Buddhism

Buddhism was started by Gautam Buddha who was also

known as Sakyamuni and Tathagata
Gautam Buddha was born in the year 563 B.C at Lumbini
near Kapilvastu district of Nepal on the day of the poornima
(full moon day)
His childhood name was Siddhartha
His father’s name was king Suddhodhana who was the ruler
of the Saka dynasty and the mother’s name was Mahamaya
who was the princess of the Kosalan dynasty
7 days after the birth of Gautam Buddha died and he was
brought up by his stepmother Mahaprajapati Gautami who
gave him the title of Gautam
In his childhood Gautam Buddha use to play with his horse
named Kanthak
At the age of 16 years Gautam Buddha was married with
extremely beautiful Yasodhara and had a son named Rahula
After seeing the sorrow of the world Gautam Buddha decided
to leave the pleasures of the life and start living the life of the
wanderer
At the age of 29 years he left home in search of salvation or
Nirvana and reached Vaishali where he became the disciple of
Alara Klama but he was not convinced by the teachings of
Alara Klama and he moved from there and became the
disciple of Udraka Ramputra
He wondered for 6 years and one day at Bodh Gaya under the
Peepal tree (bodhi tree) he attained the Nirvana or
Enlightenment at the age of 35 years
Tapasso and Mallic became the first disciple of Gautam
Buddha whereas Ananda was the most favourite disciple of
Gautam Budddha
Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath on the
topic “Dharmachakrapravartan” or Turning of the Wheel of
Law
In his last days of life he reached Vaishali where his disciple
named Kunda fed him pork due to which he died at the age of
80 years in the year 483 B.C at Kushinagar district Deoria in
the Malla republic. His death is known as Mahaparinirvana
Teachings of Gautam Buddha
Gautam Buddha gave four great truths of life
1. The world is full of sorrows and misery
2. The desire of human being is the main cause of his
sorrows
3. If there are no desires there are no sorrows
4. The desires can be conquered be Eight Fold Paths

Eight Fold Paths of Buddhism

Right Speech
Right Livelihood
Right Efforts
Right Thoughts
Right Actions
Right Remembrance
Right Concentration
Right Mindfulness
According to Gautam Buddha the person after following the
Eight Fold Paths is free from the cycle of birth, death and
rebirth is gained by following it.
Buddhist Literature
The Buddhist literatures were written in the Pali language
Vinay Pitaka
It deals with the laws of the Buddhist monasteries. It was
recited by Uppali in the first Buddhist council in the year 483
B.C
Sutta Pitaka
It is the collection of the Buddha’s sermons and it is divided
in 5 parts
Abhidhamma Pitaka
It deals with the life and the philosophy of the Buddha’s
teachings
Milindapanho
It deals with the conversation with the Greek king Menander
and the Buddhist Monk Nagasena
Tripitaka
It is the sacred book of the Buddhism
Buddhist Councils
First Council
The first council was held in the year 483 B.C at Saptaparni
caves near Rajgriha in Bihar under the chairmanship of king
Ajatshatru
In the first Buddhist Council the Vinaya Pitaka was recited by
Upali whereas the Sutta Pitaka was recited by Ananda
Second Council
The second council was held in the year 383 B.C at Vaishali
under the chairmanship of king Kalashoka

Third Council
The third council was held in the year 250 B.C at Patliputra
under the chairmanship of king Ashoka the Great
Fourth Council
The fourth council was held in the year 78 A.D at Kundalvan
in Kashmir under the chairmanship of king Kanishka
In the Fourth Council the Buddhism was divided into 2 parts
Hinayana and Mahayana.

Symbols Associated with Gautam Buddha

Birth- Lotus or Bull
Great renunciation- Horse
First Sermon- Wheel
Nirvana- Bodhi tree/ Peepal tree
Mahaparinirvana/ Death- Stupa
Jainism
Jainism was started by Rishabhdeva but it was propagated by
Vardhaman Mahavir
Vardhaman Mahavir was born in 540 B.C at Kundagrama
district Vaishali in Bihar
His father’s name was king Siddhartha who was the ruler of
Janatrik clan and mother’s name was Trishla who was the
sister of Lichavi prince Chetak of Vaishali
Vardhaman Mahavir was married with Yasoda and had a
daughter named Priyadarshani
Vardhaman Mahavir attained Kiavalya under the Sal tree in
the village of Jimbhigrama on the banks of river Rajupalika in
Bihar
After attaining Kaivalya his son in law named Jamali became
the first disciple of Vardhaman Mahavir
After attaining the Kaivalya he was called as Jaina or
Jitendriya and his followers were known as Jains
He was given the title of Arihant i.e. worthy
Vardhaman Mahavir died at the age of 72 years in 468 B.C at
Pavapuri near Patna in Bihar
There were total 24 Trithankaras(Teachers) in Jainism

NAME EMBLEM

1) Rishabha Bull
(Adinath)
2) Ajitnath Elephant
3) Sambhav Nath Horse
4) Abhinandan-Nath Monkey
5) Sumatinath Curlew
6) Padmaprabha Red Lotus
7) Suparshvanath Svastika
8) Chandra-Prabha Crescent
9) Pushpadanta Dolphin
(Suvidhinath)
10) Shitalnath Wishing Tree
11) Shreyamsanath Garuda
12) Vasupujya Buffalo
13) Vimalnath Boar
14) Anantanath Bear
15) Dharmanath Vajardanda
16) Shantinath Deer
17) Kunthunath He Ggoat
18) Aranath Fish
19) Malinath Waterpot
20) Munisuvrata Tortoise
21) Naminath Blue Lotus
22) Neminath Conch
23) Parshvanath Serpent
24) Mahavira Lion
(Vardhamana)

Teachings of Jainism
Non Injury- Ahimsa
Non Lying- Truthful
Non Possession- Aparigraha
Non Stealing- Asateya
These four teachings were given by Parsvanath and
Vardhaman Mahavir added the fifth teaching i.e. Chastity i.e.
the person should observe Brahamacharya.
There are 3 Ratnas (Triratna) in Jainism in order to attain the
Kaivalya
1. Right Faith- Samyak Darshan
2. Right Knowledge- Samyak Gyan
3. Right Conduct- Samyak Charitra
The philosophy of Jain teachings are based on the teachings of
the Parsvanath and Mahavira and are known as Anekantvad.
The philosophy of Jain teachings are
A.They do belive in existence of god but below Mahavir
B. They believe in universal brotherhood and equality for
all
C. They accepted the Vedas but rejected the vedic rituals
 D.They believe that Moksha is attained by believing in
penance and dying of slow starvation
Jain Councils
There were only two Jain Councils
The First Jain Council was held in 300 B.C and was held at
Patliputra under the leadership of Sthulbhadra.
The Second Jain Council was held in 521 A.D Century B.C
and was held at Vallabhi in Gujarat under the leadership of
Devaridhi Kshmasrampa It results in the final compilation of
12 Angas and 12 Upangas
The Jain literature were written in the Ardh Magadhi and the
Parakrit language
Sects of Jains
The strict religious practice of Jainism divided the Jainism
into two sects
Digambaras- Sky clad i.e. Naked
Svetambaras- White clad- They wear white clothes