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Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics

2,776 Questions

Indian philosophy spans diverse concepts from Buddhist teachings and practices to ancient aesthetics. This collection covers meditation rules, spiritual enlightenment, and cultural expressions like Odissi. These topics are vital for general awareness in civil services and state exams.

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Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics Questions

Multiple choice

Which one of the following statements about Upanishads is not correct?

  1. Brihadaranyak and Chandogya Upanishads are in prose.

  2. Katha Upanishad is one of the earliest Upanishads.

  3. Upanishads proclaim salvation by knowledge rather than by faith.

  4. Upanishads do not consider a life of asceticism as absolutely necessary for salvation.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Upanishads emphasize knowledge (jnana) as the path to salvation over faith or ritual. Brihadaranyaka and Chandogya are indeed prose. Katha is among the earliest Upanishads. Option D is incorrect because Upanishads DO consider asceticism important for salvation - they renounce worldly life to seek spiritual knowledge.

Multiple choice

In ancient India, the life of a Jain monk was governed by how many vows?

  1. Four

  2. Five

  3. Six

  4. Seven
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The life of a Jain monk was governed by five main vows (Mahavratas): non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), celibacy (brahmacharya), and non-possession (aparigraha). These five vows form the foundation of Jain monastic conduct.

Multiple choice

Vaipulya Sutras are

  1. essentials of Jain Philosophy

  2. commentaries on Sanskrit poetics

  3. expanded sermons of Buddha

  4. exposition of logic in Pali language
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Vaipulya Sutras refer to the expanded or extended discourses of Buddha, also known as Mahayana Sutras. These are voluminous texts that form the core of Mahayana Buddhist literature, containing elaborate teachings and doctrines. The term 'Vaipulya' literally means extensive or expanded.

Multiple choice

Buddha died in ………….. Mahajanpada.

  1. Chedi

  2. Avanti

  3. Malla

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (death) in the Malla Mahajanapada at Kushinagara (modern-day Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh). The Mallas were the rulers of this region when Buddha died at age 80.

Multiple choice

With reference to 'Brahmanical' or 'Vedic' religion, consider the following statements:

  1. The early 'Brahmanical' or 'Vedic' religion had temples or images.
  2. Offerings were made to the Gods with meat, fat, milk, butter and soma.
  3. Offerings were made to the Gods with soma only.
  4. Image form of worship to divinity was incorporated at a later stage.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 1 and 2

  3. Only 2 and 4

  4. Only 1, 2 and 3

  5. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sacrifices were performed on open altars and offerings were made to the Gods with meat, fat, milk, butter and soma. This rite of homa (havan) was basic to vedic religion.

Multiple choice

Consider the following:

a. Vanaprasta b. Grihasta c. Brahmachari d. Sanyasi

According to the Upanishads, there are four stages in life. Arrange the above stages as they occur?

  1. c - a - b - d

  2. d - a - b - c

  3. a - b - c - d

  4. c - b - a - d

  5. d - c - b - a
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

According to the Upanishads, there are four stages in life. One has to live first as a brahmachari (celibate student), then as a grihasta (a householder), then as a vanaprasta (a hermit) and lastly as a sanyasi (an ascetic).

Multiple choice

With reference to 'Theravada', a Buddhist doctrine, consider the following statements:

  1. It emphasised the salvation of the individual.
  2. It is a doctrine about Buddha's family life.
  3. It was complied by Hinayana Sect.
  4. It was complied by Mahayana Sect.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Both 2 and 3

  3. Only 3

  4. Both 1 and 2

  5. Both 1 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The Mahayanists laid emphasis on the Boddhisattva concept and on the salvation of all sentient individuals.

Multiple choice

Anekantavada is a core theory and philosophy of

  1. Buddhism

  2. Jainism

  3. Sikhism

  4. Vaishnavism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Jaina metaphysics is realistic and relativistic pluralism. It is called Anekantavada or the doctrine of 'mayness of reality'. Matter and spirit are regarded as separate and independent realities.

Multiple choice

Assertion A: Harshavardhana convened the Prayag Assembly. Reason R: He wanted to popularize only the Mahayana form of Buddhism.

  1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

  3. A is true, but R is false.

  4. A is false, but R is true.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

To popularize the Mahayana form of Buddhism, Harshavardhana convened an assembly at Kannauj. The Prayag Assembly was convened by him to popularize himself.

Multiple choice

In ancient Indian Buddhist monasteries, a ceremony called Parvarana used to be held. It was the

  1. occasion to elect the Sanghparinayaka and two speakers one on Dhamma and the other on Vinaya

  2. confession by monks of their offences committed during their stay in the monasteries during the rainy season

  3. ceremony of initiation of new person into the Buddhist Sangha in which the head was shaved and yellow robes were offered

  4. gathering of Buddhist monks on the next day to the full-moon day of Ashadha when they take up a fixed abode for the next four months of the rainy season
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Pavarana is a Buddhist holy day celebrated on the full moon of the eleventh lunar month. It marks the end of the month of Vassa, sometimes called “Buddhist Lent". This day marks the end of the rainy season in some Asian countries like Thailand, where Theravada Buddhism is practiced. On this day, each monk (Pali: bhikkhu) must come before the community of monks (Sangha) and atone for any offense he may have committed during the Vassa.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The Chinese piIgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.
  2. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect as fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kashmir during the reign of Kanishka under the presidentship of Vasumitra and Ashvaghosh. Fa-Hien visited India during the reign of Chandra Gupta and not during Kanishka's reign. Statement 2 is incorrect as Harsha was not antagonistic to Buddhism when Hiuen-Tsang met him.

Multiple choice

With reference to ancient Jainism, which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. Jainism was spread in South India under the leadership of Sthalabahu.

  2. The Jainas who remained under the leadership of Bhadrabahu after the council held at Pataliputra were called Svetambaras.

  3. Jainism enjoyed the patronage of the Kalinga king Kharaavela in the first century BC.

  4. In the initial stage of Jainism, the Jainas worshipped images unlike the Buddhists.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Jainism spread in South India under the leadership of Bhadrabahu (not Sthalabahu). The Jainas who remained under the leadership of Bhadrabahu were called Digambaras (not Svetambaras) after the first council held at Pataliputra (modern Patna) by Sthalabahu.

Multiple choice

Sutudri mentioned in the Rig Veda is

  1. A term used to denote bride

  2. The name of a river

  3. A plant used in the preparation of Sura

  4. A sacrificial animal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Sutudri (Sutlej) is explicitly mentioned as one of the major rivers in the Rig Veda, appearing in multiple hymns. It's described as a powerful river flowing from the mountains, and geographical references place it in the Punjab region. The Rig Veda contains numerous river references considered sacred in early Vedic religion.