With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
- Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
- Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- The Sautrantikas and Sammtiyas are both recognized as sects within Buddhism. Thus, statement 1 is incorrect.
- The term “Sautrantika” refers to a follower of the sutras, which are the sacred texts of Buddhism. Sautrantika is generally regarded as a separate school that emerged within the larger Sarvastivada sect of Buddhism. This sect emphasizes the importance of the sutras in their teachings and practices. Therefore, statement 2 is correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
