Consider the following statements. 1. The Jatakas form the basis of J...
- The Jatakas are the best example of Buddhist non-canonical literature. These are a compilation of the stories from the previous births of Buddha.
- The stories of the Bodhisattva or the (future) would-be Buddha are also discussed in these Jatakas. Although these stories propagate Buddhist religious doctrines, they are available in Sanskrit and Pali. Each story of the birth of the Buddha is equivalent to a Jataka tale.
- It was believed that Buddha passed through 550 births before he was born as Gautama. These tales combine the popular tales, ancient mythology, and socio-political conditions in North India between 600 BC and 200 BC.
- The great epic Buddhacharita by Aswaghosha (78 A.D.) is another example of Buddhist literature in Sanskrit. Another major religion, Jainism, produced texts in Prakrit. They form the basis of the Jain canonical literature.
- Some of the Jain texts were also written in Sanskrit like the Upamitibhava Prapancha Katha of Siddharasi (906 A.D.). The most important Jain texts written in Prakrit are the Angas, the Upangas and the Parikramas. Apart from these, the Chhedab Sutra and the Malasutra are also considered sacred by the Jains.
Consider the following statements. 1. The Jatakas form the basis of J...
The correct answer is option 'D', neither of them. Let's analyze each statement:
1. The Jatakas form the basis of Jain Canonical literature:
This statement is incorrect. The Jatakas are actually a collection of stories related to the previous births of Gautama Buddha. They are an important part of Buddhist literature and are not associated with Jainism. Jain canonical literature consists of texts known as Agamas, which are considered the authoritative scriptures in Jainism. The Agamas contain the teachings of the Tirthankaras (spiritual leaders) and other Jain philosophers.
2. Angas and upangas are written in Pali:
This statement is also incorrect. Angas and upangas are actually part of Jain canonical literature, not Buddhist literature. They are written in Prakrit, an ancient Indian language, and not in Pali. Pali, on the other hand, is the language in which the Buddhist scriptures, known as the Tripitaka, were written.
In summary, neither of the statements is correct. The Jatakas are related to Buddhism, not Jainism, and Jain canonical literature is written in Prakrit, not Pali.
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