Q. Who of the following was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha?
(a) Bhadrabahu
(b) Kalashok
(c) Parsvanath
(d) Vardhaman Mahavir
Ans: (d) Vardhaman Mahavir
Explanation: Among the given options, (d) Vardhaman Mahavir was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha.
Vardhaman Mahavir, also known as Mahavira, was the 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism. He was born in the 6th century BCE, approximately around the same time as Gautama Buddha, who was the founder of Buddhism.
Bhadrabahu was a prominent Jain monk who lived around 300 BCE, several centuries after Gautama Buddha’s lifetime. Kalashok was an emperor who ruled in the 3rd century BCE, also after the time of Gautama Buddha. Parsvanath was the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism, who is believed to have lived much earlier, possibly in the 8th century BCE.
Therefore, the correct answer is (d) Vardhaman Mahavir.
