Which of the following pair regarding the events and symbols associated with the life of Buddha are correctly matched:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The Empty Seat - Meditation
Many early sculptors did not show the Buddha in human form; they showed his presence through symbols, each standing for an event in his life.
Option (1) The Empty Seat - Meditation — Correct. The empty seat was meant to indicate the meditation of the Buddha, who attained enlightenment while meditating under a tree.
Option (2) The ‘Stupa’ - Enlightenment — Incorrect. The stupa represented the mahaparinibbana, the Buddha’s passing away, not his enlightenment.
Option (3) The Wheel - Mahaparinibbana — Incorrect. The wheel stood for the first sermon of the Buddha, delivered at Sarnath.
Option (4) The Tree - Miracles — Incorrect. The tree is not just a tree; it symbolises the Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, not miracles.
NCERT (2025-26): “9.2 Symbols of worship … According to hagiographies, the Buddha attained enlightenment while meditating under a tree. Many early sculptors did not show the Buddha in human form – instead, they showed his presence through symbols. The empty seat (Fig. 4.14) was meant to indicate the meditation of the Buddha, and the stupa (Fig. 4.15) was meant to represent the mahaparinibbana. Another frequently used symbol was the wheel (Fig. 4.16). This stood for the first sermon of the Buddha, delivered at Sarnath.…”
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