2016 · Q101
Which of the following statements reflect the distinctive feature about 6th century Ganas or Sanghas?
- 1The ancient Indian Ganas were oligarchies.
- 2The ancient Indian Ganas were non-monarchal state.
- 3Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa and Avanti were the most powerful states of that era.
- 4The producers of Buddhist monastic order (Sangha) were patterned on Sangha politics
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Indian Culture and HeritageReligions, philosophy and literature
- A1, 2 and 3 only
- B1, 2, 3, 4
- C1, 2 and 4 only
- D3 and 4 only
Explanation
The 6th-century BCE ganas and sanghas (Vajji, Malla) were non-monarchical states (2) typically governed as oligarchies of rajas (1); Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa, and Avanti were indeed the era’s most powerful states (3); and the Buddha patterned the monastic Sangha’s assembly procedures on gana political practice (4). The official key for this repeated APFC question is “1, 2, 3 and 4”. Hence (B).