{"id":6255,"date":"2026-02-08T16:34:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T16:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/?p=6255"},"modified":"2026-02-08T16:34:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T16:34:51","slug":"mcqs-based-on-ancient-history-34","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/?p=6255","title":{"rendered":"MCQs Based On Ancient History &#8211; (34)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q1. Which of the following rulers is often accused of persecuting Buddhists and destroying Buddhist stupas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Ashoka<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Pushyamitra Shunga<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Harsha<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Kanishka<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<button class=\"acc\">View Answer<\/button>\n<div class=\"pnl\">\n  <p style=\"padding-top:5px;color:#27302a;font-size:1.2rem;\"><b>Correct Option:<\/b> 2. Pushyamitra Shunga <br\/>\n<strong>Explanation:<\/strong> Pushyamitra Shunga (2nd century BCE), the founder of the Shunga dynasty, came to power after overthrowing the Mauryan dynasty, which had long supported Buddhism. Buddhist texts like the Divyavadana accuse him of persecuting Buddhists and destroying monasteries and stupas built during Ashoka\u2019s reign. Although some historians believe these accounts may be exaggerated, there is consensus that the Shunga period marked a decline in royal patronage for Buddhism. The withdrawal of state support weakened Buddhist institutions and allowed Brahmanical traditions to regain dominance, contributing significantly to the decline of Buddhism in northern India.\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q2. What was one major internal factor that led to the decline of Buddhism in India?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Rise of foreign invasions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Overemphasis on rituals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Accumulation of wealth and monastic corruption<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Spread of Mahayana Buddhism<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<button class=\"acc\">View Answer<\/button>\n<div class=\"pnl\">\n  <p style=\"padding-top:5px;color:#27302a;font-size:1.2rem;\"><b>Correct Option:<\/b> 3. Accumulation of wealth and monastic corruption <br\/>\n<strong>Explanation:<\/strong> In its early days, Buddhism emphasized simplicity, celibacy, and detachment from material life. Monks lived on alms and traveled to spread the Dhamma. However, as Buddhism gained royal and mercantile patronage, monasteries accumulated immense wealth and land. Many monks became involved in worldly affairs, neglected spiritual practices, and even lived in luxury. This moral and spiritual decline alienated the laity, who no longer viewed the Sangha (monastic community) as a model of virtue. The corruption and complacency within monasteries weakened the religious appeal and missionary zeal of Buddhism, accelerating its decline.\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q3. The shift of Buddhist scriptures from Pali and Prakrit to Sanskrit led to:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Greater accessibility among the common people<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Strengthening of Buddhist unity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Alienation of the common masses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Decline of Brahmanical traditions<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<button class=\"acc\">View Answer<\/button>\n<div class=\"pnl\">\n  <p style=\"padding-top:5px;color:#27302a;font-size:1.2rem;\"><b>Correct Option:<\/b> 3. Alienation of the common masses <br\/>\n<strong>Explanation:<\/strong> Early Buddhist teachings were delivered in Pali and Prakrit, the spoken languages of the common people, allowing easy access to the Buddha\u2019s message. However, as Buddhism evolved\u2014particularly under the influence of scholars like Ashvaghosha, who composed the Buddhacharita in Sanskrit\u2014the religion adopted a more intellectual and elitist character. Sanskrit was primarily used by the Brahmanical elite and not understood by ordinary people. This linguistic shift distanced Buddhism from its base among the masses, while Hinduism continued to reach the people through regional vernaculars and popular devotional movements. This loss of accessibility contributed significantly to the erosion of Buddhism\u2019s mass appeal.\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q4. Who destroyed the famous Nalanda Mahavihara, dealing a fatal blow to institutional Buddhism in India?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Muhammad Ghori<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Mahmud of Ghazni<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Bakhtiyar Khalji<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Alauddin Khilji<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<button class=\"acc\">View Answer<\/button>\n<div class=\"pnl\">\n  <p style=\"padding-top:5px;color:#27302a;font-size:1.2rem;\"><b>Correct Option:<\/b> 3. Bakhtiyar Khalji <br\/>\n<strong>Explanation:<\/strong> In the late 12th century, Bakhtiyar Khalji, a Turkish general under the Delhi Sultanate, invaded Bihar and Bengal. During his conquest, he destroyed Nalanda University, one of the greatest centers of Buddhist learning in the world, along with other Buddhist institutions like Vikramashila and Odantapuri. Thousands of monks were massacred, and priceless Buddhist manuscripts were burned. This invasion dealt a final and irreparable blow to organized Buddhism in India. With its universities and monastic centers wiped out, the institutional backbone of Buddhism collapsed, marking the virtual end of Buddhism in its land of origin.\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q5. The rise of which movement within Hinduism absorbed several Buddhist ideas and contributed to its decline?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Tantric Movement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Bhakti Movement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Vedic Revivalism<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:17px\">Shaivite Asceticism<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<button class=\"acc\">View Answer<\/button>\n<div class=\"pnl\">\n  <p style=\"padding-top:5px;color:#27302a;font-size:1.2rem;\"><b>Correct Option:<\/b> 2. Bhakti Movement <br\/>\n<strong>Explanation:<\/strong> From the Gupta period onward, Hinduism underwent a transformation through the Bhakti (devotional) movement, which emphasized personal devotion (bhakti) to deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi. This movement borrowed several ethical and philosophical ideas from Buddhism\u2014such as compassion, equality, and salvation open to all\u2014while offering a more emotionally appealing and culturally familiar framework. As Hinduism reabsorbed these elements, Buddhism lost its distinct identity and appeal. Many Buddhists, especially in eastern and southern India, were gradually assimilated into Hindu devotional traditions, leading to a significant decline in Buddhist followers.\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Q1. Which of the following rulers is often accused of persecuting Buddhists and destroying Buddhist stupas? View Answer Correct Option: 2. Pushyamitra Shunga Explanation: Pushyamitra Shunga (2nd century BCE), the founder of the Shunga dynasty, came to power after overthrowing the Mauryan dynasty, which had long supported Buddhism. Buddhist texts like the Divyavadana accuse him [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[1362,1847,21,1846,31,1848,1845,221,20],"class_list":["post-6255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ancient-history","tag-ancient-history","tag-buddhist-scriptures-from-pali","tag-competitive-exams","tag-decline-of-buddhism-in-india","tag-mcq","tag-nalanda-mahavihara","tag-pushyamitra-shunga","tag-rrb-exams","tag-ssc-cgl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6255"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6257,"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6255\/revisions\/6257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mehnatt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}