Question 40 from UPSC CSE 2023 - Art & Culture

Question

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements:
1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.
2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics.
3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Only two

Strategy: Focus on chronological and textual clues. Statement 1 is negated because stupas, as mounds/heaps, predate Buddhism and are mentioned in pre-Buddhist Vedic texts. Statements 2 and 3 align with Buddhist tradition, where stupas housed relics and served commemorative/votive functions. Discard statement 1 due to its incorrect origin claim, confirming only statements 2 and 3 as correct.

Key Info: ## The Stupa in Ancient India

The stupa is a hemispherical structure, typically a mound of earth or stone, used for meditation or as a commemorative monument. Its origins predate Buddhism, with references in Vedic literature like the Rigveda and Atharvaveda, where it simply denoted a heap or raised structure without sectarian affiliation.

The Buddhist adaptation of the stupa is highly significant:

*   Buddha's relics were distributed and enshrined in multiple stupas (e.g., Sanchi, Sarnath, Kushinagar).
*   They served as repositories for relics (paribhogika: personal belongings or physical remains).
*   They evolved into sacred sites for veneration, pilgrimage, ritual offerings, and commemorative purposes, documented in texts like the Mahaparinibbana Sutta.
*   Over time, stupas gained a strong votive character, built by devotees for merit, in memory of events, or as offerings.
*   Their architectural forms (e.g., anda, harmika, chatra) evolved to reflect spiritual meaning.

Jain and Hindu traditions later adopted similar structures for their own religious purposes.

Answer

Option A: Only one

Answer

Option C: All three

Answer

Option D: None

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements: The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin. Stupa was generally a repository of relics. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition. How many of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements:

The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.

Stupa was generally a repository of relics.

Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.
How many of the statements given above are correct?