"Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects." The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?

Answer: B. The statement reflects a core belief of JAINISM. Jainism teaches that ALL things in the universe possess JIVA (soul/life). This includes not only animals and plants but also EARTH-BODIED beings (rocks, soil), WATER-BODIED beings (running water), FIRE-BODIED beings, and AIR-BODIED beings. The hierarchy is: - Five-sensed beings (humans, vertebrates) - Four-sensed (most flying insects) - Three-sensed (ants, lice) - Two-sensed (worms, leeches) - One-sensed (plants, earth, water, fire, air) — called STHAVARA jivas This radical universal soul-attribution is the philosophical basis for Jain AHIMSA (non-violence) which extends not just to animals but to all natural elements. Distractors: (A) Buddhism teaches anatta (no permanent soul), opposite of soul-everywhere. (C) Shaivism is theistic (worship of Shiva) but does not extend souls to rocks/water. (D) Vaishnavism focuses on Vishnu/Krishna devotion. Source: NCERT Class 12 Themes in Indian History Part I Ch 4 (Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings).