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A History of Buddhism (Sanchi Stupa): NBSE Class 12 (Arts) notes
Get summary, textual answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF to NBSE Class 12 (Arts) History (Themes in Indian History) chapter “A History of Buddhism: Sanchi Stupa”. However, the educational materials should only be used for reference and students are encouraged to make necessary changes.
Introduction
The chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the religious and philosophical beliefs, practices, and literature of ancient India. It covers a wide range of topics, including the life and teachings of Vardhana Mahavira, the Buddha, and the religious beliefs of Vedic Hinduism. The chapter also discusses the development of sculpture and architecture associated with the rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism, as well as the growth of religions and new religious movements after Buddhism.
One of the key themes of the chapter is the importance of religious literature in shaping the beliefs and practices of ancient Indian society. The chapter discusses the Vedic religious literature, which includes the Vedas, Upanishads, and Brahmanas, and their role in shaping the religious beliefs and practices of ancient India. It also explores the Puranas, which are a storehouse of Indian philosophy and ancient Aryan history, and their role in propagating religion and morals and creating the fear of God in the minds of people.
Another important theme of the chapter is the role of religious institutions and practices in shaping the social and cultural norms of ancient Indian society. The chapter discusses the Ashram system, which divided an average man’s life into four Ashrams or periods, each of twenty-five years plan, and the rigorous discipline that was expected of individuals during each period. It also explores the Sangha, which was a community of Buddhist monks and nuns who renounced worldly life and dedicated themselves to the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
The chapter also provides a detailed account of the development of sculpture and architecture associated with the rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism. It discusses the construction of stupas, which were built to enshrine the relics of the Buddha and other important Buddhist figures, and their role in promoting the spread of Buddhism. The chapter also explores the important features of the Sanchi Stupa, which is one of the most famous and well-preserved stupas in India.
In addition to providing a detailed account of the religious and philosophical beliefs and practices of ancient India, the chapter also includes a number of activities and discussion questions designed to help students engage with the material. These activities include collecting pictures of sculptures, paintings, and stupas described in the chapter and discussing their features and importance with a teacher, as well as describing the buildings used for religious activities today and comparing them with early stupas and temples.
Textual questions and answers
Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Give any two features of the Vedic religion.
Answer: Ritualistic worship of nature gods and the importance of sacrifices.
2. Name the six schools of Hindu philosophy.
Answer: Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshik, Purvamimansa, Uttar Mimansa.
3. What was the motive behind offering sacrifices?
Answer: To ensure the well-being of the community and to invoke the blessings of the gods.
4. What was the position of the priestly class in the later Vedic Age?
Answer: The priests held a dominant position, performing rituals and sacrifices which became more complex.
5. According to the Buddha, what is the root cause of all human sufferings?
Answer: Desire (Trishna).
6. Give any four names under which Lord Vishnu is worshipped.
Answer: Narayana, Hari, Vasudeva, Janardana.
7. Where is the Sanchi Stupa situated? Name the first foreigner who first discovered its ruins.
Answer: The Sanchi Stupa is situated in Madhya Pradesh, India. The first foreigner who discovered its ruins was General Taylor.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Discuss the Middle Path as preached by the Buddha.
Answer: The real message of the Buddha is to be found in the first sermon which he delivered at the Deer Park at Benaras. It contains the kernel of his doctrines. It set forth four noble truths. The first truth is that life is painful. The second is that pain is caused by trishna or desire, a constant craving for sensual delight, pleasures and material things. The third is that suffering could be removed by removing its cause, i.e., when a man is emancipated from desire.
2. How was the fate of Amravati stupa different from the Sanchi stupa? Explain.
Answer: While the stupa at Amravati was discovered before the one at Sanchi, it was not preserved as well. By the time Sanchi was discovered in the nineteenth century, three of its four gateways were still standing and the fourth was lying on the spot. The mound was in good condition, though the railing had partly fallen. At Amravati, several factors were responsible for the ruin of the stupa.
3. What are dissimilarities between the Hinayana and Mahayana sects of Buddhism?
Answer: After the death of the Buddha, differences arose among his followers on the questions of discipline for monks and nuns and the significance of what he taught. This led to the Great Schism, and in the first century AD, Buddhist Sangha was split into two branches: Hinayana “The Little Wheel” and Mahayana “The Great Wheel”. The Mahayana relaxed the rules of monastic discipline to make it more popular and practical. It even adopted idol worship to attract followers. On the other hand, the Hinayana clung to the old orthodox rules of monasteries.
4. What is the most popular contribution of Sanchi to the twentieth century of iconography?
Answer: The most popular contribution of Sanchi to the twentieth century is the discovery of the Sanchi stupa, which provides a detailed insight into the development of Buddhist art and architecture. Its gateways and railings are extensively adorned with sculptures that depict various scenes from the life of the Buddha and his previous incarnations.
5. Describe the structure of gateway of the Sanchi Stupa.
Answer: The gateways of Sanchi Stupa, also known as toranas, are elaborately decorated with sculptures depicting various events from the life of the Buddha and the Jataka tales. These gateways consist of two square pillars crowned by capitals of sculptured animals or dwarfs, surmounted by three architraves. The sculptures are detailed and intricate, representing the zenith of Buddhist art in India.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. ‘Buddha laid stress on right conduct and values’. In the light of above message, explain his teachings on life.
Answer: The real message of the Buddha is to be found in the first sermon which he delivered at the Deer Park at Benaras. It contains the kernel of his doctrines. It set forth four noble truths. The first truth is that life is painful. The second is that pain is caused by trishna or desire, a constant craving for sensual delight, pleasures and material things. The third is that suffering could be removed by removing its cause, i.e., when a man is emancipated from desire. The fourth is that suffering can cease if one knows the right way.
- Middle Path: What is the right way? The right way is to follow the Middle Path for which another name is Noble Eightfold Path. According to the Buddha, too much of pleasure and comfort do not lead to happiness. Nor did living in forests like ascetics without food and shelter and torturing one’s body bring happiness. The right way of living was the Middle Path between these two extremes. By pursuit of this Middle Path or the Noble Eightfold Path a person can attain Nirvana which is the highest goal of a Buddhist. Nirvana is the eternal blissful state that knows no craving, no delusion and no death.
- Noble Eightfold Path or Arya Ashtmarge. The Noble Eightfold Path or Arya Ashtmarge consists of the following steps: (a) Right View of Faith means the knowledge of the four truths which the Buddha told in his first sermon. By having right views, man can distinguish between sin and piety, good and evil. (b) Right Belief. It is to be free from violence and desire. It is to renounce pleasure, to bear no ill-will and to do no harm to others. (c) Right Speech. It is to be polite and truthful. One should abstain from lying, slander, abuse, harsh words and idle talk. (d) Right Action. To do good deeds. (e) Right Living. To adopt a right means of livelihood. (f) Right Endeavour. Making right efforts to control evil thoughts and actions. (g) Right Recollection. It is right mindfulness, vigilance through self-examination and self-study. (h) Right Meditation. To concentrate the mind on right things is right meditation.
- Nirvana. By following the Middle Path one can attain Nirvana which is the highest goal of a Buddhist. It is a state of mind in which one knows no cravings. It will secure release from the chain of births and deaths.
- Karma. The Buddha recognized the law of Karma and its working. The man’s present and the next lives depend upon his Karma. It is based on the truth that what a man sows, so shall he reap. Everybody must reap the fruit of his actions. That is the Law or Dharma that works in the universe. Man is reborn due to his ego and desire whereas good Karmas free him from the cycle of rebirth.
- No Belief in God. According to most of the scholars, the Buddha does not believe in the existence of God. He always avoided discussion about God or nature of the soul.
- No faith in Yajnas, Sacrifices and Rituals. Buddhism has no faith in the performance of Yajna and sacrifices. It condemns the performance of Yajnas and sacrifices as useless.
- Opposed to Caste system. The Buddha emphasized the basic equality between man and man. The Buddha condemned caste system as a social disease. As a result, the Shudras and depressed classes were attracted towards Buddhism in large numbers.
- Emphasis on Morality: The Buddha preached that one should do good deeds and lead a highly moral and disciplined life. The most prominent features of his teachings were charity, truthfulness, forgiveness, love, benevolence and mercy on all living beings .
2. Discuss the development in sculpture and architecture associated with the rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism.
Answer: The puranic Brahmanism was divided into several sects most important being Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism. The Vaishnavs worship the Supreme Being under such names as Rama, Krishna, Vasudeva, Narain, Parsuram, Vaman, Narasimah, Matsya Kumar, Virah and later on the Buddha. They all reject sacrifices and believe that salvation can be attained by Bhakti or devotion and loving faith to the deity. Vaishnavism cult developed around the various Avtaras or incarnations of Vishnu. Ten Avtaras were recognised within the tradition. The Avtaras were the forms that Vishnu was believed to have assumed in order to save the world whenever it was threatened by disorder and destruction because of the domination of evil forces. It seems that different Avtaras were popular in different parts of the country. Recognising each of these local deities as a form of Vishnu was one way of creating a more unified religious tradition. The other important sect of the neo-Brahmanism was Shaivism. It worshipped Shiva under various names such as Mahadeva, Maheshwara, Pashupati, Rudra and Hara. He was worshipped in the form of Linga and Yoni as well. Shiva stands as the emblem of renunciation much valued by Hindu saints and philosophers. The other important sect is Shaktism or the worship of the Supreme as Shakti or Devi. It developed from the cult of “Mother Goddess” of the pre-Aryans. It is a goddess of fortune worshipped under different names such as Lakshmi, Bhavani, Bhagvati, Gauri and Parvati. The terrible aspect of the cult of Shakti is represented by the goddesses- Chandi, Durga and Kali. The worship of these deities is still popular in the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Jammu & Kashmir. A large number of temples and statues of Shakti found at modern places such as Naina Devi, Jawalamukhi, Kalka (Kalika), Shimla (Shyamala), Chandigarh (Chandi) and Ambala (from Uma or Amba), indicate the influence of Shakti worship. In addition to these deities, there were other minor sects which developed round the worship of Surya, Kubera (God of Wealth), Varuna (God of Cosmic Law), Indra (God of Gods) and Yama (God of Death). All these deities form parts of the puranic Brahmanism .
3. Describe the growth of religions and the new religious movements after Buddhism.
Answer: With the change in the socio-religious climate, new religious movements sprang up. We have little information about these movements except those of Jainism and Buddhism. But one such religious movement which influenced the society for some time was that of the Ajivikas. This religious movement was founded by an ascetic named Gosala Maskriputra, a contemporary of the Buddha and Mahavira. The followers of Gosala were called Ajivikas. The word Ajivika means a person who follows some set principles of life. They were strictly fatalists and even thought that they had adopted the ascetic life simply because it was determined by destiny. They believed in niyati (destiny) which man was unable to counteract. There was a thorough-going determination denying the free will of man and his moral responsibility for any action whether good or evil. The Ajivika monks practised severe asceticism and came to look upon Gosala as “an affable divinity”. They developed the view that all change and movement was illusory, and that “the world was in reality eternally and immovably at rest.” They attracted the attention of the great monarch Ashoka. They received gifts of cave temples in the hills near Gaya both from Ashoka and his son Dasaratha. The Ajivikas never became a popular sect in North India and soon disappeared. But they continued to count some followers in South India.
Neo-Brahmanism was another important faith which emerged in the country. In order to save their religion from the opposition of the new faiths, the Brahmanism made modifications in its ideas and introduced some non-Vedic ideas into its faith while retaining its old features. This changed Brahmanism was called Neo-Brahmanism or Puranic Brahmanism. It had faith in the Puranas, Dharamshastras such as Manusmriti, Vishnu Smriti, the two great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana and the Puranas such as Vishnu Purana and Vayu Purana. It is also called Sanatan Dharma or Eternal Religion because the Dharamshastras and the Puranas are without beginning and are everlasting .
4. Trace out the growth of Buddhism. Explain the main teachings of Buddha.
Answer: Buddhism spread rapidly in India during the lifetime of Buddha. He received a warm reception wherever he went. Before his death, many powerful kingdoms had accepted Buddhism. After his death, Buddhism spread to countries like China, Japan, Korea, Indo-China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Burma. It deeply influenced the cultures of these countries.
Growth of Buddhism: Though Buddhism has few followers in India today, it greatly influenced Indian social, political, and cultural life. It led to the growth of numerous castes among Hindus, promoted vegetarianism, and emphasized non-violence, which boosted cattle wealth in India. Buddhism also made significant contributions to art, literature, and education, with institutions like Taxila and Nalanda emerging as major centers of learning.
Main Teachings of Buddha:
- Four Noble Truths:
- Life is painful.
- Pain is caused by desire (trishna).
- Suffering can be removed by eliminating desire.
- Following the right path can end suffering.
- Middle Path/Noble Eightfold Path: This path includes right view, right belief, right speech, right action, right living, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation. It avoids extremes of indulgence and asceticism.
- Nirvana: The ultimate goal, a state of bliss and freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
- Karma: Actions determine future lives, and good actions free one from rebirth.
- No Belief in God: Buddha did not discuss the existence of God and focused on practical ethics.
- Rejection of Yajnas and Rituals: Buddha condemned sacrifices and rituals as useless.
- Opposition to Caste System: He preached equality among all people.
- Emphasis on Morality: Key virtues include charity, truthfulness, forgiveness, love, and mercy.
Buddhism shares similarities with Jainism, such as non-violence and rejection of the caste system. Both emphasize a life of purity and simplicity.
5. ‘In the mid-First millennium BCE, the religious thinkers tried to understand the mysteries existence and relationship between human being and the cosmic world’. Explain.
Answer: In the mid-First millennium BCE, the religious thinkers tried to understand the mysteries of existence and the relationship between human beings and the cosmic world. This period witnessed intense philosophical inquiry and the emergence of new religious ideas. Thinkers like the Buddha and Mahavira sought to explore the nature of human suffering, the cause of pain and the way to overcome it. They pondered over the nature of the soul, karma, and the cycle of birth and death. The Upanishadic philosophers delved into the concept of Brahman (the universal soul) and Atman (the individual soul) and their unity. This intellectual and spiritual ferment led to the rise of new religions and the development of rich philosophical traditions in India.
Competency-Based Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Consider the following statements: (i) Jainism was started by Rishabhdev. (ii) Lord Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankar of Jainism. (iii) Teachings of Jainism are given in Angar. (iv) Jainism started Sanghas to spread its message. Which of the given statements is/are correct?
A. (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) B. (i), (ii), (iii) C. (i), (iii), (iv) D. (ii), (iii), (iv)
Answer: D. (ii), (iii), (iv)
2. ‘Monastic existence is a necessary condition of salvation.’ According to Jainism, which of the following is ESSENTIALLY desirable to attain salvation:
A. being forgiving to other fellow human beings. B. live a free life from possessions and ties. C. follow the path of non-violence and truth. D. concentrate on performing karma.
Answer: B. live a free life from possessions and ties.
3. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (i) The Rigveda was compiled between 500 and 100 BCE. (ii) The Rigveda consists of hymns in praise of a variety of deities. (iii) The hymns from the Rigveda were chanted when sacrifices were performed.
A. (i), (ii) and (iii) B. (i) and (ii) C. (ii) and (iii) D. (i) and (iii)
Answer: C. (ii) and (iii)
4. Consider the following statements regarding Sangha. (i) Mahapajapati Gotami persuaded Buddha to allow women into the Sangha. (ii) Many women who entered the sangha became teachers of Dhamma and went on to become theris. (iii) Once within the sangha, all were regarded as equal. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
A. (i) and (ii) B. (ii) and (iii) C. (i) and (iii) D. (i), (ii) and (iii)
Answer: D. (i), (ii) and (iii)
5. Match the column A with column B. Column A: (i) Initial Stupa (ii) Oldest temple (iii) Spread of Buddhism (iv) Post Vedic Period Column B: (A) Around 3rd century BCE (B) After 3rd century BCE (C) Around 3rd century (D) 1000-500 BCE
A. (i) (A), (ii) (B), (iii) (C), (iv) (D) B. (i) (A), (ii) (C), (iii) (B), (iv) (D) C. (i) (C), (ii) (B), (iii) (A), (iv) (D) D. (i) (D), (ii) (C), (iii) (A), (iv) (B)
Answer: C. (i) (C), (ii) (B), (iii) (A), (iv) (D)
Case-based Questions
A1. How did Dhanavati date her inscriptions?
Answer: Dhanavati dated her inscriptions in the year 33 of the maharaja HUVISHKA, in the first month of the hot season on the eighth day.
A2. Why do you think, she installed an image of the Bodhisatwa?
Answer: She installed an image of the Bodhisatwa because it was an act of devotion and religious significance.
A3. Who were the relatives she mentioned?
Answer: The relatives she mentioned were her father and mother.
A4. What Buddhist text did she know?
Answer: She knew the Tipitaka.
B1. Vedic Sanskrit is considered to be important because:
Answer: (b) The Vedic verses were written in Sanskrit.
B2. Why were sacrifices performed during the Vedic Period?
Answer: (b) For the birth of sons.
B3. Assertion (A): Agni was the God of Fire in the Vedic tradition. Reason (R): Therefore offerings were made to Agni so that in the form of smoke they would reach the Gods living in the sky and invoke their blessings.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
B4. Consider the following statements: (i) Rig Veda consists of hymns in praise of Agni, Indra, Soma etc. (ii) Many of these hymns were chanted when sacrifices were performed.
Answer: (c) Both (i) and (ii) are correct.
B5. The above verses are composed in a special kind of Sanskrit known as:
Answer: (c) Vedic Sanskrit.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. What was the primary deity worshipped by the early Aryans as the chief of gods?
A. Indra
B. Varuna
C. Agni
D. Surya
Answer: B. Varuna
Q. Which god in the Rig Veda was considered a warrior god and fought atmospheric demons?
A. Varuna
B. Agni
C. Indra
D. Surya
Answer: C. Indra
Q. Who was worshipped as the lovely goddess of dawn in the Vedic period?
A. Usha
B. Saraswati
C. Prithvi
D. Vayu
Answer: A. Usha
Q. Which Vedic text is primarily known for containing the Gayatri Mantra?
A. Sama Veda
B. Yajur Veda
C. Atharva Veda
D. Rig Veda
Answer: D. Rig Veda
Q. What does the Atharva Veda primarily deal with?
A. Sacrificial prayers
B. Magical formulas and charms
C. Hymns and chants
D. Philosophical ideas
Answer: B. Magical formulas and charms
Q. Which Upanishad concept states that a person realizing Brahma as God is absorbed in Brahma after death?
A. Punarjanma
B. Moksha
C. Karma
D. Maya
Answer: B. Moksha
Q. What is the term used for the householder’s life period in the Ashram system?
A. Brahmacharya
B. Grihasth Ashram
C. Vanprasth Ashram
D. Sanyas Ashram
Answer: B. Grihasth Ashram
Q. Which deity emerged as “the great god” during the Later Vedic Period?
A. Brahma
B. Vishnu
C. Rudra
D. Varuna
Answer: C. Rudra
Q. The concept of Punarjanma, Karma, and Moksha forms the basis of which religion?
A. Buddhism
B. Jainism
C. Hinduism
D. Sikhism
Answer: C. Hinduism
Q. What system divides society into Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Sudras?
A. Caste system
B. Varna system
C. Ashram system
D. Dharma system
Answer: B. Varna system
Q. In which region did the political and cultural focus shift in the early part of the sixth century BC?
A. Punjab
B. Gujarat
C. Oudh and Bihar
D. Bengal
Answer: C. Oudh and Bihar
Q. Who is considered the founder of Jainism?
A. Buddha
B. Mahavira
C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. Ashoka
Answer: B. Mahavira
Q. What is the fundamental principle of Jainism according to P.K. Shah?
A. Worship of nature
B. Chanting of hymns
C. Ahimsa (non-violence)
D. Sacrificial rituals
Answer: C. Ahimsa (non-violence)
Q. Who supported Mahavira in spreading Jainism?
A. Ashoka
B. King Bimbisara
C. Harsha
D. Kanishka
Answer: B. King Bimbisara
Q. Where did Mahavira die?
A. Vaishali
B. Rajgir
C. Pavapuri
D. Magadha
Answer: C. Pavapuri
Q. What are the followers of Mahavira called?
A. Buddhists
B. Sannyasis
C. Jains or Nirgranthas
D. Vaishnavas
Answer: C. Jains or Nirgranthas
Q. What was the significant contribution of Jainism in the field of language?
A. Sanskrit
B. Prakrit
C. Pali
D. Tamil
Answer: B. Prakrit
Q. Which king is associated with the Jain migration to south India during a famine?
A. Bimbisara
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Ashoka
D. Harsha
Answer: B. Chandragupta Maurya
Q. What caused the division of Jainism into Digambaras and Shvetambaras?
A. Dispute over royal patronage
B. Difference in religious practices
C. Variation in language use
D. Geographic separation
Answer: B. Difference in religious practices
Q. What is the primary focus of Jainism for achieving salvation?
A. Worship of gods
B. Sacrificial rituals
C. Penance and self-mortification
D. Recitation of mantras
Answer: C. Penance and self-mortification
Q. When was Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha, born?
A. 500 BC B. 563 BC C. 600 BC D. 550 BC
Answer: B. 563 BC
Q. At what age did Siddhartha marry Princess Yashodhara?
A. 20 B. 18 C. 22 D. 25
Answer: B. 18
Q. In what year did Siddhartha leave his home and kingdom to become a wandering monk?
A. 543 BC B. 553 BC C. 533 BC D. 523 BC
Answer: C. 533 BC
Q. What event in Siddhartha’s life is known as the Great Renunciation?
A. Leaving his home and kingdom B. Attaining enlightenment C. Preaching his first sermon D. Founding the Buddhist Sangha
Answer: A. Leaving his home and kingdom
Q. Where did Siddhartha attain enlightenment?
A. Sarnath B. Rajgriha C. Kapilvastu D. Bodh Gaya
Answer: D. Bodh Gaya
Q. What is the event of Siddhartha attaining enlightenment called in Buddhism?
A. Great Renunciation B. Nirvana C. Dharmachakra Pravartan D. Sangha Formation
Answer: C. Dharmachakra Pravartan
Q. Where did Siddhartha deliver his first sermon?
A. Bodh Gaya B. Kapilvastu C. Deer Park in Sarnath D. Rajgriha
Answer: C. Deer Park in Sarnath
Q. How long did Buddha preach after attaining enlightenment?
A. 30 years B. 35 years C. 40 years D. 45 years
Answer: D. 45 years
Q. In what year did Buddha die?
A. 483 BC B. 453 BC C. 423 BC D. 403 BC
Answer: A. 483 BC
Q. What is the Buddhist term for the eternal blissful state that knows no craving, delusion, or death?
A. Dharma B. Karma C. Nirvana D. Sangha
Answer: C. Nirvana
Q. What does the Noble Eightfold Path consist of?
A. Right Belief, Right Speech, Right Living, Right Recollection B. Right Faith, Right Effort, Right Meditation, Right Action C. Right Speech, Right Effort, Right Recollection, Right Meditation D. Right View, Right Belief, Right Speech, Right Action
Answer: D. Right View, Right Belief, Right Speech, Right Action
Q. Which principle of Buddhism emphasizes the basic equality between all people?
A. Middle Path B. Karma C. Caste System D. Sangha
Answer: D. Sangha
Q. What was the name of Buddha’s son?
A. Rahula B. Devadatta C. Ananda D. Channa
Answer: A. Rahula
Q. What does the Buddhist Sangha refer to?
A. A place of worship B. The Buddhist scriptures C. The brotherhood of monks D. The path to enlightenment
Answer: C. The brotherhood of monks
Q. What is the unique Buddhist text that contains verses composed by Bhikkhunis called?
A. Tipitakas B. Mahavamsa C. Dipavamsa D. Therigatha
Answer: D. Therigatha
Q. What is the Buddhist law that states ‘what a man sows, so shall he reap’?
A. Nirvana B. Dharma C. Karma D. Sangha
Answer: C. Karma
Q. Which two branches did the Buddhist Sangha split into after the death of Buddha?
A. Mahayana and Theravada B. Mahayana and Hinayana C. Theravada and Vajrayana D. Vajrayana and Hinayana
Answer: B. Mahayana and Hinayana
Q. What did the Buddha throw open to all who were above the age of eighteen and free from leprosy, consumption, and other infections and/or diseases?
A. Nirvana
B. Dharma
C. Sangha
D. Viharas
Answer: C. Sangha
Q. What text contains the collection of verses composed by Bhikkhunis, giving insight into the social and spiritual experiences of women?
A. Vinaya Pitaka
B. Therigatha
C. Abhidhamma Pitaka
D. Mahavamsa
Answer: B. Therigatha
Q. What was the significant event that led to the split of the Buddhist Sangha into Hinayana and Mahayana branches?
A. The first Buddhist council
B. The second Buddhist council
C. The Great Schism
D. Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism
Answer: C. The Great Schism
Q. What is a Stupa?
A. A sacred tree
B. A burial mound
C. A monastic rule
D. A Buddhist scripture
Answer: B. A burial mound
Q. Which emperor distributed the relics of the Buddha and ordered the erection of stupas over them?
A. Chandragupta
B. Harsha
C. Ashoka
D. Kanishka
Answer: C. Ashoka
Q. What structure separates the sacred space of a stupa from the secular world?
A. Harmika
B. Yashti
C. Chatric umbrella
D. Railing
Answer: D. Railing
Q. Which countries did Buddhism spread to after the death of the Buddha?
A. China, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka
B. Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia
C. Africa, Europe, America, Australia
D. Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey
Answer: A. China, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka
Q. What was the main reason for the Great Schism within the Buddhist Sangha?
A. Differences in political alliances
B. Disagreements on discipline and teachings
C. Rivalries among the monks
D. Economic disparities
Answer: B. Disagreements on discipline and teachings
Q. Which king erected a pillar at Lumbini to mark his presence?
A. Chandragupta
B. Harsha
C. Ashoka
D. Kanishka
Answer: C. Ashoka
Q. Who presided over the meetings of the monks in a particular monastery?
A. The youngest monk
B. The most knowledgeable monk
C. The eldest monk
D. The most popular monk
Answer: C. The eldest monk
Q. What led to the Hindus adopting idol worship according to the provided text?
A. Influence of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism
B. Direct teachings of the Buddha
C. Influence of Greek culture
D. Reforms by Ashoka
Answer: A. Influence of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism
Q. What type of places were often considered sacred and had shrines attached to them according to Buddhist literature?
A. Riverbanks
B. Mountains
C. Special trees or unique rocks
D. Deserts
Answer: C. Special trees or unique rocks
Q. What type of donations were made for erecting and decorating stupas?
A. Only by kings
B. By guilds and individuals
C. By foreign travelers
D. By religious leaders alone
Answer: B. By guilds and individuals
Q. Who founded the Ajivika religious movement?
A. Buddha
B. Mahavira
C. Gosala Maskriputra
D. Ashoka
Answer: C. Gosala Maskriputra
Q. What concept did the Ajivikas strictly believe in?
A. Karma
B. Free will
C. Niyati (destiny)
D. Reincarnation
Answer: C. Niyati (destiny)
Q. Which king and his son gave gifts of cave temples to the Ajivikas?
A. Chandragupta and Bindusara
B. Ashoka and Dasaratha
C. Harsha and Rajyavardhana
D. Kanishka and Huvishka
Answer: B. Ashoka and Dasaratha
Q. What did the Neo-Brahmanism faith emphasize?
A. Asceticism
B. Idol worship
C. Vedic rituals
D. Puranas and Dharamshastras
Answer: D. Puranas and Dharamshastras
Q. What are the three major sects of Puranic Brahmanism?
A. Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
B. Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism
C. Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana
D. Hinduism, Islam, Christianity
Answer: B. Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism
Q. Which famous stupa was discovered by a local ruler in Amaravati in 1796?
A. Bharhut Stupa
B. Sanchi Stupa
C. Amaravati Stupa
D. Stupa of Nagarjunakonda
Answer: C. Amaravati Stupa
Q. Who visited the Amaravati site in 1854 and collected several sculpture panels?
A. Colin Mackenzie
B. Sir Alexander Cunningham
C. Walter Elliot
D. General Taylor
Answer: C. Walter Elliot
Q. What is the diameter of the Bharhut Stupa discovered by Sir Alexander Cunningham?
A. 50 feet
B. 60 feet
C. 68 feet
D. 75 feet
Answer: C. 68 feet
Q. Which British officer first made known the existence of the Sanchi Stupas?
A. General Taylor
B. Captain Johnson
C. Alexander Cunningham
D. Sir John Marshall
Answer: A. General Taylor
Q. Which Begums of Bhopal played a significant role in preserving the Sanchi Stupa?
A. Begum Shah Jahan and Begum Sultan Jahan
B. Begum Hazrat Mahal and Begum Zeenat Mahal
C. Begum Noor Jahan and Begum Mumtaz Mahal
D. Begum Jahanara and Begum Roshanara
Answer: A. Begum Shah Jahan and Begum Sultan Jahan
Q. Who is believed to have built the first stupa on Sanchi hill according to some historians?
A. Ashoka
B. Chandragupta
C. Bimbisara
D. Bindusara
Answer: C. Bimbisara
Q. What did the Guptas contribute to the Sanchi Stupa complex around AD 400?
A. Stone gateways
B. Relic chambers
C. Buddha images
D. Pillar inscriptions
Answer: C. Buddha images
Q. Who discovered the Bharhut Stupa in 1873?
A. Sir John Marshall
B. Walter Elliot
C. Colin Mackenzie
D. Sir Alexander Cunningham
Answer: D. Sir Alexander Cunningham
Q. What was the small square room called in early temples where idols were housed?
A. Shikhara
B. Garbhagreha
C. Mandapa
D. Vimana
Answer: B. Garbhagreha
Q. Which Indian ruler ordered the construction of buildings for the Ajivika sect in the third century BC?
A. Ashoka
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Bindusara
D. Kanishka
Answer: A. Ashoka
Q. The temple of Kailash at Ellora is located in which Indian state?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Andhra Pradesh
C. Maharashtra
D. Tamil Nadu
Answer: C. Maharashtra
Q. What unique feature does the temple of Kailash at Ellora possess?
A. Built entirely of bricks
B. Carved out of a single piece of rock
C. Made of sandstone
D. Built with marble
Answer: B. Carved out of a single piece of rock
Q. In which century were the earliest temples to house idols built?
A. First century BC
B. Third century BC
C. Fifth century CE
D. Second century CE
Answer: C. Fifth century CE
Q. Where were the images of the Buddha based on Greek models found?
A. Sanchi and Amravati
B. Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram
C. Taxila and Peshawar
D. Varanasi and Sarnath
Answer: C. Taxila and Peshawar
Q. Which European comparison did early scholars make regarding Indian sculptures?
A. Egyptian sculptures
B. Mesopotamian sculptures
C. Roman sculptures
D. Greek sculptures
Answer: D. Greek sculptures
Q. What do historians generally believe the famous sculpture in Mahabalipuram depicts?
A. Birth of Krishna
B. Descent of the river Ganga from heaven
C. Battle of Kurukshetra
D. Life of the Buddha
Answer: B. Descent of the river Ganga from heaven
Q. What was the reaction of nineteenth-century Europeans when they first saw Indian sculptures of gods and goddesses?
A. Admiration
B. Confusion
C. Horror
D. Excitement
Answer: C. Horror
73. What notable element did later temples often include that early temples did not?
A. Stone carvings
B. Brick structures
C. Large assembly halls
D. Water supply arrangements
Answer: C. Large assembly halls
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. What is the Indus Valley Civilization also called?
Answer: The Indus Valley Civilization is also called Harappan culture.
Q. Who was Varuna in early Vedic religion?
Answer: Varuna, the god of the sky, was considered the chief of gods by the early Aryans. He was regarded as being in charge of the right, the truth, and the guardian of moral laws.
Q. What significant artifact provides a glimpse into the religious beliefs of the Harappan people?
Answer: Some of the seals, figurines, and stone images found in the ruins of the cities give a glimpse of their religious beliefs and practices.
Q. Which Vedic god was known as a warrior god in the Rig Veda?
Answer: Indra was known as a warrior god in the Rig Veda.
Q. What was the common way of worship for the Aryans?
Answer: The common way of worship was the offering of sacrifices or Yajnas to secure earthly happiness, get children and cattle, or overpower one’s enemies. Each sacrifice was performed by a Hotri who recited the Vedic hymns.
Q. What changes occurred in religious life during the Later Vedic period?
Answer: During the later Vedic period, great changes were witnessed in the religious life of the people. The bright gods of the Rig Vedic period such as Varuna and Surya lost their former importance, and many new gods like Rudra, Vishnu, and Brahma attained a higher position. Rudra was now considered “the great god” and was also called Shiva or Pashupati. Vishnu also came to occupy a place of honor as the protector and preserver of the people. Additionally, religious rites and ceremonies became more elaborate, complicated, and expensive, increasing the importance of the priestly class of Brahmanas.
Q. What is the significance of the Chandog Upanishad in Vedic religion?
Answer: The Chandog Upanishad says that a person who in his lifetime realizes Brahma as God, after death, is absorbed in Brahma, the Universal Soul. He does not take birth again and attains Moksha. This doctrine, along with the ideas of Punarjanma (transmigration of soul) and Karma, form the basis of Hinduism. It emphasizes that all actions of a man, good or bad (Karmas), bear their proper fruit and determine his future after death. The material world being considered as maya or illusion also gained currency during the later Vedic Age.
Q. What is the Bhagavad Gita, and what doctrine does it teach?
Answer: The Bhagavad Gita is the most instructive and the most interesting portion of the Mahabharata. It is the heavenly song of the supreme God and contains the words of Sri Krishna, a divine incarnation of God Vishnu, to his disciple and friend, the Pandava hero, Arjuna. It teaches the doctrine of nishkama karma (work done without seeking any reward) and bhakti (loving faith) in a God of Grace. Man must do his duty in a selfless way without any desire for reward.
Q. What were the four Varnas during the Later Vedic Age?
Answer: The four Varnas during the Later Vedic Age were:
- Brahmanas: Philosophers, scholars, scientists, teachers, priests, and all those engaged in study and intellectual pursuits.
- Kshatriyas: Rulers, administrators, soldiers, and leaders in war.
- Vaishyas: Engaged in agriculture, trade, crafts, industry, and cattle-breeding.
- Sudras: Depended on their physical strength and served the other three classes.
Q. Who were the eminent exponents of the Upanishad philosophy?
Answer: The most eminent exponents of the Upanishad philosophy were royal sages (Rajrishis) like King Janaka, King Ajathashatru, King Ashvapati Kaikeya, and King Parvahna Jaivali. Among them, Ashvapati was the ruler of the Kakeya region in the northwest Punjab. Brahman sages (Brahmrishi) Yajnavalkya and Shevalketu were also very famous.
Q. What was the primary purpose of the Puranas?
Answer: The main purpose of the Puranas was to propagate religion and morals and to create the fear of God in the minds of people. They are a valuable source of information and study of ancient Indian history.
Q. When did the centre of political gravity and focus of civilization shift eastwards?
Answer: In the early part of the sixth century BC, the centre of political gravity and focus of civilization shifted eastwards.
Q. How many religious sects and movements arose during this period?
Answer: This period witnessed the rise of as many as 63 religious sects and movements.
Q. Which two religious sects from this period have survived until today?
Answer: Buddhism and Jainism have survived until today.
Q. Where was Mahavira born?
Answer: Mahavira was born near Vaishali in North Bihar in 568 BC.
Q. What did Mahavira achieve after practicing severe penance for twelve years?
Answer: He obtained supreme knowledge in the thirteenth year and was known as Jina Mahavira (conqueror).
Q. What are the five doctrines taught by Mahavira?
Answer: Mahavira taught five doctrines:
- Not to injure life
- Not to tell a lie
- Not to steal anything
- Not to possess property
- To vow chastity (brahmacharya)
Q. What was Mahavira’s view on God?
Answer: Mahavira had no belief in God. He did not believe that God created this universe or exercised any personal control over it. According to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, “God is only the highest, noblest, fullest manifestation of the powers which lie latent in the soul of man.”
Q. What is the main purpose of Mahavira’s teachings?
Answer: The main purpose of Mahavira’s teachings is the attainment of salvation by freeing the soul from its earthly bondage. This could be achieved only by following Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Action—the Three Jewels or the Three Ratnas.
Q. What is the cardinal belief of Jain teachings?
Answer: The cardinal belief of Jain teachings is Ahimsa or non-violence. Mahavira held that not only men, animals, and insects had souls, but even plants, wind, and fire have souls or Ajiva. Pain and injury were felt as much by stones and plants as by human beings and animals.
Q. Who spread the doctrines of Jainism after the death of Mahavira?
Answer: The doctrines of Jainism were spread in India by learned followers of the religion, known as Srutekevalins. The most famous of them was Bhadrabahu.
Q. What is the Jain Sangha?
Answer: The Jain Sangha was founded by Mahavira with the assistance of his disciples, known as Gandharas or “Heads of Schools”. The members of the Jain Sangha were divided into four categories: Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, Shraveks, and Shravikas.
Q. What caused the schism in the Jain religion?
Answer: The great migration of the Jains under Bhadrabahu to south India was the beginning of a schism in the Jain religion. A dispute arose among the Jains of north and south India on some religious practices, leading to the division into Digambaras and Shvetambaras.
Q. Who are the Tirthankaras?
Answer: The Tirthankaras are considered ‘path-finders’ who help in the attainment of salvation or Nirvana. Jainism is believed to be as old as the Vedic religion and is the outcome of the teachings of twenty-four Tirthankaras, with Mahavira being the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara.
Q. How do Jains view themselves in relation to Hindus?
Answer: The Jains consider themselves as Hindus, differing from them only in certain philosophical and theological principles. Jainism is rather a non-conformist type of Hinduism than something completely apart.
Q. What impact did the Jain principle of Ahimsa have on Indian political thought?
Answer: The Jain principle of Ahimsa had a considerable impact on later Indian political thought, playing an important part in the independence movement led by Gandhiji in the 20th century.
Q. Why did Jainism have little appeal among the masses?
Answer: Jainism had little appeal among the masses due to several reasons:
- Lack of Royal Patronage: The initial tempo of royal patronage of Jainism was not kept up by later kings and princes.
- Lack of Efforts: There was a decline in the missionary zeal and sincerity of the Jain mendicants.
- Severity of Jainism: The severe penance, meditation, fasting, and restraint were too severe to endure.
- Unintelligible Philosophy: The Jaina philosophy was unintelligible for the masses.
- Factionalism in Jainism: Factionalism among the Jainas after the death of Mahavira weakened Jainism.
- Spread of Buddhism: Buddhism posed a formidable obstacle with its simpler and more intelligible teachings.
- Role of Hindu Preachers: Hindu preachers made the foundation of Hinduism more solid, overshadowing Jainism.
Q: Who was Gautama Buddha and where was he born?
Answer: Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism, was born at Lumbini in or about 563 BC. He was the only son of Raja Suddodhana, the ruler of Kapilvastu.
Q: What significant event in Buddha’s life is known as the Great Renunciation?
Answer: Siddhartha left his home and kingdom in about 533 BC as a wandering monk in search of truth. This event in the life of Buddha is called the Great Renunciation.
Q: What prompted Siddhartha to undertake the Great Renunciation?
Answer: Moving about the outskirts of his palace, the prince had seen a helpless old man, a dead man, a sick man crying with pain and a holy man. “What caused man’s condition of suffering and grief,” he wondered. “How could man overcome it?” Then he recalled that the holy man clothed in rags and carrying a begging bowl had worn an expression of remarkable peace and serenity. Perhaps he thought, the first step to discover the answer was to renounce luxuries of royal life.
Q: Describe Buddha’s early education and his state of mind before leaving the palace.
Answer: He was given the best possible education under Brahman scholars. He studied all the Vedic literature but was still unsatisfied. From his very childhood, Siddhartha had a noble bearing, was kind of heart, and had a spiritual bent of mind. Despite having everything necessary to make up the joy of life, Siddhartha was not happy at heart.
Q: What realization did Buddha come to under the Pipal tree near Bodh Gaya?
Answer: As he sat immersed in deep meditation under a Pipal tree, enlightenment came to him and he finally realized the truth. He had seen the light and was known as the Buddha or the enlightened one. This event is called Dharmachakra Pravartan or ‘Turning the Wheel of Righteousness’ in Buddhism.
Q: What is the Noble Eightfold Path or Arya Ashtmarge in Buddhism?
Answer: The Noble Eightfold Path or Arya Ashtmarge consists of the following steps: (a) Right View of Faith (b) Right Belief (c) Right Speech (d) Right Action (e) Right Living (f) Right Endeavour (g) Right Recollection (h) Right Meditation
Q: Explain the Middle Path according to Buddha’s teachings.
Answer: The real message of the Buddha is to be found in the first sermon which he delivered at the Deer Park at Benaras. It set forth four noble truths. The right way of living was the Middle Path between extremes of pleasure and self-mortification. By pursuit of this Middle Path or the Noble Eightfold Path, a person can attain Nirvana, which is the highest goal of a Buddhist. Nirvana is the eternal blissful state that knows no craving, no delusion, and no death.
Q: What are the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism?
Answer:
- Life is painful.
- Pain is caused by trishna or desire, a constant craving for sensual delight, pleasures, and material things.
- Suffering could be removed by removing its cause, i.e., when a man is emancipated from desire.
- Suffering can cease if one knows the right way.
Q: What did Buddha emphasize regarding the caste system?
Answer: The Buddha emphasized the basic equality between man and man. The Buddha preached fraternity and equality of all. Suna Nipata says, “Not by birth does one become Brahman. By deeds, one becomes an outcaste and by deeds one becomes a Brahman.” The Buddha condemned the caste system as a social disease. As a result, the Shudras and depressed classes were attracted towards Buddhism in large numbers.
Q: What are some similarities between Buddhism and Jainism?
Answer: Both religions are indebted to the Upanishadas. Both deny the existence of God and condemned the Yajnas, sacrifices, and other Vedic rituals. Ahimsa is the prominent principle of both religions. Both do not believe in the Varna or caste system and enjoin their followers to lead a life of purity and simplicity.
Q. What does the Sangha mean?
Answer: The Sangha means the brotherhood of the Buddhist monks.
Q. Who were the two kinds of followers of Buddha?
Answer: The Buddha had two kinds of followers: the monks or Bhikkshus and lady worshippers or Upaskas.
Q. Who were the Bhikkshus?
Answer: The Bhikkshus were monks who were organized into the Sangha or congregation.
Q. Who could become a member of the Sangha?
Answer: The Buddha threw open the membership of the Sangha to all who were above the age of eighteen, both men and women, and were free from leprosy, consumption, and other infections or diseases.
Q. What kind of persons were not allowed admission into the Sangha?
Answer: Persons who were in the service of the king or an individual, or who were in debt, or had been branded as robbers or criminals were not allowed admission into the Sangha.
Q. How was the life in a Buddhist Sangha?
Answer: Life in a Buddhist Sangha was very hard and puritanic. The Bhikkshus had to beg for food from door to door, take only one meal a day, and had no family or private property. They were not allowed to touch gold or silver and were to spend most of the year preaching the Buddha’s message, living in monasteries or nunneries.
Q. How was the Sangha organized?
Answer: The Sangha was organized on democratic lines. All important matters were decided by the assembly of monks, with the eldest monk presiding over the meetings. Decisions were made by majority vote, and no assembly was valid unless at least ten monks attended.
Q. What happened to monks who broke the rules of the Sangha?
Answer: The monks who broke the rules of the Sangha were punished, with punishments consisting of penance or exclusion from the order.
Q. What led to the split in the Buddhist Sangha?
Answer: After the death of the Buddha, differences arose among his followers regarding discipline and the significance of his teachings, leading to the Great Schism and the split of the Sangha into Hinayana and Mahayana branches.
Q. What is a Stupa?
Answer: A Stupa is basically a burial mound, hemispherical in shape, containing the remains of a dignitary. Eight stupas containing the secret relics of the Buddha are believed to have been built by Ashoka at Sanchi.
Q. Why were Stupas built?
Answer: Stupas were built to enshrine the relics of the Buddha such as his bodily remains or objects used by him. These relics made the places sacred, and the entire Stupa came to be venerated as an emblem of the Buddha and Buddhism.
Q. Who contributed material for building the Stupas?
Answer: Contributions came from various types of people including kings, guilds, and individuals. Inscriptions on the railings and pillars of the Stupas record these donations, mentioning names, occupations, and kinfolk.
Q. How did Buddhism spread in India and abroad?
Answer: Buddhism spread rapidly in India during the Buddha’s lifetime, receiving warm receptions from various ranks of life. Centuries after the Buddha’s death, it spread to countries like China, Japan, Korea, Indo-China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Burma, significantly influencing their cultures.
Q. What is the legacy of Buddhism in India?
Answer: Buddhism influenced various spheres in India including social, religious, cultural, educational, and political aspects. It contributed to caste formations, vegetarianism, idol worship, and the revival of Brahmanism. It also left a significant impact on art, literature, education, and India’s cultural influence in Southeast Asia. Politically, it influenced rulers like Ashoka and shaped India’s approach to military and territorial affairs.
Q. How did Buddhism impact the social sphere in India?
Answer: Socially, Buddhism led to the formation of new sub-castes among Hindus, promoted vegetarianism, and introduced non-violence or Ahimsa, indirectly boosting India’s cattle wealth. It also produced eminent kings, statesmen, scholars, and artists.
Q. How did Buddhism influence the religious practices of Indians?
Answer: Buddhism introduced idol worship to Indians, leading to Hindus adopting idolatry. It also prompted the revival of Brahmanism as a reaction to Buddhism’s rapid growth.
Q. What contributions did Buddhism make to the cultural sphere?
Answer: Buddhism significantly influenced art and literature, introducing emotionalism and sensuousness in works like those of Ashvaghosha. It inspired remarkable sculptures, stupas, monasteries, and paintings like those at Ajanta and Bagh.
Q. How did Buddhism impact education and literature in India?
Answer: Buddhist monasteries became centers of higher learning, evolving into universities like Taxila, Vikramshila, Vallabhi, and Nalanda, significantly advancing education and literature.
Q. What was Buddhism’s cultural impact on Asian countries?
Answer: Buddhism enabled India to exert cultural influence in Southeast Asia, spreading its message and culture through monks and scholars. This led to increased cultural and economic exchanges, with many foreign philosophers visiting India and admiring its contributions.
Q. Who founded the Ajivikas religious movement?
Answer: This religious movement was founded by an ascetic named Gosala Maskriputra, a contemporary of the Buddha and Mahavira.
Q. What does the word Ajivika mean?
Answer: The word Ajivika means a person who follows some set principles of life.
Q. What did the Ajivikas believe in?
Answer: They believed in niyati (destiny) which man was unable to counteract. There was a thoroughgoing determination denying the free will of man and his moral responsibility for any action whether good or evil.
Q. How did the Ajivikas view change and movement?
Answer: They developed the view that all change and movement was illusory, and that “the world was in reality eternally and immovably at rest.”
Q. Who gave gifts of cave temples to the Ajivikas?
Answer: They received gifts of cave temples in the hills near Gaya from Ashoka and his son Dasaratha.
Q. What was Neo-Brahmanism also known as?
Answer: This changed Brahmanism was called Neo-Brahmanism or Puranic Brahmanism.
Q. What are some of the texts and epics associated with Puranic Brahmanism?
Answer: It had faith in the Puranas, Dharamshastras such as Manusmriti, Vishnu Smriti, the two great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana, and the Puranas such as Vishnu Purana and Vayu Purana.
Q. What are the three main sects of Puranic Brahmanism?
Answer: The three main sects are Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism.
Q. How is salvation attained according to Vaishnavism?
Answer: They believe that salvation can be attained by Bhakti or devotion and loving faith to the deity.
Q. How is Shiva worshipped in Shaivism?
Answer: Shiva is worshipped under various names such as Mahadeva, Maheshwara, Pashupati, Rudra, and Hara, and in the form of Linga and Yoni.
Q. What is Shaktism?
Answer: Shaktism is the worship of the Supreme as Shakti or Devi. It developed from the cult of the “Mother Goddess” of the pre-Aryans and includes worship of deities like Lakshmi, Bhavani, Bhagvati, Gauri, and Parvati.
Q. How was the Stupa at Amaravati discovered?
Answer: In 1796, a local ruler of Amaravati discovered the ruins of some sculpture on this site while wanting to build a temple. Later, a British officer named Colin Mackenzie visited the site and found several pieces of sculpture, preparing drawings of these finds.
Q. What did Walter Elliot contribute to the discovery of the Amaravati Stupa?
Answer: Walter Elliot, the Commissioner of Guntur, visited Amaravati in 1854, collected several sculpture panels, and took them to Madras. He is credited with the discovery of the western gateway of the Stupa and declared that the structure at Amaravati “was one of the largest and most magnificent Buddhist Stupas ever built.”
Q. Who discovered the Bharhut Stupa and when?
Answer: The Bharhut Stupa was discovered by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1873.
Q. What are some of the features of the Bharhut Stupa?
Answer: It was 68 feet in diameter and in a damaged state. The figures of Yakshas and Yakshinis on the cross bars of the railings have a charm of their own. The reliefs depict the Jataka stories concerning the Buddha and significant events of his life.
Q. Who first discovered the Sanchi Stupas and when?
Answer: General Taylor, an officer in the British Army, discovered the Sanchi Stupas in 1818.
Q. What damage was done to the Sanchi Stupa by Captain Johnson?
Answer: In 1822, Captain Johnson gashed open Stupa I from the top to the bottom, causing the ultimate collapse of one of the gateways and the surrounding balustrade.
Q. What role did the Begums of Bhopal play in preserving the Sanchi Stupa?
Answer: Begum Shah Jahan and her successor Begum Sultan Jahan provided funds for the preservation of the Sanchi Stupa, with Sultan Jahan also funding the building of a museum and guest house at Sanchi. Sir John Marshall dedicated his volumes on Sanchi to Sultan Jahan.
Q. What significant actions were taken by Major Cole and Sir John Marshall in relation to the Sanchi Stupa?
Answer: In 1881, Major Cole cleared some of the overgrowth from the hilltop to prevent the vegetation from swallowing the ruins. In 1912, Sir John Marshall started large-scale jungle clearance, excavation, and restoration of the Sanchi Stupa complex.
Q. Who built the first stupa on the Sanchi hill, according to some historians?
Answer: Some historians believe that before Ashoka, Bimbisara, who ruled the Magadha state, erected the first stupa on the Sanchi hill.
Q. What is significant about the gateways of the Sanchi Stupa?
Answer: The Sanchi Stupa has four gateways with detailed carvings. Each pillar is sectioned into three parts with scenes from the childhood of Gautama, battle scenes, and depictions of death pyres. The eastern gate features a famous female bracket figure interpreted in various ways.
Q. What does the impact of Brahmanical architectural style signify in the Sanchi Stupas?
Answer: The Brahmanical architectural style is evident in the stupas erected later, with one at the extreme right of the hillock decorated with the tandava nritya (the death dance) of Shiva.
Q. What influence did Buddhism have on India’s social sphere?
Answer: Socially, Buddhism led to the formation of new sub-castes among Hindus, promoted vegetarianism, and introduced non-violence or Ahimsa. It also produced eminent kings, statesmen, scholars, and artists.
Q: What were the main features of early temples?
Answer: During the period when stupas were being built at sites like Sanchi and Amravati, the first temples to house idols of gods and goddesses were also being built. The early temple had usually a small square room called the garbhagriha, having a single doorway for the worshippers to enter and offer worship to the image. Later, a tall structure called Shikhara was built over the entire shrine. The temple walls were usually decorated with sculptures. Later temples had large buildings with assembly halls, huge walls and gateways. They had also arrangements for the supply of water.
Q: Where is the Temple of Kailash located, and what is its significance?
Answer: The temple of Kailash at Ellora in Andhra Pradesh is one of the most marvellous works of architecture in the world. The whole temple is carved out of a single piece of rock and is enriched with endless ornaments. The polishing of the stones is excellent.
Q: What is a significant characteristic of early Indian temples?
Answer: A main feature of early temples was that some of these were hollowed out of huge rocks as artificial caves. The earliest of such buildings was constructed in the third century BC on the orders of Ashoka for the Ajivika sect.
Q: How did 19th-century Europeans react to Indian sculptures?
Answer: When the nineteenth-century Europeans first saw some of the sculptures of gods and goddesses, they were unable to understand what these were about. The grotesque figures, with many arms and heads or with combinations of human and animal forms, horrified them. Some scholars tried to make sense of what appeared to be strange idols by comparing them with sculptures from ancient Greece. But they held that the early Indian sculptures were inferior to the works of Greek sculptures. However, when they discovered images of the Buddha and Buddhist art evidently based on Greek models, they were very excited. Such images were found in cities like Taxila and Peshawar in northwest India where Indo-Greek rulers had established kingdoms in the 2nd century BC. As these images were closer to these Greek statues, the European scholars considered them as the best examples of early Indian art.
Q: What is an example of early temple architecture in Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: A Temple in Deogarh (Uttar Pradesh), c. fifth century CE.
Q: Why is the sculpture in Mahabalipuram intriguing?
Answer: The art historians often draw upon textual traditions to understand the meaning of sculptures. But it is not always easy to make such comparisons. The most intriguing example of this is a famous sculpture in Mahabalipuram temple (Tamil Nadu). Historians generally feel this depicts the descent of the river Ganga from heaven. The story itself is narrated in the Puranas and the epics. Some feel that it represents a story from the great epic Mahabharata.
Q: Why are many rituals and religious practices not depicted in scriptures and paintings?
Answer: Many rituals, religious beliefs, and practices were not depicted in the scriptures and paintings. These include daily practices as well as those depicting special occasions. People might not have felt the need of keeping lasting records in the forms of sculptures and paintings.
Q: What were the first temples built to house?
Answer: The first temples were built to house idols of gods and goddesses.
Q: What is a garbhagriha?
Answer: The garbhagriha is a small square room in early temples with a single doorway for worshippers to enter and offer worship to the image.
Q: What type of structures were some early temples hollowed out of?
Answer: Some early temples were hollowed out of huge rocks as artificial caves.
Q: What materials were early Indian visual traditions expressed in?
Answer: Early Indian visual traditions were expressed in brick and stone structures, sculptures, and paintings.
Q: What was the reaction of Europeans to Indian sculptures of gods and goddesses in the 19th century?
Answer: They were horrified by the grotesque figures, with many arms and heads or combinations of human and animal forms. Some scholars compared them to ancient Greek sculptures but considered early Indian sculptures inferior.
Q: How did Europeans react to the discovery of Buddha images based on Greek models?
Answer: They were very excited and considered these images, found in cities like Taxila and Peshawar, as the best examples of early Indian art.
Q: In what regions were images of Buddha and Buddhist art based on Greek models discovered?
Answer: Images of Buddha and Buddhist art based on Greek models were discovered in cities like Taxila and Peshawar in northwest India.
Q: What did some early temples have arrangements for?
Answer: Some early temples had arrangements for the supply of water.
Q: When were the earliest artificial cave temples constructed?
Answer: The earliest artificial cave temples were constructed in the third century BC on the orders of Ashoka for the Ajivika sect.
103. What is an important aspect of the temple of Kailash at Ellora?
Answer: The temple of Kailash at Ellora is carved out of a single piece of rock and is enriched with endless ornaments. The polishing of the stones is excellent.
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