Q. Which of the following statements with regard to the geographical itinerary of Gautama Buddha is/are correct?
1.Buddha traveled Middle Gangetic plain, delivering discourses in major urban centers including Vaishali, Rajgir, Shravasti, and Kaushambi.
2.Historical evidence confirms that Gautama Buddha traveled westward to Taxila in Gandhara to establish the first university monastery.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer: A
Notes:
Detailed Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: The Buddha’s itinerary was confined primarily to the Middle Gangetic Basin (modern Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh), covering major capitals of Mahajanapadas such as Vaishali (Vajji), Rajgir (Magadha), Shravasti (Kosala), and Kaushambi (Vatsa).
- Statement 2 is incorrect: The Buddha never visited Taxila or the distant northwestern region of Gandhara during his lifetime. Buddhism spread to Gandhara much later, notably under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka and the Kushana ruler Kanishka I.
