With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs:
- Parivrajaka — Renunciant and Wanderer
- Shramana — Priest with a high status
- Upasaka — Lay follower of Buddhism
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 1 and 3 only
This question tests knowledge of ancient Indian religious and cultural terminology. Pair 1 and Pair 3 are correctly matched, while Pair 2 incorrectly describes Shramanas as high-status priests, whereas they were actually ascetic practitioners who rejected Brahmanical orthodoxy.
✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Parivrajaka literally means 'wanderer' and refers to renunciants who abandoned worldly life to travel and pursue spiritual knowledge.
❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Shramana means 'one who strives' and refers to ascetic traditions (Buddhism, Jainism, Ajivika) that opposed the Vedic priestly hierarchy, not priests with high status.
✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Upasaka refers to lay followers of Buddhism who practiced the faith without joining the monastic Sangha.
📝 Short Notes: Ancient Indian Religious Terminology
| Term | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Parivrajaka | Wandering ascetic/renunciant | Religious mendicants who renounced worldly life and traveled for spiritual purposes |
| Shramana | One who strives/performs austerities | Ascetic traditions (Buddhism, Jainism, Ajivika) that rejected Vedic ritualism and caste hierarchy |
| Upasaka (male) / Upasika (female) | Lay follower | Non-monastic followers of Buddhism and Jainism who observed basic precepts |
| Bhikshu (male) / Bhikshuni (female) | Monk/Nun | Members of the Buddhist monastic Sangha who took full ordination |
| Brahmana | Vedic priest | High-caste priests who performed Vedic rituals and sacrifices |
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