UPSC CSE Prelims 2003

Biography of Religious Founders

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Consider the following statements: 1. Vardhamana Mahavira's mother was the daughter of Lichchhavi King Chetaka. 2. Gautama Buddha's mother was a princess from the Koliyan dynasty. 3. Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara, belonged to Banaras. Which of these statements is/are correct?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Both Jainism and Buddhism were led by teachers born into the kshatriya (warrior/ruler) clans of Northern India.

Explanation Trishala (Mahavira's mother) was the *sister

of Chetaka. Maya (Buddha's mother) belonged to the Koliyan clan. Parshvanatha was the son of King Ashvasena of Banaras.

Logical Breakup

Logic 1: Statement 1 is incorrect because Trishala was Chetaka's sister, not daughter.

Logic 2: Statement 2 is correct. The Koliyan dynasty was a minor republic linked to the Shakyas.

Logic 3: Statement 3 is correct. Parshvanatha is widely accepted as a historical figure who lived in Varanasi (Banaras) roughly 250 years before Mahavira.

Active Recall

Question

Which clan did Siddhartha Gautama belong to?

Answer

He belonged to the Shakya clan of Kapilavastu, which is why he is often called 'Shakyamuni'.

Core Insight

The aristocratic backgrounds of these teachers suggest that the new religious movements were partly led by the ruling elite challenging the ritual dominance of the Brahmins.

Consider the following statements: 1. Vardhamana Mahavira's mother was the daughter of Lichchhavi King Chetaka. 2. Gautama Buddha's mother was a princess from the Koliyan dynasty. 3. Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara, belonged to Banaras. Which of these statements is/are correct?

Solution & Analysis

Active Recall

Core Insight

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