Consider the following statements:

1. Assertion (A): Harshavardhana convened the Prayag Assembly.
2. Reason (R): He wanted to popularise only the Mahayana form of Buddhism.

Options:

1. Both A and R are individually true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are individually true, but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
3. A is true, but R is false
4. A is false, but R is true

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Assertion (A) is correct because Harshavardhana held the quinquennial Maha Moksha Parishad at Prayagraj. However, Reason (R) is incorrect. The Prayag Assembly was primarily a large charitable and religious gathering where Harsha paid homage to Buddha, Surya, and Shiva on successive days and distributed donations to followers of different faiths, including Buddhists, Brahmanas, and Jains. The assembly specifically associated with promoting Mahayana Buddhism and honouring Xuanzang was the Kannauj Assembly. Therefore, the use of the word “only” makes the Reason factually incorrect

Answer: (c) A is true, but R is false