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Religious environment (600 BC - 400 BC)
The 6th century BC was the period of great religious upheaval or intellectual revolution. Of the various sects that emerged in this period Jainism and Buddhism were the most prominent.
This marked the beginning of second Urbanization in India also known as the age of the Buddha.
Jainism
- It was founded by Rishabhanath. He is described as an incarnation of Narayana in Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana.
- There were 24 Tirthankara’s (Guru) the first one was Rishabhnath (emblem-bull)
- Rig-Veda mention two Tirthankara’s- Rishabh Dev and Arishtanemi
- The 23rd Tirthankara was Parsavanath (symbol- serpent). He was the prince of Banaras, who abandoned the throne and led the life of a hermit. He died at Sammet Sikhar/Parasanath hill in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand.
- The 24th Tirthankara was Vardhaman Mahavira (Emblem-lion).
Life of Mahavira
Vardhman Mahavira or jina was born to Siddhartha (head of Jnatrika clan) and Trishla (Lichchhavi princess and sister of Chetak) in 540 BC at Kundalgram near Vaishali in Bihar.
- He was married to Yashoda and had a daughter Priyadarsena whose husband Jamali became his first disciple.
- Renunciation the age of 30 he became an ascetic and joined and order founded by Parsavanath but left it later. He wandered for six years with Goshala (founder of Ajivika Sect).
- Kaivalya (perfect knowledge) attained at the age of 42 under a Sal tree at Jimbhika gram in eastern India on the banks of the river Rijupalika.
- First Sermon at Pava to his eleven disciples known as Ganddharas. He also founded a Jain Sangha ar Pava
- Death at the age of 72 in 468 BC at Pavapuri near Rajagriha. Sudharma omly one of 11 Ganadharas who survived after the death of Mahavira.
- He became the head of a sect Nirgranthas later called as ‘Jinas’.
- He was called the Jaina or
- Jitendriya – one who conquered his senses
- Kevalin – perfect learned
- Nirgranthas – from all bonds (free from fetters)
- Arihant – blessed one
- Mahavira – the brave
Teachings of Mahavira
- Rejected the authority of the Vedas and did not believe in existence of God
- He believed that very object possesses a soul so he professed strict non-violence
- Attainment of salvation by believing in penance and dying of starvation
- Universal brotherhood and non-belief in caste system
- He beliefs in karma and transmigration of soul.
Jaina Philosophy
Syadavada all our judgments are necessarily relative, conditional and limited. It is the theory of ‘may be’ and seven modes of prediction are possible absolute affirmation and negation is wrong.
Anekantavada Doctrine of mayness of reality.
Three Ratnas (Way to Nirvana)
- Right faith – samyak vishwas
- Right knowledge – samyak jnan
- Right conduct – samyak karma
Five Cardinal principles
- Non – injury (Ahimsa)
- Non- lying (Satya)
- Non – stealing (Asteya)
- Non – possession (Aparigraha)
- Observing celibacy (Brahmacharya)
Manavratas – monks who observed the five principles
Anuvratas lay members who observed the five principles
The first four principles were given by Parsavanath, while the fifth was added later by Lord Mahavira.
Sects of Jainism
Following the demise of Mahavira under the rule of King Chandragupta Maurya, a profound famine resulted in a significant migration of Jaina monks from the Ganga valley to the Deccan region. This migration resulted in a significant division within Jainism. Bhadrabahu, the leader of the emigrant, insists on maintaining the practice of nudity, which led Mahavira to establish the Digambara sect. On the other hand, Sthulabhadra, the leader of the monks who stayed in the North, permitted his followers to wear white garments, known as the Svetambaras.
Jain Church
Arya Sudharaman one of the disciple of Mahavira became the Thera (Potiff) of Jaina Church after his death. Later he was succeeded by Jambu, Sambhutavijaya and Bhadrabahu.
Spread of Jainism
In later times Jainism was chiefly concentrated in two regions
Gujarat and Rajasthan – Svetambara sect
Mysore – Digambara sect
Importance of Jainism
It led to the growth of many regional languages like Suraseni, out of which grew the Marathi, Gujarati, Rajasthani and Kannada
Caused behind the Decline of Jainism
- Extreme observance of ahimsa, penance and austerity
- Non patronage from later kings
- The Jainas did not make any efforts to spread their religion
Buddhism
Founded by Gautama Buddha also called Sakyauni or Tathagata known originally as Siddhartha.
The Gautam Buddha
- He was born into the Kshatriya clan on the day of Vaiskha Purnima in 563 BC in the city of Lumbini.
- As a child, he was raised by his stepmother Gautami after his mother Mahamaya died seven days after giving birth. His father Suddhodhana was the king of the Saka people.
- Married at 16 to Yashodhara, he enjoyed 13 years of marriage and had a son named Rahul.
- Great Renunciation or Mahabhinishkramana ar the age of 29 years after witnessing four scenes in a sequence (old man, sick man, dead body and an ascetic).
- Nirvana or enlightenment at 35 years of age at Uruvella (Bodh Gaya) under a pipal tree on the banks of Niranjan River on the 49th day of meditation
- First Sermon or Dharmachakre Pravartana at Sarnath where his five disciples had settled
- Death at the age of 80 years in 483 BC at Kusinagar in UP in the Malla republic
Major events of Buddha’s Life
Events - symbols
- Janma – lotus and Bull
- Mahabhinishkramana – Horse
- Nirvana – Bodhi tree
- Dhramachakra pravartana – wheel
- Mahaparinirvana (death) – stupa
Teachings of Buddha
Four noble truths - Arya Satyas
- The world is full of sorrows
- The cause of sorrow is desire
- By conquering desires, one can eliminate all sorrows.
- This can be achieved by following the 8- fold path
The 2nd fact is established on Buddha’s doctrine of Paicheha Samutpada or Pratitya Samutpada i.e. law of dependent origination or causation
- Right-fold path - Ashtangika Marga
- Right understanding
- Right thought
- Right speech
- Right action
- Right means of livelihood
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness awareness
- Right concentrations meditation
Three jewels - Triratnas
- Buddha – the enlightened
- Dhamma – Doctrine
- Sangha – order
Code of conduct
- Do not cover the property of others
- Do not commit violence
- Do not use intoxicants
- Do not speak a lie
- Do not indulge in corrupt practices
Belief in Nirvana
Also known as moksha or salvation. It refers to a belief in the concept of ultimate bliss whereby the person gets freedom from the cycle of birth and death
Belief in Ahimsa
Laws of Karma and Madhya Marga/Madhyama Pratipada (the middle path)
Sects of Buddhism
Vajrayana
Its followers believed that salvation could be attained by magical power which they called Vajra
The chief divinity of the sect is Taras. Bengal and Bihar was the main area of its concentration
- Hinayana – the lesser vehicle
- Mahayana – the greater vehicle
Buddhist Scriptures
Hinayana Literature – in Pali
Vinaya Pitaka rules of monastic discipline for monks
Sutta Pitaka collection of Budda’s sermon
Abhidhamma Pitaka Philosophies of Buddha’s teachings
Caused of the Decline of Buddhism
- Incorporation of rituals and ceremonies it originally denounced
- Reform in Brahamanism and rise of Bhagavatism
- Buddhists took up the use of Sanskrit started practicing idol worship receiving offerings and huge donation
Important of Buddhism
- Promotion of trade and commerce
- Stressed upon the Doctrine of Ahimas
- Improvement in condition of women and down trodden sections
- Spreads of Indian culture to other parts of Asia
- Promotion of Pali language and education through Residential Universities
Spread of Buddhism
Mahayanism in central Asia, china and Japan, Hinayanism in Ceylon, Thailand and other parts of South- East Asia
King Ashoka sent Buddhist mission under his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka
Kanishka was the patron of Mahayana sect of Buddhism
Bodhisattvas
Vajrapani : like Indra he holds a thunderbolt foe of sin and evil.
Avlokitesvara : also called Padmapani – kind hearted
Manjushri : he holds book descrbing 10 paramitas
Maitreya : the future Buddha
Kshitigriha : guardian of purgatories
Amitabha : Buddha of heaven
