RISE OF BUDDHISM AND JAINISM

Buddhism
It was founded by Gautam Buddha (Sakyamuni or Tathagat) known
originally as Siddhartha.
Buddhism stands on three pillars, which are as follow
• Buddha – The enlightened
• Dhamma – The doctrine
• Sangha – Order of Buddhist monks and nuns
Buddha’s Life
 He was born in 563 BC (widely accepted) in a sal groove of Lumbini garden in Kapilavastu. His
mother was Mahamaya (a Kosalan princess).
 Father’s name was Suddhodana (of Sakya tribe).
 Buddha’s name was Siddhartha and gotra was Gautama. His mother died after 7 days of his
birth and he was brought up by Mahaprajapati Gautami.
 Devadutta was his cousin. Buddha’s wife was Yashodhara and his son was Rahul. Buddha
chariot was Channa and favourite horse was Kanthak.
 He was moved by the misery, which people suffered in the world and looked for its solution.
He left home at the age of 29 and the incident came to be known as Mahabhinishkramana-
‘great going forth’.
 He first became a disciple of Alara Kalam. Kalam was the specialist of Samakhya philosophy.
 After sometime, he left Alara and joined Rudraka. From there, he went to Uruvela and
practised great penance.
 His conception of religion was purely ethical.
 Buddha got enlightenment under the pipal tree known as Bodhi tree at Gaya in Bihar.
According to Buddha, soul is a myth.
 He gave his first sermon at Sarnath (ancient name was Rishipattan). First sermon became
famous by the name of Dharma Chakrapravartan (or the turning of wheel of law).
 He spent his last days near Vaishali. At Pava, a man named Chunda fed him pork, after eating
it Buddha died of dysentery at the age of 80 in 483 BC.
 His death was known Mahaparinirvana i.e., final blowing out. In the outskirts of Kushinagar is
the capital of Mallas. His favourite disciple was Ananda.
Teachings of Buddha
Four Noble Truths (Arya Satyas)
• The world is full of sorrows Sabbam Dukham.
• The cause of sorrow is desire Dwadash Nidan/Pratitya Samutpada.
• Cessation of sorrow (Dukkha Nirodha).
• The path leading to the cessation of sorrow (Dukha Nirodhagamini
Pratipad) is the 8-fold path Ashtangika Marga.
The second truth, is based on Buddha’s doctrine of Paticheha samutpada or
Pratitya samutpada i.e., law of dependent origination or causation.

Eight-fold Path (Ashtangika Marga)

i. Right understanding ii. Right thought iii. Right speech
iv. Right action v. Right
livelihood vi. Right effort
vii. Right mindfulness viii. Right concentration
Three Jewels (Triratnas)
i. Buddha (the enlightened) ii. Dhamma (doctrine) iii. Sangha
(order)
Code of Conduct
i. Do not convert the property of others
ii. Do not commit violence
iii. Do not use intoxicants
iv. Do not tell a lie
v. Do not indulge in corrupt practices
Belief in Nirvana
Also known as moksha or salvation, it refers to belief in the concept of
ultimate bliss, whereby the person gets freedom from the cycle of birth
and death.

Belief in Ahimsa
Law of Karma and Madhya Marga/Madhyama Pratipada (the middle path).

Buddhist Councils
 First Council (483 BC) It was held at Sattapanni (Saptaparni) cave near
Rajagriha under the chairmanship of Maha Kassapa. Here Vinaya Pitaka and
Sutta Pitaka were compiled by Upali and Ananda respectively. Ajatshatru was
the king at that time.
 Second Council (383 BC) It was held at Vaishali. During the reign of Kalashoka,
the king of Shishunaga dynasty. The Chairman was Sabakami. The monk of
Vaishali wanted some changes in the rites. The council led to division into
Sthavirvadins and Mahasamghikas.
 Third Council (250 BC) It was held at Pataliputra during the reign of Ashoka (the
Mauryan ruler). This council was held under the presidentship of Mogaliputta
Tissa, to revise the Buddhist texts.
 Fourth Council (AD 72) It was held during the reign of Kanishka (the Kushana
ruler) in Kashmir under the presidentship of Vasumitra and Ashwaghosha.
Buddhism was divided into Hinayana and Mahayana.
Buddhist Sects
 During Kaniska time, buddhist religion clearly got divided between Hinayana
and Mahayana buddhism.
 Hinayana buddhism believes in original philosophy and ideologies of Mahatma
Buddha, whereas believers of Mahayana buddhism apart from believing in
Buddha also have faith in life and teachings of bodhisattva.
 Bodhisattva help others in attainment of nirvana. Nagarjuna propounded the
main tenets of Mahayana Buddhism.
 Vajrayana is a form of tantric buddhism that tends to favour fierce deities
and significantly expanded the bodhisattva pantheon. It employs mantras,
mandalas and other rituals.

Buddhist Literature
In Buddha texts, the most famous is ‘Tripitaka’, as mentioned below
 Vinaya Pitaka It contains the rules and regulations of monastic discipline for
monks. An account of the life and teaching of the Buddha is also given.
 Sutta Pitaka Few discourses delivered by many Buddhist scholars like
Sariputta, Ananda and others are given in it. It lays down the principles of
Buddhism. It is a collection of Buddha’s sermon and is divided into five
groups.
 Abhidhamma Pitaka Having the philosophy of Buddha’s teachings, it
investigates mind and matter to help the understanding of things as they
truly are.
Jainism
Jainism is one of the three major religions of early India. Its name derives from the
word Jina, meaning ‘Liberator or Victor’. There are 24 Tirthankaras, who are
considered to be the creator of Jain religion. Their path is to provide total fearless
life and that of non-violence and to distribute love and friendship. The first
Tirthankar was Rishabhadev, 23rd was Parshvanath and 24th was Mahavira.
Mahavira is considered as actual founder of Jain religion
Mahavir
 Vardhamana (Mahavira) was the 24th and last Tirthankara of the Jain tradition. He was born
in 540 BC at Kundagrama near Vaishali.
 His father Siddhartha was the head of a famous Kshatriya clan, and his mother was named
Trishala sister of the Lichchhavi Princess Chief Chetaka, whose daughter was wedded to
Bimbisara.
 At the age of 30, he became an ascetic and wandered for 12 years of his penance, he
attained the highest spiritual knowledge called Kevala Gnana. Thereafter, he was called
Mahavira and Jina.
 Mahavira attained Kaivalya (perfect knowledge) under sal tree, near village Jimbhikagrama
on the bank of the river Rijupalika.
 The followers of Mahavira were called Jains and his religion became Jainism, he preached his
doctrines for 30 years. He died at the age of 72 at Pavapuri near Rajgir in 486 BC.
 After the death of Mahavira, there was a serious famine in the Ganges valley at the period of
Chandragupta Maurya reign. This famine led the division of Jain into two sects i.e.
Svetambers and Digambaras.
 During famine many monk under Bhadrabahu, migrated to South alongwith Chandragupta
Maurya and came to Saravana Belgola in Karnataka. They maintained nudity and called
themselves as Digambaras (Sky-clad or Naked).
 On the other side, those who stayed back in North were led by Sthulabahu and allowed
wearing white garments and called themselves as Svetambers (White-clad).
 In Jainism, three Ratnas are given and they are called the way of Nirvana.
Right faith—Samyak Vishwas – Right knowledge—Samyak Gyan – Right conduct—Samyak Karma
Preachings of Mahavira or the Principles of Jainism
 Rejected the authority of the Vedas and the Vedic rituals. Did not believe in the
existence of God.
 Attainment of salvation (Moksha) by believing in penance and dying of starvation.
 Laid great emphasis on equality or universal brotherhood.
 There are five main teachings of Jainism, which are as follow
i. Non-injury (Ahimsa) ii. Non-lying (Satya)
iii. Non-possession (Aparigraha) iv. Non-stealing (Asteya)
v. Observe continence (Brahmacharya)
The first four principles were given by Parsavanath and fifth one i e. ., Brahmacharya was
added by Mahavira.

Jain Councils
 First Council was held at Pataliputra (Bihar) by Sthulabhadra, in the beginning of the
3rd century BC and resulted in the compilation of 12 Angas to replace 14 Purvas.
 Second Council was held at Vallabhi (Gujarat) in the AD 512 under the leadership of
Devardhi and resulted in final compilation of 12 Angas and 12 Upangas.
Jain Literature
The sacred books of the Jainas are known as Siddhanta or Agama. The six sacred books
of Jainas include
1. Twelve Angas 2. Twelve Upangas
3. Ten Prikarnas
4. Six Chheda Sutras 5. Four Mulasutras
6. Two Sutra Granthas
 It is written in Prakrit language or form of Prakrit called Ardhamagadhi.
Svetambaras believed in the first five literatures.
 Among the Jaina writers, the most important were Bhadrabahu (Kalpa-sutra),
Siddhasena, Divakara, Manibhadra, Siddha, Hemachandra (Parisista Parvan),
Nayachandra and Mallinath. The Jainas wrote narrative literature, poems, novels,
dramas and hymns.
MAHAJANAPADAS
During the age of Buddha, we find 16 large states called Mahajanapadas mentioned in
Buddhist text Angkuttar Nikaya. These Mahajanapadas were either monarchical or
republican in character

The Sixteen Mahajanapadas are:

Mahajanapada Capital Mahajanapada Capital

Kashi Varanasi Kuru Hastinapur, Indraprastha
and Isukara
Kosala Shravast Panchala Ahichatra and Kampilya
Anga Champa Matsya Viratnagar
Magadh Girivraj or Rajgriha Surasena Mathura
Vajji Vaishali Ashmaka Pratisthana
Malla Kushinagar and Avanti Mahismati
Pavapuri
Chedi Shuktamati Gandhara Taxila
Vatsa Kausambi Kamboja Rajouri, Hazara district