Test your knowledge related to Jainism and boost your preparation with following the previous year’s questions asked in different civil service exams on this topic. Let’s start!
1. According to ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas, the sequential order of the cycle of four epochs (yugas) is –
(a) Dwapara, Krita, Treta and Kali
(b) Krita, Dwapara, Treta and Kali
(c) Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali
(d) Treta, Dwapara, Kali and Krita
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1996]
Ans. (c) Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali
- Ancient Indian beliefs about the creation of the universe stated that there were four ages:
- Krita Yuga
- Treta Yuga
- Dwapara Yuga
- Kali Yuga
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2. Which one of the following was a Shaiva sect in ancient India?
(a) Ajivika
(b) Mattamayura
(c) Mayamata
(d) Isanasiva Gurudeva Paddhati
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1996]
Ans. (b) Mattamayura
- In ancient India, there was a Shaiva group called Mattamayura that was mentioned in the records of the Chedi Dynasty.
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3. Ardhanarishvara, a figure of half Shiva and half Parvati, represents :
(a) Union of male and female
(b) Union of God and Goddess
(c) Union of God with his Shakti
(d) None of the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (c) Union of God with his Shakti
- Ardhanarishvara is a combination of the Hindu God Shiva and his partner Parvati.
- It is shown as half male and half female.
- The right side is mostly Shiva, which shows his regular characteristics.
- This figure shows how the masculine and feminine energies of the universe are connected and that Shakti (female part of God) is the same as Shiva (male part of God).
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4. Who were Nayanars?
(a) Shaiva
(b) Shakta
(c) Vaishnava
(d) Suryopasana
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (a) Shaiva
- During the Middle Ages, the devotion to the gods was mainly seen in South India, particularly in Tamil areas.
- There were two major religious groups that created the devotion in the Tamil areas.
- People who worshipped Vishnu were called Alvara and those who worshipped Shiva were called Nayanara.
- These groups believed that having a personal faith in God was the only way to achieve liberation and they opposed the caste system and its rules.
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5. Who were the ‘Nayanars’?
(a) Vaishnavites
(b) Shaivites
(c) Shaktas
(d) Sun worshippers
[U.P.R.O..A.R.O. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (b) Shaivites
- During the Middle Ages, devotion to God was mainly found in South India, specifically in Tamil regions.
- Two main groups were behind this devotion’s growth.
- Those who worshipped Vishnu were called Alvara, while those who worshipped Shiva were called Nayanara.
- They believed that the only way to spiritual freedom was through personal love and dedication to God, and rejected the rigid caste system.
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6. Who among the following was not an ‘Alvar Saint’?
(a) Poigai
(b) Tirugyan
(c) Pudam
(d) Thirumangai
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (b) Tirugyan
- Poigai, Pudam, and Thirumangai were all Alvar Saints, however Tirugyan was not part of this group.
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7. Who contributes the most to the development of the Bhagavata sect?
(a) Persian
(b) Indo-Greek people
(c) Kushan
(d) Gupta
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (d) Gupta
- The Gupta kings were devoted followers of the Bhagavata or Vaishnava religion, and they made it a state religion.
- Most of the Gupta rulers had the title of ‘Parama Bhagavata.’
- The symbol of the state of Guptas was Garuda, the mount of Lord Vishnu.
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8. The originator of the Bhagavata Religion was –
(a) Janak
(b) Krishna
(c) Yagyavalkya
(d) Surdas
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (b) Krishna
- The Bhagavata religion was started by Lord Krishna, who was from the Vrishni clan and from the city Mathura.
- He is also known as Vasudeva and is said to be the son of Devaki and the student of Ghor Angirasa in the Chandogya Upanishad.
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9. Which of the following epics has primarily mentioned Krishna, son of Devaki?
(a) Mahabharata
(b) Chhandogya Upanishad
(c) Ashtadhyayi
(d) Bhagavata Purana
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 1999]
Ans. (b) Chandogya Upanishad
- The Bhagavata religion began with Lord Krishna, who was a descendant of the Vrishni family and born in Mathura.
- He is also known as Vasudeva and is mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad as the son of Devaki and a disciple of Ghora Angirasa.
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10. Who were the first to worship Vasudeva Krishna :
(a) Bhagavatas
(b) Vedic Aryans
(c) Tamilians
(d) Abhirs
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (a) Bhagavatas
- The Bhagavata religion is the earliest form of Vaishnavism, which involved worshiping Lord Krishna, the son of Devaki.
- In ancient times, people who worshipped Vasudev were called Vasudeva (Bhagavata).
- In Indian culture, Lord Krishna is thought of as a supreme being and has been worshiped for a long time.
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11. Who among the following deities is represented in art as holding the plow?
(a) Krishna
(b) Balarama
(c) Kartikeya
(d) Maitreya
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
Ans. (b) Balarama
- In Indian culture, Balaram, who is Krishna’s brother, is often seen with a plow in his arms.
- He is also known as Haldhar.
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12. The number of forms of bhakti in the Bhagavata cult is–
(a) 7
(b) 8
(c) 9
(d) 10
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (c) 9
- The Bhagavata cult recognizes Navadha Bhakti (a form of devotion) as a way to attain Moksha.
- This makes option (c) the correct answer.
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13. The Besnagar inscription of Heliodorus is associated with–
(a) Sankarshan and Vasudeva
(b) Sankarshan and Pradyumna
(c) Sankarshan, Pradyumna and Vasudeva
(d) Only Vasudeva
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1998]
Ans. (d) Only Vasudeva
- The Garuda Pillar of Vidisha (Besnagar), the first stone monument related to the Bhagavata religion, shows that the representative of Takshila (Taxila) accepted the Bhagavata religion and worshipped it after its foundation.
- The inscription on the monument mentions Heliodorus as ‘Bhagavata’ and Vasudeva as ‘Devadevas’.
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14. The earliest archival evidence related to Bhagavata Religion is-
(a) Allahabad’s inscription of Samudragupta
(b) Besnagar’s inscription of Heliodorus
(c) Bhitri’s inscription of Skanda Gupta
(d) Mehrauli’s pillar inscription
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (b) Besnagar’s inscription of Heliodorus
- The Garuda Pillar of Vidisha (Besnagar) is the first monument to be associated with the Bhagavata religion.
- This suggests that the Yavana ambassador of Takshila (Taxila) embraced the Bhagavata religion after its establishment and showed reverence to it.
- The article inscribed on it mentions Heliodorus as ‘Bhagavata’ and Vasudeva as ‘Devadevas’.
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15. The earliest known epigraphic evidence of Bhagvatism is :
(a) Prayaga Prashasti of Samudra Gupta
(b) Nasik inscription of Gautami Balshri
(c) Garuda Pillar at Besnagar
(d) Ayodhya inscription of Dhanadeva
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (c) Garuda Pillar at Besnagar
- The Garuda Pillar of Vidisha (Besnagar) is the first stone monument connected to the Bhagavata religion.
- This indicates that the Yavana ambassador of Takshila (Taxila) embraced the Bhagavata religion and honored it after it was established.
- The article inscribed on it mentions Heliodorus as ‘Bhagavata’ and Vasudeva as ‘Devadevas’.
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16. Heliodorus of ‘Besnagar inscription’ was a resident of–
(a) Pushkalavati
(b) Takshila (Taxila)
(c) Sakala
(d) Mathura
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (b) Takshila (Taxila)
- The Garuda Pillar of Vidisha (Besnagar) is the first stone structure that relates to the Bhagavata faith.
- This suggests that the Yavana representative of Takshila (Taxila) adopted the Bhagavata religion and began to worship it after it was established.
- The article written on the pillar mentions Heliodorus as ‘Bhagavata’ and Vasudeva as ‘Devadevas’.
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17. Which incarnation of Vishnu is depicted as saving the Earth from the Sea?
(a) Kachhapa
(b) Matsya
(c) Varaha
(d) Narsingh
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Pre) 2010,U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (c) Varaha
- Lord Vishnu became the form of Varaha in order to defeat the giant king, Hiranyakashyap, and save the Earth from his grip.
- Varaha is often depicted in pictures from Hindu scriptures, holding the Earth in his teeth and coming out of the sea.
- His body was human, but he had four arms like Vishnu, holding a conch shell, discus, mace, and lotus flower.
- This was the third incarnation of Vishnu.
- Option (c) is the correct answer.
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18. Which one of the following is the distinctive feature of a nastika and astika system in India?
(a) Belief in the existence of God
(b) Belief in the doctrine of re-birth
(c) Belief in the authenticity of the Vedas
(d) Belief in the existence of heaven and hell
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
Ans. (c) Belief in the authenticity of the Vedas
- In the 6th century BC, the Astika sect were people who accepted the Vedas as true and the Nastika sect were people who did not accept the Vedas.
- Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
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19. Which one of the following gives equal importance to Jnana, Karma and Bhakti as a means of liberation?
(a) Advaita Vedanta
(b) Vishishtadvaita Vedanta
(c) Bhagavad Gita
(d) Mimamsa
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
Ans. (c) Bhagavad Gita
- In the Gita, Lord Krishna said that Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti are all equally important.
- Advaita Vedanta teaches that Brahma is the only truth and gives most importance to Bhakti (devotion to God).
- Mimamsa only focuses on Karma.
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20. The doctrine of Apurva is related to
(a) Charvaka
(b) Jaina
(c) Buddha
(d) Mimamsa
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (d) Mimamsa
- Apurva is a special word related to the Purva Mimamsa system of Philosophy.
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21. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below :
List-I List-II
| A. Ashtadhyayi |
1. Yaska |
| B. Mahabhashya |
2. Katyayan |
| C. Nirukta |
3. Patanjali |
| D. Varttika |
4. Panini |
Codes :
A B C D
(a) 4 3 1 2
(b) 2 3 1 4
(c) 1 2 3 4
(d) 3 1 4 2
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (a) 4 3 1 2
- The correctly matched list is as follows –
List-I List-II
| A. Ashtadhyayi |
Panini |
| B. Mahabhashya |
Patanjali |
| C. Nirukta |
Yaska |
| D. Varttika |
Katyayan |
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22. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below :
List-I List-II
| A. Ballabhacharya |
1. Dwaitvad |
| B. Ramanuj |
2. Avamukta |
| C. Madhvacharya |
3. Vishistadwait |
| D. Shankar |
4. Adwaitavad |
Codes:
A B C D
(a) 1 3 4 2
(b) 2 4 1 3
(c) 2 3 1 4
(d) 4 1 3 2
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (c) 2 3 1 4
- The correctly matched list is as follows –
List-I List-II
| A. Ballabhacharya |
Pushtimarg |
| B. Ramanuj |
Vishistadwait |
| C. Madhvacharya |
Dwaitvad |
| D. Shankar |
Adwaitavad |
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23. Who was the founder of Visistadvaita Siddhanta?
(a) Ramanujacharya
(b) Vallabhacharya
(c) Srikanthacharya
(d) Madhavacharya
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
Ans (a) Ramanujacharya
- Visistadvaita is a type of Vedanta, a Sanskrit term which means “not two but different”.
- Ramanujacharya (C.1017-1137), a Vaishnavite saint, is well known for promoting the philosophy of Vishisht
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24. Which is called Lokayata Darshan.
(a) Jain
(b) Buddh
(c) Charvaka
(d) Samkhya
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (c) Charvaka
- Charvaka was known for his materialistic and aesthetic way of thinking.
- He was the originator of Lokayata Philosophy which believed that direct perception was the best way to figure out what was true.
- This philosophy also encourages people to live joyfully.
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25. Which one of the following is not included in ‘Prasthan tray :
(a) Bhagavata
(b) Bhagavad Gita
(c) Brahma Sutra
(d) Upanishad
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (a) Bhagavata
- The Upanishad, Brahmasutra, and Bhagavad Gita are known as the “Prasthantrayi” of Vedanta because they are the major works of Vedanta.
- The Upanishad is the most important and the other two are based on it.
- Shankaracharya is the oldest of all the Vedanta teachers and he established the Vedanta cults by writing a commentary on the Brahmasutra.
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26. The ancient place where the narration of the entire Mahabharata was read in the conference of 60,000 hermits –
(a) Ahichhatra
(b) Hastinapur
(c) Kampilya
(d) Naimisharanya
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (d) Naimisharanya
- Naimisharanya is a place in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh, where it is believed that 60,000 hermits live.
- Sut Goswami told the whole Mahabharata epic to Saunak and other hermits while he was doing a special ritual.
- Before that, Vaisampayana had narrated the Mahabharata
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27. With which religion is Kalika Purana associated?
(a) Vaishnavism
(b) Shaktism
(c) Buddhism
(d) Jainism
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (b) Shaktism
- The Kalika Purana, also known as the Kali Purana, Sati Purana, or Kalika Tantra, is one of eighteen minor Puranas in the Hinduism tradition of Shaktism.
- It is thought to have been written in Assam, India, and was written by the sage Markandeya.
- The story begins with Devi trying to get Shiva out of his ascetic life and back into a life as a householder, by making him fall in love.
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28. Which Kand of Ramayana describes the first meeting of Lord Rama and Hanuman?
(a) Kishkindha Kand
(b) Sunder Kand
(c) Bal Kand
(d) None of the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]
Ans. (a) Kishkindha Kand
- Valmiki wrote the Ramayana, a Sanskrit poem with seven sections.
- The fourth section, the Kishkindha Kand, tells the story of Rama meeting Hanuman, Bali’s death, and Sugriva becoming the ruler of the Vanara people.
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29. The Rath Yatra at Puri is celebrated in honor of which Hindu deity?
(a) Lord Rama
(b) Lord Vishnu
(c) Lord Jagannath
(d) Lord Shiva
[Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2007]
Ans. (c) Lord Jagannath
- The Rath yatra is held in Orissa’s city of Puri annually during the Ashadha month on the Shukla Paksha, and it is a special occasion to honor Lord Jagannath (Krishna).
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30. Kumbh Mela at Nasik is held on which of the following river banks?
(a) Tapti River
(b) Narmada River
(c) Koyna River
(d) Godavari River
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003]
Ans. (d) Godavari River
- The Kumbh Mela is a religious festival that takes place every 12 years on the banks of the Godavari River.
- It also happens at the junction of the Ganga and Yamuna Rivers in Haridwar, at Prayag, and on the shores of the Kshipra River in Ujjain.
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31. In the context of Indian culture who among the following is called Ananga?
(a) Shiva
(b) Krishna
(c) Kamadeva
(d) Laxman
(e) None of these
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (c) Kamadeva
- Kamadeva is the Hindu god of love.
- Rati is married to him.
- Other names for Kamadeva include Ananga, Kandarpa, Madana, and Manmatha.
- These names can all relate to love and desire.
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32. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer to the codes given below –
| A. Jainism |
1. Madina |
| B. Hinduism |
2. Vatican |
| C. Islam |
3. Pavapuri |
| D. Christianity |
4. Varanasi |
Code :
A B C D
(a) 3 1 4 2
(b) 1 2 4 3
(c) 3 4 1 2
(d) 2 3 1 4
[M.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (c) 3 4 1 2
- Medina is in western Saudi Arabia and it’s the second holiest city in the Islamic religion after Mecca.
- Vatican City in Italy is the world’s smallest independent country with a population and area of 44 hectares.
- The Pope is the ruler of the country, which is the capital of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Pavapuri is the holiest place of Jains and it’s located near Rajgir and Patna.
- This is where the founder of Jainism, Mahavir Swami, passed away in 527 BC.
- Hindus consider Varanasi to be the holiest place and it is situated on the banks of the Ganga river.
- This city used to be an important center for learning and culture in the past.
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