Q190. Which was a characteristic architectural feature of early Buddhist chaitya halls?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Pyramidal gopurams
B. Apsidal plans and vaulted roofs
C. Islamic arches
D. Tall Nagara shikharas
Answer: B. Apsidal plans and vaulted roofs
Explanation: Early chaityas were congregational worship halls, generally with apsidal ends, barrel-vaulted roofs, rows of pillars and a stupa placed at the far end.
Q189. Which Buddhist festival commemorates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Magha Puja
B. Vesak
C. Kathina
D. Losar
Answer: B. Vesak
Explanation: Vesak, or Buddha Purnima, traditionally commemorates three central events associated with Gautama Buddha: his birth at Lumbini, enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar.
Q188. Which architectural development became especially prominent with Mahayana Buddhism?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Complete rejection of religious imagery
B. Large anthropomorphic Buddha images
C. Absence of monasteries
D. Destruction of stupas
Answer: B. Large anthropomorphic Buddha images
Explanation: Mahayana Buddhism encouraged devotional worship of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, helping anthropomorphic Buddha images become increasingly prominent in Buddhist religious architecture and sculpture.
Q187. The Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath commemorates which major event in Buddha’s life?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Birth
B. Enlightenment
C. First sermon
D. Mahaparinirvana
Answer: C. First sermon
Explanation: Sarnath is associated with Buddha’s first sermon, known as Dharmachakra Pravartana, when he taught the Middle Way and Four Noble Truths to five former companions.
Q186. The surviving Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya is especially notable as an early monumental structure constructed primarily from:
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Timber
B. Granite
C. Brick
D. Marble
Answer: C. Brick
Explanation: The Mahabodhi Temple is one of India’s outstanding early brick-built Buddhist monuments. It marks the site traditionally associated with Gautama Buddha’s enlightenment.
Q185. Which Mauryan ruler originally commissioned the Great Stupa at Sanchi?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Bindusara
B. Ashoka
C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. Dasharatha
Answer: B. Ashoka
Explanation: Emperor Ashoka originally commissioned a brick stupa at Sanchi in the third century BCE. It was enlarged and embellished during subsequent Shunga and Satavahana periods.
Q184. Which monument represents one of the greatest achievements of ancient Buddhist rock-cut architecture and painting?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Ajanta Caves
B. Brihadeshwara Temple
C. Dilwara Temples
D. Shore Temple
Answer: A. Ajanta Caves
Explanation: Ajanta contains Buddhist chaityas and viharas excavated over several centuries. Its murals, sculptures and rock-cut architecture constitute exceptional achievements of ancient Indian Buddhist art.
Q183. According to the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, stupas commemorating a universal monarch were to be erected at:
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. River confluences
B. Four crossroads
C. Mountain peaks
D. Royal palaces
Answer: B. Four crossroads
Explanation: The Mahaparinibbana Sutta describes funerary honours appropriate to a Buddha and universal monarch, including the erection of a memorial stupa at a prominent crossroads.
Q182. The famous Amaravati Stupa was situated near which river?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Godavari
B. Krishna
C. Narmada
D. Kaveri
Answer: B. Krishna
Explanation: Amaravati, an important ancient Buddhist centre in Andhra Pradesh, developed near the Krishna River. Its great stupa became renowned for elaborate limestone narrative sculptures.
Q181. Which group of vernacular languages enabled teachers such as Buddha and Mahavira to communicate with ordinary people?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Persian
B. Prakrit
C. Classical Greek
D. Tamil only
Answer: B. Prakrit
Explanation: Prakrit languages represented widely spoken Middle Indo-Aryan vernaculars. Buddhist and Jain teachers preferred accessible speech rather than restricting their message to elite Vedic Sanskrit.
