GROWTH OF

BUDDHISM
&
JAINISM
1

By Tarun Goyal
 Causes of New Movement

• The Vedic rituals were expensive and the sacrifices prescribed

were very complicated and had lost their meaning.
• The caste system had become rigid (both Buddhism &
Jainism offered the depressed ones an honorable place).
• Supremacy of Brahmins created unrest.
• All the religious text was in Sanskrit, which was not
understandable to the masses.

2
The Kshatriyas’ reaction against domination of the
Brahmanas
The post Vedic society was clearly divided into four varnas :
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
Kshatriyas (who functioned as rulers and warriors) were ranked
second in the varna hierarchy. They reacted strongly against the
ritualistic domination of the Brahmanas and the various privileges
enjoyed by the priestly class such as receiving gifts and exemption
from taxation and punishment.
It is rather unsurprising that both Buddha and Mahavira, who
strongly disputed the authority of the Brahmanas, belonged to the
Kshatriya varna.
Equally interesting is the fact that Buddhist Pali texts frequently
reject the Brahmanical claim to innate superiority and reverses the 3
Brahmanical order of rank, thus placing Kshatriyas higher than the
Brahmanas.
Rise of New Agricultural Economy which demanded Animal
Husbandry
In the 6th century BCE, the centres of economic and political activity shifted
from Haryana and Western UP to Eastern UP and Bihar, which had more
rainfall and more fertile land.
Since it was now easier to exploit the iron ore resources of Bihar and
adjoining areas, people started using more and more iron tools and
ploughshare to clear the thick forest cover and cultivate the hitherto
unexplored areas.
The agricultural economy based on iron ploughshare required the use of
bullocks, and thus could only flourish with animal husbandry. But the Vedic
practice of animal sacrifice resulted in killing of cattle indiscriminately and
stood in the way of the progress of the new agricultural economy.
Thus, for the stability and prosperity of the new agrarian economy, this
slaughtering of animals had to be stopped. Since both Buddhism and 4
Jainism advocated non-violence and were strongly against any form of
sacrifices, they were found promising to the peasant masses.
Patronising of Buddhism/Jainism by Vaishya and other Mercantile
groups who wanted Better Social Status and a Reign of Peace
Sixth century BCE is known as the era of second urbanization in the
Indian subcontinent. Expansion of agriculture resulted in improved food
supply and helped in the development of craft production, trade, and
urban centres.
The development of trade is reflected in the discovery of thousands of
silver and copper Punch Marked Coins (PMC).
More than 60 towns and cities such as Pataliputra, Rajagriha, Shravasti,
Varanasi, Vaishali, Champa, Kaushambi and Ujjain developed between
600 and 300 BCE.
These cities became centres of craft production and trade and were
inhabited by large number of artisans and merchants.
This general economic progress led to the rise of the Vaishyas and other 5
mercantile groups, who wanted better social position then what the
Brahmanas gave them.
Since Buddhism and Jainism did not attach any importance to the existing
varna system, Vaishyas preferred to patronise non-Vedic religion like
Buddhism and Jainism through substantial donations.
Also, both Buddhism and Jainism preached the gospel of non-violence,
which could put an end to wars between different kingdoms, and
consequently promote further trade and commerce, which was beneficial for
this economic class.
Ready acceptance of simple, ascetic, peace-centred Principles of
Buddhism and Jainism
The improvement in agriculture and development of trade and urbanisation
had an impact on the society as well. Due to these changes, traditional
equality and brotherhood gave way to inequality and social conflict.
People wanted some kind of reprieve from the existing social problems like
violence, cruelty, theft, hatred and falsehood. Common people yearned to
return to simple, primitive and uncorrupt life. 6
Therefore, when new religion preached the concept of peace and social
equality, simple and puritan ascetic living, people welcomed it.
Early Buddhist Literature
Our understanding of Gautam Buddha and various other facets of
Buddhism is derived mostly from early Buddhist literature, which is
generally divided into canonical and non-canonical text.
Canonical texts are those that are directly linked to Gautam Buddha
in one way or another. However, differences exist among various
Buddhist schools as to which texts are canonical. They can simply be
understood as books which lay down the basic tenets and principles
of Buddhism, such as the three Pitakas.
Non-canonical text or semi-canonical texts are text that are not the
sayings of the Buddha, but commentaries and observations on
canonical texts, treatise on the Dharma/Dhammapada, historical
information, quotes, definition, grammars, and other writings in Pali,
Tibetan, Chinese and other East Asian languages.
7
Some important non-canonical text are :
• Milindapanho (written in Pali, it consists of a dialogue on various
philosophical issues between the Indo-Greek king Menander/Milinda
and the monk Nagasena),
• Nettipakarana (The Book of Guidance, which gives a connected
account of the Buddha's teachings),
• Vishuddhimagga (The Path of Purity, written by Buddhaghosa,
deals with development from purity of discipline to
nibanna/enlightenment),
• Nidanakatha (first connected life story of Buddha),
• Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa (written in Pali, both contain historical
cum mythical account of the Buddha's life, Buddhist Councils, Ashoka
and arrival of Buddhism to Sri Lanka) and
8
• Mahavastu (written in mixed Sanskrit-Prakrit, it lays down the
sacred biography, i.e., hagiography of the Buddha.
 BUDDHISM

• Buddhism stands for 3 pillars (triratnas):

• Buddha: Its Founder
• Dhamma: His Teachings
• Sangha: Order of Buddhist monks and nuns.
• It was open to people of all castes, and even women were admitted to
the Sangha.
• Buddhism also found a virgin soil for conversion in terms of the non-
Vedic people.
• The people of Magadha readily accepted Buddhism as they were
earlier looked down upon by the orthodox Brahmanas, who considered
Magadha to be out of the holy Aryavarta.

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THE BUDDHA
• Buddha means ‘enlightened one’. Also known as Sakyamuni or
Tathagata. Earlier name was Siddhartha.
• Born in 563 BC on the Vaishakha Poornima Day at Lumbini (near
Kapilavastu) in Nepal. Site of birth (nativity) of Buddha is marked by
Rummindei Pillar of Ashoka.
• His father Suddhodana was a Shakya ruler. His mother (Mahamaya, of
Kosala dynasty) died after 7 days of his birth. Brought up by
stepmother Prajapati Gautami.
• Married at 16 to Yoshodhara. Enjoyed the married life for 13 years and
had a son named Rahula.
• After seeing an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic, he
decided to become a wanderer.
• Left his palace at the age of 29 (with Channa, the charioteer & his favourite 10
horse, Kanthaka) in search of truth (also called ‘Mahabhinishkramana’ or The
Great Renunciation) & wandered for 6 years.
• He first meditated with Alara Kalama. But he was not convinced that man
could obtain liberation from sorrow by mental discipline and knowledge.
• His next teacher was Uddaka Ramaputta.
• He then joined forces with five ascetics — Kondana, Vappa, Bhadiya,
Mahanama and Assagi, who were practicing the most rigorous self-
mortification in hope of wearing away their karma and obtaining final bliss.
• For six years, he tortured himself until he was nothing but a walking
skeleton. But after six years, he felt that his fasts and penance had been
useless. So he abandoned these things. The five disciples also left him.
• Attained ‘Nirvana’ or ‘Enlightenment’ at the age of 35 at Gaya (at
Niranjana river) in Magadha (Bihar) under a pipal tree (called Sambodhi).
• Delivered his first sermon at Sarnath (at Deer Park) where his five
disciples had settled. His first sermon is called ‘Dharmachakrapravartan’
or ‘Turning of the Wheel of Law’.
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• Attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (identical with village Kasia in
Deoria district of UP) in 483 BC at the age of 80 in the Malla republic.
Note
• Buddha delivered his last sermon in Vaishali. His last sermon
was delivered to Anand, while the last person to be enlightened
was Subhadda.
• After the death of Buddha, his remains were divided into eight
parts and eight stupas were built on them in Rajgriha, Vaishali,
Kapilvastu, Allakappa, Ramagrama, Pava, Kushinagar and
Vethapida. Ashoka recovered the relics from these (except
Ramagrama) and erected 84,000 stupas.
• Buddha Poornima is the most important festival for Buddhists
(falls on Vaishakha Poornima day). Gautam Budha was born,
attained enlightenment and attained Mahaparinirvana on this day.
• Gaur king Shashanka cut the Bodhi tree and destroyed its roots in
7th century AD. 12
• Vatsa king Udayana & famous physician Jivaka were
contemporaries of Buddha.
THE DHAMMA
(1) The Four Great Truths
 The world is full of sorrow and misery.
 The cause of all pain and misery is desire (trishna).
 Pain and misery can be ended by killing or control ling desire.
 Desire can be controlled by following the Eight Fold Path.
(2) The Eight Fold Path
 Consists of: Right Faith, Right Thought, Right Action, Right Livelihood,
Right Efforts, Right Speech, Right Remembrance and Right
Concentration.
(3) Belief in Nirvana
 When desire ceases, rebirth ceases and nirvana is attained, i.e.,
freedom from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth is gained by following
the 8-fold path. Nirvana implies extinction of the flame of desire. 13

 According to Buddha, soul is a myth.

(4) Belief in Ahimsa
 One should not cause injury to any living being, animal or man.
(5) Law of Karma
 Man reaps the fruits of his past deeds.
Note
• Buddha was agnostic (a person who believes that nothing is
known of the existence or nature of God).
• Buddha rejected the authority of the Vedas and the supremacy
of the Brahmins (upper castes). But at the same time, he didn’t
seek to abolish the caste system (accepted varna system).
THE SANGHA
• Consists of monks (Bhikshus or Shramanas) and nuns.
14
• Bhikshus acted as a torch bearer of the dhamma.
• Apart from Sangha, the worshippers were called Upasakas.
Buddhist Councils
• The monks gathered four times after the death of Buddha and the effect
of these events had their effect on Buddhism.
• FIRST COUNCIL : At Rajgriha, in 483 BC under the chairmanship of
Mehakassaapa (King was Ajatshatru). Divided the teachings of Buddha
into two Pitakas – Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka. Upali recited the
Vinaya Pitaka and Ananda recited the Sutta Pitaka.
• SECOND COUNCIL : At Vaishali, in 383 BC under Sabakami (King was
Kalasoka). Followers divided into orthodox Sthavirmadins and
unorthodox Mahasanghikas.
• THIRD COUNCIL: At Pataliputra, in 250 BC under Mogaliputta Tissa
(King was Ashoka). In this, Abhidhamma Pitaka was coded in the Pali
language.
• FOURTH COUNCIL: At Kashmir (Kundalvan), in 72 AD under Vasumitra
(King was Kanishka; Vice-Chairman was Ashwaghosha). Divided 15
Buddhism into Mahayana and Hinayana sects.
BUDDHIST LITERATURE
• In Pali language.
• Buddhist scriptures in Pali are commonly referred to as Tripitakas,
i.e., ‘Threefold Basket’.
• Vinaya Pitaka : Rules of discipline in Buddhist monasteries.
• Sutta Pitaka : Largest, contains collections of Buddha’s sermons.
There are five nikayas (collections) of suttas— Digha Nikâya,
Majjhima Nikâya, Samyutta Nikâya, Anguttara Nikâya and
Khuddaka Nikâya. Khuddaka Nikâya is a heterogeneous mix of
sermons, doctrines and poetry attributed to the Buddha and his
disciples. It has approx. 15 editions, out of which Dhammapada,
Therigatha and Jataka are important. Dhammapada has same
significance as of Bhagvat Gita in Hinduism.
• Abhidhamma Pitaka : Explanation of the philosophical principles 16
of the Buddhist religion.
Note
• In Mahayana, idol worship is there. It became popular in China, Japan,
Korea, Afghanistan, Turkey and many S.E. countries.
• Nagarjuna formulated the basic ideas of Mahayana.
• Gautam Buddha was the first human whose idols were built and
worshipped in India. In fact, idol worship began in Buddhism much earlier
than in Hinduism (in 5th century AD). However, idol worship is considered
Pre-Vedic because it was prevalent in Indus Valley Civilization.
• Hinayana became popular in Magadha and Sri Lanka. It believed in
individual salvation and not in idol-worship.
• Apart from these two, there is a third vehicle, called Vajrayana, which
appeared in 8th century and grew rapidly in Bihar and Bengal. They did not
treat meat, fish, wine, etc., as a taboo in dietary habit and freely consumed
them.
• Theravāda (School of the Elders) is the most commonly accepted name of
Buddhism's oldest school. The school's adherents, termed Theravādins,
have preserved their version of Buddha's teaching in Pāli Canon. For over a
millennium, theravādins have endeavored to preserve the dhamma as 17
recorded in their school's texts. In contrast to Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna,
Theravāda tends to be conservative.
• Modern Theravāda derives from the Mahāvihāra sect, a Sri Lankan
branch of the Vibhajjavādins, a sub-sect of the Indian Sthavira Nikaya,
which began to establish itself on the island from the 3rd century BCE
onwards.
• In Theravāda, Patimokkha is the basic code of monastic discipline. It is
contained in Suttavibhanga, a division of Vinaya Pittaka.
• Bodhisattva (in Mahayana Buddhism) is a person who is able to reach
nirvana but delays doing so through compassion for suffering beings OR
An individual on the path of becoming a Buddha.
• According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who will
appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and
teach the pure dharma. Maitreya will be a successor to the present
Buddha, Gautama Buddha. The prophecy of the arrival of Maitreya
refers to a time in the future when the dharma will have been forgotten
by most on the terrestrial world. In some Buddhist literature, such as the
Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he is referred to as Ajita. 18
• Kasyapa Matanga introduced Buddhism to China in the 1st century AD.
• Padmasambhava was the Buddhist monk who spread Buddhism in
• Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa are the other Buddhist texts. They
provide information about the then Sri Lanka.
• Biographies of Buddha include Buddhacharita (written by
Ashwaghosha), Lalitavistara Sutra, Mahavastu and Nidanakatha.
• Light of Asia (published in 1879 in London) is a book by Sir Edwin
Arnold on Buddha’s life (based on Lalitavistara).
• Jataks are the fables about the different births of Buddha.
• Vipassanā (special-seeing) is a form of meditation that seeks
"insight into the true nature of reality” in the Mahayana traditions.
Vipassanā practice in the Theravada tradition ended in the 10th
century, but was reintroduced in Toungoo and Konbaung
dynasties in Burma in the 18th century.

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CAUSES OF DECLINE OF BUDDHISM
• It succumbed to the brahmanic rituals and ceremonies, such as idol
worship, etc, which Buddhism had earlier denounced.
• Revival of reformed Hinduism with the preaching of Shankaracharya
from ninth century on wards.
• Use of Sanskrit, the language of intellectuals, in place of Pali, the
language of the common people.
• Deterioration in the moral standards among the monks living in
Buddhist monasteries.
• Entry of women into Buddhist monasteries.
• Attacks of Huna king Mihirkula in the sixth century and the Turkish
invaders in the twelfth century AD.

20
 JAINISM
• Founded by Rishabhanath (or Adinath).
• There were 24 tirthankaras (Prophets or Gurus), all Kshatriyas.
• First was Rishabhanath (Emblem: Bull). But there is no his torical basis for
the first 22 Tirthankaras.
• Rishabhanath and Arishtanemi (22nd) are mentioned in Rig Veda. Only the
last two Tirthankaras are historical personalities.
• The 23rd tirthankar Parshwanath (Emblem: Snake) was the son of King
Ashvasena of Banaras. His main teachings were: Non-injury, Non-lying,
Non-stealing, Non-possession.
• The 24th and the last Tirthankar was Vardhman Mahavira (Emblem: Lion).

VARDHMAN MAHAVIRA
• Born in Kundagram (Distt Muzafffarpur, Bihar) in 540 BC (or 599 BC).
• His father Siddhartha was the head of Jnatrika clan. His mother was Trishla,
sister of Lichchhavi Prince Chetak of Vaishali.
• Mahavira was related to Bimbisara (as Bimbisara had married Chellana, the
daughter of Chetak). 21
• Married to Yashoda, had a daughter named Priyadarsena, whose husband
Jamali became his first disciple.
• At 30, after the death of his parents, he became an ascetic.
• In the 13th year of his asceticism (on the 10th of Vaishakha), outside the
town of Jrimbhikgrama, he attained supreme knowledge (Kaivalya).
• Delivered his first sermon at Vitulanchal Parbat (in Rajgir, Magadha).
• From now on, he was called Jaina or Jitendriya and Mahavira, and his
followers were named Jains. He also got the title of Arihant, i.e., worthy.
• At the age of 72, he attained death at Pava, near Patna, in 468 BC (or 527
BC).
• Mahavira preached almost the same message as Parshvanath and added
one more, Brahmcharya (celibacy) to it.
• After the death of Mahavira, during the reign of King Chandragupta Maurya,
a severe famine led to a great exodus of Jain monks from the Ganga valley
to the Deccan, where they established important centers of their faith. This
migration led to a great schism in Jainism. Bhadrabahu, who led the
emigrants, insisted on the retention of the rule of nudity which Mahavira had
established. Sthulabhadra, the leader of the monks who remained in the
north, allowed his followers to wear white garments, owing to the hardships
and confusions of the famine. 22
• Hence arose the two sects of the Jains, the Digambaras (sky-clad, i.e.,
naked) and the Svetambaras (white-clad).
TEACHINGS OF MAHAVIRA
• Rejected the authority of the Vedas and did not attach any
importance to the performance of sacrifices.
• He believed that every object, even the smallest particle (stones,
rocks, water), possesses a soul and is endowed with
consciousness. That is why they observe strict non-violence.
• The Jains reject the concept of a Universal Soul or a Supreme
Power as the creator or Sustainer of the universe.
• Attainment of salvation (nirvana) by believing in penance and
dying of starvation (MAIN DIFFERENCE between Jainism and
Buddhism).
• Universal brotherhood i.e., he treated people of all the castes
equally (but didn’t condemn the caste system).
Note
• In Jainism, three Ratnas (Triratnas) are given and they are called
the way to Nirvana. They are Right Faith, Right Knowledge and 23
Right Conduct.
JAIN LITERATURE
• Mahavira's teachings were methodically compiled by his followers into many
texts. These texts are collectively known as Agams, the sacred books of
the Jain religion, written in the Prakrit script.
• Hence, the Jain religion does not have one sacred book like the Bible or the
Koran, but it has many books complied by many followers.
• Agam literature is also divided into two groups:
1. Ang-agams
• These texts contain the direct preaching of Lord Mahavira. Lord Mahavira's
immediate disciples were known as Ganadharas. All Ganadharas
possessed perfect knowledge (keval-jnan). They orally compiled the direct
preaching of Lord Mahavira into 12 main texts (sutras). These texts are
known as Ang-agams. Hence, Ang-agams are the oldest religious scriptures
and the back-bone of Jain literature.
• The twelfth Ang-agam is called Drastivad. The Drastivad consists of
fourteen Purva texts, also known as Purvas or Purva-agams. Among Ang-
agams, Purvas were the oldest sacred texts. All Jain sects believe that
knowledge of the Purvas (Drastivad) were gradually lost starting two 24
hundred years after Lord Mahavira's nirvana (death). However, the subject
matter of the Purvas has been referenced by other Jain scriptures and
literature.
2. Ang-bahya-agams (outside of Ang-agams)
• Monks who had knowledge of a minimum of ten Purvas were
known as Srut-kevlis. The Srut-kevlis wrote many texts (sutras)
expanding the subject matter defined in the Ang-agams. Collectively
these texts are called Ang-bahya-agams, meaning outside of Ang-
agams. The different Jain sects accept different numbers of Ang-
bahya texts. However, the Digambar sect believes that they were
also gradually lost starting about two hundred years after Lord
Mahavira's nirvana.

JAIN COUNCILS
• First Council: Held at Pataliputra by Sthulabhadra in the
beginning of third century BC.
• Second Council: It was held at Vallabhi (Gujarat) in the fifth 25
century AD under the leadership of Devridhigani.
OTHER POINTS
• Gomateshwara Statue, a 17 m high monolithic statue on Vindyagiri at
Shravanbelagola in Karnataka, is dedicated to the Jain god Bahubali
(son of the first tirthankar Adinath). It was built around 983 AD and is
one of the largest free standing statues in the world. The construction
of the statue was commissioned by the Ganga dynasty minister and
commander, Chamundaraya.
• The Mahamastakabhisheka refers to the abhisheka (anointment) of
the Jain images when held on a large scale. The most famous of
such consecrations is the anointment of the Bahubali statue of
Shravanabelagola, held once in every 12 years.
• The Dilwara Temples in Mount Abu, Rajasthan are the Jain temples,
which were built by Vimal Shah (a minister of Chalukyan king Bhima-
I) and designed by Vastupal-Tejpal, between the 11th and 13th
centuries AD. The five marble temples are famous for their intricate 26
marble carvings.
• Shikharji (Giridih district, Jharkhand on Parasnath hill, the highest
mountain of Jharkhand), also called Sammed Shikhar, is the most
important Jain Tirtha, believed to be the place where twenty of the
twenty-four Jain tirthankaras, along with many other monks, attained
nirvana through meditation.
• Jainism reached the highest point in Chandragupta Maurya’s time. It
was also patronized by Bimbisara, Udayin, Lichchhavi king Chetak
and King of Kalinga Kharavela.
• Various factors were responsible for the decline of Jainism in India.
They took the concept of ahimsa too far. They advised that one
should not take medicine when one fell sick because the medicine
killed germs. They believed that there was life in trees and
vegetables and so refrained from harming them. Such practices could
not become popular with common man. There was moreover no
patronage from the later kings.
27
• Jain Prakrit is a term loosely used for the language of the Jain
Agamas. The books of Jainism were written in the popular vernacular
dialects (as opposed to Sanskrit which was the classical standard of
Brahmanism), and therefore encompass a number of related dialects.
Chief among these is Ardha Magadhi.
• Jain literature was written in Apabhrasa (a term used by grammarians
to refer to languages spoken in north India before the rise of the
modern languages).
• Due to the influence of Jainism, many regional languages emerged
out, like Shauraseni, out of which grew the Marathi, Gujarati,
Rajasthani and Kannada.
• Sthanakvasi is a sect of Swetambar Jainism, founded by a merchant
named Lavaji in 1653 CE. It believes that idol worship is not essential.
It is based on the teachings of Lonkashah, a 15th century Jain
reformer. 28
Please Write Your

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