Great Thinkers & New Beliefs

Question 1

Explain why the common people in the Later Vedic period were discontent. (3 marks)

Answer 1

• Elaborate, expensive rituals: Vedic Religion lost its simplicity - focus now on expensive rituals conducted with money collected from people as taxes - burden on common people immense
• Rigid caste system: Varna system - no longer flexible - decided by birth, not occupation - power of priestly class increased - was believed that prayers & rituals are fruitful only if they were performed by priests
• Language: Religious texts, hymns composed in Sanskrit - common people only understood & spoke Prakrit - common people had no access to religious texts

Question 2

What were some of the main teachings of the Upanishads? (4 marks)

Answer 2

• Soul (atman) - part of all living beings - survives even after body dies
• Person can reach god through bhakti (personal devotion to god) - could be done without help of priests or rituals.
• Karma - what we experience in our present life is a result of our past actions
• Yoga, meditation

Question 3

Explain the life of Vardhamana Mahavira from when he was 30 years old till his death.

Answer 3

• Vardhamana - age 30 - renounced family ties - search for truth about life & death - spent 12 long years in prayer, penance - attained enlightenment - came to be known as Jina or Mahavira - spent remaining years of his life spreading his teachings to many followers
• Mahavira - preached in Prakrit (language of common people) - died in Pava, present-day Uttar Pradesh - around 527 BCE

Question 4

What were the teachings of Mahavira?

Answer 4

Teachings of Mahavira

• ahimsa (absolute non-violence towards all animals, insects, birds & plants)
• honesty
• kindness
• truthfulness
• not coveting or desiring others’ things
• Emphasis on attainment of nirvana (freedom from cycle of life & death) - possible if free from karma (destiny)
• One could rise above karma by leading good, disciplined life
• nirvana can be attained by practising triratna (three jewels) - right faith, right knowledge, right action
• Mahavira - not believe in caste system - all humans equal - not lay emphasis on need for good or rituals for moral life

Question 5

Explain about the 2 groups of Jains

Answer 5

• Digambaras - not wear clothes - sky-clad (meaning of digambara)
• Svetambaras - wore white garments
• Svetambaras, digambaras follow different sets of scriptures
• Svetambara Jainism - more widespread

Question 6

Explain the spread of Jainism

Answer 6

Jain monks - spread Mahavira’s teachings around India - important centres in Odisha, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu - not spread as quickly or as far as Buddhism as Mahavira’s insistence on absolute non-violence made it more difficult for ordinary people - Jain followers built temples, monasteries

Question 7

Explain Buddha’s life from his birth till his death

Answer 7

• Siddhartha - born in Lumbini, Nepal - born around 6th century CE - father Suddhodana was a chieftain of Shakya Clan - mother was Mayadevi - Siddartha was married to Yashodhara in his youth - son, Rahula
• Siddartha - 29 years old - ride to royal park - saw 4 sights- changed his life forever - saw an old man, sick man, & corpse (Dead body) - deeply saddened by suffering seen - finally saw an ascetic -struck by peace on his face - prince decided to leave his family - search for truth & meaning of life
• Siddhartha - wandered for years - life of great austerity
• Gaya - sat under pipal tree - sank into deep meditation - 49 days
• Siddhartha - year 528 BCE - attained enlightenment - came to be known as Buddha (the enlightened one)
• Buddha - first sermon - deer park at Sarnath, near Varanasi - spoke doctrine of the four noble truths - constitute essence of his teachings
• For 40 years after enlightenment - Buddha travelled around the country - preaching about how to rid lives of suffering & pain - achieve nirvana
• Buddha died - around 483 BCE - Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh

Question 8

What were the Four Noble Truths?

Answer 8

The four noble truths -

• Life is full of suffering
• This suffering is caused by desire or craving
• Getting rid of desires & wants will lead to peace
• Such an end to desire and suffering can be attained by following the Noble Eight-fold Path

Question 9

What is the Noble Eight-fold Path (Middle Path)?

Answer 9

Noble eight-fold Path or Middle Path

1. Right understanding
2. Right thought
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right contemplation or concentration

Question 10

Compare the 2 groups of Buddhism

Answer 10

• Mahayana buddhists - made images of Buddha - worshipped them - started performing rituals
• Theravada buddhists - believed this to be against teachings of Buddha - believed nirvana achieved only by following Middle Path & the Four Noble Truths