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Q47 (IAS/2023) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Jain doctrine and sects Official Key

"Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects." The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 2 (Jainism).

The core philosophy of Jainism is centered on the concept of Anekantavada and a profound belief in Animism. Unlike many other religions, Jainism asserts that Jiva (soul) exists not only in humans, animals, and plants but also in inanimate natural objects. This includes elements like rocks, stones, running water, wind, and fire.

Key reasons why Option 2 is correct:

  • Universal Sentience: Jains believe that the entire cosmos is alive. Even a drop of water or a gust of wind contains millions of tiny souls (Sukshma Jiva).
  • Ahimsa (Non-violence): This belief is the theological basis for the extreme practice of non-violence in Jainism, as harming any natural element is considered harming a living soul.
  • Contrast with others: Buddhism focuses on the concept of Anatta (non-self), while Shaivism and Vaishnavism primarily view divinity through a theistic lens rather than attributing individual souls to rocks and water.
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Q. "Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on …
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 0/10
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Statement 1
Is the belief that souls inhabit rocks, running water, and other natural objects (not regarded as living by other sects) a core belief of Jainism in ancient India?
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 > 3.Beyond Worldly Pleasures The Message of Mahavira > p. 88
Presence: 5/5
“The basic philosophy of the Jainas was already in existence in north India before the birth of Vardhamana, who came to be known as Mahavira, in the sixth century BCE. According to Jaina tradition, Mahavira was preceded by 23 other teachers or tirthankaras – literally, those who guide men and women across the river of existence. The most important idea in Jainism is that the entire world is animated: even stones, rocks and water have life. Non-injury to living beings, especially to humans, animals, plants and insects, is central to Jaina philosophy. In fact the principle of ahimsa, emphasised within Jainism, has left its mark on Indian thinking as a whole.”
Why this source?
  • Directly states Jainism's core idea that the entire world is animated and that stones, rocks and water have life.
  • Links this cosmology to the central ethical principle of non-injury (ahimsa), showing doctrinal importance.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Tenets of Jainism > p. 40
Presence: 3/5
“emotions. Jainism denies the existence of God. In its early stages, deity was not worshipped in Jainism. It emphasises that salvation cannot be attained by worshipping god or by sacrifices. It stipulates that one can escape misery only by performing austerities. Mahavira rejected Vedic authority. Hence, Jainism is an unorthodox religion. According to Jainism, the world has no beginning or end. It goes through a series of progress and decline according to an eternal law. Jainism advocated dualism: the world is made of soul (iiva) and matter (ajiva), which are eternal. The coming together of jiva and ajiva creates karma (action), which leads to an endless cycle of birth and rebirth”
Why this source?
  • Sets out Jain metaphysics of soul (jiva) and matter (ajiva), the conceptual framework for souls existing in the world.
  • Provides philosophical basis that supports the possibility of jivas being associated with non-human or non-obvious entities.
THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 7. Stupas > p. 95
Presence: 3/5
“We have seen that Buddhist ideas and practices emerged out of a process of dialogue with other traditions – including those of the Brahmanas, Jainas and several others, not all of whose ideas and practices were preserved in texts. Some of these interactions can be seen in the ways in which sacred places came to be identified. From earliest times, people tended to regard certain places as sacred. These included sites with special trees or unique rocks, or sites of aweinspiring natural beauty. These sites, with small shrines attached to them, were sometimes described as chaityas. Buddhist literature mentions several chaityas.”
Why this source?
  • Describes interactions among traditions including Jainas in identifying sacred natural sites such as unique rocks.
  • Documents cultural practice of treating specific natural features as sacred, consistent with animating such objects.
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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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