Stories that were used to spread ideas about Buddhism included:

Answer & Explanation

Answer: [D]

The Jatakas are a collection of stories that recount the previous lives of Gautama Buddha before his enlightenment. These stories often convey moral and ethical teachings and serve as allegorical tales to spread Buddhist teachings and principles.

Manimekalai is a Tamil epic from the post-Buddhist period that does not specifically promote Buddhism but includes references to Buddhist ideas and philosophy.

Panchatantra and Hitopadesha are ancient Indian collections of animal fables and moral stories that predate Buddhism. While they contain valuable moral lessons, they are not directly associated with spreading Buddhist ideas.

Therefore, the correct answer is D) 1 & 3 - Manimekalai and Jatakas.