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

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Q: 7 (IAS/2023)
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?

question_subject: 

History

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,85,18,14,86,2,1

The correct answer is Jainism.

1. Buddhism: This religious philosophy is related to Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) and his teachings. The primary aim of Buddhism is to attain nirvana or liberation from the cycle of rebirth or samsara. Buddhism does not particularly attribute souls to non-living elements like rocks or running water.

2. Jainism: This religion propounds that everything in the universe has a soul, even objects such as rocks and water. This concept is known as Animism. Many debates in Jain philosophy revolve around the existence of the soul in various objects present in the universe. So, the statement can be said to reflect a core belief of Jainism.

3. Shaivism: This is a branch of Hinduism that is more focused on the worship of Lord Shiva, one of the three supreme beings of Hinduism. Shaivism does not particularly involve belief in souls within non-living objects.

4. Vaishnavism: As a sect of Hinduism, it focusses on the worship of Lord Vishnu and his avatars, Vaishnavism doesn't generally believe in the concept of souls in non-living entities.

Thus, the correct answer is Jainism, as it's the only religion among the options that holds the belief that souls are present in all things, not just living beings.