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Q9 (IAS/2019) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Buddhist doctrine and sects Official Key

Consider the following : 1. Deification of the Buddha 2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas 3. Image worship and rituals Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Buddhism?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is option D because all three features are characteristics of Mahayana Buddhism.

The worship of images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas became an important part of this tradition[3], confirming that image worship and rituals (statement 3) are indeed features of Mahayana Buddhism. Mahāyāna also refers to the path of the bodhisattva striving to become a fully awakened Buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings[4], establishing that treading the path of Bodhisattvas (statement 2) is a central characteristic of this tradition.

Regarding the deification of the Buddha (statement 1), the growing ascendancy of Mahayana Buddhism allowed the representation of the person of Buddha in human form[5], which reflects the veneration and worship of the Buddha as a divine or semi-divine figure. The emphasis on Buddha worship and the development of elaborate rituals around Buddha images indicates the deification aspect of Mahayana Buddhism.

Therefore, all three statements—deification of the Buddha, the Bodhisattva path, and image worship with rituals—are features of Mahayana Buddhism, making option D the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] 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
  2. [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
  3. [3] 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
  4. [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana
  5. [5] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 6: Polity and Society in Post-Mauryan Period > Art and Literature > p. 82
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following : 1. Deification of the Buddha 2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas 3. Image worship and rituals Which of the …
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 2.5/10
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This is a classic 'Sitter' question derived directly from the core NCERT definition of the Mahayana split. It tests the fundamental shift from individual salvation (Theravada) to universal salvation via devotion. If you miss this, your static history base is critically weak.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does Mahayana Buddhism include the deification of the Buddha as a characteristic feature?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
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
Presence: 5/5
“The worship of images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas became an important part of this tradition. This new way of thinking was called Mahayana – literally, the "great vehicle". Those who adopted these beliefs described the older tradition as Hinayana or the "lesser vehicle".”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly records that worship of images of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas became an important part of Mahayana.
  • Links the emergence of image worship directly with Mahayana as a 'new way of thinking'.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 8: Harsha and Rise of Regional Kingdoms > Religious Policy > p. 109
Presence: 5/5
“Harsha was a worshipper of Siva at least up to 631 CE. But he embraced Buddhism under the influence of his sister Rajyasri and the Buddhist monk Hieun Tsang. He subscribed to the Mahayana school of thought. Yet he held discourses among learned men of various creeds. Slaughter of animals and consumption of meat was restricted. Harsha summoned two Buddhist assemblies (643 CE), one at Kanauj and another at Prayag. The assembly at Kanauj was attended by 20 kings including Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa. A large number of Buddhist, Jain and Vedic scholars attended the assembly. A golden statue of Buddha was consecrated in a monastery and a small statue of Buddha (three feet) was brought out in a procession.”
Why this source?
  • Describes consecration of a golden Buddha statue and a public procession, concrete acts of veneration.
  • Shows royal endorsement of Buddha-image worship under a Mahayana-subscribing ruler.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 6: Polity and Society in Post-Mauryan Period > Art and Literature > p. 82
Presence: 4/5
“partly due to royal patronage and partly due to other factors, like the growing ascendancy of Mahayana Buddhism, which allowed the representation of the person of Buddha in human form. The Greek influence led to an Indo-Greek style of sculpture and art commonly referred to as Gandhara. Art. Statues of Buddha, sculpted particularly in Taxila and the north-western regions, show him in graceful garments, surrounded by cherubs and leaves inspired by the Greek tradition. But mention must also be made of the red sandstone sculpture with intricate carving produced near Mathura. The Buddhists began to carve out rock caves in the hills of western India, which served as religious centres with chaityas and viharas, stretching from the Ajanta caves to the Kanheri caves in Mumbai.”
Why this source?
  • Notes that Mahayana allowed representation of the person of the Buddha in human form.
  • Connects this shift to flourishing sculptural traditions (Gandhara, Mathura) that produced iconic images.
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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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