NCERT Class 12 History — Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE - 600 CE)

mcqeasy

Who among the following was the Buddha's foster mother and the first woman to be ordained as a bhikkhuni?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

AYashodhara
BMaya
CPunna
DMahapajapati Gotami

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is Mahapajapati Gotami.

Explanation

The question pertains to the biographical details of Gautama Buddha and the historical establishment of the Bhikkhuni Sangha (Order of Nuns). The admission of women into the Buddhist monastic order marked a significant social and religious development in ancient India.

Option Analysis

Yashodhara Yashodhara: She was the wife of Prince Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha) and the mother of Rahula. While she eventually joined the Sangha and became an arahant, she was not the first woman to be ordained.
Mahapajapati Gotami Mahapajapati Gotami: Correct. She was the younger sister of Queen Maya and the foster mother (stepmother) of the Buddha, having raised him after Queen Maya's death. She approached the Buddha at Kapilavastu and later at Vaishali to request ordination. After the intervention of Ananda, the Buddha permitted her entry into the Sangha, making her the first bhikkhuni.
Maya Maya: Queen Maya was the birth mother of the Buddha. She died seven days after his birth and was reborn in the Tushita Heaven. She did not live to see the establishment of the Sangha.
Punna Punna: In Buddhist literature, Punna refers to a slave girl who offered rice cake to the Buddha or a specific Theri, but she is not the foundational figure for the order of nuns.

Key Takeaway: Mahapajapati Gotami was the first woman admitted to the Buddhist Sangha, an event that occurred at Vaishali following the mediation of Ananda.

Your note

More from Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE - 600 CE)

With reference to the Jaina monastic vows, consider the following statements: 1. Jaina monks and nuns took five vows, including observing celibacy. 2. The vow to abstain from possessing property was optional for nuns. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the development of Mahayana Buddhism, consider the following statements: 1. It strictly prohibited the worship of images of the Buddha. 2. It introduced the idea of a saviour who could ensure salvation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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In Jaina philosophy, the cycle of birth and rebirth is believed to be determined by:

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James Fergusson, an early modern art historian, interpreted the site of Sanchi primarily as a centre associated with which of the following forms of worship?

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With reference to the preservation of the Sanchi Stupa in the nineteenth century, consider the following statements: 1. The French and English showed no interest in the Sanchi Stupa. 2. Shahjehan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum provided funds for the preservation of the site and the building of a museum. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Keep practising Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE - 600 CE)

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The correct option is Mahapajapati Gotami.

Explanation

Option Analysis

Yashodhara Yashodhara: She was the wife of Prince Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha) and the mother of Rahula. While she eventually joined the Sangha and became an arahant, she was not the first woman to be ordained.
Mahapajapati Gotami Mahapajapati Gotami: Correct. She was the younger sister of Queen Maya and the foster mother (stepmother) of the Buddha, having raised him after Queen Maya's death. She approached the Buddha at Kapilavastu and later at Vaishali to request ordination. After the intervention of Ananda, the Buddha permitted her entry into the Sangha, making her the first bhikkhuni.
Maya Maya: Queen Maya was the birth mother of the Buddha. She died seven days after his birth and was reborn in the Tushita Heaven. She did not live to see the establishment of the Sangha.
Punna Punna: In Buddhist literature, Punna refers to a slave girl who offered rice cake to the Buddha or a specific Theri, but she is not the foundational figure for the order of nuns.

Key Takeaway: Mahapajapati Gotami was the first woman admitted to the Buddhist Sangha, an event that occurred at Vaishali following the mediation of Ananda.