[Solved] Edwin Arnold's Light of Asia | Based on Lalitavistara

Sir Edwin Arnold's book 'The Light of the Asia' is based on-

[U.P.P.C.S. Mains 2014]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Western literature in the 19th century played a massive role in introducing Buddhist philosophy to the world, often by adapting Sanskrit texts.

Authentic Source Evidence

Sir Edwin Arnold's 'The Light of Asia' (1879) is explicitly a narrative poem of the life and message of Prince Gautama, largely based on the Lalitavistara Sutra.

Analytical Breakdown

Lalitavistara (B): A Mahayana text that portrays the Buddha's life as a 'divine play' (Lalita). It provided the mythological richness for Arnold's poem.

Suttapitaka (C): Contains the Buddha's actual discourses but lacks the narrative flourish used by Arnold.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Why was 'The Light of Asia' so popular in the West?"

It presented the Buddha's life in a highly accessible, poetic, and respectful way that resonated with Victorian audiences interested in Eastern philosophy.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The book was instrumental in framing the Buddha as a 'light' or savior figure for a global audience, bridging Eastern scripture with Western poetry."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Mahayana 6 Life of Buddha 2

Analysing authentic U.P.P.C.S. Mainsprevious year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Buddhist Literature & Global Impact helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Light of Asia source and Lalitavistara builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →