UPSC Prelims 2024 Question:

Sanghabhuti an Indian Buddhist Monk who traveled to China at the end of the 4th century AD, was the author of a commentary on

Explanation:

• Kashmir was known for being a thriving hub of Buddhist learning in India, particularly for the influential Sarvastivada school. The Kushana rulers played a crucial role in fostering Buddhism in this region, supporting its growth and prominence. Sanghabhuti, a prominent Kashmiri scholar, made significant contributions to Buddhism by traveling to China in AD 381. During his time there, he translated numerous Buddhist texts into Chinese, focusing on providing detailed explanations of the Vinaya Pitaka teachings specific to the Sarvastivada School. Sarvastivada school was the earliest orthodox to emerge in Buddhism after the second council at Vaishali. Later it influenced the rise of Hinayana School.
  
  

• Prajnaparamita is a collection of sutras and their explanations, representing one of the oldest types of Mahayana Buddhism. It greatly expanded on the idea of emptiness (shunyata). Prajnaparamita is symbolized as a female figure embodying wisdom, also known as the Mother of All Buddhas. In these texts, wisdom, now seen as the supreme perfection, is key to reaching nirvana. This wisdom revolves around realizing the illusory nature of all things, not just in this world but also in spiritual realms. The period of significant development for Prajnaparamita ideas lasted from around 100 BCE to 150 CE, with the Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita being a well-known work from this era.
  
  

• The Visuddhimagga is a comprehensive and expertly written overview and interpretation of the Mahavihara school of Theravada Buddhism. It was composed by Buddhaghosa, a renowned Buddhist scholar, during the rule of King Mahanama in the 5th century CE. Together with Dhammapala and Buddhadatta, Buddhaghosa produced fresh expositions of Theravada teachings in the Pali language, drawing from ancient Sinhalese commentaries dating back to earlier centuries. This text, among Buddhaghosa's many works, is particularly well-known for categorizing its content into the themes of morals, concentration, and wisdom, while also elaborating on and clarifying various aspects of Buddhist doctrine by incorporating narratives and direct quotations from the canonical texts of the Tipitaka. It presents Theravada principles in a systematic manner, offering a wealth of information on Buddhist beliefs. Furthermore, the Visuddhimagga furnishes a detailed guide to Buddhist meditation practices, serving as a valuable resource on Theravada doctrine. 
  
  

• The Lalitavistara is a revered text detailing the legendary life of Gautama Buddha. It is a blend of Sanskrit and vernacular language, believed to be a reimagining in the Mahayana tradition from an older work in the Sarvastivada school. Like the Mahavastu, the Lalitavistara features both ancient and more recent content, presenting ancient passages alongside newer additions. Similar to Hindu Puranas in style, the text portrays the Buddha's earthly activities as divine "sport" or "play." Following Mahayana conventions, the text begins with an account of the Buddha in deep meditation, radiating a divine glow, ready to impart the text's teachings to a large audience of monks and aspiring enlightened individuals. The narrative, particularly focused on the Buddha's conception and birth, introduces additional miraculous and mythological elements not previously seen in earlier accounts. 
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: History| Indian Literature