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With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements : 1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism. 2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment. 3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The correct answer is option B (statements 2 and 3 only).
**Statement 1 is incorrect:** The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Mahayana sect of Buddhism[1], not Hinayana. This is a crucial distinction between the two major branches of Buddhism.
**Statement 2 is correct:** Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts[2], clearly establishing them as compassionate ones on the path to enlightenment.
**Statement 3 is correct:** Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts but used this not to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world, but to help others[2]. This demonstrates that Bodhisattvas delay their own final salvation (nibbana) to assist other sentient beings.
The Bodhisattva ideal represents a fundamental shift in Buddhist thought that occurred around the first century CE, marking the emergence of Mahayana Buddhism with its emphasis on compassion and universal salvation, as opposed to the Hinayana focus on individual enlightenment through self-effort.
Sources- [1] https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3kv0577f92484f24e3960ebe830921e24/uploads/2025/09/2025090958.pdf
- [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 10.1 The development of Mahayana Buddhism > p. 103
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a foundational 'Sitter' derived directly from the core definition of Mahayana Buddhism in NCERT. The question tests the most basic distinction between the two major sects: Individual Salvation (Hinayana/Arhat) vs. Universal Salvation (Mahayana/Bodhisattva). If you missed this, your static history coverage has a critical gap.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: In the religious history of India, is the concept of Bodhisattva central to the Hinayana (Theravada) sect of Buddhism?
- Statement 2: In the religious history of India, does the term "Bodhisattva" refer to a compassionate being on the path to enlightenment?
- Statement 3: In the religious history of India, does a Bodhisattva deliberately delay attaining final enlightenment to help all sentient beings achieve liberation?
- Explicitly states that the concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Hinayana sect.
- Directly ties the term 'Bodhisattva' to Hinayana in a summary of Buddhist sects.
- Directly contradicts the statement by asserting Bodhisattva centrality belongs to Mahayana.
- Presents the claim as a labeled item in a set of statements about Buddhist sects (I).
- Reproduces the quiz statement that the Bodhisattva concept is central to Hinayana.
- Marks the item set such that the source treats statement 1 as the correct choice (implying support).
This snippet distinguishes Mahayana and Hinayana as arising from different new ideas among sects, implying doctrinal differences between the vehicles.
A student could take this rule (Mahayana introduced new ideas) and check whether the Bodhisattva ideal is listed among those 'new ideas' in other sources to judge its centrality to Hinayana.
Defines 'theravadins' as followers of the older tradition (the theras), suggesting Theravada/Hinayana preserves earlier doctrines rather than later Mahayana developments.
Using this, a student could compare the Bodhisattva role in early (Theravada) texts versus later Mahayana texts to see if it is a later development and thus not central to Hinayana.
States that apart from Buddha statues, Bodhisattva is a striking feature of chaityas and viharas, indicating Bodhisattva imagery was prominent in Buddhist art.
A student could map where such art appears (India vs Sri Lanka/SE Asia) and cross-check whether regions associated with Hinayana/Theravada show the same prominence of Bodhisattva imagery.
Mentions the popular Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara depicted in painting and sculpture, pointing to specific Bodhisattvas being prominent in Buddhist religious culture.
A student could note Avalokitesvara's prominence and then check whether Avalokitesvara features centrally in Theravada doctrinal texts or mainly in Mahayana traditions to assess centrality.
Gives an example from a Pali Jataka where 'the Bodhisattva (the Buddha in a previous birth)' appears, showing the term existed in early, Pali-language texts associated with older traditions.
A student could use this to distinguish the early Jataka sense of 'Bodhisattva' (a past-Buddha figure) from the Mahayana ideal of an ongoing savior figure, and thus test if the Mahayana sense is central to Theravada.
This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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