Civil Services Prep

Prelims 2019 · Ancient History · Question 59

Consider the following statements:<br/>1. Deification of the Buddha<br/>2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas<br/>3. Image worship and rituals<br/><br/>Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Buddhism?

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer

1, 2 and 3

1. Deification of the Buddha — Mahayana treated Buddha as a divine/superhuman being, unlike the earlier more human portrayal in Hinayana/Theravada. Verdict: Correct.

2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas — The Bodhisattva ideal is a central feature of Mahayana; salvation is sought for all beings, not just individual nirvana. Verdict: Correct.

3. Image worship and rituals — Mahayana encouraged idol/image worship, devotional practices and elaborate rituals. Verdict: Correct.

Hence, all three statements are features of Mahayana Buddhism.

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