buddhismandjainism3 — BSSC History

50 Questions • 30 Minutes • History Mock Test in Hindi and English

Sample Questions from this Test

Question 1:

Match the Buddhist Council with its respective location:
First Council — A. Kashmir
Second Council — B. Pataliputra
Third Council — C. Vaishali
Fourth Council — D. Rajgriha
A.1-D, 2-C, 3-B, 4-A
B.1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D
C.1-D, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A
D.1-C, 2-D, 3-B, 4-A

• 1st Council — Rajgriha (483 BC) — Patronised by Ajatashatru — Chaired by Mahakassapa

• 2nd Council — Vaishali (383 BC) — Patronised by Kalasoka — Dispute over Vinaya rules

• 3rd Council — Pataliputra (250 BC) — Patronised by Ashoka — Chaired by Moggaliputta Tissa — Abhidhamma Pitaka added

• 4th Council — Kundalvana, Kashmir (~100 AD) — Patronised by Kanishka — Chaired by Vasumitra — Led to Mahayana/Hinayana split

Question 2:

Who presided over the Third Buddhist Council patronised by Emperor Ashoka?
A.Mahakasyapa
B.Sabakami
C.Moggaliputta Tissa
D.Vasumitra

• Moggaliputta Tissa presided over the 3rd Council at Pataliputra (~250 BC)

• It purified the Sangha by expelling heretical monks

• Abhidhamma Pitaka was added — completing the Tripitaka (Three Baskets)

• Missionaries were sent to 9 regions including Sri Lanka (Mahendra & Sanghamitra)

• Mahakasyapa — 1st Council; Sabakami — 2nd Council; Vasumitra — 4th Council

Question 3:

Assertion (A): Emperor Ashoka expresses his explicit faith in the Buddhist creed in the Bhabru edict.
Reason (R): Ashoka is traditionally credited with constructing 84,000 stupas to spread Buddhism.
A.Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
B.Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation.
C.A is true but R is false.
D.A is false but R is true.

• Both A and R are independently true

• Bhabru (Bairat) edict — Ashoka declares his reverence for Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha

• 84,000 stupas built — to distribute Buddha's relics across the empire (symbolic number)

• R does NOT explain A — building stupas is a separate act from declaring personal faith

• Ashoka's faith came after the Kalinga War (~262 BC); construction was a parallel expression of devotion

Question 4:

The Second Buddhist Assembly (383 BC) was organised by which ruler?
A.Ajatashatru
B.Kalasoka
C.Ashoka
D.Kanishka

• Kalasoka (Shishunaga dynasty) patronised the 2nd Council at Vaishali (383 BC)

• Purpose: Settle dispute over 'Ten Points of Indulgence' — relaxed Vinaya rules by Vajjian monks

• Led to the FIRST major schism: Sthaviravada (orthodox) vs Mahasanghika (liberal)

• Sabakami presided over this council

• Ajatashatru — 1st Council; Ashoka — 3rd Council; Kanishka — 4th Council

Question 5:

Consider the following statements regarding the 1st Buddhist Council:
1. It was held in the Saptaparni Cave at Rajgriha.
2. It was patronised by King Ajatashatru.
3. The Sutta Pitaka and Vinaya Pitaka were compiled here by Ananda and Upali.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A.1 and 2 only
B.1 and 3 only
C.2 and 3 only
D.1, 2, and 3

• All three statements are correct

• Venue: Saptaparni Cave, Rajgriha (483 BC) — Chaired by Mahakassapa

• Patron: King Ajatashatru (Haryanka dynasty)

• Ananda recited → Sutta Pitaka (discourses)

• Upali recited → Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules)

• Purpose: Preserve Buddha's authentic teachings immediately after his Parinirvana

Question 6:

Who was the deputy president of the Fourth Buddhist Council held in Kashmir?
A.Vasumitra
B.Ashvaghosha
C.Nagarjuna
D.Parsva

• 4th Council — Kundalvana, Kashmir (~100 AD) — Under Kanishka (Kushan dynasty)

• President: Vasumitra

• Deputy: Ashvaghosha — famous poet-philosopher

• Ashvaghosha's key work: Buddhacharita (biography of Buddha in Sanskrit)

• This council formalized the Mahayana-Hinayana split

• Nagarjuna was founder of Madhyamaka school — not the same period

Question 7:

The 'Angas' (sacred books of Jains) were primarily compiled at which council?
A.1st Jaina Council
B.2nd Jaina Council
C.4th Buddhist Council
D.3rd Buddhist Council

• 1st Jain Council — Pataliputra (~300 BC) — Chaired by Sthulabhadra

• Reason: 12-year famine — monks migrated south under Bhadrabahu; remaining monks compiled 12 Angas

• 12 Angas replaced the lost 14 Purvas (original Jain scriptures)

• This led to the Digambara-Shvetambara split

• 2nd Jain Council — Vallabhi (512 AD) — Final written compilation of Shvetambara canon by Devardhi Gani

Question 8:

In Jainism, a 'Tirthankara' is someone who is regarded as a:
A.God Creator
B.Saviour and Spiritual Teacher
C.Ritual Priest
D.Warrior King

• Tirthankara = 'Ford-maker' (tirtha = crossing; kara = maker) — one who creates a path across samsara

• There are 24 Tirthankaras in each cosmic cycle

• 1st: Rishabhanatha (Adinatha) — mentioned in Rigveda and Bhagavata Purana

• 23rd: Parsvanatha — preached 4 vows (Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha)

• 24th: Mahavira — added 5th vow (Brahmacharya); last Tirthankara of current cycle

• Unlike gods, Tirthankaras do NOT intervene after attaining liberation

Question 9:

The term 'Yavanapriya' mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts referred to:
A.Ivory
B.Pepper
C.Muslin
D.Silk

• Yavanapriya = 'Favourite of the Yavanas (Greeks/Romans)' — refers to Black Pepper

• India earned massive gold from Rome through pepper exports

• Pliny the Elder lamented Rome spent 50 million sesterces annually on Indian goods

• Malabar Coast (Kerala) was the primary pepper-producing region

• Major export ports: Muziriis (Kodungallur) and Barygaza (Bharuch)

• Source: Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century AD) — key text for ancient Indo-Roman trade

Question 10:

Assertion (A): Hiuen Tsang is famously known as the 'Prince of Pilgrims'.
Reason (R): He visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana to learn more about Buddhism.
A.Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
B.Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation.
C.A is true but R is false.
D.A is false but R is true.

• Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A

• Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) — Chinese Buddhist monk — visited India 627–643 AD

• Visited during Harshavardhana's reign — studied at Nalanda University

• Travelogue: 'Da Tang Xiyu Ji' (Great Tang Records on the Western Regions)

• His scholarly depth + enormous journey (~25,000 km) = earned title 'Prince of Pilgrims'

• Other Chinese pilgrims: Fa-Hien (Chandragupta II's reign), I-Tsing (studied at Nalanda 25 years)

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