With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs :
| 1. Parivrajaka | Renunciant and Wanderer |
| 2. Shramana | Priest with a high status |
| 3. Upasaka | Lay follower of Buddhism |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?
Show answer
Answer: B. Pair 1 is correct: a parivrajaka was a wandering renunciant. Pair 2 is wrong: a shramana was an ascetic who rejected Vedic authority, not a high-status priest. Pair 3 is correct: an upasaka was a lay follower of Buddhism. So 1 and 3.
Watch for: Students mix up shramana (ascetic) with brahmana (priest).
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because a shramana was not a priest.
- C. Wrong because a shramana was not a priest.
- D. Wrong because pair 2 is mismatched.
Source to check: NCERT Class 12 Themes in Indian History Part I, Chapter 4 (Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.