With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements : 1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism. 2. Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Why the answer is (b)
• Statement 1 is wrong: Sautrantika and Sammitiya were schools of Hinayana Buddhism, not Jainism (Jain sects are Digambara and Shvetambara).
• Statement 2 is correct: the Sarvastivadins ('all exists') held that dharmas — the constituents of phenomena — exist in past, present and future, i.e. persist in a latent form rather than being wholly momentary.
• The Sautrantikas broke from them, insisting on strict momentariness.
• Hence 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 1 is wrong: these are Buddhist, not Jain, sects.
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- Statement 1 is wrong.
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- Statement 2 is correct: Sarvastivada held dharmas exist in all three times.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.