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Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics

2,971 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

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.

Multiple choice

The four varnas are mentioned for the first time in the

  1. Prithvi Sukta

  2. Purusa Sukta

  3. Taittiriya Sambita

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

The Purusha Sukta (Rig Veda 10.90) is the first Vedic text to explicitly mention the four varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra) emerging from the body of the cosmic being Purusha. This hymn provides the theological foundation for the varna system, describing it as divinely ordained rather than a mere social division.

Multiple choice

Which religion did Chandragupta embrace?

  1. Buddhism

  2. Brahanism

  3. Jainism

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

Chandragupta Maurya embraced Jainism towards the end of his reign, influenced by the sage Bhadrabahu. He eventually abdicated his throne to become a Jain monk and is believed to have died through the Jain practice of sallekhana (voluntary fasting to death) at Shravanabelagola.

Multiple choice

Which Buddhist Council did Ashoka convene?

  1. First

  2. Third

  3. Fourth

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

Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra around 250 BC under the presidency of Moggaliputta Tissa. This council aimed to purge the Sangha of corruption and finalize the Buddhist canon, leading to the dispatch of missionaries to Sri Lanka and Central Asia.

Multiple choice

According to the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras, occupations like studying the Vedas, getting sacrifices performed and making gifts were to be performed by which of the following 'varnas'?

a. Brahamanas b. Kshatriyas c. Vaishyas d. Shudras

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only c and d

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only b and d
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. According to the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras, occupations like studying the Vedas, getting sacrifices performed and making gifts were to be performed by Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.

Multiple choice

Which of the following Brahmanical views were not recognised/rejected by the Buddhists after sixth century BCE?

a. Differences in the society b. Differences in society are natural and inflexible c. Claims to status on the basis of birth

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. The Buddhists did not recognise that the differences in society are natural and inflexible and also rejected the idea of claims to status on the basis of birth.

Multiple choice

In the Buddhist text called 'Sutta Pitaka', which of the following has not been suggested?

  1. The human beings lived in an idyllic state of peace.

  2. The bodily form of the human beings was not fully evolved.

  3. All human beings lived in harmony in a joint society.

  4. The world of the plants was not fully developed.

  5. For each meal, the human beings took only what was needed from the nature.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this was not suggested in the Buddhist text called 'Sutta Pitaka'.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. The poems included in the Tamil Sangam anthologies never mentioned about the social and economic relationships. b. B. B. Lal, an archaeologist, excavated at a village named Hastinapur in 1951-52. c. The Sanskrit used in 'Mahabharata' is simple as compared to that used in the Vedas or 'prashastis'.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this statement is false.