Free Topic-Wise General Studies MCQs
Master the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy, from the dualism of Samkhya to the logical framework of Nyaya. Explore the metaphysical foundations of Vaisheshika, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta for Art and Culture.
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Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Patanjali's Yoga Sutras define Yoga as 'chitta vritti nirodha' in the second aphorism (I.2). Statement 3 is correct because the Yoga Sutras (I.5-I.11) classify the five types of mind fluctuations (vrittis) as either klista (afflicted) or aklista (non-afflicted). Statement 2 is incorrect because the Nyaya school is an independent epistemological system focused on logic and the sixteen padarthas, and it does not incorporate Patanjali's eight limbs (Ashtanga Yoga) as a precursor to its own methodology.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is correct because Mimamsa views the Vedas as eternal and authorless (Apaurusheya), whereas Nyaya-Vaisheshika posits Ishvara as the creator of the Vedas. Statement 2 is correct as the theory of Svatah-pramanya asserts that knowledge is self-validating and does not require external proof, assuming the absence of causal defects. Statement 3 is correct because Prabhakara, leading the Guru school, emphasized that dharma is known exclusively through Vedic injunctions (vidhi) which generate a moral obligation or 'niyoga' in the agent.
Explanation: Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is correct because Ishvarakrishna's Sankhya Karika (c. 4th century CE) is the foundational text that defines Prakriti as the equilibrium of the three gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas. Statement 1 is incorrect because, while Kapila is the traditional founder, the Sankhya school strictly maintains that Purusha is immutable, eternal, and devoid of transformation. Statement 2 is incorrect because, although Patanjali’s Yoga school incorporates Ishvara, he is considered a 'special Purusha' (purusa-visesa) who is eternally liberated, not a creator of Prakriti, as Prakriti is viewed as an independent, eternal entity in this dualistic framework.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct because the Astika-Nastika distinction in Indian philosophy is strictly defined by the acceptance (Astika) or rejection (Nastika) of Vedic authority, not by theism. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Nyaya and Vaisheshika schools are foundational Astika traditions that uphold Vedic authority while employing rigorous logic. Statement 3 is incorrect because, although Samkhya is traditionally 'nirishvara' (atheistic) regarding a creator God, it is classified as an Astika school because it accepts the authority of the Vedas.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Vallabhacharya founded the Pushtimarga sect and established the Shrinathji temple in Nathdwara, which remains the central pilgrimage site for his followers. Statement 3 is correct because Shuddhadvaita posits 'Avikruta-Parinama', meaning the world is a real transformation of Brahman that occurs without changing His divine essence. Statement 2 is incorrect because Vallabhacharya explicitly rejected Shankara's 'Vivartavada' (illusion theory), arguing instead that the world is real ('Sat') and not an illusory manifestation caused by Avidya.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct because Vivartavada posits that the world is an illusory appearance (vivarta) of Brahman, much like a snake superimposed on a rope, leaving the substrate unchanged. Statement 3 is correct as Shankara’s Brahma Sutra Bhashya centralizes Avidya (ignorance) as the epistemic barrier preventing the Jiva from realizing its inherent oneness with Brahman. Statement 2 is incorrect because it describes Parinamavada (transformation), whereas Vivartavada explicitly rejects physical manifestation, asserting that the world is an unreal appearance rather than a transformation of Ishvara or Prakriti.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because the Vaisheshika school classifies reality into seven padarthas (categories), not twenty-four gunas, and does not derive its atomic theory from the Sankhya guna framework. Statement 2 is incorrect because, while Kapila is the traditional founder, the Sankhya school posits that the imbalance of gunas is triggered by the proximity of Purusha to Prakriti, but Purusha itself is inactive and never acts as a 'cause' of evolution. Statement 3 is incorrect because, in Sankhya cosmology, evolution begins with the manifestation of Mahat (intellect) from the union of Purusha and Prakriti, while the five subtle elements (tanmatras) emerge much later in the evolutionary sequence.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is correct because Patanjali defines Ishvara in the Yoga Sutras as a 'special Purusha' (klesha-karma-vipaka-ashayaih-aparamrishtah), meaning He is eternally free from the cycle of karma and suffering. Statement 2 is correct as Patanjali explicitly states in Yoga Sutra 1.12 that the cessation of mental fluctuations (chitta vritti nirodha) is achieved through the dual practice of abhyasa (consistent practice) and vairagya (dispassion). Statement 3 is correct because the Yoga school, being closely aligned with Samkhya metaphysics, accepts three pramanas-pratyaksha (perception), anumana (inference), and shabda (verbal testimony)-as the only valid means of knowledge.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Nimbarka, a 13th-century philosopher, propounded the Dvaitadvaita (dualistic non-dualism) doctrine, which asserts that the individual soul (jiva) and the world are simultaneously distinct from and identical to Brahman. This relationship is often illustrated through the analogy of the wave and the ocean, where the wave is both part of the ocean and distinct in its specific form. His primary work, Vedanta-parijata-saurabha, serves as a significant Bhasya (commentary) on the Brahma Sutras, confirming the accuracy of all three statements.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Nimbarka (c. 13th century) proposed Dvaitadvaita, positing that the soul is both distinct from and identical to Brahman. Statement 2 is correct because Advaita Vedanta uses Vivartavada to describe the world as an illusory manifestation or superimposition (Maya) on the singular, unchanging Brahman. Statement 3 is incorrect because Vallabhacharya's Shuddhadvaita posits that the soul is essentially one with Brahman (non-dual) and not a separate creation; he argued that the soul remains a part of Brahman even in liberation, rather than maintaining a distinct, separate identity.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because Alayavijnana is the cornerstone of Vijnanavada (Yogacara), not Madhyamaka (Sunyavada). Statement 2 is false as the Abhidharmakosha is a foundational text of the Sautrantika/Vaibhashika traditions, not Madhyamaka, and while Vasubandhu did transition to Vijnanavada, the text does not represent Madhyamaka. Statement 3 is incorrect because Dignaga and Dharmakirti were the primary figures of the Vijnanavada-influenced Buddhist logic (Pramana) school, whereas Nagarjuna and Chandrakirti are the architects of the Sunyavada/Madhyamaka tradition.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because the interaction between Purusha and Prakriti in Samkhya is not caused by gravitational pull, but by the 'proximity' (sannidhi) of the two, where Purusha acts as a witness to the evolution of Prakriti. Statement 2 is false because liberation (kaivalya) in Samkhya is defined as the absolute isolation or detachment of Purusha from Prakriti, not their merger. Statement 3 is incorrect because while Vaisheshika is atomistic, it does not share the Samkhya dualism of Purusha and Prakriti, as Samkhya is atheistic (nirishvara) and rejects the need for a divine architect, whereas Vaisheshika posits Ishvara as the governor of the atoms.
Explanation: Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is correct because the Nyaya syllogism (Nyaya-avayava) includes 'Udaharana' as the third member, which provides a universal example (like a kitchen fire) to establish the invariable concomitance (Vyapti). Statement 1 is incorrect because Jayanta Bhatta, like other Naiyayikas, maintains that the Vedas are authoritative because they are the word of a trustworthy person (Apta-vakya), specifically God (Ishvara), not merely historical inference by Rishis. Statement 2 is incorrect because while Tarka (reductio ad absurdum) is a crucial tool for supporting Anumana, it is not classified as an independent Pramana in the Nyaya system, which strictly recognizes only four: Pratyaksha, Anumana, Upamana, and Shabda.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. All three statements are correct: Tamas represents inertia and darkness, balancing the activity of Rajas and the illumination of Sattva. The Sankhya evolution follows a specific sequence where the union of Purusha and Prakriti triggers the emergence of Mahat (Buddhi), followed by Ahamkara and the subsequent Tattvas. Finally, the state of Gunasamyavastha, or the perfect equilibrium of the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas), is defined as Prakriti, which remains unmanifest until disturbed by the proximity of Purusha.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because the Yogacara (Vijnanavada) school emerged to address the ontological status of consciousness, not to establish the reality of the external world, which it actually denies. Statement 2 is incorrect because it attributes Vijnanavada's core doctrine (that consciousness is the only reality) to Nagarjuna's Madhyamaka school, which instead posits Sunyata (emptiness) as the ultimate nature of all phenomena. Statement 3 is incorrect because Sunyata is the foundational concept of the Madhyamaka school, whereas Vijnanavada identifies 'vijnapti-matra' (consciousness-only) as the ultimate reality, viewing the external world as a projection of the mind.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Tattvarthadipa-nibandha is a foundational text of Shuddhadvaita, identifying Krishna as the supreme Brahman. Statement 2 is incorrect because Vallabhacharya explicitly rejected Adi Shankara's Mayavada, arguing instead that the world is a real manifestation (not an illusion) of Brahman. Statement 3 is incorrect because, while Vallabhacharya authored Siddhanta-Muktavali, his philosophy of Pushtimarga emphasizes 'grace' and devotion (Bhakti) within worldly life rather than the rigorous asceticism or renunciation typical of Advaita Vedanta.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Madhvacharya (13th century) authored the Brahma Sutra Bhashya, which provides the definitive theological framework for Dvaita Vedanta. The school advocates for 'Tattvavada' or realism, asserting an absolute ontological distinction (bheda) between Brahman (Vishnu) and the individual soul (Jiva), rejecting the Advaitic concept of non-duality. Furthermore, the philosophy emphasizes 'panca-bheda,' which classifies the five eternal differences existing between Brahman, souls, and matter, confirming that all three statements are historically and philosophically accurate.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Acharya Umasvati's Tattvartha Sutra (c. 2nd century CE) is the foundational text that systematically defines the seven tattvas (Jiva, Ajiva, Asrava, Bandha, Samvara, Nirjara, and Moksha). Statement 2 is incorrect because the Jaina classification of Ajiva (non-living substances) includes Dharma (medium of motion), Adharma (medium of rest), Akasha (space), Pudgala (matter), and Kala (time), not Nirvana, which is the state of liberation. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Acharanga Sutra focuses on the conduct of monks and the sanctity of life, whereas the classification of Jiva and the nature of atoms (Pudgala) are detailed in metaphysical texts like the Tattvartha Sutra, not as a composition of five types of atoms.
Explanation: Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is correct because Sankhya posits Purusha as a passive, inactive witness (Sakshi) distinct from the active Prakriti. Statement 1 is incorrect because Nyaya is a pluralistic realist school that rejects the Sankhya theory of Prakriti, and it is Sankhya, not Nyaya, that classifies the twenty-five principles. Statement 2 is incorrect because while Satkaryavada holds that the effect pre-exists in the cause, it identifies Prakriti (not Purusha) as the primordial material substrate (Prakriti-parinama) from which the physical world evolves.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Nimbarka's philosophy, centered on the 'Dvaitadvaita' (dualistic non-dualism) doctrine, emphasizes the devotional worship of Radha and Krishna. Statement 3 is correct because the school posits that the jiva is both identical to and distinct from Brahman, sharing its essence but possessing limited power and knowledge. Statement 2 is incorrect because Nimbarka's core doctrine of 'Bhedabheda' explicitly rejects the idea of permanent separation, arguing instead for a simultaneous difference and non-difference between the soul and the divine, and he is not historically verified as a direct contemporary of Ramanuja.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because Gadyatraya focuses on Prapatti (surrender) within Vishishtadvaita, not the development of the Dvaita school, which was founded by Madhvacharya. Statement 2 is incorrect because Ramanuja influenced King Vishnuvardhana to adopt Vishishtadvaita, whereas Shuddhadvaita is the philosophy associated with Vallabhacharya. Statement 3 is incorrect because while Prapatti is central to Ramanuja, it is a concept developed within the Bhakti tradition and the Alvars' literature, and the Vedartha Sangraha is a philosophical treatise defending Vishishtadvaita rather than the origin point of the Prapatti doctrine.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as the Nyaya Sutra of Aksapada Gautama (c. 2nd century CE) establishes these four Pramanas as the foundational pillars of valid knowledge. Statement 2 is incorrect because while Udayana's Nyayakusumanjali famously provides logical proofs for Ishvara, the Nyaya school consistently maintains all four Pramanas, including Upamana (analogy), as essential. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Nyaya definition of Pratyaksha (perception) explicitly includes 'avyapadesya' (non-verbal/non-conceptual) and 'avyabhicari' (non-erroneous) criteria, but it does not exclude mental interpretation, as the school recognizes both indeterminate (nirvikalpa) and determinate (savikalpa) stages of perception.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because Ramanuja emphasized 'Bhakti' and 'Prapatti' (surrender) rather than Jnana Yoga as the primary means to liberation. Statement 2 is incorrect as Ramanuja authored the 'Sri Bhashya' to establish Vishishtadvaita, whereas 'Advaita Siddhi' is a 16th-century work by Madhusudana Saraswati written to defend Advaita. Statement 3 is incorrect because, while Ramanuja identified Narayana as the supreme reality, he was a 12th-century philosopher, and his primary philosophical defense was against the Advaita school of Shankara rather than being specifically defined by a 11th-century debate in Kanchi.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakosha treats the twelve-fold chain (Pratityasamutpada) as a causal cycle of rebirth rather than a mechanism where consciousness creates physical mahabhutas. Statement 2 is false because while the Yogacara school emphasizes Alayavijnana, the twelve-fold chain is a foundational doctrine common to all Buddhist schools, not exclusively a Yogacara framework for Trikaya transformation. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Buddha explained the doctrine to Ananda at Kammassadhamma (not Kusinagara), and the cessation of the chain leads to Nirvana, not the Mahayana-specific Trikaya state.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is correct as Vaisheshika defines Paramanu (atom) as imperceptible, while the combination of two atoms forms a Dvyanuka (dyad), which is the first perceptible unit of matter. Statement 2 is correct because 'Samavaya' is one of the six (later seven) Padarthas, representing the inseparable, eternal relationship between a substance (Dravya) and its inherent qualities (Guna). Statement 3 is correct as the Prasastapada Bhashya is the foundational commentary on Kanada's Vaisheshika Sutra, providing a systematic categorization of the atomic theory that became the standard for the school.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct because Sankhya philosophy posits that the universe evolves from the interaction of Prakriti (primordial matter) and Purusha (consciousness), where Prakriti is composed of the three gunas: Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Statement 2 is incorrect because while Yoga adopts Sankhya's evolution, it maintains that the three gunas constitute Prakriti (the material world), not the Purusha (the individual soul), which is eternally pure and guna-less. Statement 3 is incorrect because, although Satkaryavada correctly asserts that the effect pre-exists in the cause, it is Prakriti, not Purusha, that serves as the material source of the three gunas, as Purusha is strictly non-material and passive.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. All three statements are correct: Pudgala represents the material substance (Ajiva) in Jainism, characterized by physical properties like touch and color that form the basis of the material world; Jaina ontology asserts the existence of an infinite number of individual Jivas (souls), each inherently capable of attaining infinite attributes (Anantachatushtaya) once liberated from karmic bondage; and Asrava specifically describes the influx of subtle karmic matter (Ajiva) into the Jiva, which is the foundational mechanism that binds the soul to the cycle of rebirth.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. All three statements are incorrect because the fundamental criterion for the Astika/Nastika classification in Indian philosophy is the acceptance or rejection of the authority of the Vedas, not the focus on rituals, historical periods, or meditative practices. The Mimamsa school is strictly Astika as it is deeply rooted in Vedic ritualism, while Yoga is also classified as Astika because it acknowledges Vedic authority. Furthermore, this classification system predates the Gupta period, having been established much earlier in the classical philosophical tradition to categorize schools like Charvaka, Jainism, and Buddhism as Nastika for rejecting the Vedas.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct because Syadvada asserts that all judgments are conditional, using 'Syat' (perhaps/in some ways) to acknowledge the multifaceted nature of reality. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Council of Pataliputra (c. 3rd century BCE) focused on the compilation of the 12 Angas and the schism between Sthulabhadra and Bhadrabahu, not the formalization of Syadvada. Statement 3 is incorrect because Nayavada represents the doctrine of partial standpoints, and Acharya Kundakunda actually used it to emphasize the soul's multifaceted nature rather than a singular, unchanging absolute.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because Haribhadra Suri was a proponent of Jaina logic who critiqued rather than integrated Jaina philosophy into the Nyaya-Vaisheshika framework. Statement 2 is incorrect as Sallekhana is a practice of ascetic purification and detachment, not a logical application of Anekantavada, which is an epistemological doctrine concerning the multiplicity of truth. Statement 3 is incorrect because Ekantavada (one-sidedness) is the very doctrine that Jaina philosophy opposes; it is considered a fallacy (Naya-abhasa) rather than a precursor or a teaching of Mahavira.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as the Milinda Panha famously uses the chariot analogy to explain that a person is merely a collection of parts, supporting the Anatta (no-self) doctrine. Statement 2 is correct because the Abhidhamma Pitaka systematically deconstructs the individual into the five Skandhas (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness) to prove that no permanent soul exists. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Kathavatthu was specifically compiled to refute the Pudgalavadin view, arguing against the existence of a 'person' as a distinct entity beyond the five aggregates.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. All three statements are correct: 'Tat Tvam Asi' (Thou art That) is the foundational mahavakya of Advaita Vedanta found in the Chandogya Upanishad; Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita (11th century) posits 'qualified non-dualism,' where the individual soul is a part (amsha) or attribute of Brahman rather than identical; and Madhvacharya’s Dvaita (13th century) strictly rejects this identity, proposing the 'Pancha-bheda' (five-fold eternal differences) between God, souls, and matter.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. All three statements are correct: Madhavacharya’s 14th-century work 'Sarvadarshana Sangraha' serves as a primary source documenting the Charvaka view that consciousness emerges from the combination of material elements, similar to how intoxication arises from fermented ingredients. The Charvakas accepted only four elements (earth, water, fire, and air) as fundamental, rejecting 'Akasha' (ether) because it cannot be perceived through the senses. Furthermore, by prioritizing 'Pratyaksha' (perception) as the only valid means of knowledge, the school logically rejected the existence of the soul, afterlife, and the efficacy of Vedic rituals, as these concepts cannot be empirically verified.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Anekantavada (many-sidedness) provides the ontological basis for Syadvada (the theory of conditioned predication), which allows for the expression of these multiple facets. Statement 3 is correct because Acharya Samantabhadra's Aptamimamsa is a foundational text that formally systematized the Saptabhangi-naya, the seven-fold logical method of Jaina philosophy. Statement 2 is incorrect because while Umasvati's Tattvartha Sutra is a seminal work, the five Mahavratas (great vows) relate to ethical conduct and ascetic discipline rather than serving as the mechanism for the epistemological realization of Anekantavada, which is achieved through Naya (partial standpoints) and Pramana (valid knowledge).
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct because Nimbarka's Dvaitadvaita (Bhedabheda) posits that the world is a real manifestation of Brahman, unlike Shankara's Maya, which views the world as illusory. Statement 2 is correct as Nimbarka emphasized 'prapatti' (surrender to God) as the essential path to salvation, reflecting the Bhakti-oriented nature of his philosophy. Statement 3 is incorrect because, while Bhaskara did advocate a Bhedabheda view, he was a distinct philosopher from Nimbarka, and the integration of Lakshmi-Narayana worship is specifically associated with the later Ramanuja-led Vishishtadvaita tradition rather than the origins of the Bhedabheda school.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because Svabhavavada refers to the doctrine of inherent nature (svabhava) often attributed to schools like the Ajivikas or later metaphysical realists, not specifically a school of atomism contrasting with Pratityasamutpada. Statement 2 is incorrect because while the twelve nidanas are often interpreted across three lifetimes, 'vedana' (feeling) is not the karmic residue; rather, 'samskara' (volitional formations) or 'vijnana' (consciousness) are typically cited as the links carrying karmic potential. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Mahavastu focuses on the supramundane (lokottara) nature of the Buddha and his miraculous birth, but it does not link his descent from Tushita heaven to the specific nidana of nama-rupa, which is a standard psychological link in the causal chain.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. All three statements are correct: Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita posits that the jiva and prakriti are inseparable attributes (vishesha) of Brahman, forming an organic unity (qualified non-dualism). Born in 1017 CE, Ramanuja indeed served as the chief administrator at the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, significantly reforming its temple rituals and organizational structure. Finally, his magnum opus, 'Sri Bhashya', serves as the definitive commentary on the Brahma Sutras, providing the logical framework for the Bhakti-centric Vishishtadvaita school.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. All three statements are correct: Sage Kanada founded the Vaisheshika school and authored the Vaisheshika Sutra (c. 2nd century BCE), establishing the foundational atomic theory where the four physical elements (earth, water, fire, air) are composed of eternal, indivisible 'Paramanus'. The system systematically classifies all reality into six categories (Padarthas)-Dravya (substance), Guna (quality), Karma (action), Samanya (generality), Vishesha (particularity), and Samavaya (inherence)-providing a rigorous ontological framework for understanding the material universe.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali were composed centuries after the Bhagavad Gita, and the Gita emphasizes Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana Yoga rather than defining chitta vritti nirodha as the final stage of Jnana. Statement 2 is incorrect because while Samkhya and Yoga share a dualistic ontology (Purusha and Prakriti), the state of nirodha involves the cessation of mental fluctuations, not the dissolution of Prakriti into mahabhutas, which is a cosmological process. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Vaisheshika school is primarily concerned with atomism (paramanu) and the classification of reality (padarthas) through logic and empirical observation, rather than the meditative practice of chitta vritti nirodha.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because citta-vritti-nirodha (cessation of mental fluctuations) is the methodology to isolate Purusha from Prakriti, not a mechanism for Prakriti's transformation. Statement 2 is false as Patanjali is the author of the Yoga Sutras, while Kapila is the traditional founder of the Sankhya school. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Sankhya-Yoga system relies on its own theory of Satkaryavada (pre-existence of the effect in the cause) to explain the twenty-four evolutes, rather than the atomic theory of the Vaisheshika school.
Explanation: Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because the view that the external world is a mental projection (Vijnaptimatra) is the core tenet of the Vijnanavada (Yogacara) school, not Sunyavada, which emphasizes the emptiness (Sunyata) of all phenomena. Statement 2 is correct as Nagarjuna founded the Madhyamaka school and established the philosophy of Sunyavada in his 2nd-century CE work, Mulamadhyamakakarika. Statement 3 is correct because the Yogacara school was indeed formalized by the brothers Asanga and Vasubandhu during the 4th century CE, a period coinciding with the Gupta Empire.
Explanation: Statement 2 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 2 is correct because Adi Shankara, in his 8th-century Brahma Sutra Bhashya, established Advaita Vedanta, asserting the ontological non-duality (abheda) of Atman and Brahman. Statement 1 is incorrect because the Mandukya Upanishad provides the foundation for Advaita (non-dualism), not Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, which emphasizes qualified non-dualism. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Gaudapadiya Karika, written by Gaudapada, is a foundational text of Advaita Vedanta that advocates 'Ajativada' (non-origination), explicitly rejecting the dualistic (Dvaita) distinction between the observer and the observed.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Kumarila Bhatta, in his Slokavarttika, established the doctrine of Svatah-pramanya, asserting that Vedic knowledge is self-validating and requires no external proof. Statement 3 is correct because the Mimamsa school, initiated by Jaimini, fundamentally defines the Vedas as 'Apaurusheya' (authorless and eternal), rejecting any human or divine origin. Statement 2 is incorrect because while Shankara accepted the authority of the Vedas, he maintained the Mimamsa view of Apaurusheyatva (authorlessness), explicitly rejecting the idea that Brahman 'composed' them, as that would imply a temporal origin contrary to their eternal nature.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because Gangesha Upadhyaya's Tattvachintamani established the Navya-Nyaya school by refining logic and methodology, not by rejecting Shabda (testimony) or proposing Anupalabdhi (non-apprehension) as primary, as the latter is a hallmark of the Mimamsa and Advaita schools. Statement 2 is incorrect because Nyaya follows Asatkaryavada (the effect is a new creation), whereas Samkhya follows Satkaryavada (the effect pre-exists in the cause). Statement 3 is incorrect because while Nyaya and Vaisheshika are closely linked, the Nyaya school accepts only four Pramanas (Pratyaksha, Anumana, Upamana, and Shabda), whereas Arthapatti (postulation) is accepted as a valid source of knowledge by the Mimamsa and Advaita schools, not the Nyaya-Vaisheshika tradition.
Explanation: Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is correct because Advaita Vedanta classifies reality into three levels: Pratibhasika (illusory), Vyavaharika (empirical/phenomenal), and Paramarthika (absolute/Brahman), where the empirical world is considered relatively real until the realization of Brahman. Statement 1 is incorrect because Gaudapada defines Maya as an ontological principle of cosmic illusion (anirvachaniya) rather than a mere psychological construct. Statement 2 is incorrect because Shankara rejects the Samkhya doctrine of Satkaryavada (Parinamavada) in favor of Vivartavada, which posits that the world is an illusory manifestation (vivarta) of Brahman, not a material transformation.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Madhvacharya established the Udupi Krishna Matha in 1285 CE after receiving the idol of Lord Krishna from a merchant ship. Statement 2 is correct because the doctrine of 'taratamya' posits that even in 'moksha', souls retain their individual identities and exist in a hierarchical order based on their inherent nature. Statement 3 is incorrect because, unlike Advaita Vedanta, Dvaita philosophy explicitly rejects the concept of 'jivanmukti' (liberation while alive), asserting that true liberation is only attained after death.
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. In Indian philosophy, the classification of Astika (orthodox) and Nastika (heterodox) is based solely on the acceptance or rejection of the authority of the Vedas, not on the presence of a soul or moral codes. Statement 1 is incorrect because Jainism rejects Vedic authority; Statement 2 is incorrect because Charvaka is a materialist school that explicitly rejects Vedic ritualism and theology; and Statement 3 is incorrect because Buddhism is a quintessential Nastika school that denies the sanctity of the Vedas.
Explanation: Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is correct as Madhvacharya was born in 1238 CE in Pajaka and established the Tattvavada school, which emphasizes the eternal distinction between the soul and God. Statement 1 is incorrect because Dvaita Vedanta explicitly rejects the Maya theory of Advaita, asserting that the world is real and distinct from Brahman. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Sarva-darshana-sangraha was authored by Madhavacharya of the Vidyaranya lineage, not Madhvacharya, who conversely argued that the individual soul is eternally subordinate to and distinct from Brahman.
Explanation: Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is correct because Jain metaphysics fundamentally classifies the universe into two eternal, independent categories: Jiva (sentient souls) and Ajiva (non-sentient matter). Statement 1 is incorrect because Jiva is considered an eternal, independent substance (dravya), not a derivative of Akasha (space), and the Samavayasutra does not define it as such. Statement 2 is incorrect because Acharya Kundakunda emphasizes the distinction between Jiva and Ajiva, and Kevala Jnana is the state of omniscience achieved by the soul, not a process that transforms the soul into material Ajiva.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is correct because Charvakas reject the metaphysical concepts of Dharma and Moksha, advocating for Kama (pleasure) and Artha (wealth) as the only rational pursuits. Statement 2 is correct as Charvakas reject 'Vyapti' (invariable concomitance), arguing that causality is merely an empirical observation rather than a logical necessity. Statement 3 is correct because the 8th-century text 'Tattvopaplavasimha' by Jayarashi Bhatta is a foundational work that systematically deconstructs all 'Pramanas' (means of knowledge), representing the skeptical tradition of Indian materialism.
Explanation: Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is correct because Pratityasamutpada explains that all phenomena are interdependent and arise from conditions, which serves as the logical foundation for Anitya (impermanence). Statement 1 is incorrect because the Kshanikavada doctrine defines a kshana (moment) as the smallest indivisible unit of time, not a distance-based measurement like a yojana. Statement 2 is incorrect because while Sarvastivadins argued that dharmas exist in all three time periods (past, present, future), they explicitly rejected the idea of an unchanging 'substance' (svabhava) in the sense of an Atman, maintaining that even these dharmas are momentary and conditioned.
Explanation: Statement 2 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 2 is correct because Mimamsa philosophy asserts the 'nitya' (eternal) relationship between sound (sabda) and meaning (artha), which supports the doctrine of Apaurusheyatva, meaning the Vedas are authorless and eternal. Statement 1 is incorrect because the primary canonical text of Mimamsa is Jaimini's 'Mimamsa Sutra,' while Bhartrihari's 'Vakyapadiya' belongs to the school of linguistic philosophy (Sabdadvaita). Statement 3 is incorrect because the core tenet of Mimamsa is that the Vedas are self-validating (svatah-pramanya) and eternal, specifically rejecting the idea that they derive authority from the omniscience of human or divine authors (Rishis or Ishvara).
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because the classical Sankhya school is atheistic (Nirishvara) and does not accept a creator deity, despite being classified as Astika for accepting Vedic authority. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Yoga Sutras define the union of Purusha and Prakriti (not intellect) as the cause of suffering, while kleshas are the obstacles to liberation, not the cause of the primordial union. Statement 3 is incorrect because, in Sankhya, Prakriti evolves due to the proximity of Purusha (sannidhi) to restore equilibrium, not because of the individual Purusha's karma, which is a concept foreign to the mechanics of cosmic evolution in this system.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as the Vaisheshika school classifies nine dravyas (substances), including the four atomic elements (earth, water, fire, air) alongside ether (akasha), time (kala), space (dik), soul (atman), and mind (manas). Statement 3 is correct because 'Vishesha' is the foundational concept that allows for the differentiation of eternal, simple substances (like atoms or souls) that lack composite parts. Statement 2 is incorrect because while 'Abhava' (non-existence) is indeed the seventh padartha, it was not introduced by Kanada in the original Vaisheshika Sutras; it was a later addition incorporated by subsequent commentators like Prashastapada to provide a comprehensive ontological framework.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. The Charvaka school, or Lokayata, is strictly materialistic and empirical, asserting that Pratyaksha (direct perception) is the only valid pramana because it is the only source of knowledge that cannot be doubted. They reject Anumana (inference) because it relies on 'vyapti' (universal concomitance), which they argue cannot be established with certainty as it is based on past experiences that do not guarantee future outcomes. Brihaspati is historically recognized as the legendary founder of this school, and the Barhaspatya Sutras are traditionally attributed to him as the foundational text of this heterodox (nastika) philosophical tradition.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 1 is correct as Maya acts as the inscrutable power (shakti) of Brahman that both veils reality and projects the illusory world. Statement 2 is correct because Adi Shankara (c. 788-820 CE) championed Vivartavada, which posits that the world is merely an apparent transformation (vivarta) of Brahman, similar to a rope appearing as a snake. Statement 3 is incorrect because Shankara explicitly rejected Parinamavada-the theory of real transformation-in favor of Vivartavada, as Parinamavada implies a change in the immutable nature of Brahman, which contradicts Advaita principles.
Explanation: Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect because the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas) are the fundamental constituents of Prakriti itself, not products of the five mahabhutas; in fact, the mahabhutas evolve from the gunas. Statement 2 is correct as Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras adopt the dualistic Sankhya metaphysics (Purusha-Prakriti) but add Ishvara as a 'klesha-less' model for yogic focus. Statement 3 is correct because Sankhya philosophy is strictly dualistic, categorizing reality into twenty-five tattvas (principles) with the foundational divide between the conscious Purusha and the material Prakriti.
Explanation: Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is correct as the Pali Canon (specifically the Samyutta Nikaya) defines Anitya as the fundamental characteristic of all conditioned things, which are subject to arising and ceasing. Statement 3 is correct because the Anatta (Anatman) doctrine is the cornerstone of Buddhist philosophy, explicitly rejecting the Upanishadic notion of a permanent, unchanging Atman. Statement 1 is incorrect because, while later schools like the Pudgalavada proposed a 'person' (pudgala) to explain continuity, the Mahavastu and mainstream Buddhist thought strictly uphold the doctrine of Anatta, rejecting any permanent consciousness or self across rebirths.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. Statement 1 is correct as Nagarjuna's Madhyamaka philosophy equates dependent origination with emptiness (Sunyata), arguing that if phenomena lack independent essence, they must be empty. Statement 2 is correct because Pratityasamutpada is the core Buddhist doctrine explaining the causal chain of existence through the twelve Nidanas, such as ignorance, volitional formations, and consciousness. Statement 3 is correct as the Abhidharma Pitaka, particularly the Vibhanga, provides the formal scholastic analysis and systematic classification of these twelve links, which trace the cycle of suffering from ignorance to aging and death.
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is correct. All three statements are correct: Vallabhacharya (1479-1531 CE) founded the Shuddhadvaita school, asserting that the world is a real transformation (Parinama) of Brahman without the illusory influence of Maya. His seminal work, Anubhashya, serves as a commentary on the Brahma Sutras, defining the soul (Jiva) as an inseparable part of Brahman. Furthermore, his philosophy, known as Pure Non-dualism, centers on Pushti-marga, a path where liberation is attained solely through the spontaneous divine grace of Lord Krishna rather than individual effort.