Religious Movements

Question 1

Origin

Answer 1

Rigidity of Varna system
Tensions between castes
New Agrarian economy had concerns on the nature of animal sacrifices
Vaishyas wanted better social status

Question 2

Jainism

Answer 2

Originated by rishabhnatha (ayodhya born)-1st tirthankar

Question 3

Vardhamana Mahavira

Answer 3

24th and last tirthankar
Born in 540bc in kundagrama near vaishali.
Father Siddhartha, mother trishala.
Attained enlightenment at 42. Died at pavapuri near rajgir.
Called jina (great conqueror) and as such his followers are called jaina.
Taught the doctrine of ahimsa (non-violence) in Prakrit.

Question 4

Doctrines

Answer 4

5 vows:

Don’t commit violence
Don’t lie
Don’t steal
Don’t possess any property
Observe celibacy

Parsvanatha spoke of covering upper and lower body. But Mahavira proposed nudity.
Jainism didn’t condemn the caste system.

Karma can be rid of by asceticism and penance through renunciation and liberation. Open to all castes.

3 jewels of Jainism:
Right knowledge or samyak gyana
Right faith or samyak darshana
Right conduct of samyak charitra

Question 5

Philosophy of Jainism

Answer 5

Theory of syadvada/theory of conditional/theory of relativity of knowledge (no absolute answer to a question)

Dualistic metaphysics: conscious living (Jiva) and non-living being (ajiva)

Question 6

Spread of Jainism

Answer 6

Organisation in sanghas where men and women were allowed.
Preachings in Prakrit.
1st sermon @ rajgir
Spread to gujrat, Tamil Nadu, etc.

Question 7

Jaina Councils

Answer 7

1st (322-298BC) in Pataliputra under Sthulabhadra (compilation of 12 angas)

2nd (512AD) in Vallabhi under Devardhi Kshemashramana (12 lost angas compiled and 12 upangas created).

Question 8

Jaina Sects

Answer 8

11 disciples of Mahavira (1 remained: Sudharma who became the 1st Theda or pontiff).

2 factions were born. One left to South India (Digambara or sky clad) and the other remained in Magadha (Shwatambara or white clad).

Question 9

Jaina Contributions

Answer 9

Discarding Sanskrit and preaching in Prakrit (more accessible).
Jaina Literature (ardhamagadhi) resulted in the development of regional languages like sauraseni, Marathi, etc.
Later idol worship of the tirthankaras in west, central and south india.

Question 10

Jaina Literature

Answer 10

Agama:
Written in ardh magadhi
Sacred literature
For example: angas (12), upangas (13), prakirnas (10), chhedasutra (6), mulasutra (4)

Non-agama:
Commentaries and explanations of agama literature, independent work of scholars and ascetics
For example: kalpa Sutra by bhadrabahu, theravali by merutunga, Padma charita by vimala suri, antara katha by rajshekhara, parisistha parwan by hemchandra.

Question 11

Jaina Architecture

Answer 11

Earliest examples: caves (viharas) of odisha (khandagiri, udayagiri, hathi gumpha, ellora), etc.

Jaina temples at dilwara, rajasthan by solanki rulers of white marbles.

Ranakpura jaina temple attributed to tirthankara adinath built in chaumukh style (15th century).

Statue of gomateswara (bahubali) at dhravanabelagola at Karnataka and temples at gwalior, deogarh, khajuraho, chanderi, etc.

84ft talk statue of rishabhadeva at bawangaja (MP) in 12th century AD.

Question 12

Decline of Jainism

Answer 12

Lack of royal patronage
Easy living by monks
Jaina philosophy was too extreme
Division of Jainism.

Question 13

Buddhism

Answer 13

6th century BC
Started by Gautama Buddha

Question 14

Gautama Buddha

Answer 14

Siddhartha was born in 563BC
Born in a shakya clan at Lumbini near Kapilavastu (Nepal).
Father: Shuddhodhana
Mother: Maya
Brought up by Mahaprajapati Gautami
Enlightenment found under a pipal tree at bodh gaya where he was called Buddha (enlightened one).
First sermon: sarnath
Death: kushinagar, UP in 483BC

Question 15

Doctrines

Answer 15

4 noble truths:
Dukkha (the world is full of sorrow)
Samudaya (desire is the root of all sorrows).
Nirodha (Nirvana can be attained by conquering all desires).
Magga/marga (there is a path for the cessation of sorrows).

Nirvana can be attained by following the ashtangik marga (8 fold path):
Right observation
Right speech
Right livelihood
Right memory
Right determination
Right action
Right excercise
Right meditation

Madhyama marga is prescribed

Pratitya samudpada: cycle of birth and rebirth. Root cause is ignorance.

Buddha, dhamma and Sangha are the 3 gems of Buddhism.

Question 16

Spread of Buddhism

Answer 16

Egalitarian beliefs were attractive
Appealed to people outside Aryavarta (land of Aryans).
Usage of Pali made it accessible.
Entry into samgha was uncomplicated
Adoption of Buddhism by Ashoka was very crucial for its propagation.

Question 17

Buddhist Councils

Answer 17

1st at Rajgriha (484BC) under Ajatashatru and Mahakasshapa
2nd at Vaishali (383BC) under Kalashoka and Sabakami
3rd at Pataliputra (250BC) under Ashoka and Mogaliputta Tissa
4th at Kashmir (1st century AD) under Kanishka and Vasumitra

Question 18

Sects

Answer 18

Staviravada/Theravada: depiction of Buddhism is simple way. Buddha (God of gods). Practiced teachings of Buddha simply.
Sarvastivadina: believed in sabbam atthi (all things exist). Vasubandhu was the greatest exponent. Given in samyukta nikaya.
Mahasanghika: Buddha was superhuman according to them. Importance to Buddhas instead of arhats.
Hinayana: lesser wheel. Original teachings of Buddha. Salvation through self-discipline+ meditation. Only symbols, no idols. Southern.
Mahayana: greater wheel. Buddha as a great human. Idol worship. Buddha as an incarnation of God. Ideal of Bodhisattva for salvation was central. Northern.
Vajrayana: tantric. 7th century AD. Popular in Bengal, Bihar and Tibet.

Question 19

Causes of Decline

Answer 19

Ritualistic tendencies
Gave up Pali and took up sanskrit
Began accepting gifts and donations from kings
Corruption amongst monks
Persecution of monks by rulers like pushyamitra shunga, mihikula, etc. Shaivite ruler Shashanka of Goud cut off the Bodhi tree at Gaya.
Turkish invasions at monasteries which made monks leave for Nepal and Tibet.

Question 20

Significance and Impact of Buddhism

Answer 20

Keen interest in the problems of existing order.
Eliminating of wealth was stressed upon.
Code of conduct prescribed for monks against materialistic world, sexual desires, wealth, etc.
Sanghas accepted those who weren’t allowed in other faiths. For example, women, Shudras, etc.
Respect towards existing social order but empathized on an egalitarian outlook.

Question 21

Similarities and difference between the 2 religions

Answer 21

Jainism believed in soul. Buddhism didn’t.
Jainism practiced extreme austerity+ penance. Buddhism chose a moderate path.
Extreme non-violence in Jainism. Moderate/practical non-violence in Buddhism.
Faith and karma were believed in both.
Both were founded by 2 kshtariyas.

Question 22

Other heterodox religious movements

Answer 22

Ajivika:
Makkhali Gosala : proponent
1st disciple of Mahavira.
Every object in the universe is coordinated with fate and destiny.
Believed in karma, fatalism, extreme inactions.
Popular during Mauryan dynasty.

Unchedvadi:
Leader: Ajita Kesakambali (6th century BC).
Indian materialism.
No life after death.

Question 23

Bhagwatism

Answer 23

Post Mauryan
Bhagwat: one devoted to God
Cult of Vishnu
Worshippers called bhagawatas
Doctrine of incarnation/avatar of Vishnu (10).
Origin: mathura
Bhagawat purana popularized it.
Patrons: Heliodorus, huvishka, guptas, chalukyas, lakshamana sen of Bengal.

Attracted foreigners as it was liberal and its propagation of bhakti and ahimsa attracted agricultural society
Emphasized on bhakti, karma, jnana (to obtain moksha).
Idol worship was common.

Cults: vishishtadvaita, dvaita, shuddhadvaita, achintya Bhed Abheda, etc.

Question 24

Islam

Answer 24

Islam spread rapidly after the death of Muhammad in 632AD.
In 712AD, Arabs conquered Sindh and thus Western India came under the control of Muslim rulers.

Question 25

Terms related to Jainism and Buddhism

Answer 25

Avasarpini: descending orders of 6 periods of Jain cosmic cycle
Ajnanavada: jaina doctrine of agnosticism/scepticism. 67 types.
Anuvratas: 5 principles of Jainism (less stricter).
Dohakosa: last Buddhist texts produced in India
Dushama-dushama: 6th and last period of the Jain cosmic cycle (wretched)
Mahavratas: 5 principles of Jain monks
Posadha: fasting by jains on full moon and new moon.
Pavarna/Uposatha/upavasths: confession of offences by Buddhist monks
Prajnaparamita: collection of sutras (doctrine of shunya/nothingness)
Samachari: part of kalpasutra (Jain monks)
Susama-susama: 1st jaina cosmic cycle
Sanghathera/samgha parinayaka: he was elected president of the fortnightly Buddhist monk assembly.
Trisastisalaka Puruschscharita: longest poem by jaina scholar, hemchandra, containing deeds of 63 enlightened men (24 of which were tirthankaras)
Shramana: monk/ascetics
Theravali: second section of the jain kalpasutra containing a list of schools (aonas) and their leads.
Tathagata: one who has attained the truth.
Utsarpini: ascending order of Jaina cosmic cycle
Upasikas: Buddhist followers
Sallekhana/Santhara: Penance by starvation unto death.