Ancient Indian Philosophical Schools

Match Philosophers: Lakulisa, Nagarjuna, Bhadrabahu, Gosala

Lakulisa belongs to the Pasupat sect, Nagarjuna to Sunyavada (Buddhism), Bhadrabahu to Jainism, and Makkhali Gosala to the Ajivaka sect.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class 11 - Ancient India (R.S. Sharma)

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Match list-I with list-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-IList-II
A. Lakulisa1. Ajivaka
B. Nagarjuna2. Sunyavada
C. Bhadrabahu3. Pasupat
D. Gosala4. Jain

[UP RO/ARO Prelims 2017]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


Ancient India saw the rise of diverse 'Sramana' and 'Brahmanical' schools of thought ranging from atheistic fatalism to refined logic.

Authentic Source Evidence


Lakulisa is the traditional founder of the Pashupata sect of Shaivism. Nagarjuna is the father of the Madhyamika school. Bhadrabahu was the guru of Chandragupta Maurya and a Jain saint. Makkhali Gosala founded the Ajivika sect.

Analytical Breakdown


  • Lakulisa (3): Associated with the Pasupata sect, the oldest school of Shaivism.

  • Nagarjuna (2): Propounded Sunyavada (Doctrine of Emptiness) in Mahayana Buddhism.

  • Bhadrabahu (4): A major Jain Digambara leader who migrated to South India.

  • Gosala (1): Founder of the Ajivaka sect, emphasizing 'Niyati' or fatalism.
  • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "What was the core belief of the Ajivika sect founded by Gosala?"

    The Ajivikas believed in 'Niyati' (Fate), arguing that the entire universe is conditioned and determined by cosmic forces, leaving no room for free will.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "The coexistence of these schools highlights the intellectual pluralism of ancient India, where theistic, atheistic, and nihilistic philosophies debated openly."

    Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

    Digambara 5Pashupata Shaivism 2

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