Choose 'True' statements :
(A) Bodhisattas are compassionate beings who help others.
(B) Hinayana meant 'great vehicle' and Mahayana meant 'Lesser vehicle'
(C) The Avatars were recognised within the tradition of Vaishnavism.
(D) Shiva was symbolised by the 'Linga'.
(E) The tall structure in temple is known as 'Garbhagriha' and a small square room is called 'Shikhara'.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (A), (C), (D) only
(A) Bodhisattas are compassionate beings who help others. Correct. Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who gathered merit through their efforts but used it, not to attain nibbana and leave the world, but to help others.
(B) Hinayana meant 'great vehicle' and Mahayana meant 'Lesser vehicle' Incorrect. The meanings are the other way round: Mahayana means the “great vehicle”, and those who adopted it called the older tradition Hinayana, the “lesser vehicle”.
(C) The Avatars were recognised within the tradition of Vaishnavism. Correct. In Vaishnavism, cults developed around the various avatars or incarnations of the deity, and ten avatars were recognised within the tradition.
(D) Shiva was symbolised by the 'Linga'. Correct. Shiva was symbolised by the linga, although he was occasionally shown in human form too.
(E) The tall structure in temple is known as 'Garbhagriha' and a small square room is called 'Shikhara'. Incorrect. The two names are swapped: the small square room that housed the image was the garbhagriha, and the tall structure built over the central shrine was the shikhara.
NCERT (2026-27): “10.1 The development of Mahayana Buddhism … Simultaneously, the concept of the Bodhisatta also developed. Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts but used this not to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world, but to help others. The worship of images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas became an important part of this tradition. This new way of thinking was called Mahayana – literally, the ‘great vehicle’. Those who adopted these beliefs described the older tradition as Hinayana or the ‘lesser vehicle’. 10.2 The growth of Puranic Hinduism … In the case of Vaishnavism, cults developed around the various avatars or incarnations of the deity. Ten avatars were recognised within the tradition.… 10.2 The growth of Puranic Hinduism … Some of these forms were represented in sculptures, as were other deities. Shiva, for instance, was symbolised by the linga, although he was occasionally represented in human form too.… 10.3 Building temples … The early temple was a small square room, called the garbhagriha, with a single doorway for the worshipper to enter and offer worship to the image. Gradually, a tall structure, known as the … shikhara, was built over the central shrine.…” |