Consider the following information: Life Event Associated Landmark Outcome 1. Defeat of Mara Bodh Gaya Bhumisparsha Mudra 2. First Sermon Deer Park, Sarnath Dhammachakkapavattana 3. Establishment of Sangha Kushinagar Admission of Mahaprajapati Gautami 4. Final Mahaparinirvana Shravasti Abhaya Mudra In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched? |ForumIAS

[A] 1 and 2 only

[B] 2 and 3 only

[C] 3 and 4 only

[D] 1 and 4 only

Answer: A

Notes:

Detailed Explanation:

Row 1 is correctly matched: At Bodh Gaya (Uruvela), Siddhartha meditated under the Piphal tree and defeated Mara (the demon of illusion). He touched the earth to witness his spiritual merit, represented by the Bhumisparsha Mudra (Earth-touching gesture).
Row 2 is correctly matched: The Buddha’s first sermon to his five former companions at the Deer Park (Rishipatana) in Sarnath is celebrated as Dhammachakkapavattana (Turning the Wheel of Dharma).
Row 3 is incorrectly matched: The monastic order (Sangha) was initially founded at Sarnath, and the order for nuns (Bhikkhuni Sangha) was later established at Vaishali (where Mahaprajapati Gautami was ordained), not Kushinagar.
Row 4 is incorrectly matched: The Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar, not Shravasti. His symbol of Mahaparinirvana is the Stupa.