Previous Year Question
With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs.
Parivrajaka — Renunciant and Wanderer
Shramana — Priest with a high status
Upasaka — Lay follower of Buddhism
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Pair 1 is correct: A Parivrajaka was an ascetic or renunciant who abandoned settled worldly life and wandered in pursuit of spiritual goals.
Pair 2 is incorrect: Shramanas belonged to ascetic and renunciatory traditions. Buddhist, Jain and Ajivika traditions formed part of the broader Shramana tradition. A Shramana was not a priest with a high status.
Pair 3 is correct: An Upasaka was a male lay follower of Buddhism who had not entered the monastic order as a monk. The corresponding term for a female lay follower was ‘Upasika’.