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?

1. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Sthaviravadins (School of the Elders), the precursors to modern Theravada Buddhism, represent the more orthodox school that adhered strictly to the original teachings and monastic discipline. They are distinct from and often contrasted with Mahayana Buddhism, which emerged later with different philosophical interpretations and practices. 2. Statement 2 is correct. The Lokottaravadin sect was indeed an early Buddhist sub-school that originated as an offshoot of the Mahasanghika sect. The Lokottaravadins emphasized the supramundane (lokottara) nature of the Buddha. 3. Statement 3 is correct. The Mahasanghikas held views that differed from the Sthaviravadins, including concepts that elevated the status of the Buddha towards a transcendent, supramundane being. This tendency towards the deification of Buddha within the Mahasanghika school is considered a significant factor that fostered the development and eventual rise of Mahayana Buddhism, which prominently features the concept of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as objects of devotion. 4. Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct.