Philosophy, Bhakti & Sufi Movements UPSC PYQ

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:
Historical person : Known as
1. Aryadeva : Jaina scholar
2. Dignaga : Buddhist scholar
3. Nathamuni : Vaishnava scholar

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

1. ANone of the pairs
2. BOnly one pair
3. COnly two pairs
4. DAll three pairs

The world's second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?

1. AThe best means of salvation was devotion.
2. BVedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative.
3. CLogical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss.
4. DSalvation was to be obtained through meditation.

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs:
1. Parivrajaka : Renunciant and Wanderer
2. Shramana : Priest with a high status
3. Upasaka : Lay follower of Buddhism

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

1. A1 and 2 only
2. B1 and 3 only
3. C2 and 3 only
4. D1, 2 and 3

With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by which of the following epithets?
1. Nayaputta
2. Shakyamuni
3. Tathagata
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A1 only
2. B2 and 3 only
3. C1, 2 and 3
4. DNone of the above are epithets of Gautama Buddha

Consider the following statements:
1. There are no parables in Upanishads.
2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas. Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?

1. A1 only
2. B2 only
3. CBoth 1 and 2
4. DNeither 1 nor 2

"Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects." The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?

1. ABuddhism
2. BJainism
3. CShaivism
4. DVaishnavism

With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts:
1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
Which of the above are Jaina texts?

1. A1, 2 and 3
2. B2 and 4 only
3. C1, 3 and 4
4. D2, 3 and 4

Consider the following statements :
1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. A1 and 2 only
2. B2 and 3 only
3. C1 and 3 only
4. D1,2 and3

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term "paramitas"?

1. AThe earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style
2. BPhilosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas
3. CPerfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
4. DPowerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India

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

1. A1 only
2. B1 and 2 only
3. C2 and 3 only
4. D1, 2 and 3

With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to

1. ABuddhism
2. BJainism
3. CVaishnavism
4. DShaivism

With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world ?

1. AAvalokiteshvara
2. BLokesvara
3. CMaitreya
4. DPadmapani

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A1 only
2. B2 and 3 only
3. C2 only
4. D1, 2 and 3

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

1. AMimamsa and Vedanta
2. BNyaya and Vaisheshika
3. CLokayata and Kapalika
4. DSankhya and Yoga

The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from

1. AKatha Upanishad
2. BChandogya Upanishad
3. CAitareya Upanishad
4. DMundaka Upanishad

Consider the following statements:
1. ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.
2. The Philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhvacharya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A1 only
2. B2 only
3. CBoth 1 and 2
4. DNeither 1 nor 2

Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?

1. AThe extinction of the flame of desire
2. BThe complete annihilation of self
3. CA state of bliss and rest
4. DA mental stage beyond all comprehension

Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine?
1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance.
2. Every object, even the smallest particle, has a soul.
3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1. A1 only
2. B2 and 3 only
3. C1 and 3 only
4. D1, 2 and 3

With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school :
1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of soul.
2. Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior
influence or agent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A1 only
2. B2 only
3. CBoth 1 and 2
4. DNeither 1 nor 2

The Jain philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by

1. AUniversal Law
2. BUniversal Truth
3. CUniversal Faith
4. DUniversal Soul

Among the following, who was not a proponent of bhakti cult ?

1. ANagarjuna
2. BTukaram
3. CTyagaraja
4. DVallabhacharya

Anekāntavāda is a core theory and philosophy of which one of the following?

1. ABuddhism
2. BJainism
3. CSikhism
4. DVaishnavism

Bhakta Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal Emperor?

1. ABabar
2. BAkbar
3. CJahangir
4. DAurangzeb

Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells?

1. ARig-veda
2. BYajur-veda
3. CAtharva-veda
4. DSama-veda

Which one of the following sequences indicates the correct chronological order?

1. AShankaracharya - Ramanuja - Chaitanya
2. BRamanuja - Shankaracharya - Chaitanya
3. CRamanuja - Chaitanya - Shankaracharya
4. DShankaracharya - Chaitanya - Ramanuja

In ancient Indian Buddhist monasteries, a ceremony called Pavarana used to be held. It was the

1. Aoccasion to elect the Sanghaparinyaka and two speakers, one on Dhamma and the other on Vinaya
2. Bconfession by monks of their offences committed during their stay in the monasteries during the rainy season
3. Cceremony of initiation of new person into the Buddhist Sangha in which the head is shaved and when yellow robes are offered
4. Dgathering of Buddhist monks on the next day to the full-moon day of Ashadha when they take up a fixed abode for the next four months or rainy season

The concept of Eight-fold path forms the theme of

1. ADipavamsa
2. BDivyavadana
3. CMahaparinibbana Sutta
4. DDharma Chakkra Pravartana Sutta

Many of the Greeks, Kushanas and Shakas embraced Buddhism rather than Hinduism because

1. ABuddhism was in the ascendant at that time
2. BThey had renounced the policy of war and violence
3. CCaste-ridden Hinduism did not attract them
4. DBuddhism provided easier access to Indian society

The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the

1. AChandogyopanishad
2. BMundakopanishad
3. CKathopanishad
4. DKenopanishad

Milindapanho is in the form of a dialogue between the King Menander and the Buddhist monk

1. ANagasena
2. BNagarjuna
3. CNagabhatta
4. DKumarilabhatta

Prem Vatika, poems on the life of Krishna, was composed by

1. ABihari
2. BSurdas
3. CRaskhan
4. DKabir

According to ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas the sequential order of the cycle of four aeons (Yugas) is

1. ADvapara, Krita, Treta and Kali
2. BKrita, Dvapara, Treta and Kali
3. CKrita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali
4. DTreta, Dvapara, Kali and Krita

Which one of the following is not a part of early Jaina literature?

1. ATherigatha
2. BAcarangasutra
3. CSutrakritanga
4. DBrihatkalpasutra

Which of the following were common to both Buddhism and Jainism?
I. Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment.
II. Indifference to the authority of the Vedas
III. Denial of efficacy of rituals
IV. Non-injury to animal life
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. AI, II, III and IV
2. BII, III and IV
3. CI, III and IV
4. DI and II

Which one of the following was a Saiva sect in ancient India?

1. AAjivika
2. BMattamayura
3. CMayamata
4. DIsanasivagurudevapaddhati

Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

1. AGuru Amar Das … Miri and Piri
2. BGuru Arjan Dev … Adi Granth
3. CGuru Ram Das … Dal Khalsa
4. DGuru Gobind Singh … Manji

The word ‘Hindu’ as reference to the people of Hind (India) was first used by

1. Athe Greeks
2. Bthe Romans
3. Cthe Chinese
4. Dthe Arabs

According to the Mimamsa system of philosophy, liberation is possible by means of

1. AJnana
2. BBhakti
3. CYoga
4. DKarma

The concept of Anuvrata was advocated by

1. AMahayana Buddhism
2. BHinayana Buddhism
3. CJainism
4. Dthe Lokayata school