Buddhism Quiz

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Dr. B.R. Ambedkar led the mass Buddhist conversion on 14 October 1956 at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, Maharashtra. This event marked a significant religious and social movement, making Maharashtra the state with the highest Buddhist population in India.

Notes:
Savita Ambedkar, wife of B. R. Ambedkar, was the first woman to accept Buddhism at the 1956 Deekshabhoomi mass conversion. An MBBS graduate and physician, she played a crucial role in Ambedkar’s life and the Buddhist revival movement in India.

Notes:
B.R. Ambedkar led mass Dalit conversions to Buddhism in Maharashtra in 1956, resulting in the state having India’s highest Buddhist population. Maharashtra’s 2011 census reports 5.81% Buddhists, with Ambedkar’s movement playing a key role in this demographic shift. Other noted Bhakti saints include Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, and Namdev.

Notes:
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar led a mass conversion to Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur, on 14 October 1956 with over 600,000 followers, significantly impacting the Dalit Buddhist movement in India. The event is commemorated annually as Dhammachakra Pravartan Din.

Notes:
Shantabai Dhanaji Dani, noted Dalit activist and writer from Maharashtra, converted to Buddhism alongside Dr. B. R. Ambedkar during the mass conversion event in 1956. This movement was pivotal in Dalit social transformation in Maharashtra. She also authored the autobiography “Ratradin Amha.”

Notes:
Nalanda Mahavihara, established in Bihar, flourished as a major center for Mahayana Buddhism, later accommodating Vajrayana studies. It attracted scholars from across Asia and held an extensive library. Supported by Indian and foreign rulers, its influence shaped Buddhist thought across the region for centuries.

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Naropa from Vikramshila was a key proponent of Vajrayana Buddhism, especially known for the Six Yogas of Naropa; his teachings significantly shaped the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

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Aṅgulimāla, once a feared brigand from ancient India, later became a disciple of the Buddha after his conversion. He is venerated as the patron saint of childbirth in Theravāda Buddhism, especially in regions like Bihar. His story exemplifies transformation and redemption.

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Buddhism spread in Gujarat during the Maurya Dynasty, especially under Emperor Ashoka, who patronized and facilitated its growth in the region.

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Mount Girnar in Gujarat, near Junagadh, is a sacred mountain revered in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, believed to resemble the face of a sleeping Lord Shiva, making it a significant pilgrimage site.