Jainism Top 100 MCQs With Answer and Explanation

1. Jainism was founded by__________.
A) Parshvanatha
B) Mahavira
C) Rishabhanatha
D) Buddha

2. The 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism was__________.
A) Parshvanatha
B) Mahavira
C) Rishabhanatha
D) Neminatha

3. Mahavira was born at__________.
A) Kundagrama (Vaishali)
B) Lumbini
C) Kapilavastu
D) Rajagriha

4. Mahavira’s father was__________.
A) Siddhartha
B) Suddhodana
C) Shrenika
D) Nanda

5. Mahavira attained enlightenment after how many years of penance?
A) 6 years
B) 10 years
C) 12 years
D) 15 years

6. Mahavira attained enlightenment on the banks of__________.
A) Ganga
B) Rijupalika river
C) Saraswati
D) Yamuna

7. Mahavira attained Nirvana (death) at__________.
A) Vaishali
B) Rajgir
C) Pavapuri
D) Champa

8. Mahavira’s main teachings are called__________.
A) Panchsheel
B) Triratna
C) Eightfold Path
D) Panchsiddhanta

9. The Triratna of Jainism are__________.
A) Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya
B) Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct
C) Buddha, Dharma, Sangha
D) Karma, Dharma, Moksha

10. The five great vows (Mahavratas) of Jain monks include__________.
A) Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha
B) Karma, Dharma, Moksha, Yoga, Tapas
C) Dana, Yajna, Tapas, Bhakti, Shanti
D) None of these

11. The earliest Jain Tirthankara known to history (historical existence) was__________.
A) Rishabhanatha
B) Parshvanatha
C) Neminatha
D) Ajitanatha

12. Parshvanatha preached__________.
A) Four vows
B) Five vows
C) Eightfold path
D) Triratna

13. The doctrine of Anekantavada in Jainism means__________.
A) Doctrine of non-violence
B) Doctrine of many-sidedness
C) Doctrine of rebirth
D) Doctrine of salvation

14. The theory of knowledge in Jainism is called__________.
A) Syadvada
B) Pratityasamutpada
C) Dvaita
D) Advaita

15. According to Jainism, liberation (moksha) can be achieved through__________.
A) Fasting and penance only
B) Triratna (Right Faith, Knowledge, Conduct)
C) Worship of gods
D) Sacrifices

16. Jain monks live a life of__________.
A) Luxury
B) Renunciation and austerity
C) Political activity
D) Agriculture

17. Jainism does not believe in__________.
A) Karma
B) Rebirth
C) Creator God
D) Salvation

18. The Jain view of karma is__________.
A) Ritual action
B) A material substance binding the soul
C) God’s will
D) Only moral concept

19. Jainism regards the soul (jiva) as__________.
A) Non-eternal
B) Eternal and independent
C) Created by God
D) Non-existent

20. Jainism’s motto “Parasparopagraho Jivanam” means__________.
A) Non-violence is supreme
B) Souls render service to one another
C) Salvation through meditation
D) Knowledge is liberation

21. The Jain symbol of the raised hand with a wheel means__________.
A) Karma
B) Stop – Non-violence (Ahimsa)
C) Dharma chakra
D) Moksha

22. The earliest Jain texts were written in__________.
A) Pali
B) Prakrit (Ardhamagadhi)
C) Sanskrit
D) Tamil

23. The sacred Jain text containing the teachings of Mahavira is__________.
A) Dhammapada
B) Angas
C) Upanishads
D) Arthashastra

24. The Jain Sangha was organized by__________.
A) Mahavira
B) Parshvanatha
C) Rishabhanatha
D) Chandragupta Maurya

25. The Jain Sangha was divided into__________.
A) Two parts
B) Four parts
C) Six parts
D) Eight parts

26. The First Jain Council was held at__________.
A) Pataliputra
B) Rajagriha
C) Valabhi
D) Mathura

27. The Second Jain Council was held at__________.
A) Valabhi (Gujarat)
B) Ujjain
C) Vaishali
D) Champa

28. The sacred Jain texts are called__________.
A) Tripitaka
B) Agamas
C) Vedas
D) Sutras

29. The Agamas were originally written in__________.
A) Pali
B) Ardhamagadhi Prakrit
C) Sanskrit
D) Apabhramsha

30. The Jain canon was divided into how many Angas?
A) 10
B) 12
C) 14
D) 16

31. Out of 12 Angas, how many are extant in Shvetambara tradition?
A) 12
B) 11
C) 10
D) 9

32. Jainism later split into two major sects – Digambara and Shvetambara – during__________.
A) Mauryan period
B) Post-Mauryan period (c. 1st century BCE–1st century CE)
C) Gupta period
D) Mughal period

33. Digambara literally means__________.
A) White-robed
B) Sky-clad (naked)
C) Followers of scriptures
D) Protectors of Dharma

34. Shvetambara literally means__________.
A) Sky-clad
B) White-robed
C) Yellow-robed
D) Lay followers

35. According to Digambaras, women__________.
A) Can achieve liberation (moksha)
B) Cannot achieve liberation
C) Have no place in religion
D) Must remain lay followers only

36. According to Shvetambaras, women__________.
A) Can attain moksha
B) Cannot attain moksha
C) Are excluded from monastic life
D) Have no role in Sangha

37. The idol-worship in Jainism became common under__________.
A) Mauryan rule
B) Kushan period
C) Gupta period
D) Mughal rule

38. The Digambaras preserved their texts mainly in__________.
A) Prakrit
B) Apabhramsha
C) Sanskrit
D) Tamil

39. The Shvetambaras preserved their texts mainly in__________.
A) Sanskrit
B) Ardhamagadhi Prakrit
C) Pali
D) Persian

40. The Jain text Tattvarthasutra was written by__________.
A) Kundakunda
B) Umaswati (Umasvami)
C) Bhadrabahu
D) Haribhadra

41. The earliest Jain council was held under the patronage of__________.
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Kalasoka
C) Ashoka
D) Samprati

42. Chandragupta Maurya, in his later life, became a follower of__________.
A) Ajivikas
B) Jainism
C) Buddhism
D) Shaivism

43. The Mauryan emperor who is remembered as a great Jain patron after Ashoka was__________.
A) Samprati
B) Dasaratha
C) Bindusara
D) Brihadratha

44. The western Indian region where Jainism spread strongly was__________.
A) Gujarat and Rajasthan
B) Bengal
C) Orissa
D) Tamil Nadu

45. The southern region where Jainism flourished was__________.
A) Andhra and Karnataka
B) Gujarat
C) Bihar
D) Bengal

46. The famous Jain center of Shravanabelagola is located in__________.
A) Gujarat
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Karnataka
D) Rajasthan

47. The colossal Gomateshwara (Bahubali) statue at Shravanabelagola was built by__________.
A) Chalukyas
B) Ganga dynasty ruler Chamundaraya
C) Rashtrakutas
D) Hoysalas

48. The Jain temple city of Shatrunjaya (Palitana) is located in__________.
A) Gujarat
B) Rajasthan
C) Bihar
D) Tamil Nadu

49. The Dilwara Jain temples are located at__________.
A) Mount Abu, Rajasthan
B) Ellora, Maharashtra
C) Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
D) Sarnath, U.P.

50. A major reason Jainism spread in western India was__________.
A) Patronage by merchant communities
B) Support of Brahmins
C) Military power
D) Adoption by Muslims

51. The Jain canonical texts are called__________.
A) Agamas
B) Vedas
C) Tripitaka
D) Upanishads

52. The Jain canonical texts were compiled finally at__________.
A) Rajagriha
B) Pataliputra
C) Valabhi
D) Ujjain

53. The language of Jain canonical literature is mainly__________.
A) Sanskrit
B) Ardhamagadhi Prakrit
C) Pali
D) Tamil

54. The Tattvarthasutra is important because__________.
A) It is the only text accepted by both Digambara and Shvetambara sects
B) It was written by Mahavira
C) It deals only with rituals
D) It is a Buddhist scripture

55. The theory of Syadvada in Jain philosophy means__________.
A) Absolute truth
B) Theory of conditional predication (“maybe” theory)
C) Eternalism
D) Materialism

56. The doctrine of Anekantavada in Jainism emphasizes__________.
A) Only one truth
B) Multiplicity of viewpoints
C) Ritual sacrifices
D) Non-existence of soul

57. The Jain theory of knowledge recognizes__________.
A) Five kinds of knowledge
B) Two kinds of knowledge
C) Ten kinds of knowledge
D) No theory of knowledge

58. The ultimate goal of Jain philosophy is__________.
A) Heaven
B) Liberation (Moksha)
C) Wealth and prosperity
D) Power

59. According to Jainism, Moksha is attained by__________.
A) Performing yajnas
B) Triratna – Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct
C) Worshipping gods
D) Following caste duties

60. Jain philosophy regards karma as__________.
A) A ritual action
B) A material substance binding the soul
C) Only a mental state
D) A divine punishment

61. Jain monks follow the principle of extreme__________.
A) Violence
B) Renunciation and asceticism
C) Political involvement
D) Wealth accumulation

62. The famous Jain text Kalpasutra was written by__________.
A) Haribhadra
B) Bhadrabahu
C) Hemachandra
D) Umasvati

63. The Jain scholar Hemachandra lived in the court of__________.
A) Kumaragupta
B) Chandragupta Maurya
C) Kumarapala of Gujarat
D) Harshavardhana

64. The Jain temples at Mount Abu are famous as__________.
A) Dilwara temples
B) Sun temples
C) Kailasanatha temples
D) Ajanta caves

65. The colossal statue of Gomateshwara (Bahubali) at Shravanabelagola was built in__________.
A) 10th century CE
B) 5th century CE
C) 3rd century BCE
D) 12th century CE

66. The main features of Jain art include__________.
A) Stupas
B) Rock-cut caves, temples, and colossal statues
C) Vedic yajna altars
D) Forts

67. The famous Jain caves at Udayagiri and Khandagiri are located in__________.
A) Odisha
B) Maharashtra
C) Karnataka
D) Gujarat

68. The Jain caves at Ellora are numbered__________.
A) 1–12
B) 13–29
C) 30–34
D) 60–64

69. The Sammed Shikharji (Parasnath Hills), a major Jain pilgrimage site, is in__________.
A) Rajasthan
B) Bihar (Jharkhand today)
C) Gujarat
D) Maharashtra

70. The Shatrunjaya hills, a sacred site with hundreds of Jain temples, are located in__________.
A) Rajasthan
B) Gujarat
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Odisha

71. The Pavagadh Jain temples are located in__________.
A) Gujarat
B) Rajasthan
C) Bihar
D) Karnataka

72. Jain literature contributed significantly to which regional language?
A) Tamil
B) Kannada
C) Gujarati
D) All of the above

73. The Jain practice of fasting unto death is called__________.
A) Nirvana
B) Sallekhana (Santhara)
C) Moksha
D) Kevalajnana

74. The Jain texts that deal with cosmology and philosophy are called__________.
A) Purvas
B) Upangas
C) Chedasutras
D) Angas

75. The Jain contribution to Indian architecture is most evident in__________.
A) Rock-cut caves (Udayagiri, Ellora), marble temples (Dilwara, Palitana), and colossal statues (Bahubali)
B) Islamic mosques
C) Buddhist stupas
D) Gupta temples

76. Jainism received early royal patronage from__________.
A) Mauryas
B) Nandas
C) Magadha rulers like Bimbisara and Ajatashatru
D) Guptas

77. Chandragupta Maurya spent his last days as a Jain monk at__________.
A) Ujjain
B) Shravanabelagola
C) Rajagriha
D) Kashi

78. The Mauryan king Samprati, grandson of Ashoka, is remembered as__________.
A) Buddhist patron
B) Jain patron
C) Shaiva devotee
D) Vaishnava ruler

79. Kharavela, ruler of Kalinga, is known for__________.
A) Patronizing Jainism and building Udayagiri–Khandagiri caves
B) Building Sanchi stupa
C) Establishing Nalanda
D) Writing Buddhist Pitakas

80. Jainism declined in India mainly due to__________.
A) Rise of Hindu Bhakti movements
B) Division into sects (Digambara, Shvetambara)
C) Loss of royal patronage and competition from Buddhism
D) All of the above

81. Jainism’s strict doctrine of non-violence (Ahimsa) limited its popularity among__________.
A) Farmers and rulers
B) Traders and merchants
C) Monks and ascetics
D) Artisans

82. Which religion absorbed many Jain concepts, contributing to Jain decline?
A) Hinduism (Bhakti movements)
B) Buddhism
C) Zoroastrianism
D) Christianity

83. Despite decline, Jainism remained strong in__________.
A) Eastern India
B) Western India (Gujarat, Rajasthan) and South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu)
C) Punjab
D) Bengal

84. Jainism’s greatest contribution to Indian thought is__________.
A) Doctrine of non-violence (Ahimsa)
B) Anekantavada (multiplicity of truths)
C) Syadvada (conditional logic)
D) All of the above

85. The concept of Ahimsa in Jainism later influenced__________.
A) Akbar’s Sulh-i-Kul
B) Gandhi’s Satyagraha
C) Ashoka’s Dhamma
D) All of the above

86. The Jain emphasis on non-possession (Aparigraha) influenced__________.
A) Gandhian economic thought
B) Socialist economy
C) Mughal revenue system
D) British utilitarianism

87. The economic class most attracted to Jainism was__________.
A) Peasants
B) Warriors
C) Traders and merchants
D) Priests

88. Jainism’s contribution to language and literature was greatest in__________.
A) Sanskrit, Prakrit, Kannada, Tamil, Gujarati
B) Persian
C) English
D) Arabic

89. The Jain practice of fasting unto death (Sallekhana) symbolizes__________.
A) Rejection of society
B) Renunciation and purification of soul
C) Political protest
D) Denial of scriptures

90. Jain architecture is best represented by__________.
A) Dilwara temples (Mount Abu)
B) Palitana temples (Shatrunjaya hills)
C) Shravanabelagola statue of Bahubali
D) All of the above

91. Which Mughal emperor showed tolerance to Jainism and banned animal slaughter temporarily?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Aurangzeb
D) Shah Jahan

92. Modern revival of Jain studies was led by__________.
A) British archaeologists
B) Jain monks and reformers
C) Ambedkar
D) Nehru

93. Today, Jains constitute about what percentage of India’s population?
A) Less than 1%
B) 5%
C) 10%
D) 15%

94. The Jain community is especially prominent in__________.
A) Banking and trade
B) Agriculture
C) Military
D) Politics

95. Jainism’s legacy in Indian polity is visible in__________.
A) Influence on Gandhi’s non-violent movement
B) Akbar’s policies of tolerance
C) Emphasis on truth and morality in governance
D) All of the above

96. The two sects of Jainism still active today are__________.
A) Digambara and Shvetambara
B) Hinayana and Mahayana
C) Shaiva and Vaishnava
D) Theravada and Vajrayana

97. The Digambara center of learning and worship in South India is__________.
A) Shravanabelagola (Karnataka)
B) Mount Abu (Rajasthan)
C) Nalanda (Bihar)
D) Ellora (Maharashtra)

98. The Shvetambara community is most concentrated in__________.
A) Gujarat and Rajasthan
B) Bihar
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Punjab

99. Jainism’s enduring legacy in Indian culture is__________.
A) Ahimsa, ethical conduct, rich literature, and artistic heritage
B) Aggressive conquest
C) Military empire
D) Vedic yajnas

100. In Indian history, Jainism is remembered as __________.
A) A religion of compassion, non-violence, and tolerance that deeply shaped India’s culture
B) A political empire-builder
C) A foreign religion
D) A philosophy of conquest