1.Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under a peepal tree at _________.
A. Varanasi
B. Bodh gaya
C. Ujjain
D. Patliputra
Solution
The correct answer is Bodh Gaya.
Key Points
- Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya, which is located in the Indian state of Bihar.
- The peepal tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment is also known as the Bodhi Tree, which is considered sacred by Buddhists.
- Bodh Gaya is home to the Mahabodhi Temple, which was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE to commemorate Buddha’s enlightenment
- The Mahabodhi Temple complex also includes the Vajrasana, which is believed to be the spot where Buddha meditated and attained enlightenment.
Additional InformationImportant events in the life of Gautama Buddha:
- The Buddha, initially known as Siddhartha Gautama, was born into a royal family in Lumbini, currently located in Nepal, in the 6th to 4th century BCE.
- At the age of 29, after witnessing the sufferings of life (old age, sickness, death), Gautama renounced his royal life in search of the path to end human suffering.
- For several years, he embraced the life of an ascetic, practicing extreme austerity. However, he found this didn’t lead to enlightenment and instead advocated for what he called “the Middle Way”—a life of moderation away from extreme asceticism and hedonism.
- After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha delivered his first sermon in Sarnath, near Varanasi in India, often referred to as “Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion“. It marked the beginning of his teaching or the dissemination of his understanding of the “truth” about life and existence.
- Buddha initiated a community of followers, both monks (Bhikkus) and nuns (Bhikkunis). This Buddhist monastic community, known as Sangha, spread the teachings of Buddha after his death.
- The Buddha died at the age of 80, in Kushinagar, India. His death is also termed as Parinirvana, the final Nirvana. After his death, the Buddha’s teachings were collected into written form, called Tripitaka (Three Baskets), forming the foundation of Buddhist philosophy and practice.
2. Buddha delivered his first sermon which is called _______, at Sarnath to his five disciples.
A. Niranjana
B. Mahabhinishkramana
C. Maha parinirvana
D. Dharmachakra Pravartana
Solution
The correct answer is Dharmachakra Pravartana.
Key Points
- Dharmachakra
- After 49 consecutive days of meditation, Gautama attained Bodhi (enlightenment) under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya a village in Bihar.
- Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, near the city of Benares in UP.
- This event is known as Dhammacakkappavattana (The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma).
- The Seated Buddha from Gandhara is an early statue of the Buddha made in Gandhara, in modern Pakistan, in the 2nd or 3rd century.
- The pose shows Buddha as a teacher setting the wheel of Dharma in motion (Dharmachakra Mudra).
- The mudra in Buddhism is a symbolic gesture of hands and fingers used in rituals and dances or sculptures and paintings.
- Buddha’s first sermon after his enlightenment is preserved in the Pali Sutta-Pitaka (Samyutta Nikaya 56.11) as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, which means “The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma.” In Sanskrit, the title is Dharmacakra Pravartana Sutra.
- In this sermon, the Buddha gave the first presentation of the Four Noble Truths, which are the foundational teaching, or primary conceptual framework, of Buddhism. Everything he taught after that ties back to the Four Truths.
3. Out of the three Pitakas, the Abhidhamma Pitaka deals with ______ .
A. Stories on Sarnath Pillar
B. Philosophical matters
C. Rules for those who joined the sangha
D. Buddha’s teachings
Solution
The correct answer is philosophical matters.
Key Points
- Abhidhamma Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka, and the Sutta Pitaka are the three Pitakas.
- Vinaya Pitaka deals with the conduct of the Monk order.
- The Sutta Pitaka was a collection of Lord Buddha’s Sermons on matters of doctrine and ethics.
- The Abhidhamma Pitaka deals with the matters of metaphysics and psychology.
Additional Information
- During his lifetime the Buddha taught not in Vedic Sanskrit, he also encouraged his monks to propagate his teachings in the vernacular.
- After his death, the Buddhist canon was formulated and transmitted by oral tradition, and it was written down in several versions in the 2d and 1st cent. B.C.
- Its main divisions are called Pitakas.
- Tripitaka, also known as Pali Canon in English, is a traditional term used for Buddhist scriptures.
- The three pitakas are Sutta Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka and Vinaya Pitaka.
4. Where was the 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism, Vardhamana Mahavira born in 6th century BC?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Bihar
C. Maharashtra
D. Andhra Pradesh
Solution
The correct answer is Bihar.
Key Points
- Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.
- Vardhamana is the original name of Lord Mahavira.
- He was born in 540 BCE in Kundagrama near Vaishali in Bihar.
Additional Information
- Vardhamana was a Kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis.
- He left home and went to live in a forest at the age of 30.
- Followers of Mahavira, who were known as Jainas.
- The language used by Mahavira and his followers was the Prakrit language.
- He died in 468 BCE at Pawapuri.
5. In Vaishali, the second Buddhist council was organized by ________.
A. shaven
B. Anurudh
C. sunidha
D. kalashoka
Solution
The correct answer is Kalashok.
Key Points
- The second Buddhist council was held at Vaishali (or Vaishali), an ancient city in what is now the state of Bihar in northern India, under the patronage of King Kalsok on the border with Nepal. At the same time, it was presided over by Sabakami.
- This council was probably held around a century after the 1st century or about 383 BC.
- It was called to discuss monastic practices, specifically whether monks might be allowed to handle wealth.
- The Second Council is commonly said to have resulted from the first schism in the Union, probably caused by a group of hardline reformists known as the Stavros. They differed from the more liberal but conservative majority Confederacy. They were finished
Additional Information
- Buddhist Council Protection Presidency
- First Council – Rajagriha, 483 BC – Ajatashatru Mahakashyap
- Second Council – Vaishali, 383 BC – Kalasoka Sabkami
- Third Council – Pataliputra, 250 BC – Ashoka I Mogliputta Tisa
- Fourth Council – Kashmir, 72 AD – Kanishka
6. The rules made for the Buddhist “Sangha” were written down in a book called ________.
A. Abhidhammapitaka
B. Sutta pitaka
C. Vinaya pitaka
D. Milinda Panha
Solution
The correct answer is Vinaya Pitaka.
Key Points
- Vinaya Pitaka is a sacred book of Buddhist scripture that contains the rules and regulations for the Buddhist monastic community or Sangha.
- It is one of the three Pitakas or baskets of scriptures that make up the Tripitaka, the canonical texts of Theravada Buddhism.
- The Vinaya Pitaka is divided into three sections: Suttavibhanga, Khandhaka, and Parivara.
- The other options are also significant texts in Buddhist scripture.
- Abhidhammapitaka is the third basket of the Tripitaka that contains philosophical and psychological teachings.
- Sutta Pitaka is the second basket of the Tripitaka that contains the Buddha’s teachings in the form of discourses.
- Milinda Panha is a Buddhist text that records a dialogue between King Milinda and Buddhist monk Nagasena.
Hence, the statement “The rules made for the Buddhist ‘Sangha’ were written down in a book called Vinaya Pitaka” is correct.
7. Digha Nikaya is a collection of ______ long (digha) discourses (suttas), divided into three sections namely Shilakhanda, Mahavagga and Patheya respectively.
A. 31
B. 39
C. 25
D. 34
Solution
The correct answer is 34.
- Digha Nikaya is one of the five nikayas or collections of Buddhist texts in the Sutta Pitaka.
- It is believed to have been composed between 4th and 1st century BCE in ancient India.
- The discourses in Digha Nikaya are primarily focused on providing a comprehensive understanding of Buddha’s teachings and his path to enlightenment.
- The three sections of Digha Nikaya are further divided into 34 suttas or discourses.
- Major Buddhist Texts –
- The Vinaya Pitaka consists of rules of conduct and discipline applicable to the monastic life of the monks and nuns.
- The Sutta Pitaka consists of the main teaching or Dhamma of Buddha. It is divided into five Nikaya or collections:
- Majjhima Nikaya
- Digha Nikaya
- Samyutta Nikaya
- Anguttara Nikaya
- Khuddaka Nikaya
- The Abhidhamma Pitaka is a philosophical analysis and systematization of the teaching and scholarly activity of the monks.
- Other important Buddhist texts include Divyavadana, Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Milind Panha, etc.
8. Which of the following structure is associated with Buddhism?
A. Pallava
B. Mandapa
C. Shikhara
D. Stupa
Solution
The correct answer is Stupa.
Key Points
- Stupa is a Buddhist structure that is used for meditation and religious offerings.
- It is a dome-shaped structure that represents the Buddha’s final resting place and symbolizes the path to enlightenment.
- Stupas are found in various parts of the Buddhist world, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
- They are considered to be one of the most important forms of Buddhist architecture and are often surrounded by smaller shrines and temples.
Additional Information
- Pallava is a style of temple architecture that originated in South India during the 7th century CE. It is characterized by its intricate carvings and sculptures.
- Mandapa is a pillared hall that is often found in Hindu and Jain temples. It is used for various religious ceremonies and rituals.
- Shikhara is a type of tower that is found on top of Hindu and Jain temples. It is often decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures.
9. Where did Buddha give the last sermon before his Mahanirvana?
A. Vaishali
B. Sarnath
C. Lumbini
D. Kushinagar
Solution
The correct answer is Kushinagar.
Key Points
- Lord Buddha gave his last sermon at the Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
- Since then Kushinagar became the place of Buddhist pilgrimage.
- Kushinagar is also known as Kusinara, as it is home to many pilgrimages for Buddhism followers in India and worldwide.
- Ramabhar Stupa in Kushinagar was built with a portion of the Buddha’s ashes on the place where his cremation took place.
Additional Information
- Lord Buddha was an ordinary person named Siddhartha Gautama, whose profound insights inspired the world.
- He was born into the royal family of the Sakya clan who ruled from Kapilvastu, in Lumbini which is situated near the Indo-Nepal Border.
- At the age of 29, Gautama left home and rejected his life of riches, and embraced a lifestyle of asceticism or extreme self-discipline.
- After six years of hardship, Gautama attained Bodhi (enlightenment) under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya a village in Bihar.
- Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, near the city of Benares in UP.
- This event is known as Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
- He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at a place called Kushinagara a town in UP.
- The event is known as Mahaparinibban.
10. Buddha meditated for days on end under a peepal tree at ______, where he attained enlightenment.
A. Sarnath
B. Bodh Gaya
C. Kushinagar
D. Ujjain
Solution
The correct answer is Bodh Gaya.
Key Points
- Bodh Gaya is a small town in the state of Bihar, India, and it is one of the most sacred sites in Buddhism.
- It was at Bodh Gaya, under a peepal tree known as the Bodhi Tree, that Siddhartha Gautama, later known as Buddha, attained enlightenment.
- The site of Bodh Gaya is marked by the Mahabodhi Temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important pilgrimage destination for Buddhists worldwide.
- The temple complex houses the sacred Bodhi Tree, the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne) where Buddha meditated, and various other monastic structures.
Additional Information
- Sarnath:
- Sarnath, located near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, is where Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.
- It is a significant pilgrimage site for Buddhists.
- Kushinagar:
- Kushinagar, also in Uttar Pradesh, is the place where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (passed away).
- It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site and has several monastic ruins and stupas.
- Ujjain:
- Ujjain is an ancient city in Madhya Pradesh and holds religious importance in Hinduism.
- It is associated with the Kumbh Mela and is known for its ancient temples, but it is not directly linked to Buddha’s life or enlightenment.
