SSC
Which is the largest (tallest) Buddhist stupa in India?
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Answer: Option D — Kesariya Stupa (Bihar)
Detailed Solution
The Kesariya Stupa, in the East Champaran district of Bihar, is considered the largest (tallest) Buddhist stupa in India, and one of the largest in the world.
About the Kesariya Stupa:
- It is about 104 feet (about 32 metres) high today, and its original height is believed to have been much greater; its circumference is about 400 feet.
- It was built of brick and mud, in several terraces (six or more levels), with niches containing seated Buddha images.
- It was studied by Alexander Cunningham in 1861-62.
It was excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1998, under K. K. Muhammed.
Its present form dates mainly to the Gupta period (around the 5th-6th century CE), though the first structure may be older.
Its history:
- According to tradition, when the Buddha left Vaishali on his last journey to the place of his death, the Lichchhavis followed him.
- At Kesariya, he gave them his begging bowl as a memento and asked them to return home.
- A stupa was built at this place to commemorate the event.
- The Chinese pilgrims Faxian and Xuanzang mention a stupa in this area.
Comparison:
- Kesariya is said to be taller than the Borobudur stupa in Indonesia, though Borobudur is larger in area.
- The Great Stupa at Sanchi is about 54 feet high.
Other stupas of Bihar:
- The Vaishali relic stupa, which contained a casket of the Buddha's relics.
- The Nalanda stupas.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Dhamek Stupa is at Sarnath.
- ✗The Bharhut Stupa is in Madhya Pradesh.
- ✗The Amaravati Stupa is in Andhra Pradesh.
Quick tip
Remember: largest/tallest stupa in India = Kesariya (East Champaran, Bihar; about 104 ft; Buddha gave his begging bowl to the Lichchhavis; excavated 1998).
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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.