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Q41 (CDS-II/2006) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Buddhist doctrine and sects Answer Verified

Who among the following taught doctrine of ‘Shunyata’?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The doctrine of 'Shunyata' (emptiness) was systematically expounded by the Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna, the founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism [t1][t6]. Nagarjuna's philosophy posits that all phenomena are 'empty' (shunya) of inherent existence (svabhava) because they are dependently co-arisen [t1]. This teaching clarifies that ultimate reality is not a substance or a permanent essence but is characterized by emptiness [t6][t8]. While Shankaracharya (Option 2) is associated with Advaita Vedanta and the doctrine of Maya (illusion) [c1], and Vallabhacharya (Option 4) founded the Pushtimarg tradition of Vaishnavism, Nagarjuna remains the primary figure linked to the philosophical analysis of Shunyata [t1][t9]. Harisena (Option 3) was a court poet of Samudragupta, not a philosopher of this doctrine. Thus, Nagarjuna is the correct proponent of the Shunyata doctrine.

Sources

  1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Cultural Development in South India > Advent of Adi Sankara > p. 131
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