Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect ★ Bookmarked
Loading…
Q54 (IAS/2024) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Buddhist doctrine and sects Official Key

With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by which of the following epithets ? 1. Nayaputta 2. Shakyamuni 3. Tathagata Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B (2 and 3 only) because after his achievement of buddhahood, Siddhārtha is known as Gautama, Śākyamuni, or simply the Tathāgata[1]. Additionally, "Śākyamuni" is one of the most common epithets of Gautama Buddha[1], and Tathagata is another name for the Buddha[2], as confirmed in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta.

The term "Nayaputta" (option 1) was not an epithet of Gautama Buddha. In fact, "Nayaputta" or "Nataputta" was the epithet used for Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara and founder of Jainism, referring to him as the son of the Nata (or Jnatri) clan. This term is not associated with Buddha in any historical or textual sources.

Therefore, only Shakyamuni and Tathagata (options 2 and 3) are correct epithets of Gautama Buddha, making option B the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Buddha
  2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > Why were stupas built? > p. 96
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
66%
got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest preview
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. With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by which of the following epithets ? 1. Nayaputta 2. Shakyamuni 3.…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 3.3/10
You're seeing a guest preview. The Verdict and first statement analysis are open. Login with Google to unlock all tabs.

This is a classic 'Comparative Biography' trap. UPSC tests if you can distinguish the specific clan epithets of Buddha (Sakya) from Mahavira (Jnatrika/Naya). While 'Tathagata' and 'Shakyamuni' are standard NCERT facts, 'Nayaputta' requires knowing the specific Pali/Prakrit titles of Mahavira to eliminate.

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
Was "Nayaputta" used as an epithet of Gautama Buddha in ancient India?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > Life under the Sātavāhanas > p. 126
Strength: 5/5
“In the Sātavāhana tradition, princes were often named after their mothers. Thus Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi was named after his mother, Gautamī Balaśhrī. She was a powerful queen who donated land to Buddhist monks and had an important inscription carved in Nāśhik, showing her influence in the kingdom. Fig. 6.10. Coin of the Sātavāhanas with”
Why relevant

Shows a naming pattern using the element "-putra" (e.g., Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi) indicating epithets formed from parentage or maternal names.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern to check whether "Nayaputta" follows the same morphological pattern ("-putta/putra") and therefore might mean 'son of Naya' or a lineage epithet applied to a figure.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Buddha > p. 41
Strength: 4/5
“Gautama Buddha was born as Siddhartha in the Sakya clan to its king Suddhodhana and his chief queen Mahamaya. His mother Mahamaya dreamt of a white elephant with six tusks entering her womb when she was pregnant. Learned men prophesied that the child would either become 'a Universal Emperor or a Universal Teacher' While Mahamaya was going to her parents' home, Siddhartha was born in a park in Lumbini near Kapilavastu. Siddhartha grew in luxury as a royal prince. He married Yashodhara and had a son named Rahula. When he was riding on his chariot with his charioteer Channa one day outside the palace, he saw an old man, a sick man, a corpse and finally a religious mendicant Siddhartha wandered about and joined Alara Kalama as a disciple for a brief period.”
Why relevant

Gives the common practice of identifying the Buddha by personal/clan names (Siddhartha, Sakya, Gautama), showing epithets based on lineage or clan are attested.

How to extend

A student could compare known epithets of the Buddha (e.g., Gautama, Sakya) with the form "Nayaputta" to see if it fits existing naming/epithet conventions.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: The Rise of Empires > DON'T MISS OUT > p. 94
Strength: 4/5
“Two of the most famed religious figures of the world—Siddhārtha Gautama, who became known as the Buddha, and Vardhamānan, better known as Mahāvīra—lived in the time of King Ajātaśhatru. Revisit their teachings in the Grade 6 textbook's 'India's Cultural Roots' chapter. Magadha was located in the resource-rich Ganga plains, with fertile land, abundant forests for timber, and elephants. Also, remember how the use of iron transformed other technologies, such as agriculture and warfare. Iron ore and other minerals from the nearby hilly regions proved crucial for the expansion of the kingdom. The use of iron ploughs to till the land increased agricultural produce, and lighter and sharper iron weapons strengthened the capabilities of the army.”
Why relevant

Confirms that Siddhārtha Gautama is known by multiple names (personal name + title), demonstrating flexibility in how religious figures were named or titled.

How to extend

Use this to motivate checking textual sources for alternate epithets like "Nayaputta" appearing alongside other known names.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond. Social Science-Class VI . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Timeline and Sources of History > How Is Time Measured in History? > p. 62
Strength: 3/5
“They are now called Before Common Era or BCE. For example, 560 BCE is an approximate year of birth of Gautama Buddha (whom we”
Why relevant

Gives approximate dating and common scholarly reference practices for Buddha (e.g., BCE dating), which helps situate where and when epithets would appear in texts/inscriptions.

How to extend

A student could limit searches for the form "Nayaputta" to likely timeframes/regions (mid-first millennium BCE to later inscriptions) informed by this dating.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > Sacrifices and Debates > p. 84
Strength: 3/5
“The mid-first millennium BCE is often regarded as a turning point in world history: it saw the emergence of thinkers such as Zarathustra in Iran, Kong Zi in China, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in Greece, and Mahavira and Gautama Buddha, among many others, in India. They tried to understand the mysteries of existence and the relationship between human beings and the cosmic order. This was also the time when new kingdoms and cities were developing and social and economic life was changing in a variety of ways in the Ganga valley (Chapters 2 and 3). These thinkers attempted to understand these developments as well.”
Why relevant

Describes the broader habit in the mid-first millennium BCE of thinkers acquiring multiple identifying labels in diverse local contexts.

How to extend

A student could treat "Nayaputta" as a candidate local/regional epithet and check regional literature or inscriptions where varied epithets occur.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

How to study

This tab shows concrete study steps: what to underline in books, how to map current affairs, and how to prepare for similar questions.

Login with Google to unlock study guidance.

Micro-concepts

Discover the small, exam-centric ideas hidden in this question and where they appear in your books and notes.

Login with Google to unlock micro-concepts.

The Vault

Access hidden traps, elimination shortcuts, and Mains connections that give you an edge on every question.

Login with Google to unlock The Vault.

✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2023 · Q42 Relevance score: 3.15

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements : 1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin. 2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics. 3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition. How many of the statements given above are correct?

IAS · 2020 · Q66 Relevance score: 2.74

With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements : 1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga. 2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana. 3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta - II. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

IAS · 2012 · Q47 Relevance score: 2.59

With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following was/were common to both Buddhism and Jainism ? 1. Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment 2. Indifference to the authority of the Vedas 3. Denial of efficacy of rituals Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

IAS · 2020 · Q72 Relevance score: 2.44

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 is/are correct ?

IAS · 2023 · Q46 Relevance score: 2.24

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs : Literary work Author 1. · Devichandragupta : Bilhana 2. Hammira-Mahakavya : Nayachandra Suri 3. Milinda-panha : Nagarjuna 4. Nitivakyamrita : Somadeva Suri How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?