UPSC Prelims 2024 Q54: Art & Culture – Philosophy & Religion
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1, 2 and 3
- (d) None of the above are epithets of Gautama Buddha
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Epithets of Gautama Buddha vs Mahavira
| Epithet | Belongs To | Meaning | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nayaputta | Vardhamana Mahavira (Jain Tirthankara) | Son of the Naya clan | NOT Buddha's epithet - used in Pali canon to refer to Mahavira (Nigantha Nataputta) |
| Shakyamuni | Gautama Buddha | Sage/Muni of the Shakya clan | TRUE - Buddha was born into the Shakya clan of Kapilavastu |
| Tathagata | Gautama Buddha | Thus-gone / One who has attained truth | TRUE - widely used in Pali canon and Mahayana texts as Buddha's self-reference |
Other Buddha epithets: Siddhartha, Sakyasimha (Lion of Shakyas), Sugata (Well-gone), Jina, Bhagavan.
Other Mahavira epithets: Vardhamana, Jina, Nigantha Nataputta, Nayaputta.
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Nayaputta is an epithet of Mahavira (Jain Tirthankara), not Buddha. Mahavira was from the Naya/Nataputta lineage - hence Nayaputta/Nigantha Nataputta in Pali texts.
- (b) CORRECT. Shakyamuni (Sage of the Shakyas - Buddha's clan) and Tathagata (Thus-gone/attained truth) are both genuine epithets of Gautama Buddha. Nayaputta belongs to Mahavira.
- (c) Incorrect. Including Nayaputta is wrong - that is Mahavira's epithet. Only Shakyamuni and Tathagata are Buddha's epithets from this list.
- (d) Incorrect. Shakyamuni and Tathagata are definitively Buddha's epithets, widely used in Buddhist texts across Theravada and Mahayana traditions.
Key point
Buddha's epithets: Shakyamuni (Sage of Shakyas), Tathagata (Thus-gone), Sugata. Nayaputta/Nigantha Nataputta = Mahavira's epithet (Jain, not Buddhist).
Remember
Gautama Buddha's epithets include Shakyamuni and Tathagata. Nayaputta (Nigantha Nataputta) is Mahavira's epithet - not Buddha's.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Nayaputta with a Buddhist term - Nigantha Nataputta (Nayaputta) is consistently used in Pali canon to refer to Mahavira, never to Buddha.
- Not knowing Tathagata - it appears frequently in Buddhist sutras as a self-referential term used by Buddha in his teachings.
- Mixing up Buddha and Mahavira epithets - both were contemporary religious reformers from similar regions, causing frequent exam confusion.
Exam tip
Memory trick: Shakyamuni = Shakya (clan) + Muni (sage). Buddha was from Shakya clan (Kapilavastu). Tathagata appears in almost every Pali sutta. Nayaputta = Nataputta = Mahavira (Jain). The N in Nayaputta = Not Buddha.
Sources
- NCERT Class 6 History - Chapter 7: New Questions and Ideas
- NCERT Class 12 History - Themes in Indian History Part I