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Question 21 of 75 · Buddhism & Jainism
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How many great vows (Mahavratas) did a Jain monk have to follow?

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Answer: Option C — Five

Detailed Solution

Jain monks and nuns had to follow five great vows, called the "Pancha Mahavratas".

The five great vows:

  • "Ahimsa": non-violence; not to harm any living being.
  • "Satya": truthfulness; not to lie.
  • "Asteya" (achaurya): not to steal; not to take anything that is not given.
  • "Brahmacharya": celibacy; complete control over sexual desire.
  • "Aparigraha": non-possession; not to own property or be attached to anything.

How the vows developed:

  • According to Jain tradition, an earlier Tirthankara taught four vows, and Mahavira added the vow of brahmacharya (celibacy), making them five.
  • Monks and nuns follow these vows completely and strictly; hence they are called "great vows" (maha-vratas).

Vows for lay people:

  • Householders (lay followers) follow milder forms of the same five vows, called "Anuvratas" (small vows).
  • For example, a lay person must avoid intentional killing, but may do work such as cooking, which involves some unavoidable harm.
  • They also follow additional vows, such as limiting travel and possessions, and fasting on certain days.

The life of a Jain monk (NCERT):

  • NCERT notes that Jain monks and nuns had to give up everything and live very simple lives, begging for food.
  • They had to be absolutely honest, and especially careful not to steal.
  • They had to observe celibacy.
  • Men had to give up everything, including their clothes (in one tradition).

Other aspects of monastic life:

  • Monks walk barefoot and do not use vehicles.
  • They do not stay in one place for long, except during the four months of the rainy season ("chaturmas"), when travel could harm small creatures.
  • They pluck out their hair by hand ("keshlochan").

Comparison with Buddhism:

Buddhist lay followers follow the "Pancha Shila" (five precepts): not to kill, steal, engage in sexual misconduct, lie or take intoxicants.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Three is the number of jewels (right faith, knowledge and conduct).
  • ✗Four is the number of vows taught before Mahavira.
  • ✗Eight is not the number of Jain great vows.

Quick tip

Remember: 5 Mahavratas = ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha (Mahavira added brahmacharya); Anuvratas = milder vows for lay people; chaturmas = rainy-season halt.

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Buddhism & Jainism — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Buddhism & Jainism, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

Buddhism and Jainism arose in the 6th century BCE as reform movements. This topic covers the lives and teachings of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira, the Jain tirthankaras, the Buddhist councils, the sects of both religions, their sacred texts and the places linked to them. Common questions cover the four great events of the Buddha's life and their places (birth at Lumbini, enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath, death at Kushinagar), the four Buddhist councils with their kings and venues, and the Jain sects Digambara and Shvetambara. Learning the councils as a table of place, king and president is the fastest way to revise. Practise the Buddhism and Jainism questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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