Buddhism and Jainism Flashcards
when did buddhism and jainism emerge
6th century BC
What caused rise of buddhism and jainism
religious factors
1. religious unrest in india in 6th century BC
2. Complex and unnecessary rituals and sacrifices in LV
3. Sacrificial ceremonies too costly
4. Superstition confused people
5. Upanishads as an alternative to sacrifices was too philosophical
6. Sanskrit was the language of the elite
social factors
1. Rigid caste system generated tensions in society
2. Unequal status and power dynamics
3. Kshatriyas resented priestly domination
4. Even buddha and mahavira were from kshatriya origin
economic factors
1. Growth of trade led to better economic conditions of vaishyas but orthodox varna system did not allow better social status.
hence ppl needed a short and simple way to salvation
who created jainism
rishabhdeva
who was vardhaman mahavira
24th and the last tithankara of the jain tradition
who are Neminath and Parsvanatha
other tirthankaras of jainism
where was mahavira born and died
born in kundagram
died at rajagriha
what is the highest spiritual knowledge attained by mahavira called
Kevala gnana
who was called jina
mahavira
what are the teachings of mahavira
triratnas
- right faith- in mahavira’s teachings
- right knowledge- no god
- right conduct-
a not to injure
b not to lie
c not to steal
d not to acquire property
e not to lead an immoral life
who gave the doctrine of ahimsa
mahavira
what is the doctrine of ahimsa
regards all objects animate and inanimate as having souls of varying degree and consciousness
they possess life and feel pain when injured
even agriculture was sinful as it injures earth, worms and animals
Did jainism reject vedas
yes
what is the doctrine of asceticism and renunciation
starvation, nudity and self torture
how did mahavira spread his teachings
Organised SANGHA and admitted both men and women, and monks and lay followers
famous kings who patronised jainism
chandragupta maurya, kharavela of kalinga, Gangas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakuta
In what sects did jainism divide
Svetambaras [white clad]
digambaras [ sky clad, naked]
How did division take place in jainism
Famine in ganga valley
some monks led by Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta maurya came to Sravana Belgola in Karrnataka—– Digambara, practiced extreme
Others who stayed back in north india were led by a monk named Sthlabahu who changed the code of conduct—— Swetambaras, practiced moderation
when, by whom and where were jain councils held
1— Pataliputra, by Sthulabahu, Swetambaras leader, 300 BC
2— Valabhi, 500 BC, 12 Angas were completed
How many Jain councils are held
2
Where was gautam buddha born and die
born- Lumbini garden, kapilavastu
died- Kusinagara
which clan was siddharta from
Sakya clan
Bodh gaya significance
Bodhi tree under which buddha attained nirvana
What does buddha mean
the enlightened one
where did buddha give his first sermon
Sarnath
disciples of buddha
Sariputta
Moggallanna
Ananda
Kassapa
Upali
U-MASK
Which kings accepted buddhism
Prasenjit of kosala
Bimbisara and ajatashatru of Magadha
Kausambi
Ashoka
what did buddha concern himself with
Real life problems and and not metaphysical problems like god, soul and karma, rebirth
teachings of buddha
4 noble truths of buddha
- The world is full of suffering
- The cause of all suffering is desire
- If desires are get rid off, suffering can be removed
- This can be done by following the eightfold path
neither believes nor rejected
taught that soul does not exist
emphasized on Ahimsa
Purity of thought
emphasised on karma
Rationalised who explained with reason
against any social discrimination
Made buddhism more of a social revolution than a religious revolution
principle of social equality
taught the code of practical ethics, equally valuable in the present world
what does the 8 fold path consist of
Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.
Does Buddha believe in existence of god
neither believes nor rejected
how did buddhism spread
2 kinds of disciples
- Monks [bhikshus]
- Lay worshippers [upasikas]
the monks were organised into Sangha, membership was open to all [caste, men, wmn]. There was a special code for nuns restricting their residence and movement.
Buddhist councils
ORDER— GOOGLE TABLE TO MEMORISE
NUMBER - YEAR - VENUE - CHAIRMAN - PATRON - RESULT
1- 486 BC- Rajgriha- Ajatashatru [Haryanka dynasty] - Ananda composed the Suttapitaka (Buddha’s Teachings) and Mahakassapa composed the Vinaypitaka (monastic code).
2 - 383 BC - Vaishali - Sabakami - Kalasoka [Shishunaga dynasty] - Slit into Theravada [Traditional] and Mahayana [Liberalised]
3 - 250 BC - Pataliputra - Mogaliputta Tissa- Asoka of Mauryan empire - Abhidhamma Pitaka was composed
4 - 98 AD - Kundalvana in Kashmir - Vasumitra and Ashvaghosha - Kanishka of Kushan dynasty - division of Buddhism into two sects namely, Mahayana (the Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle)
5 - 1871 AD - Myanmar - Theravada monks - King Mindon - to recite all the teachings of the Buddha and examine whether any of them had been altered, distorted or neglected
6 - 1954 - Myanamar - Burmese Government - Prime Minister U Nu - construction of the Maha Passana Guha, the “great cave”, an artificial cave very much like India’s Sattapanni Cave where the first Buddhist Council had been held
Which buddism was preached by Asoka
Hianayana
differentiate between mahayana and hinayana buddhism
Mahayana sect believed in idol worship, rituals, and Bodhisattvas. They regarded the Buddha as God. Hinayana continued the original teachings and practices of the Buddha. They adhere to the scriptures written in Pali while the Mahayana includes Sanskrit scriptures as well.
Causes for decline of buddhism
- Revival of Brahmanism
- Rise of Bhagvatism
- Use of Pali [language of the masses] was given up and Sanskrit was adopted
- Idol worship after Mahayana buddhism
- Attack of Huns and Turkish destroyed monastries
Contribution of Buddhism to Indian culture
- Concept of Ahimsa
- Art and architecture. Stupas at sanchi, bharhut and gaya, cahityas and viharas
- Residential academies at Taxila, Nalanda and Vikramshila
- Development of Pali and other local languages
- Spread of Indian culture to other parts of Asia
Which language were tripitakas written in
Pali
