Ancient History MCQs – 6 ( Jainism )

Ans - D ( All of the above ).

Important caves related to Jainism are: 

1. Ellora Caves (Cave No. 30-35)- Maharashtra
2. Udayagiri-Khandagiri Caves- Odisha
3. Hathi-gumpha Cave- Odisha
4. Sittanavasal Cave- Tamil Nadu

Ans - B ( 2. To practice ahimsa.).

Right Knowledge (as per Mahavira) is the acceptance of the theory that there is no God and that the world has been existing without a creator and that all objects possess a soul. 

Buddha taught that the soul does not exist.Only Jainism advocated extreme penance. Buddhism preached moderation.

Ans - C ( Both 1 and 2 ).

Jains were divided into two major sects; the Digambara (meaning sky clad) sect and the Svetambara (meaning white clad) sect. 

 The two sects agreed on the basics of Jainism, but disagreed on:

• details of the life of Mahavira
• the spiritual status of women
• whether monks should wear clothes
• rituals
• which texts should be accepted as scripture

 As per Digambara sect, women cannot achieve liberation without first being reborn as a man. This is because women cannot live a truly ascetic life, because they have

to possess clothes. They believed true monks must live without clothes.

 Digambaras also believe that one can become a monk only by having no worldly possessions by demonstrating indifference to earthly emotions such as shame.

 Digambara monks were not allowed any possessions, not even begging bowls.

Ans - C ( Unshaken belief in the teachings and wisdom of Mahavira ).

The three principles or Triratnas of Jainism are right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.

Triratnas—3 Gems of Jainism

• Samyak Shradha/ Vishwas (Right Faith) — Belief of Tirthankaras
• Samyak  Gyan (Right Knowledge) — Knowledge of Jam belief
• Samyak Karma/Acharana (Right Action/Conduct) — Practise of 5 vows of Jainism
  

Learning: Mahavira regarded all objects, both animate and inanimate, to have souls and various degrees of consciousness. They possess life and feel pain when they are injured. Even the practice of agriculture was considered sinful as it causes injury to the earth, worms and animals. Similarly the doctrine of asceticism and renunciation was also carried to extreme lengths by the practice of starvation, nudity and other forms of self-torture.

Ans - A ( 1 and 2 only ).

• Mahavira organized the Sangha to spread his teachings.
• He admitted both men and women in the Sangha, which consisted of both monks and lay followers.
• The rapid spread of Jainism was due to the dedicated work of the members of the Sangha. It spread rapidly in Western India and Karnataka.
• Chandragupta Maurya, Kharavela of Kalinga and the royal dynasties of south India such as Gangas, Kadambas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas patronized Jainism.

Ans - B ( Karnataka ).

• By the end of the fourth century B.C., there was a serious famine in the Ganges valley. Many Jain monks led by Bhadrabagu and Chandragupta Maurya came to Shravanabelagola in Karnataka.
• Those who stayed back in north India were led by a monk named Sthulabahu who changed the code of conduct for the monks.
• This led to the division of Jainism into two sects Svetambaras and Digambaras.
• Shravanabelagola is famous for Gomateshwara/Bahubali Statue located here.
  
  

Ans - D ( Mahavira ).

• There were 24 Tirthankars. 
• The twenty-fourth Tirthankara was Mahavira and the symbol used for him was Lion. 
• He was born in 540 B.C. in a village called Kundagrama near Vaishali.
• His father Siddharta was the head of the Jnathrika Kshatriya clan and his mother Trishala was a sister of Chetaka, the king of Vaishali.

   

• At the age of 30 years, he renounced his home and became an ascetic.

   

• He practiced austerity for 12 years and attained highest spiritual knowledge called Kaivalya(i.e conquered misery and happiness) at the age of 42 years.
• He passed away at the age of 72 in 468 B.C. at the Pawapuri in Bihar.

Ans - C ( Varanasi ).

• Parsvanatha is the 23rd Jain Tirthankar. He was the son of king Ashvasena and queen Vama of Varanasi. He achieved Nirvana on the Sammed Sikhar.

Ans - A ( Rishabhanatha/Rishabhadeva ).

• According to Jain traditions, a Tirthankara is a person who has conquered the cycle of death and rebirth by himself and paved the way for others to follow. 
•  Rishabhanatha/Rishabhadeva was the first Tīrthankara (Supreme preacher) of Jainism. He is also known as Adinatha which translates into "First (Adi) Lord (nātha).
• A symbol was associated with every Tirthankara and the symbol used for him is Bull. 

Ans - B ( 24 ).

• As per the Jain traditions, there were twenty-four Tirthankaras.