+91-8076753736 support@wiredfaculty.com
logo
logo

Sponsor Area

Thinkers, Beliefs And Buildings

Question
CBSEENHS12027923
Wired Faculty App

Discuss the historical importance of Buddhist literature.

Or

Write short notes on the following:

(a) Pitakas, (b) Mahavamsh and Deepvamsh,

(c) Divyavadan, and (d) Milinda Panho

Solution

Buddhist religious literature is also an important source of knowledge for ancient Indian history. This literature consists of (i) Pitakas (ii) Nikayas and (iii) Jatakas.


1. Pitakas are important part of Buddhist literature. Known as ‘Tripitakas’, they consist of Sutta Pitak, Abhidhamma Pitak and Vinay Pitak. This literature is a comprehensive compilation of the sayings of Lord Buddha and the principles of Buddhism. It was written after passing away of Gautam Buddha. Sutta Pitak is source of immense value to know about sermons and religious ideas of Gautam Buddha. Abhidhamma Pitak throws light on philosophical ideas of Buddhism. In Vinay Pitak is described the code of conduct followed by the followers of Buddhism. Besides being the most reliable source of information about Buddhist religion and philosophy, the Tripitakas help a research scholar in drawing a picture of social, economic and political life in the age of Gautam Buddha. These works are written in Pali language.

2. Jatakas are compilation of tales. They tell us about the lives of Bodhisattvas i.e. the earlier lives of Gautam Buddha. Belonging to the realm of fiction rather than facts, the stories are fanciful. One cannot vouch for the historicity of events narrated. But these books provide useful information abut social, cultural and economic history of pre-Buddhist days.

3. Other Buddhist works of note are Mahavamsh and Deepvamsh. These works are written in Pali. They are dated to 4th and 5th century. These works narrate the history of Ceylon but are useful as a source material for ancient Indian history because there are numerous references of ancient Indian ruling families in them. Shortcoming of these works is that they are full of fictitious and exaggerated accounts.

4. Divyavadan is a Buddhist work written in Sanskrit. It appears that this work was neither authored by one person, nor was written in one particular period. Still it contains some useful information about social, cultural and political life. Similarly ‘Lalit Vistaar ’ a biography of Lord Buddha also written in Sanskrit cannot be attributed to a particular author or period.

5. ‘Milinda Panho’ is a philosophical dialogue between Indo-Greek ruler Menander and Buddhist monk Nagasena contains useful material for cultural and political history. “Manju Shri Mool Kalpa” gives an account of Gupta rulers from the Buddhist angle.

In making use of Buddhist literature as a source material for history one has to be very careful because these works are contaminated by bias, exaggeration and subjectivity.

Tips: -

M. Imp.

Some More Questions From Thinkers, Beliefs And Buildings Chapter

State the social groups from which the followers of Buddha came.

Discuss the contents of Jatakas. What do they depict?

Describe how in the case of Vaishnavism, cults developed around the various avatars of the deity.

“Buddhism grew rapidly both during the life time of the Buddha and also after his death.” Justify the statement.

Explain the variety of sources used by the historians to reconstruct histories of religious traditions.

Were the ideas of the Upanishadic thinkers different from those of the fatalists and materialists? Give reasons for your answer.

Summarise the central teachings of Jainism.

Discuss the role of the begums of Bhopal in preserving the stupa at Sanchi.

Or

“The Begums of Bhopal played a significant role in preserving the remains of stupa at Sanchi.” Support this statement with suitable evidence.

Read this short inscription and answer the questions that follow:

In the year 33 of the maharaja Huvishka (a Kushana ruler), in the first month of the hot season on the eighth day, a Bodhisatta was set up at Madhuvanaka by the bhikkhuni Dhanavati, the sister’s daughter of the bhikkhuni Buddhamita, who knows the Tipitaka, the female pupil of the bhikkhu Bala, who knows the Tipitaka, together with her father and mother.

A. How did Dhanavati date her inscription?

B. Why do you think she installed an image of the Bodhisatta?

C. Who were the relatives she mentioned?

D. What Buddhist text did she know?

E From whom did she learn this text?

Why do you think women and men joined the Sangha?

Mock Test Series

Mock Test Series

NCERT Sample Papers

Entrance Exams Preparation