🏛 100 Buddhism & Jainism GK Questions with Answers

Both Buddhism (founded by Gautama Buddha, 6th century BCE) and Jainism (revived by Mahavira, 6th century BCE) arose as reform movements against ritualism and inequality in Vedic religion.

Here are the 100 most important Questions and Answers with explanations.

🔹 Section 1: Founders & Birth

Q: Who was the founder of Buddhism?
👉 Gautama Buddha.
📖 Born as Siddhartha in 563 BCE at Lumbini (Nepal).
Q: Who was the founder of Jainism?
👉 Lord Mahavira (24th Tirthankara).
📖 Born in 540 BCE at Kundagrama near Vaishali.
Q: Who was the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism?
👉 Parshvanatha.
📖 Predecessor of Mahavira, preached 4 vows.
Q: Parents of Buddha?
👉 Father: Suddhodana (Shakya clan chief), Mother: Maya Devi.
Q: Parents of Mahavira?
👉 Father: Siddhartha (chief of Natas), Mother: Trishala.
Q: Birthplace of Buddha?
👉 Lumbini (Rummindei in Nepal).
Q: Birthplace of Mahavira?
👉 Kundagrama near Vaishali (Bihar).
Q: Clan of Buddha?
👉 Shakya clan, hence called Shakyamuni.
Q: Clan of Mahavira?
👉 Jnatrika (Nata) clan.
Q: Early name of Buddha?
👉 Siddhartha Gautama.

🔹 Section 2: Renunciation & Enlightenment

Q: At what age did Buddha renounce worldly life?
👉 29 years.
Q: At what age did Mahavira renounce worldly life?
👉 30 years.
Q: Where did Buddha attain enlightenment?
👉 Bodh Gaya, under Bodhi tree (Peepal tree).
Q: Where did Mahavira attain Kevalajnana (omniscience)?
👉 River Rijupalika near Jrimbhikagrama.
Q: At what age did Buddha attain enlightenment?
👉 35 years.
Q: At what age did Mahavira attain Kevalajnana?
👉 42 years.
Q: Buddha attained enlightenment after how many years of penance?
👉 6 years.
Q: Mahavira attained enlightenment after how many years of penance?
👉 12 years.
Q: What title did Siddhartha get after enlightenment?
👉 Buddha (The Enlightened One), Tathagata.
Q: What title did Vardhamana get after enlightenment?
👉 Mahavira (Great Hero), Jina (Conqueror).

🔹 Section 3: Teachings – Buddhism

Q: Core teaching of Buddhism?
👉 Four Noble Truths.
Q: What are Four Noble Truths?
👉 Life is suffering, cause is desire, end of desire ends suffering, path is Eightfold Path.
Q: Eightfold Path is also known as?
👉 Middle Path (Madhyam Marg).
Q: Eightfold Path consists of?
👉 Right view, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration.
Q: Buddhist principle of dependent origination is?
👉 Pratityasamutpada.
Q: Buddhism rejects?
👉 Vedic rituals, caste system, authority of Vedas.
Q: Buddhism accepts?
👉 Ahimsa, karma, rebirth, nirvana.
Q: Nirvana means?
👉 Liberation from cycle of birth and death.
Q: Buddha’s first sermon place?
👉 Sarnath (Deer Park).
Q: First sermon called?
👉 Dharma Chakra Pravartana (Turning of Wheel of Law).

🔹 Section 4: Teachings – Jainism

Q: Core teachings of Jainism?
👉 Five great vows (Mahavratas).
Q: What are the five vows?
👉 Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha.
Q: Earlier Tirthankara Parshvanatha taught?
👉 Four vows (Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha).
Q: Jainism rejects?
👉 Vedic sacrifices, caste system, creator god.
Q: Jainism accepts?
👉 Ahimsa, karma, rebirth, asceticism.
Q: Jainism believes every object has?
👉 Jiva (soul).
Q: Final goal of Jainism?
👉 Kaivalya (Moksha, liberation).
Q: Jain doctrine of multiplicity of reality?
👉 Anekantavada.
Q: Jain doctrine of syadvada?
👉 Theory of relativity of truth.
Q: Jainism emphasizes extreme?
👉 Asceticism.

🔹 Section 5: Councils & Sects

Q: How many Buddhist Councils were held?
👉 Four.
Q: First Buddhist Council was held at?
👉 Rajgir, under Ajatashatru, 483 BCE.
Q: Second Buddhist Council held at?
👉 Vaishali, under Kalasoka.
Q: Third Buddhist Council held at?
👉 Pataliputra, under Ashoka.
Q: Fourth Buddhist Council held at?
👉 Kashmir, under Kanishka.
Q: Outcome of Fourth Buddhist Council?
👉 Division into Hinayana and Mahayana.
Q: Main sects of Buddhism?
👉 Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana.
Q: Main sects of Jainism?
👉 Shvetambara (white-clad) and Digambara (sky-clad).
Q: Jain council held at Valabhi resulted in?
👉 Compilation of Jain texts.
Q: Buddhist text ‘Tripitaka’ consists of?
👉 Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka.

🔹 Section 6: Spread & Patronage

Q: Who was first royal patron of Buddhism?
👉 Bimbisara of Magadha.
Q: Who gave strong patronage to Jainism?
👉 Chandragupta Maurya (became Jain monk).
Q: Which Mauryan king spread Buddhism abroad?
👉 Ashoka.
Q: Ashoka sent missionaries to which countries?
👉 Sri Lanka, Burma, Central Asia.
Q: Jainism spread mainly to?
👉 Western India (Gujarat, Rajasthan).
Q: Buddhism declined due to?
👉 Corruption in monasteries, rise of Hinduism, invasion.
Q: Jainism survived strongly in?
👉 Karnataka, Gujarat.
Q: Who was ruler of Sri Lanka who accepted Buddhism?
👉 King Tissa.
Q: Who spread Jainism in South India?
👉 Bhadrabahu.
Q: Ashoka’s daughter who spread Buddhism?
👉 Sanghamitta.

🔹 Section 7: Symbols & Art

Q: Buddha represented in early art by?
👉 Symbols (lotus, wheel, Bodhi tree, footprints).
Q: Wheel symbol stands for?
👉 Dharma Chakra.
Q: Bodhi tree symbolizes?
👉 Enlightenment.
Q: Stupa is?
👉 Buddhist shrine containing relics.
Q: Famous stupas built by Ashoka?
👉 Sanchi, Bharhut.
Q: Jain symbol?
👉 Hand with wheel (Ahimsa).
Q: Main place of Jain pilgrimage?
👉 Mount Abu, Girnar, Shatrunjaya.
Q: Gandhara art depicted Buddha in?
👉 Human form, Greco-Roman style.
Q: Mathura art depicted Buddha in?
👉 Indigenous Indian style.
Q: Ajanta caves are associated with?
👉 Buddhist murals and paintings.

🔹 Section 8: Sacred Texts

Q: Buddhist canonical texts are called?
👉 Tripitaka.
Q: Vinaya Pitaka deals with?
👉 Monastic rules.
Q: Sutta Pitaka deals with?
👉 Teachings of Buddha.
Q: Abhidhamma Pitaka deals with?
👉 Philosophy.
Q: Language of early Buddhist texts?
👉 Pali.
Q: Language of Jain texts?
👉 Prakrit (Ardhamagadhi).
Q: Jain canonical texts are called?
👉 Agamas.
Q: Which Buddhist text contains Jataka tales?
👉 Sutta Pitaka.
Q: Milindapanho is dialogue between?
👉 King Menander (Milinda) and monk Nagasena.
Q: Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa are chronicles of?
👉 Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

🔹 Section 9: Important Facts

Q: Jainism gives highest place to?
👉 Ahimsa.
Q: Buddhism is called?
👉 Middle Path.
Q: Mahavira attained nirvana at?
👉 Pavapuri (Bihar).
Q: Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at?
👉 Kushinagar (U.P.).
Q: At what age did Buddha die?
👉 80 years.
Q: At what age did Mahavira die?
👉 72 years.
Q: Jainism believes universe is?
👉 Eternal, no creator god.
Q: Buddhism believes in?
👉 Anatta (no permanent soul).
Q: Jainism believes in?
👉 Jiva (soul in all beings).
Q: Both religions emerged as?
👉 Reform movements in 6th century BCE.

🔹 Section 10: Quick Revision

Q: Founder of Buddhism? – Gautama Buddha.
Q: Founder of Jainism? – Mahavira.
Q: Birthplace of Buddha? – Lumbini.
Q: Birthplace of Mahavira? – Kundagrama.
Q: First sermon of Buddha? – Sarnath.
Q: Nirvana place of Buddha? – Kushinagar.
Q: Nirvana place of Mahavira? – Pavapuri.
Q: Buddhist councils total? – Four.
Q: Jain councils held at? – Valabhi.
Q: Buddhist texts language? – Pali. Jain texts? – Prakrit.

📑 Conclusion

Buddhism and Jainism shaped the spiritual and philosophical foundations of India. These 100 GK Questions with Explanations cover life, teachings, councils, texts, and spread – essential for UPSC, SSC, Railways, Banking, and State PSCs.

🔗 External References

Buddhism – Britannica
Jainism – Britannica
Ancient Indian History – NCERT
GKToday Ancient History Notes
BYJU’S Ancient History Notes