Who persuaded Buddha to allow women into the sangha?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Ananda
At first only men were allowed into the Buddhist sangha. According to Buddhist texts, women were admitted later through the mediation of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s dearest disciples, who persuaded him to allow women into the sangha. The Buddha’s foster mother, Mahapajapati Gotami, then became the first woman to be ordained as a bhikkhuni; she was ordained, she did not persuade the Buddha.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| 21-05 S2 | 13-05 S2* 29-05 S1* | – | 05-06 S3* | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (2025-26): “6. Followers of the Buddha … As they lived on alms, they were known as bhikkhus. Initially, only men were allowed into the sangha, but later women also came to be admitted. According to Buddhist texts, this was made possible through the mediation of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s dearest disciples, who persuaded him to allow women into the sangha. The Buddha’s foster mother, Mahapajapati Gotami was the first woman to be ordained as a bhikkhuni.…” |