Consider the following : 1. Deification of the Buddha 2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas 3. Image worship and rituals Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• Mahayana ('Great Vehicle') emerged around the 1st century CE and was endorsed at Kanishka's Fourth Buddhist Council.

• It deified the Buddha as an eternal, transcendent being (1), held up the bodhisattva ideal of postponing one's own nirvana to help all beings (2), and adopted image worship, rituals and devotion (3) — in contrast to Hinayana's symbolic representation and self-effort.

• All three are defining features.

• Hence 1, 2 and 3, option (d).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1 only: Bodhisattva path and image worship are also Mahayana features.
(b) 1 and 2 only: Image worship and rituals are also Mahayana features.
(c) 2 and 3 only: Deification of the Buddha is also a Mahayana feature.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.