Correct Answer:
(A) 563 B.C.
Gautam Buddha, also known as Siddhartha (childhood name), was born in 563 B.C. in Shakya Kshatriya family in Lumbini near Kapilvastu (Nepal). His father’s name was Shuddhodana who was the chief of the Shakya clan. His mother was Mayadevi who was from the ‘Koliyan clan.’ At the age of 29, he left his home on his horse “Kantaka” accompanied by Channa and this was called as “Mahabhinishkramana”. He died at the age of 80 years in 483 B.C. at Kushinagar (the first capital city of Malla Kingdom) which is known as “Mahaparinirvana”.
Ques: 2
The Buddha belonged to which of the following Gana ?
Correct Answer:
(B) Sakya
The Buddha belonges to the Sakya gana, which was a small republic located in the foothills of the Himalayas in present-day Nepal.
The Sakya gana was ruled by a council of elders known as the Gana Parishad and was known for its adherence to Vedic traditions and rituals.
The Buddha’s father, Suddhodana, was the ruler of the Sakya gana and belonged to the Kshatriya caste.
Ques: 3
Which one of the following inscriptions of Ashoka confirms the tradition that Gautama Buddha was born in Lumbini?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Rummindei Pillar Inscription
From the Mauryan dynasty emperor Ashoka’s Rummindei Pillar inscription, it is known that Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. According to this inscription King Ashoka came here (Lumbini) in the 20th year of his coronation and worshipped the place where Shakya Muni was born. In ad- dition to that, he also exempted Lumbini from tax as it was the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.
Ques: 4
Which of the events of Buddhas life is known as Mahabhinishkramana?
Correct Answer:
(C) His departure from home
"Mahabhinishkramana" translates to "The Great Departure" and refers to the moment when Siddhartha Gautama left his palace at the age of 29 to seek enlightenment.
His death: This event is known as Mahaparinirvana.
His birth: This event is often celebrated as Vesak.
His attainment of enlightenment: This event is known as Bodhi or Nirvan
Ques: 5
Where did Mahatma Buddha’s ‘Mahaparinirvan’ take place?
Correct Answer:
(C) Kushinagar
Mahatma Buddha delivered his first sermon at the site of Deer Park at Sarnath. Later he moved towards Kosala, Kapila vastu, Vaishali and Rajgriha to propagate the teachings of Buddhism. The king of Kosala Prasenjit with his entire family adopted discipleship of Buddha. During his campaign, he reached ‘Pava’, the capital of Mallas. At Pava, Buddha stayed in the mango grove of Chund, the blacksmith. There Chund provided him a large amount of Sukaramaddava, which resulted in sickness with the flow of blood and violent deadly pains, but Buddha reached Kushinara (Capital of Republic of Malla). Here he abandoned his body in 483 BC at the age of 80 years. It is also known as Mahaparinirvan.
Ques: 6
Mahaparinirvana Temple is located at
Correct Answer:
(A) Kushinagar
Mahaparinirvana temple is situated in Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh. It is very famous statue of Buddha. The image was unearthed during an excavation in 1876. Carved from Chunar sandstone, the statue represents the dying Buddha reclining on his right side.
Ques: 7
Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?
1. Avanti 2. Gandhara
3. Kosala 4. Magadha
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer:
(C) 3 and 4 only
From the given kingdoms, Gautam Buddha was associated with Kosala and Magadha kingdom. He visited these two kingdoms to propagate his teachings.
Ques: 8
Who was the last person to get enlightenment from Gautam Buddha?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Subhadda
Gautam Buddha, in his last years, went to his disciple named Chund at Pava, where he suffered food poisoning after eating pork offered by Chund. Then he went to Kushinagar (Capital city and the Mallas Kingdom) where he gave his last Sermon to “Subhaddha” and finally attained the “Mahaparinirvana” at Kushinagar.
Ques: 9
The ruler of Suvarnabhumi, who founded a Buddhist monastery at Nalanda and requested Devapala through his ambassador to grant, five villages for its maintenance, was?
Correct Answer:
(C) Balaputradeva
Balaputradeva was the ruler of Suvarnabhumi who founded a Buddhist monastery at Nalanda and requested Devapala through his ambassador to grant five villages for its maintenance.
Ques: 10
Where did Buddha reside during the last rainy season of his life?
Correct Answer:
(B) Vaishali
Buddha resided in Vaishali during the last rainy season of his life. Actually, Buddha reached Beluva which was in the suburb of Vaishali to spend his time during rainy reason at the age of eighty years with his two disciples, one of them popularly known as ‘Ananda.’
Ques: 11
Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?
Correct Answer:
(A) The extinction of the flame of desire
Buddhism considers desire as the cause of all the pain. The State of Nirvana in Buddhism is considered as a state which is free from desire, pain, pleasure, etc. The literal meaning of the word Nirvana is ‘blown out’ and it can be seen as the state of extinction of the flame of desire. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Ques: 12
Who was Alara Kalama?
Correct Answer:
(D)
A teacher of Buddha.
Alara Kalama was one of the best and well known for religious teachings. Ascetic Buddha went to study under him. He stayed and learnt many things, including meditation. He worked hard and eventually equalled his teacher in learning. Finally, Alara Kalama could not teach Buddha anymore, and he said, “You are the same as I am now. There is no difference between us. Stay here and take my place and teach my students with me.” Alara Kalama was an Acharya of Samkhya philosophy and was renowned for his spiritual strengt