India can be traced to the period of
(a) Kushans
(b) Pre-Aryan
(c) Vedas
(d) Mauryans
Answer: Pre-Aryan

Which of the following statements regarding Buddha and Mahavira is wrong ?
(a) Both were born in the same century.
(b) Both believed in simple and neat living.
(c) Both were Kshatriyas.
(d) Both had same views about varnas.
Answer: Both had same views about varnas.

During the period of Sangas there was a revival of
(a) Zoroastrainism
(b) Brahminism
(c) Buddhism
(d) Jainism
Answer: Brahminism

Which of the following is said to be the oldest Jain scripture ?
(a) Twelve Upangas
(b) Fourteen Uparvas
(c) Fourteen Purvas
(d) Twelve Angas
Answer: Twelve Angas

In his teaching, the Buddha attacked
(a) Vedic rituals
(b) The concept of God
(c) The varna system
(d) Ascetism
Answer: The varna system

Buddhist historian Taranath belonged to
(a) Tibet
(b) Japan
(c) China
(d) Mongolia
Answer: Tibet

Relics of Buddha are preserved in a
(a) Vihara
(b) Monastery
(c) Chaitya
(d) Stupa
Answer: Stupa

Buddhism became the state religion during the reign of
(a) Ashoka
(b) Kumaragupta-I
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Samudragupta
Answer: Ashoka

The proceeding of the Fourth Buddhist Councilled to the issue of ? Edict.
(a) Kalinga
(b) Bhabra
(c) Sarnath
(d) Sanchi
Answer: Sarnath

Buddha died during the reign of
(a) Udayi
(b) None of these
(c) Bimbisara
(d) Ajatashatru
Answer: Ajatashatru

Which of the following is not true of the Digambaras ?
(a) They led a life of extreme ausrerity
(b) They wore white clothes
(c) They were orthodox followers of Mahavira.
(d) They kept long fasts.
Answer: They wore white clothes

The original teachings of Mahavira are contained in which of the following texts ?
(a) Purvas
(b) Jatakas
(c) Angas
(d) Tripitakas
Answer: Purvas

Who among the following is referred to as Sandhu From The West ?
(a) None of these
(b) St. Thomas
(c) St. Bartholomew
(d) Thomas of Canaan
Answer: St. Thomas

Which of the following was not include in the Eight Fold Path prescribed by Buddha ?
(a) Right knowledge
(b) Right mediatation
(c) Right Belief
(d) Right Speech
Answer: Right knowledge

The meaning of Buddha is
(a) Soul after death
(b) The ultimate Path for moksha
(c) The Enlightened one
(d) Anything beyond God
Answer: The Enlightened one

The Fourth Buddhist Council compiled an encyclopaedia of Buddhist philosophy called
(a) None of these
(b) Mahavibhasha Sutra
(c) Sutralankara
(d) Madhyamika Sutra
Answer: Mahavibhasha Sutra

Which of the following is the correct chronological order of Buddhist Councils ?
(a) Vaishali, Kashmir, Rajagriha, Pataliputra
(b) Pataliputra, Vaishali, Kashmir, Rajagriha
(c) Kashmir, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Rajagriha
(d) Rajagriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Kashmir
Answer: Rajagriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Kashmir

Who among the following is said to have been born and to have passed away on the Vaishakha Purnima day ?
(a) Chaitanya
(b) Buddha
(c) Mahavira
(d) Shankaracharya
Answer: Buddha

Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council at
(a) Kushinagar
(b) Pataliputra
(c) Kapilavastu
(d) Rajagriha
Answer: Pataliputra

Which period is referred to as the period of Hindu revival or renaissance ?
(a) Gupta period
(b) Period of Harsha
(c) Mauryan period
(d) Kushan period
Answer: Gupta period

In which of the following fields of activity did Buddhism make the maximum contribution ?
(a) Architecture
(b) Rituals
(c) Art and literature
(d) Music
Answer: Art and literature

In Buddhist teaching, nirvana meant
(a) Extinction of craving of the desire for existence in all its forms
(b) None of these
(c) Freedom from cycle of birth and death
(d) Observance of brahmacharya
Answer: Extinction of craving of the desire for existence in all its forms

The introduction of Buddhism into China is traditionally attributed to
(a) Nagarjuna
(b) None of these
(c) Samprati
(d) Kashyapa Matanga
Answer; Kashyapa Matanga

In which of the following countries was Buddhism first propagated outside India ?
(a) Sri Lanka
(b) China
(c) Combodia
(d) Thailand
Answer: Sri Lanka

In which of the following edicts/inscriptions does Ashoka express his faith in the Buddhist creed ?
(a) Schism Edict
(b) Kandahar Inscription
(c) Rummindei Inscription
(d) Bhabru Edict
Answer: Bhabru Edict

Who converted Kanishka to Buddhism ?
(a) Nagarjuna
(b) Parsva
(c) Asvaghosa
(d) Vasumitra
Answer: Asvaghosa

The first Council of Jainism to compile the canon was held at
(a) Rajagriha
(b) Pataliputra
(c) Valabhi
(d) Mithila
Answer: Pataliputra

The Jains did not repudiate
(a) Infallibility of the Vedas
(b) Animal sacrifice
(c) Practice of penance
(d) Concept of supreme power as the creator and sustainer of universe
Answer: Concept of supreme power as the creator and sustainer of universe

Who among the following accepted Jainism ?
(a) Bindusara
(b) Pulakesin
(c) Ajatashatru
(d) Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: Chandragupta Maurya

Buddhism split up into the Hinayana and Mahayana sects at the Buddhist Council held during the reign of
(a) Kanishka
(b) Chandragupta Maurya
(c) Ashoka
(d) Harsha
Answer: kanishka

The cardinal point of Buddhism was
(a) Doctrine of ahimsa
(b) Eight fold Path
(c) Theory of Karma
(d) Attainment of nirvana
Answer: Doctrine of ahimsa