Which of the following statements with regard to the heterodox sect between sixth and fourth century BC are correct ?
- 1The Jain ideas were already being circulated in the seventh century BC by Parshva.
- 2Although Buddhism, and to a lesser extent Jainism, took account of the changes in material life and reacted against orthodoxy, neither of these sought to abolish the caste system.
- 3The first female disciple of Mahavira is said to have been a captured slave woman.
- 4Buddha held that nuns could attain spiritual liberation just like a monk and granted them an equal status in the mendicant order.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- A1, 2, 3 and 4
- B1, 2 and 3 only
- C1, 2 and 4 only
- D3 and 4 only
Explanation
Statement 1 is true: Parshva (Parshvanatha), the 23rd Tirthankara, is traditionally dated to the 7th century BC, about two and a half centuries before Mahavira. Statement 2 is true: neither Buddhism nor Jainism sought to abolish the caste system outright, though both rejected Vedic orthodoxy and Brahmanical privilege. Statement 3 is true: tradition records that Mahavira's first female disciple was a captured slave woman. Statement 4 is false: although the Buddha admitted nuns, the eight garudhammas kept bhikkhunis subordinate to monks — they did not enjoy equal status. Hence statements 1, 2 and 3 only are correct.