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Topic Buddhist iconography
Asked 2 times across 2 UPSC exams over 13 years (2012–2025), peaking in 2012.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 1 of 2 PYQs
- Most asked in 2012
- Recurs across 2 years (2012–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2012 → CDS 2025
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (1 of 2) predate 2016, and it still returns.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2025
Which one of the following statements about the Buddhist Goddess Hariti is correct ?
- A She was converted by the Buddha from a blood-thirsty yakshi to a benevolent maternal figure. ✓
- B She is the feminine personification of wisdom.
- C She protects people from eight great fears.
- D She is a warrior goddess associated with the dawn.
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Art & Culture › Religion & Philosophy
CSE2012
Lord Buddha's image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It symbolizes
- A Buddha's calling of the Earth to watch over Mara and to prevent Mara from disturbing his meditation
- B Buddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara ✓
- C Buddha's reminder to his followers that they all arise from the Earth and finally dissolve into the Earth, and thus this life is transitory
- D Both the statements (a) and (b) are correct in this context
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Art & Culture › Religion & Philosophy
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