Class – 6

Subject – History & Civics

Chapter – 3 of History ( and – Great Preachers )

Socio-Religious Conditions Before Mahavira and Buddha

Religion of early or Rig Vedic Aryans was simple and easy to follow. They worshipped the forces of nature and pleased their gods by ghee, milk, grains etc. Yajnas were performed by the head of the family in which all the members participated. However, in the later Vedic Age religion became complex and ritualistic. Complicated rituals became important and a purohit or priest became essential for the performance of yajnas. The yajnas became elaborate and sacrifices so expensive that they were out of the means of common man.

It was in this atmosphere that person like Mahavira and Buddha emerged. Both of them questioned the formalism of the Vedic religion and the monopoly of in religious ceremonies and practices.

Jainism

Jainism is believed to be as old as the Vedic religion. According to the Jain tradition, the teachings of Jainism were the work of 24 tirthankars or spiritual gurus. The first tirthankars was Rishabh Dev also known as Adi Nath. Mahavira was the twenty fourth and the last tirthankars.

Mahavira

Mahavira’s original name was Vardhaman. He was born at Kundagrama, now known as Basukund, in the modern district of Muzaffarpur in . His father ,Siddhartha, was the head of a clan and his mother was a Lichchhavi princess. No one is certain about his date of birth, but historians believe that he was born in 599 BC.

When he was thirty years old, he left home in search of truth. For twelve years he lived the life of an ascetic and practiced rigorous penance and deep meditation. In the thirteenth year of his asceticism, he attained true knowledge (Kevala ). Vardhamana came to be known as Mahavira and his followers came to be known as Jains.

Main Tenets of Jainism

• The Five Vows ( Ahimsa, , Asteya, Aparegraha, Brahmacharya)

• Belief in God

• or Salvation

• Rejection of Vedic Rituals and Yajnas

• To Treat People in an Equal Basis

• Belief in Penance Factors that Lead to the Growth of Jainism

• Simple doctrine of Mahavira attracted many followers.

• Mahavira used Prakrit, the common language of the masses, to propagate his teachings, instead of .

• Mahavira left behind a strong, organized religious order of Jains munis for the propagation of his doctrines.

• The missionary zeal of Jains helped in spreading Jainism all over the country.

Decline of Jainism

• Common people found it difficult to follow the severe penance and austerity advocated by Mahavira. Many hesitated to embrace Jainism because of its rigid principles.

• After Mahavira’s nirvana, Jainism was divided into two sects – Svetambaras and the . Such divisions made it impossible to continue any useful religious or social work among the people.

• After the fall of the Mauryan dynasty, a number of small dynasties came to power. Their rulers were Brahmins, under whom Brahmanism revived. The revival of Brahmanism was a great setback to Jainism.

Contribution of Jainism to Indian Culture

• Growth of Vernacular Language :- A major portion of the was written in Prakrit. In order to make it easy for the people to understand his teaching.

• Art and Architecture :- The contribution of Jainism to Indian architecture was praiseworthy. They built many rock-cut cave temples.

• Religion :- The principle of Ahimsa emphasized by Mahavira made a great impact on the sacrificial rites and yajnas of the Vedic religion. The teachings of Mahavira became so popular among the people that the practice of performing animal sacrifices was discontinued.

• Social Impact and the Welfare of Mankind :- Mahavira opposed rites, rituals and superstitious belief. The teachings of Mahavira led his followers to pay more attention to humanitarian services.

Buddhism

Life of :- In the 6th century BC India became the birth place of a popular religious movement known as . It was founded by a kshatriya price, Gautama. He was the son of Shuddhodhana, chief of the clan of Kapilavastu in the foothills of Nepal. Not much can be said with certainty, but mostly historians are the view that Gautama was born about the year 566 BC in near Kapilavastu. Even at a young age, his mind was inclined towards deep spiritual matters. He was not attracted to the luxuries of royal life. He was married to a very beautiful princess Yashodhara and had a son Rahul. However, the luxuries of the palace and the love and affection to his wife and son could not satisfy his heart.

The Great Renunciation

Gautama’s mind was set on finding a solution to the problems of human suffering and death. At the age of 29, he broke all his worldly ties and left his palace as an ascetic in search of truth. This event came to be known as the Great Renunciation.

Teachings of Lord Buddha

• Four Noble Truth ( sorrow, cause of sorrow, removal of sufferings, overcoming desires)

• The Eight Fold Path ( right faith, right thought, right action, right means of livelihood, right speech, right effort, right meditation and right contemplation)

• Theory

• Nirvana

• Existence of God

• Ahimsa

• No Faith in Caste System

• Emphasis on Character

Spread and Growth of Buddhism

Attracted by Buddha’s simple teachings many people joined the fold of Buddhism. There were many factors which led to the spread of Buddhism all over India and abroad :-

• Simple Teachings

• Simple Language

• Attack on the Institution of Caste

• Leadership of Buddha

• The Buddhist

• Royal Partronage

•

• The Buddhist Universities

Mahayana and Buddhism During the reign of Kanishka, the fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kashmir. Differences among the monks regarding certain practices and rituals had been going on for many years and could not be resolved. This led to the division of Buddhism into two sects – Hinayana ( the original Buddhism or lesser vehicle) and the ( the reformed Buddhism or the Great Vehicle). The Buddhist scholars , and Dignaga were the leaders of Mahayana Buddhism.

Difference Between the Two Sects ( Hinayana and Mahayana)

• Hinayanists belonged to the original sect. they looked upon Buddha as their teacher and guide and followed his simple teachings. The Mahayanists considered Buddha as ana incarnation of God while the Hinayanists did not.

• Hinayanists had no faith in idol worship. Buddha was represented only through symbols such as a pair of footprints or an empty seat. But the Mahayanists made idols of Buddha and worshipped them

• Hinayanists used for preaching their faith and for writing their sacred literature, as against Sanskrit which the Mahayanists used for their literature.

Decline of Buddhism

• Revival of Brahmanical

• Loss of Royal Patronage

• Spilt in Buddhism

• Corruption in Buddhist Sangha

• Adoption of Sanskrit

• The Turkish Invasion

Impact of Buddhism on Indian Culture

• Impact on Religion :- Buddhism offered a simple religion. It had no place for complicated rituals and ceremonies. The principle of Ahimsa, preached and practiced in Buddhism, became very popular. The Hindus also followed the practice of the Buddhists and built beautiful temples to worship their god and goddess.

• Impact on Literature :- The greatest contribution of Buddhism was its rich variety of religious literature in the language of the common people. Two centuries after the death of Buddha, his teachings were complied and called Tripitakas or three baskets.

• Impact on Education :- The Buddhist monasteries became great centers of learning. These centers of learning developed into famous universities – Nalanda, Taxila, Vikaramshila etc. they attracted scholars from many countries of the world.

• Impact on Art and Architecture :- The Buddhist viharas, temples and monuments were known for their beautiful carvings. The art was developed under Buddhist patronage. The numerous and pillars bear testimony to the Buddhist skill in the field of architecture.

Activities :-

Collect pictures of Buddhist and Jain monuments and paste them in an album.

Question & Answers :-

Ques-1) Name the first and the last Jain Tirthankar?

Ans- The first Tirthankar was Rishabh Dev, also known as Adi Nath and the last Tirthankar was Mahavira.

Ques-2) Why were the followers of Mahavira called Jains?

Ans- When Vardhamana attainted true knowledge,he came to be known as Mahavira (the great hero) or Jina and his followers came to be known as Jians.

Ques-3) What are Tripitakas?

Ans- Two centuries after the death of Buddha, his teachings were complied and called Tripitakas or the three baskets.

Ques-4) What was the point of difference between the two sects of Jainism?

Ans- Digambar Jains do not accept the liberation of a woman, in order to attain liberation, the woman needs to be reborn as a man. On the other hand, Shwetambers believe in the liberation of a woman from that birth itself.

Ques-5) Mention four great sights of Buddhism?

Ans- The four great sights in Buddha’s life were – an old man, a sick man, a dead body an ascetic.

Ques-6) What is known as the Great Renunciation?

Ans- At the age of 29, Gautama Buddha broke all his worldly ties and left his palace as an ascetic in search of truth. This event is came to be known as the Great Renunciation.

Ques-7) What are the of Buddhism?

Ans- The four noble truths of Buddhism are- 1) sorrow, 2) cause of sorrow, 3) removal of sufferings, 4) overcoming desires.

Ques-8) Mention the points of eight-fold path in Buddhism?

Ans- Eight fold-path of Buddhism consists of – (i) Right Faith,(ii) Right Thought,(iii) Right Action,(iv) Right Means of Livelihood,(v) Right Speech,(vi) Right Effort,(vii) Right Meditation,(viii) Right Contemplation.