With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism.
2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.
3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Sthaviravadins (elders) were an early conservative monastic branch that broke away during the Second Buddhist Council. They are the direct ideological ancestors of the Theravada (Hinayana) school, which adheres strictly to the original Pali Canon, not Mahayana Buddhism.
Statement 2 is correct: The Lokottaravada school was an early sub-sect and direct offshoot of the Mahasanghikas, which originated in the Andhra-Vidarbha region.
Statement 3 is correct: The Mahasanghikas were pioneers in attributing supramundane (lokottara), omniscient, and transcendental attributes to the Buddha, viewing the historical Gautama as a transcendent apparition. This deification of the Buddha served as the direct theological bridge leading to the emergence of full-fledged Mahayana Buddhism.
Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct — Option B.