5. RISE OF JAINISM AND BUDDHISM (6th century BCE)

5. RISE OF JAINISM AND BUDDHISM (6th century BCE)

5.1 Background — Causes for Rise of New Religions

• Complex Vedic rituals, animal sacrifices, and Brahmanical dominance created discontent.
• Rigid caste system, especially oppressive for Vaishyas (traders, who had wealth but low status) and lower castes.
• Rise of new agrarian/trade economy (use of iron, growth of towns) needed simpler ethical systems.
• Both religions arose in the Magadha region and did not accept Vedic authority or caste-based rituals; both emphasized non-violence (Ahimsa) and simple living.

5.2 Jainism

• 24 Tirthankaras — Jainism doesn't claim to be founded newly but "revived"; first Tirthankara: Rishabhanatha (Adinatha); 23rd Tirthankara: Parshvanatha (historical figure, taught 4 vows: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha).
• 24th and last Tirthankara: Mahavira (real name Vardhamana).
  • Born: c. 540 BCE, at Kundagrama (near Vaishali), father Siddhartha (Kshatriya chief of Jnatrika clan), mother Trishala.
  • Married Yashoda; left home at age 30 for asceticism.
  • Attained Kaivalya (omniscience) at age 42, under a Sal tree at Jrimbhikagrama, on the bank of river Rijupalika.
  • Added the 5th vow: Brahmacharya (celibacy) to Parshvanatha's four vows — together called Panchamahavrata.
  • Died/attained Nirvana (Moksha) at Pavapuri at age 72, c. 468 BCE.
• Core teachings:
  • Triratna (Three Jewels): Right Faith (Samyak Darshana), Right Knowledge (Samyak Gyana), Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra).
  • Belief in Anekantavada (many-sidedness of truth) and Syadvada.
  • Does not believe in God as a creator; believes in karma and rebirth; extreme emphasis on non-violence (led to no agriculture practice among strict Jains, since it involves killing organisms in soil).
  • Ultimate goal: Moksha through asceticism, penance, and non-attachment.
• Split: After Mahavira, Jainism split into:
  • Digambara ("sky-clad") — believe in complete nudity for monks, stricter.
  • Shvetambara ("white-clad") — wear white garments.
  • Split traditionally linked to a famine during Chandragupta Maurya's time, led by Bhadrabahu (Digambara) migrating south, while Sthulabhadra stayed north (Shvetambara).
• Councils: 1st Jain Council at Pataliputra (under Sthulabhadra); 2nd at Vallabhi (under Devardhi Kshamashramana) — compiled the 12 Angas.
• Royal Patrons: Chandragupta Maurya (became a Jain monk in later life, died at Shravanabelagola), Kharavela of Kalinga.
• Spread: Mainly in western India (Gujarat, Rajasthan) and Karnataka (Shravanabelagola — Gomateshvara statue).

5.3 Buddhism

• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha, "the enlightened one").
  • Born: c. 563 BCE at Lumbini (near Kapilavastu, in present-day Nepal), to Shuddhodhana (chief of Shakya clan) and Maya Devi (died 7 days after his birth; raised by stepmother Mahaprajapati Gautami).
  • Married Yashodhara; son Rahula.
  • The Four Sights that led to renunciation: an old man, a sick man, a dead body, and an ascetic.
  • Mahabhinishkramana ("The Great Renunciation") — left home at age 29.
  • Practiced severe asceticism (under teachers Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta) — found it futile; adopted the Middle Path.
  • Attained enlightenment (Nirvana/Bodhi) at age 35 under a Peepal (Bodhi) tree at Bodh Gaya, on the bank of river Niranjana.
  • Delivered his first sermon ("Dharmachakrapravartana" — turning the wheel of law) at Sarnath (near Varanasi), to his five former companions.
  • Died/attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar at age 80, c. 483 BCE.

Four Noble Truths (Arya Satya):

1. The world is full of suffering (Dukkha).
2. Suffering has a cause (Samudaya — desire/craving, "Trishna").
3. Suffering can be ended (Nirodha).
4. There is a path leading to the cessation of suffering (Marga).

Eightfold Path (Ashtangika Marga) — the "Middle Path" between luxury and extreme asceticism: Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.

Other Core Concepts:

• Three Jewels (Triratna) of Buddhism: Buddha, Dhamma (teaching), Sangha (community/order).
• Belief in impermanence (Anicca), non-self (Anatta), karma and rebirth; rejected Vedic authority, rituals, caste system, and the concept of a permanent soul (differing from Jainism/Hinduism here).
• Practical, ethical teaching in Pali (language of common people), not Sanskrit.

Symbols associated with Buddha's life (commonly asked):

Event	Symbol
Birth	Lotus and Bull
Renunciation	Horse
Enlightenment	Bodhi Tree
First Sermon	Wheel (Dharmachakra)
Death (Nirvana)	Stupa/Footprint

Buddhist Councils:

Council	Time	Place	Patron	Presided by	Key Outcome
First	c. 483 BCE	Rajgir (Sattapani cave)	Ajatashatru	Mahakassapa	Compilation of Sutta Pitaka and Vinaya Pitaka
Second	c. 383 BCE	Vaishali	Kalasoka	Sabakami	Split into Sthavira and Mahasanghika
Third	c. 250 BCE	Pataliputra	Ashoka	Moggaliputta Tissa	Compilation of Abhidhamma Pitaka; Tripitaka finalized
Fourth	1st-2nd century CE	Kashmir (Kundalvana)	Kanishka	Vasumitra	Split into Hinayana and Mahayana

Buddhist Texts: The Tripitaka ("Three Baskets") — Sutta Pitaka (Buddha's sermons/discourses), Vinaya Pitaka (monastic discipline/rules), Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophy/metaphysics). Also Jataka tales (stories of Buddha's previous births).

Sects:

• Hinayana ("Lesser Vehicle") — orthodox, believes Buddha as a teacher/guide, no idol worship, individual salvation, Pali texts.
• Mahayana ("Greater Vehicle") — developed later, believes Buddha as a God/saviour, idol worship begins, Sanskrit texts, universal salvation (Bodhisattva concept). Promoted strongly by Kanishka.
• Vajrayana — tantric form, developed later, particularly in Bihar, Bengal, Tibet.

Spread of Buddhism: Patronized heavily by Ashoka (sent missionaries across Asia — his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitra took Buddhism to Sri Lanka) and later Kanishka. Major centers: Nalanda, Taxila, Vikramashila (as later monastic universities).

Reasons for the decline of Buddhism in India: revival of Brahmanism/Bhakti movements, loss of royal patronage after Harsha, internal divisions/corruption in Sangha, Islamic invasions destroying monasteries (e.g., Nalanda), absorption of Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu into Hinduism.

Key Facts / Quick Revision — Jainism and Buddhism

Aspect	Mahavira (Jainism)	Buddha (Buddhism)
Birthplace	Kundagrama (near Vaishali)	Lumbini
Enlightenment place	Jrimbhikagrama	Bodh Gaya
First Sermon	Pava (approx.)	Sarnath
Death place	Pavapuri	Kushinagar
Birth year (approx.)	540 BCE	563 BCE
Death year (approx.)	468 BCE	483 BCE
Clan	Jnatrika (Kshatriya)	Shakya (Kshatriya)

• Mahavira and Buddha were contemporaries; both rejected Vedic rituals and caste rigidity, both attracted trading class (Vaishyas) support
• Jainism split: Digambara and Shvetambara; Buddhism split: Hinayana and Mahayana
• Language of early Buddhist texts: Pali; of Jain texts: Prakrit (Ardhamagadhi)
• Nalanda, Taxila, Vikramashila = major ancient centers of Buddhist learning

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