Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha? 1. Avanti 2. Gandhara 3. Kosala 4. Magadha Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Although King Pradyota of Avanti was a contemporary of the Buddha and invited him to visit, the Buddha never traveled to Avanti personally; he sent his disciple Mahakaccana to preach there instead. Statement 2 is Incorrect: Gandhara was located in the far northwest of the Indian subcontinent (modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan); the Buddha's travels and teachings were confined to the middle Gangetic plain, and he never visited Gandhara during his lifetime. Statement 3 is Correct: The Buddha spent a significant portion of his life in the Kingdom of Kosala, particularly in its capital Shravasti, where he delivered many discourses at the Jetavana monastery. His birthplace, Lumbini, was also associated with the Kosalan sphere of influence. Statement 4 is Correct: Magadha was central to the Buddha's life as he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and frequently preached at Rajgir, the capital of Magadha, under the patronage of Kings Bimbisara and Ajatashatru.