Q. With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:
Historical person – Known as
1. Aryadeva – Jaina scholar
2. Dignaga – Buddhist scholar
3. Nathamuni – Vaishnava scholar
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
a) None of the pairs
b) Only one pair
c) Only two pairs
d) All three pairs
Correct Answer: c) Only two pairs
Question from UPSC Prelims 2022 GS Paper
Explanation :
Aryadeva – Incorrect Scholar Pairing
The pair of Aryadeva as a Jaina scholar is incorrectly matched. Aryadeva was actually a Buddhist philosopher and a disciple of the famous Indian Buddhist Nagarjuna. He is renowned for his contributions to the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) philosophy within Buddhism.
Dignaga – Correct Buddhist Scholar
Dignaga is correctly identified as a Buddhist scholar. He was a significant Indian Buddhist logician and philosopher, known for his work on logic, epistemology, and the philosophy of language. His work greatly influenced the development of Buddhist philosophy in India.
Nathamuni – Correct Vaishnava Scholar
Nathamuni is rightly matched as a Vaishnava scholar. He was a theologian in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism and is credited with reviving the Divya Prabandham, a collection of Tamil hymns sung by the Alvars, who were Vaishnava saints.
