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Q19 (CAPF/2014) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Ancient and classical literature Answer Verified

Composition of the biography of the Buddha occupies a special place in Buddhist literature. Which one among the following, is a full-fledged biography of the Buddha ?

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: A
Explanation

The Lalitavistara is a significant Mahayana Sanskrit text that provides a full-fledged, detailed biography of the Buddha. Its title translates to 'The Play in Full' or 'Extensive Play,' reflecting the Mahayana view that the Buddha's life on earth was a divine 'display' or 'sport' (lalita) for the benefit of sentient beings. The text recounts the Buddha's life starting from his pre-existence in Tushita heaven, through his birth as Siddhartha Gautama, his awakening, and concluding with his first sermon at the Deer Park in Varanasi. While other options like the Milind Panho represent philosophical dialogues between King Menander and monk Nagasena [1], and the Sariputra-prakarana is a drama by Ashvaghosha, the Lalitavistara is specifically recognized as a comprehensive hagiography that has inspired extensive Buddhist art, including the reliefs at Borobudur [2].

Sources

  1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > The Starving Tigress: A Jataka Tale > p. 43
  2. [2] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lalitavistara
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