Buddhism MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Buddhism - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Siddhartha.

Key Points

• According to historical events, the Buddha was born into a noble family in Lumbini in 563 BCE, whereas Buddhist tradition dates his birth to 624 BCE.
• In his early years, he was known by the name Siddhartha Gautama.
• His mother was queen Maya, and his father was king Suddhodana, head of the Shakya clan in what was then the developing realm of Kosala.

Additional Information

•  Siddhartha Gautama
  • In 563 BCE, Siddhartha Gautama was born in a small kingdom at the base of the Himalayas.
  • The brahmins allegedly foretold that he would either become a world emperor or a renowned sage twelve years before his birth.
  • His father held him within the walls of the palace to keep him from becoming an ascetic.

The correct order is Khattiya, bahamanna, vessa and Sudda.Key Points

• While the Buddha rejected the caste system and its distinctions, the varnas are mentioned in some Buddhist Pali texts, primarily in a social or historical context rather than a philosophical or spiritual one.
• In some early Buddhist texts, such as the Sutta Nipata and the Digha Nikaya, the four varnas are mentioned in the order of Khattiya (Kshatriya), Bahamanna (Brahmana), Vessa (Vaishya), and Sudda (Shudra).
• However, these texts generally do not go into great detail about the varnas or their characteristics.
• Other Pali texts, such as the Vinaya Pitaka and the Jataka tales, mention various social classes that may be comparable to the varnas.
• For example, the Vinaya Pitaka describes seven different types of individuals who may be ordained as monks, including a Brahmana, a Khattiya, and a Vessa, among others.
• Similarly, some Jataka tales mention individuals from different social classes, such as a Brahmana or a merchant.
• It's important to note, however, that while the varnas may be mentioned in some Buddhist Pali texts, they are not considered to be a central or essential aspect of Buddhist philosophy.
• The Buddha rejected the caste system and its distinctions, emphasizing the equality of all individuals regardless of their social status or background.

• In the Buddhist view, a person's worth and potential for spiritual development is determined by their actions and intentions, rather than by their social or caste status.

Hence we can conclude that the correct order is Khattiya, bahamanna, vessa and Sudda.

Key PointsStatement 1: Incorrect

• The Buddha taught orally. His teachings were not written down during his lifetime.
• After his death, the teachings were compiled at a council by senior monks and then transmitted orally for centuries.
• Therefore, this statement is factually wrong.

✅ Statement 2: Correct

• The Tripitaka (or Tipitaka, meaning "three baskets") refers to:
• Vinaya Pitaka – rules for monastic life
• Sutta Pitaka – Buddha’s discourses
• Abhidhamma Pitaka – philosophical teachings
• These were transmitted orally first, then written down and classified.
• This statement is correct.

Statement 3: Incorrect

• Vinaya Pitaka contains rules and regulations for monks and nuns, not philosophy.
• It is the Abhidhamma Pitaka that deals with philosophical matters.
• Hence, this statement is incorrect.

✅ Statement 4: Correct

• Pilgrims like Fa Xian and Xuan Zang came to India from China to collect Buddhist scriptures.
• They took these texts back to China, where they were translated into Chinese by scholars.
• Therefore, this is correct.

The correct answer is Shravasti.

Key Points

• Gautam Buddha was the founder of the Buddhism religion.
• He gave his first sermon at Sarnath, which is called Dharmachakra Parivartan in Buddhist texts.
• He gave his sermons in the Pali language in Kosala, Kaushambi, and Vaishali kingdom.
• Buddha gave his most sermon in Shravasti, the capital of the Kosala.

• First sermon at Sarnath.
• Most sermon at Shravasti.

Important Points

• About Gautam Buddha:-
  • Childhood name:- Siddharth
  • He is called the "Light of Asia".
  • He was born around 563 BC in Lumbini, near Kapilavastu, Nepal.
  • His father was Shuddhodana who was the head of Shakya Gan.
  • His mother Mayadevi died seven days after his birth.
  • Prajapati Gautami, Siddharth's stepmother, brought him up.
  • Siddhartha was married at the age of 16 to Dandapani Shakya's daughter Yashodhara.
    • ​His son's name was Rahul.
  • When Siddharth went out for a tour to Kapilavastu, he saw four sights:-
    • An old person.
    • A sick person.
    • A dead body.
    • A monk in meditation.
  • Saddened by worldly problems, Siddharth left home at the age of 29 which is called Mahabhinishkamana in Buddhism.
  •  After renunciation, Buddha received Sankhya philosophy from Alarkalaam in Vaishali.
    • ​Alarkalam was the first Guru of Buddha.
    • After Alarkalam, Siddhartha got his education from Rudrakaramput of Rajgir.
    • In Uruvela, Siddharth found 5 ascetics named Kaundinya, Vappa, Bhadia, Mahanama, and Assagi.
    • Siddhartha attained enlightenment under the Peepal tree on the banks of the Niranjana River on the full moon night of Vaishakh at the age of 35, after a hard penance of 6 years without consuming food.
    • After attaining enlightenment, Siddhartha came to be known as Buddha.
    • The place where he attained enlightenment is known as Bodh Gaya.
    • Buddha died at the age of 80 in Kushinara after having a meal offered by Chund which has been called Mahaparinirvana in Buddhism.

Additional Information

• The followers of Buddhism religion were:-
  • Bimbasar
  • Prasenjit
  • Udayan
• The Triratna of Buddhism is

1. Buddha
2. Dhamma
3. Sangha

• After the fourth Buddhist Council, Buddhism was divided into two parts Hinayana and Mahayana.
• Buddha has preached four Noble truths in relation to worldly sufferings.

1. Dukh
2. Dukh Samodaya
3. Dukh Nirodh
4. Dukh Nirodhgamini Pratipada

• According to the Buddha, after following the Eight Fold Path, the desire of a man is ended and he attains nirvana.
• Most of the Buddha statues were built under the Gandhar style.
• But the first statue of Buddha was built under the Mathura art.

The second Buddhist Council was held at Vaishali.

Key Points 

• The second Buddhist Council was organized in 383 B.C. in Chullavagg (Vaishali) Balukaram Vihar.
• Buddhist Councils

Hence, we can conclude that the second Buddhist Council was held at Vaishali.

The correct answer is Buddha, dhamma(dharma), sangha.

Key Points

Triratna in Sanskrit means 'Three Jewels'

• The Buddha
• Dhamma(dharma): his teaching
• Sangha: the community of all those who follow his teachings.

​Buddhism

• It is faith that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama("the Buddha").
• Siddhartha Gautam, the Lord Buddha was born in 563 B.C at Lumbini in Nepal.
• Attained Nirvana under a Pipal tree at Bodh Gaya & henceforth known as Buddha(The enlightened one).
• Delivered his first sermon at Sarnath (Banaras) know called the Dhammacakkappavattana.
• Died at the age of 80 at Kushinagar (U.P).

Noble truth by Buddha

• The world is full of sorrow.
• People suffer on account of desires
• If desires are conqueredNirvana can be achieved i.e., free from the cycle of birth and death can be achieved by following 8 fold path(ashtangika marga)
  • Right Understanding
  • Right Determination
  • Right Speech
  • Right Action
  • Right Livelihood
  • Right Exercise
  • Right Mindfulness
  • Right Medication

Teaching by Buddha

• Buddha was a practical reformer and did not believe in the soul or God or the metaphysical world and concerned himself with worldly problems.
• Suggested that a person should avoid an excess of both luxury & austerity and prescribed a middle path.
• Laid great emphasis on Karma(Varna based on action not on birth) & Ahimsa.
• Opposed the varna system and laid down the principle of social equality.
• Buddhist Text
  • Tripitaka's: All written in Pali Language
  • Sutta-Pitaka
  • Vinaya-Pitaka
  • Abhidhamma-Pitaka
• Buddhist Councils

The correct answer is Death.

Key Points

• Kushinagar(Uttar Pradesh) is the place where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana after his death.
• Mahaparinirvana is a Sanskrit word meaning 'Final Death.
• After the death of Buddha, his followers built a stupa where the relics of Buddha were kept.

Additional Information

• Events related to Buddha and representing Symbol:

The correct answer is Buddhism.

Key Points

• Jataka tales are works of literature that are about Gautam Buddha's previous births. 
• Buddhism: Buddhism is a faith that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama ("the Buddha") in 5th Century B.C.
• The Buddhism religion is based upon the teachings, life experience of its founder Siddhartha Gautam, born in circa 563 BCE.

Additional Information

• Lingayat: Lingayat also called Virashaiva, a member of a Hindu sect with a wide following in southern India that worships Shiva as the only deity.
• Shaivism: Shaivism is the branch of Hinduism that worships Shiva as the supreme deity. It is one of the major branches of Hinduism.
• Jainism: Jainism is a religion that emphasizes complete non - violence, and asceticism.
  • Followers of Jainism are called Jains.
  • J ainism came into prominence in the 6th century B.C, when Lord Mahavira propagated the religion. 
  • There were 24 great teachers, the last of whom was Lord Mahavira.
  • The first Tirthankara was Rishabnatha. 

The correct answer is Kalasoka.

Key Points

• Kalasoka convened the second Buddhist Council in Vaishali (383 BC).
• Results of Council- Schism into Sthavira-Vadins and Mahasanghikas.

The correct answer is Raigad.

Key Points

• Ashta Mahasthana associated with the life of the Buddha are :
  • Lumbini
  • Bodh Gaya
  • Sarnath
  • Kushinagar
  • Shravasti
  • Sankissa
  • Rajgriha
  • Vaishali
• Gautama Buddha was born in the Lumbini village of Kapilavastu, Nepal in 563 B.C,  in the Shakya Kshatriya clan.​​

Important Points

• Mahabhiniraskramana or the Great Going Forth is the event when Gautama Buddha left his home.
• Buddha visited Vaishali and learnt Sankhya darshan.
• He went to Rajgriha and learnt yoga, went to Uruvela where he attained enlightenment.
• He went on to Sarnath where he delivered his first sermon also called Dharmachakrapravartana.
• He died in 483 B.C near Kushinara and the event is known as Mahaparinirvana.

The correct answer is Buddhist texts.

Key Points

• The Digha Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the first of the five Nikayas, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the three baskets that compose the Pali Tipitaka of Buddhism. 
• Digha Nikaya which means the long collection, a Sanskrit Dirghagama that contains 34 long suttas including doctrinal expositions, legends, and moral rules.

Additional Information

• Buddhism started in India over 2,600 years ago as a way of life that had the potential of transforming a person.
• It is one of the important religions of South and South-Eastern Asian countries.
• The religion is based upon the teachings, life experiences of its founder Siddhartha Gautam.
• Major Buddhist Texts -
  • ​The Vinaya Pitaka consists of rules of conduct and discipline applicable to the monastic life of the monks and nuns.
  • The Sutta Pitaka consists of the main teaching or Dhamma of Buddha. It is divided into five Nikayas or collections:
    • Digha Nikaya
    • Majjhima Nikaya
    • Samyutta Nikaya
    • Anguttara Nikaya
    • Khuddaka Nikaya
  • The Abhidhamma Pitaka is a philosophical analysis and systematization of the teaching and the scholarly activity of the monks.
  • Other important Buddhist texts include Divyavadana, Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Milind Panha, etc.​

The correct answer is ​Buddhism.

• Pitaka has great importance in Buddhist literature.

Key Points

• These are Vinayapitaka, Sutpitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka. The simple meaning of Literature consists of a total of three pieces of literature.
• They were composed by disciples of Buddha after attaining Nirvana of Mahatma Buddha.
• In Vinayapitaka, thoughts related to the conduct of Buddhist monks are found.
• Sutapitaka contains a collection of sermons by Mahatma Buddha, while Abhidhamma Pitaka discusses Buddhist philosophy.
• These Pitakas are also called ‘Tipitaka’.
• The language of Tripitaka is 'Pali'.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Ajatashatru.

Key Points

• The First Buddhist council was convened in the year following the Buddha's parinirvana (death), which is 543–542 BCE according to Theravada tradition in Rajgir (Rajgriha).
• It was organised by Ajathasatru.

Additional Information

Details of Buddhist Councils:

The correct answer is Mahabhinishkraman.

Key Points

• Mahabhinishkraman refers to the departure of Siddhartha from his home at the age of 29. 

Important Points

• Dharmachakrapravartana refers to Siddhartha’s first religious sermon at Sarnath.
• Nirvana refers to the attainment of knowledge by Buddha at Bodh Gaya.
• Parinirvana refers to the death of Siddhartha at Kushinagar.

The correct answer is Tripitaka.

Key Points

• Tripiṭaka is the traditional term for the Buddhist scriptures. 
• Tripitaka are of three types:
  • Vinay Pitaka rules of monastic discipline for monks.
  • Sutta Pitaka is a collection of Buddha's Sermon.
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka is the philosophies of Buddha's teachings.

Important Points

Buddhism

• Founder of Buddhism: Gautam Buddha was born in 563 BC at Lumbinivana(Rummindehi district, Nepal) on Vaisakha Purnima day in Sakya Kshatriya clan.
•  His father Suddhodhana and his mother Mahamaya.
• After his mother's early death, he was brought up by stepmother Gautami.
• He married at 16 to Yasodhara, enjoyed married life for 13 years, and had a son named Rahul.
• At the age of 29, he enounced home, this was his Mahabhinishkramana (geat going forth, Symbol - horse), and became a wandering ascetic.
• At the age of 35, under a pipal tree at Uruvella (Bodh Gaya) on the banks of river Niranjana(modern name Flagu), he attained Nirvana (enlightenment, Symbol - Bodhi tree) after 49 days of continuous meditation. 
• First Sermon at Sarnath to his five disciples known as Dharamachakra Pravartna (Symbol - 8 spoked wheel).
• He died at the age of 80 in 483 BC at Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh. This is known as Mahaparinirvana (Final Blowing out).

Additional Information

• Torah is the first part of the Jewish bible. It is the central and most important document of Judaism and has been used by Jews through the ages.
• ​The Avesta is the primary collection of religious texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in Avestan language and written by Zarathustra.
• Kalpa Sutra is a Jain text in Sanskrit containing the biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras, notably Parshvanatha and Mahavira.