6TH HISTORY GREAT THINKERS AND NEW FAITH

Intellectual and spiritual development

• The period which is known as intellectual and spiritual development period = Sixth century BC.
• Important period in ancient Indian history = 6th century BC.

Shower of stars

• As a land mark period in the intellectual and spiritual development in India, historian Will Durant has rightly called it the “shower of stars”.

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6TH HISTORY GREAT THINKERS AND NEW FAITH

• What are the Jain religious texts = Angas.
• What are the Buddhist texts = Tripitakas and Jatakas.

Causes for the Birth of Buddhism and Jainism

• The complex rituals and sacrifices advocated in the later Vedic period.
• Expensive sacrificial ceremonies
• Superstitious beliefs and practices that confused the common man.
• Upanishads taught as alternative to sacrificial rites were too philosophical, which a layperson could not understand.
• Slavery, caste system, gender discrimination also contributed to the new awakening.

History of Mahavira

• Mahavir original name = Varthamana.
• Birth place of Mahavira = Kundhagram near Vaishali, Bihar.
• Mahavira’s father = Siddhartha.
• Mother of Mahavira = Trisala.
• Death place of Mahavira = “Pavapuri” in Bihar.

History of Jainism

• Jainism is a religion centered on 24 Tirthankaras.
• There are 24 Tirthankaras in Jainism.
• Who was the first Tirthankara of Jainism = Rishabha Devar called Rishbar.
• Last Tirthankara of Jainism (24th Tirthankara) = Mahavira.
• Jainism began to gain prominence in the sixth century BC under the guidance of Mahavira.

What is Jainism

• The word “Jain” is derived from which language = Sanskrit.
• The word “Jain” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Jina”.
• The meaning of the word “Jina” = conquering self and the outside world.

Mahavira

• Mahavir means = great warrior or the great hero.
• Varthamanar means = Prosperous.
• Varthaman was a Kshatriya prince.
• At what age did Mahavir adopt his asceticism = 30 years old.
• How many years Mahavira did penance = 12 and 1/2 years.
• As a result of 12 years of rigorous penance he attained the state of “Kevala” which is “infinite knowledge”.
• How Mahavira was called after attaining the stage of “Kaivalya” = Jina.
• The followers of Mahavira were called “Jains”.
• Which traditions Mahavira re-examined = Sramanic traditions.
• Mahavira developed new doctrines based on Ethan = Sramanic traditions.
• Founder of Jainism = Mahavira.
• True founder of Jainism = Mahavira.​

Jain religious teachings

• Jainism rejects the theory that God is the creator of the universe.
• Basic philosophy of Jainism = non-violence or ahimsa.
• The ultimate goal of Jainism = attaining Moksha (or) freedom from the cycle of birth-death-rebirth.
• Jainism denies “final judgement”.
• What is the final judgment = who will go to heaven? Who goes to hell? It means that God will decide.
• Jainism accepts that the welfare or quality of one’s life is determined by one’s karma.
• The Doctrine of Mhavira is called = “Karma”.

What is Karma

• The belief that a person’s actions in this life determine the quality of his or her later part of the current life and the next incarnation.

Mahavira’s Three Rathnas

• What Mahavira said for liberation from Karma = Triratnas or three Jewels.
• Fold path to attain Moksha = Triratnams or Three Gems.
• What are the three jewels mentioned by Mahavira?
  1. Right Faith.
  2. Right Knowledge.
  3. Right Action.
• What is moksha = liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Jain Code of Conduct

• Creator of Jain code of conduct = Mahavira.
• What are the rules of conduct of Jainism,

1. 1. Ahimsa – not to injure any living beings
   2. Satya – to speak truth
   3. Asteya – not to steal
   4. Aparigraha – not to own property
   5. Brahmacharya – Celibacy

Agama Sidhantha

• Chief disciple of Mahavira = Gautama Swami.
• Compiler of Mahavira’s teachings = Gautama Swami.
• Compilation of Mahavira’s teachings = book called Agama Sidhantha.
• Author of “Agama Sidhantha” = Gautama Swami.

Digambaras and Svetambaras

• Jainism is divided into how many sects = two sects.
• What are the two sects of Jainism = Digambaras and Svetambaras.

Digambaras

• Digambaras are orthodox and conservative followers.
• Monks belonging to the Digambara sect do not wear clothes. Live naked. Do not keep any possessions.
• Believed that women could not directly attain nirvana or liberation.

Svetambaras

• Progressive minded people.
• Wears white clothes (The jain monks who wear white clothes are called “Svethambaras”).
• Allowed to keep Rajoharana, begging vessel and book.
• What is Rajokarana = Small broom with wollen threads.
• Believe that women are equally capable of achieving liberation as men.

Reasons for spread of Jainism

• Jain ideas were expressed in the local language spoken by the people.
• Intelligible Teachings.
• Patronage of kings and merchants.
• Perseverance of Jain monks.

Influence of Jainism in Tamil Nadu

• Ancient Tamil literature refers to “Jain” as “Samanam”.
• There is a reference in the Tamil Epic “Manimekalai” that Aravor Palli is a place where Jain monks lived.
• The Tamil Epic “Silapathikaram” mentions that Kovalan and Kannagi accompanied them on their way to Madurai by the Jain saint Gownthiyadigal who blessed them.
• There were Jain monasteries at Puhar, Uraiyur, Madurai, Vanchi (Karuvur) and Kanchipuram.
• Places of Jain Monasteries in Tamil Nadu = Bukhar, Varayur, Madurai, Vanchi (Karuvur), Kanchipuram.
• Tirupparuthikunram, Siddhannavasal, Chitharal Hill Temples.
• Location in Chitharal Hill Temple = Kanyakumari District.

Samanar Hill

• Where is Samanar Hill (OR) Samanar Malai = In Keelakuyilkudi village near Madurai.
• At a distance of 15 km from Madurai city, there is a hill named Samanar Malai in Keelakuyilgudi village.
• Images of Tirthankaras created by Jain monks are found on this hill.
• It is a monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Pandavar Padukkai

• Where is the Pandavar Padukkai located = Kalinjamalai hill in a village called Aritapatti, 25 km from Madurai.
• There are Jain caves in a part of Kalinja hill known as Pandavar bed.
• Beds for Jain monks are known as Pandavar bed.

Jina Kanchi

• “Jina Kanchi” = Thiruparthikundram, a village in Kanchipuram called as “Jina Kanchi”.
• There are two ancient Jain temples in Kanchipuram village called Thiruparthikundram. This village was earlier known as Jina Kanchi.

Gautama Buddha

• Birth name of Buddha = Siddhartha.
• Birth place of Buddha = “Lumbini Garden” in Nepal.
• Father name of Buddha = Suddhodhana
• Mother name of Buddha = Mayadevi.
• Buddha’s step mother name = Gautami.
• Death place of Buddha = Kushi Nagar in Uttar Pradesh.

History of Gautama Buddha

• Founder of Buddhism = Gautama Buddha.
• Founder of Buddhism = Gautama Buddha.
• Birth name of Buddha = Siddhartha.
• Buddha was a Kshatriya prince. (Mahaveera was also a Kshatriya prince).
• To which dynasty did Buddha belong = Sakya dynasty.
• When Siddhartha was seven days old, his mother passed away.
• Who brought up the Buddha after his mother’s death = step mother Gautami.

Four Great Tragic Scenes

• At the age of 29 Buddha saw four great scenes of tragedy. They are,
  1. An uncared old man in rags with his bent back.
  2. An sick man suffering from an incurable disease.
  3. A man’s corpse being carried to the burial ground by weeping relatives.
  4. An ascetic.

Enlightenment of the Buddha

• Buddha means = Awakened or Enlightened One.
• Buddha’s age when he left the palace = 29.
• At what age did Buddha take up monasticism = 29 years old.
• He continued penance for six years.
• He realized that there was no use in self-mortification.
• At “Gaya” he sat under a Pipal tree and meditated.
• Under which tree did Buddha meditate = Pipal Tree.
• On which day Buddha attained “Enlightenment” = on the 49th day.
• From that moment he was known as “Buddha”.
• People called him “Sakya Muni” or “Sage of Sakya Clan” because he belonged to Sakya dynasty.
• Who is called as “Sakya Muni” = Buddha.​

Buddha’s first teaching

• Place of Buddha’s first teaching = Deer Park at Sarnath near Varanasi.
• How Buddha’s first teaching is called = Dharma Chakra Pravartana (or) Turning of the Wheel of Law.
• Dharma Chakra Pravartana = Buddha’s first teaching.

Buddha’s Four Noble Truths

• Life is full of sorrow and misery.
• Desire is the cause of misery.
• Sorrows and sufferings can be removed by giving up one’s desire.
• The desire can be overcome by following the right path (Noble eight- fold path)

Eight Fold Path

• Right view
• Right Thought
• Right Speech
• Right Action
• Right Livelihood
• Right Effort
• Right Knowledge
• Right Meditation

Teachings of the Buddha

• Buddha’s teachings were in the language spoken by the people.
• His teachings were about the daily life of the people.
• Buddha opposed rituals and vows.

Buddha’s main teachings

• Buddha’s teachings are referred to as ‘Dhamma’.
• Buddhism accepted the theory of Karma. (meaning that one’s actions determine the quality of one’s life).
• Buddha did not accept the existence of God. No denied. But he believed in Universe laws.
• Buddha emphasized that the ultimate goal of life is to attain Nirvana.
• Buddha advocated non-violence or ahimsa.
• Buddha rejected caste hierarchy.
• Wheel of Life – Represents the Buddha’s view of the world.

Buddhist Associations

• Buddha established societies (Sangha) to spread his ideas.
• The monks who were its members were called “Bhikshus”.

What is Chaitya

• A Chaitya is a Buddhist temple or Buddhist meditation hall.

What are Viharas

• Viharas are Buddhist monasteries (or) places where Buddhist monks live.

What is a Stupa

• A building built over the remains of Buddha’s body parts.
• These are artistic monuments.

Sects of Buddhism

• Buddhism is divided into two sects. They are,
  1. Hinayana
  2. Mahayana

Hinayana Mahayana

Hinayana	Mahayana
They do not worship idols or images of Buddha	Worshipers of the statue of Buddha.
Be simple.	Follow the rituals.
Purpose = salvation of individuals.	Purpose = salvation of all beings in the world.
Language used = Prakrit.	Language used = Sanskrit.
Hinayana is also known as “Theravada”. This sect spread to Sri Lanka, Myanmar and South East Asian countries.	Mahayana follows "Middle Way". This division spread across Asia, Tibet, China and Japan.

Causes for the Spread of Buddhism

• Teachings were in the language spoken by the people.
• Buddhism rejected elaborate Vedic rituals.
• It urged people to follow “Dhamma”.
• Buddhist societies played an important role in spreading the ideas of Buddha.
• Kings like Ashoka, Kanishka, Harsha supported the spread of Buddhism.
• Buddhist Viharas or monasteries served as great centers of learning. Nalanda is one of them. The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang stayed and studied there for many years.

Frescoes Paintings in Ajanta caves

• Frescoes on the ceilings and walls of the Ajanta caves in Aurangabad, Maharashtra – depict the Jataka Tales.

What is Middle path

• It refers to neither indulging in extreme attachment to worldly pleasure nor committing severe penance.

Similarities between Jainism and Buddhism

• Both Mahavira and Buddha belonged to the royal family. However, they rejected the royal family rights and chose the ascetic life.
• Basic philosophy of Jainism and Buddhism is ahimsa or non-violence.
• They denied the supremacy of the Vedas.
• Taught in the languages spoken by the people.
• Accepted all castes and women as disciples.
• They opposed blood sacrifices.
• They accepted the theory of ‘Karma’.
• Instead of attaining salvation by performing religious rituals, they said that right conduct and right knowledge are the means of salvation.

Difference between Jainism and Buddhism

Jainism	Buddhism
It followed extreme path.	It followed middle path.
It was only in India.	Spread to many parts of the world.
Jains do not believe in God. Believed that there is life in every living being.	Emphasizes the concepts of “ANATMA” (infinite soul) and “ANITYA” (impernance).

Buddhist Councils

• First Buddhist Council held at = Rajagriha.
• Second Buddhist Council held at = Vaishali.
• Third Buddhist Council held at = Pataliputra.
• Fourth Buddhist Council held at = Kashmir.

Influence of Buddhism in Tamil Nadu

• Buddhism spread in Tamil Nadu only after the spread of Jainism.
• One of the Tamil Epic “Manimekalai” is a Buddhist literature.
• Place mentioned in detail in Manimekalai = Kanchipuram.
• Places of Buddha Statue in Tamil Nadu = Kanchipuram District Pallaur and Nagapattinam.
• Kanchipuram is a famous Buddhist center. Dinnakar, a scholar of Buddhist logic and Dharmapala, a great scholar of Nalanda University, hailed from this town.
• In 7th century AD Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchipuram. He mentions seeing a 100 feet tall stupa built by Ashoka there.

Jataka Story

• The Jatakas are popular stories about the previous birth and life of Buddha, as human and as an animal. They teach morals.

 

 

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• 6TH HISTORY GREAT THINKERS AND NEW FAITH
• 6TH HISTORY GREAT THINKERS AND NEW FAITH
• 6TH HISTORY GREAT THINKERS AND NEW FAITH