Buddhism & Jainism Quiz: Ancient Indian History Practice

Spoilers! These are the Starter quiz’s answers. Easy, Medium, Hard and Mixed rounds show their own answers when you finish.

1. The Buddha delivered his first sermon at:

   • Bodh Gaya
   • Sarnath
   • Kushinagar
   • Rajgir

   Answer: Sarnath. At the deer park of Sarnath near Varanasi he "set the wheel of dharma in motion" (Dharmachakra Pravartana).

2. The Fourth Buddhist Council, after which Buddhism split into Hinayana and Mahayana, was held under the patronage of:

   • Ashoka
   • Ajatashatru
   • Kanishka
   • Kalashoka

   Answer: Kanishka. Kanishka, the Kushana king, sponsored it in Kashmir, with Vasumitra presiding and Ashvaghosha as his deputy.

3. Who was the 23rd Jain tirthankara?

   • Rishabhanatha
   • Neminatha
   • Mahavira
   • Parshvanatha

   Answer: Parshvanatha. Parshvanatha, said to be from Varanasi, preceded Mahavira, who was the 24th and last tirthankara.

4. Mahavira attained nirvana (passed away) at:

   • Pavapuri
   • Kundagrama
   • Shravasti
   • Vaishali

   Answer: Pavapuri. He died at Pavapuri near Rajgir in Bihar. He was born at Kundagrama near Vaishali.

5. Which vow did Mahavira add to the four taught by Parshvanatha?

   • Ahimsa (non-violence)
   • Asteya (non-stealing)
   • Brahmacharya (chastity)
   • Aparigraha (non-possession)

   Answer: Brahmacharya (chastity). Parshvanatha taught four vows; Mahavira added brahmacharya, making the five great vows (mahavratas).

6. The Buddhist canonical texts known as the Tripitaka were compiled in which language?

   • Sanskrit
   • Pali
   • Ardhamagadhi Prakrit
   • Tamil

   Answer: Pali. The Tripitaka — Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma Pitakas — is in Pali. Later Mahayana works were written in Sanskrit.

7. Consider the following statements: 1. The first Jain council was held at Pataliputra. 2. The Jain canon of the Shvetambaras was finally codified at a council at Valabhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   • 1 only
   • 2 only
   • Both 1 and 2
   • Neither 1 nor 2

   Answer: Both 1 and 2. The first council met at Pataliputra around the end of the 4th century BCE under Sthulabhadra. The last, at Valabhi in Gujarat in the 5th century CE, fixed the canon still used by Shvetambaras.

8. The colossal Gommateshwara (Bahubali) statue at Shravanabelagola was commissioned by:

   • Chamundaraya
   • Chandragupta Maurya
   • Bhadrabahu
   • Amoghavarsha

   Answer: Chamundaraya. Chamundaraya, a minister of the Western Ganga dynasty, had the monolith carved around 983 CE.

9. The First Buddhist Council, held soon after the Buddha's death, met at:

   • Vaishali
   • Pataliputra
   • Kashmir
   • Rajagriha

   Answer: Rajagriha. It met at Rajagriha under Ajatashatru, presided over by Mahakassapa, to compile the Buddha's teachings.

10. The Ajivika sect, a rival of early Buddhism and Jainism, is most closely associated with:

    • Ajita Kesakambalin
    • Purana Kassapa
    • Sanjaya Belatthiputta
    • Makkhali Gosala

    Answer: Makkhali Gosala. Makkhali Gosala taught a strict fatalism (niyati). Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha gave the Ajivikas the Barabar and Nagarjuni caves.