With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism. 2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism. 3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fost

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Q: (IAS/2020)
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism.
2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.
3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

question_subject: 

History

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,148,167,37,148,71,59

keywords: 

{'mahayana buddhism': [0, 1, 0, 3], 'mahasanghika sect': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'buddhism': [8, 0, 2, 2], 'lokottaravadin sect': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'buddha': [1, 0, 1, 5], 'mahasanghikas': [0, 0, 0, 4], 'religious history': [0, 0, 0, 4], 'sthaviravadins': [0, 0, 0, 3], 'india': [8, 1, 7, 13]}

The correct answer is (b) 2 and 3 only.

Explanation:

Sthaviravadins (also known as Theravadins) belong to Hinayana Buddhism, not Mahayana Buddhism. They emphasize the original teachings of the Buddha and the attainment of individual liberation (arhatship) through meditation and ethical conduct.

Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism. Mahasanghikas were one of the early Buddhist schools that believed in the existence of Lokottaras (transcendental) elements beyond the mundane world. The Lokottaravadin sect developed this idea further and believed in the existence of a transcendent, pure consciousness (alayavijnana) that is the basis of all mental and physical phenomena.

The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the development of Mahayana Buddhism. Mahasanghikas believed in the concept of Buddha-nature, which holds that all beings possess the potential to become Buddhas. This led to the development of the idea of bodhisattvas, enlightened beings who delay their own liberation to help others achieve enlightenment, and the worship of Buddhas and bodhisattvas as divine beings in Mahayana Buddhism.