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What are the major branches of Buddhism?
Anga and Upanga
Pathachari and Paribrajaka
Hinayana and Mahayana
Swetambara and Digambara
Hinayana and Mahayana
The major branches of Buddhism are Hinayana and Mahayana, which diverged following the Fourth Buddhist Council held in Kashmir under the patronage of King Kanishka. Hinayana follows the original teachings of Buddha as a teacher, whereas Mahayana emphasizes the role of Bodhisattvas and treats Buddha as a divine being.
The major branches of Buddhism are Hinayana and Mahayana, which diverged following the Fourth Buddhist Council held in Kashmir under the patronage of King Kanishka. Hinayana follows the original teachings of Buddha as a teacher, whereas Mahayana emphasizes the role of Bodhisattvas and treats Buddha as a divine being.
The division into Hinayana and Mahayana occurred during the Fourth Buddhist Council, which took place at Kundalvana in Kashmir during the reign of the Kushana emperor Kanishka in the 1st century AD.
Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle) follows the Pali Canon and emphasizes individual salvation through self-discipline and meditation.
Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) evolved to include the worship of Buddha idols and the concept of Bodhisattvas who delay their own nirvana to help others.
A third branch known as Vajrayana (the Thunderbolt Vehicle) later developed in the 5th-7th century, incorporating Tantric practices.
Option A (Anga and Upanga) refers to the canonical texts of Jainism, not Buddhism.
Option B (Pathachari and Paribrajaka) refers to types of wanderers or monks in ancient India, not specific sects of Buddhism.
Option D (Swetambara and Digambara) are the two major sects of Jainism, reflecting differences in monastic discipline regarding clothing.
The split was largely solidified by the different interpretations of the Vinaya Pitaka and the nature of the Buddha.
C is correct тАФ Hinayana and Mahayana are the two primary traditional branches of Buddhism recognized in historical and religious studies.
Always contrast these Buddhist sects with Jain sects (Swetambara/Digambara) as examiners frequently swap these definitions in match-the-column questions.
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