OPSC OAS 2022 PrelimsHistory, Art & CultureQuestion 6
Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2022 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
Consider the following statements about Buddhism.
- It was patronized by the Pala kings.
- Buddha was worshipped as a God in Mahayana Buddhism.
- Hinayana considers Buddha as an ordinary being who attained Nirvana.
- Vajrayana focused on Hindu Practices.
Which of the following are correct?
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (B) 1, 2 and 3
- The Pala dynasty (8th-12th centuries CE) that ruled eastern India were strong supporters of Buddhism, establishing major Buddhist centers like Nalanda and Vikramashila. They promoted Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions through extensive patronage of monasteries, art, and scholarship.
- In Mahayana Buddhism, the Buddha was elevated to the status of a divine being and worshipped as a God. This was a major departure from early Buddhism, where the Buddha was regarded as a great teacher rather than a deity. The Mahayana tradition also introduced the concept of Bodhisattvas as divine beings.
- In Theravada Buddhism (historically called Hinayana), the Buddha is viewed as a human teacher who achieved enlightenment through his own efforts. He is respected as an exemplar who demonstrated the path to Nirvana rather than as a divine being.
- While Vajrayana Buddhism incorporated some elements that resembled Hindu practices (mantras, mandalas, tantric rituals), it maintained a distinctly Buddhist framework with its own philosophical systems and soteriological goals centered on Buddhist concepts like emptiness and enlightenment.
