Question

Mahavira was a prince in the Sakya 'gana'. State whether the sentence is true(T) or False(F).
A. True
B. False

Answer 1

Hint: Mahavira was the last and 24th Tirthankara of the Jainas born 2500 years ago. When he was thirty years old he left his home and family and went to live in the forest. After twelve years of a hard and lonely journey, he finally attained Enlightenment.

Complete answer: Vardhamana Mahavira was the last and 24th Tirthankara of the Jainas. He belonged to Vajji sangha and was a Kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis. His doctrine was based on the rules of ahimsa. According to him men and women who wished to know the truth must leave their homes and become Jainas. His teachings include respect for all living beings including animals. He delivered his teachings in Prakrit which was a local language that could be understood by all. The language is spoken in different regions and was known by the region such as Prakrit spoken in Magadha was known as Magadhi.
Therefore the above statement is false because it was not Mahavira but Siddhartha or Gautam Buddha who was the founder of Buddhism belonged to a small gana known as Sakya gana. He was also a Kshatriya and left his home on the path to realisation and meditated under the peepal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar where he finally attained enlightenment.
Therefore, the correct answer is option-B.

Note: Followers of Mahavira were called as Jaina Who led simple lives and begged for food. They were asked to live an honest life and not to steal and observe celibacy. Men were asked to give up everything including their clothes.