Which of the following statements regarding Jainism is correct ? I. Vardhaman Mahavira was born in 5th Century CE. II. Mahavira was the 24th Tirathankar. III. Jains worship Lord Shiva as Mahavira. IV. The principle of Ahimsa is emphasised in Jainism.
Which of the following statements regarding Jainism is correct ? I. Vardhaman Mahavira was born in 5th Century CE. II. Mahavira was the 24th Tirathankar. III. Jains worship Lord Shiva as Mahavira. IV. The principle of Ahimsa is emphasised in Jainism.
Options
The correct option is (D) Only II and IV are correct.
Evaluation of each statement:
- I. False — Vardhaman Mahavira was born in the 6th century BCE (c. 599 BCE), not the 5th century CE.
- II. True — Mahavira was the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism.
- III. False — Jains do not worship Lord Shiva as Mahavira; they venerate the Tirthankaras, and Mahavira is not identified with Shiva.
- IV. True — Ahimsa (non-violence) is the central and most emphasised principle of Jainism.
Hence statements II and IV are correct, giving option (D).
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for selecting option (D) Only II and IV are correct.
- 2No partial marks for MCQ.
Hint
Reject the wrong date (5th century CE) and the Shiva claim; the true statements are the Tirthankara number and ahimsa.
Quick Oral Answer
Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara and Jainism strongly emphasises ahimsa, so statements two and four are correct — that is option D.
Analysis & Explanation
This is a statement-verification question on the fundamentals of Jainism, one of the heterodox traditions that emerged in the 6th century BCE.
Why (D) is correct: Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, was born around 599 BCE, and Jainism places supreme importance on ahimsa — extending non-violence even to the smallest living beings. Both these facts (II and IV) are accurate.
Why the other options are wrong:
- (A) includes statement I, which wrongly dates Mahavira's birth to the 5th century CE — over a thousand years too late.
- (B) includes statement III, which falsely claims Jains worship Shiva as Mahavira — Jainism is non-theistic in the Vedic sense and reveres Tirthankaras, not Hindu gods.
- (C) again relies on the false statement III, so it cannot be correct.
Exam trap: The key discriminators are the wrong date (I) and the false theological claim (III). Eliminating both leaves only II and IV, confirming (D).
Common Mistakes
- 1Accepting statement I and dating Mahavira to the 5th century CE instead of the 6th century BCE.
- 2Believing statement III that Jains worship Shiva as Mahavira, confusing Jain and Hindu practice.
- 3Overlooking that ahimsa is the defining ethical principle of Jainism.
Interesting Facts
The word 'Jina', from which Jainism derives, means 'conqueror' — one who has conquered desires and the cycle of rebirth.
Jain teaching of ahimsa is so thorough that devout monks sweep the ground and cover their mouths to avoid harming even tiny insects.
Mahavira was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha, both preaching in the Gangetic plains during the intellectual ferment of the 6th century BCE.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Mahavira born and what was his significance?
Vardhaman Mahavira was born around 599 BCE in the 6th century BCE and became the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism. He systematised Jain teachings, emphasising ahimsa, truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-possession as the path to liberation.
What is the core principle of Jainism?
The core principle of Jainism is ahimsa, or non-violence, extended to all living beings including plants and the smallest insects. This ethic of non-injury shapes Jain diet, occupation and daily conduct and distinguishes the faith from many other traditions.