Jainism and Budhism Class 9 Notes

Jainism and Budhism Class 9 Notes

The birth of Jainism and Buddhism during 540 to 487 BC marked the beginning of religious reform movements. These had arisen as a sort of reaction to evil practices in the Vedic religion and society.

During 600 to 400 BC, the Aryans were able to set up small states called Janapadas. Some of these conquered the neighbouring territories set up Mahajanapas. These were sixteen in numbers.

They remained continuously at war with each other. Finally, only four Mahajanpadas were left.

It was against this political background of struggle for power and political murders in the kingdoms of north India that Jainism and Buddhism arose. Both Mahavira and Buddha thought that struggle for political power was no way to attain true knowledge.

Cause of Rise of Jainism and Buddhism

Following were the main causes of the rise of Jainism and Buddhism:
• Reaction against irrational Vedic rituals;
• Corruption and evil practices in the Vedic religion;
• Rigid caste system;

• Difficult language (i.e. Sanskrit) in which religion was practised, making it difficult for people to understand;
• Political turmoils, struggle for power, constant wars and consequent deaths;
•Animal sacrifices adversely affected agriculture and economy.

Jainism

Vardhaman Mahavira was the founder of Jainism. There were 23 Tirthankars before Mahavira, according to Jain religious texts. Rishabha was the first Tirthankara, while Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara and also the last one.

Vardhaman Mahavira was born at Kundalgram near Vaishali in Bihar in about 599 BC. His father Siddhartha, was the chief of the Jantrikas clan of Kshatriyas. His mother Trishala, belonged to the powerful Lichchhavi tribe. He got married to a princess called Yashoda. They had a daughter called Priyadarshini.

At the age of thirty, Vardhaman gave up the life of ease and comfort. He left his palace in search of truth. He spent next 12 years of his life in meditating. At the age of 42, he gained true knowledge. On this, he came to be known as the master of Kaivalya (true knowledge), or the Mahavira, i.e., the Great Hero.

Teaching of Mahavira

Bhagwan Mahavira’s teachings were carried on by his ganadharas in the form of scriptures (Agams or Angas). They were complied into twelve separate parts, known as Angagama or Angas or the dwadashangi (twelve parts). The knowledge of Sruti, Sruta-Jnana, which are contained in the Anga (Limbs or sacred books of the Jainas) or the things outsides of Anga. This Jaina Sacred Literature is mostly lost today as by Digambara sect.

The main beliefs and teachings of Mahavira can be divided into three parts as given below :

(a) Three Jewels : The main aim of a man’s life is to attain salvation (Moksha) or freedom from the cycle of life and death. This can be achieved by following the Three Jewels (Tri-ratnas), namely, Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct.

(b) Five Vows : Mahavira taught that his followers must take the following five vows, namely :
(i) Not to injure life;
(ii) Not to steal;
(iii) Not to tell lies;

(iv) Not to own property; and
(v) Not to lead life of sense pleasure (i.e. Braham- charya).

(c) Other teachings : Besides the above, Mahavira taught the following other ideals to his followers :
(i) Non-Violence : Ahimsa or non-injury to others was the basic principle. All objects – men, animals, plants and water – had life. Hence no injury should be caused to them.

(ii) No Belief in God : Mahavira did not believe in the existence of God, the creator, preserver or the destroyer of the world.

(iii) Doctrine of Karma : Mahavira taught the doctrine of Karma to his followers. Man would become in the next birth anyone according to his karma or the quality of his deeds in the present life.

(iv) Attainment of Moksha : Moksha could not be achieved by prayers, yajnas or sacrifices offered to gods. It could be attained by anyone by following his Tri-ratnas (three jewels), mentioned above.

(v) Equality : Mahavira preached equality of all human beings. All men are brothers, without any distinction of high or low caste. He opposed casteism.

The religious books of the Jains are the 12 Angas and the 14 Parvas. Mahapurana by Jinasena, Kapalsutra by Bhadrabahu and Ratanamalika by Rashtrakuta are other outstanding literary works of the Jains.

Buddhism

Like Lord Mahavira, Lord Buddha also led a reform movement in religion and society in the 6th century BC. But unlike Mahavira, he followed the middle path in his teachings. As such, his teachings became more popular, not only in India, but also abroad.

Siddhartha was the original name of Lord Buddha. He was born in the village of Lumbini (near Kapilvastu, now in Nepal) about the year 567 BC. He came of a royal family. He was the son of Suddhodana, the king of Kapilvastu and chief of the Shakya clan. His mother, Maya Devi died seven days after the birth of Siddhartha. He was brought up by his aunt, whose name was Gautami.

When Siddhartha was a child, a brahmin scholar had foretold that the boy would be a great religious and spiritual teacher one day. To prevent the child from becoming a religious ascetic, his royal father provided him with all the comforts and luxuries. When Siddhartha was 19 years old, his father got him married with a beautiful
princess, named Yashodhara. He led a married life and a son was born to the couple. The name of their son was Rahul.

Buddhas Preachings

Having attained supreme knowledge, Lord Buddha then wanted to show a path to the people to become free from miseries and sufferings. He delivered his first sermon in the Deer Park, Sarnath (near Varanasi). There he converted his four disciples to Buddhism. In the history of Buddhism, this event is called Dhamma Chakra Parivartana or the Turning of the Wheel of Law. Lord Buddha devoted the rest of his life of 45 years in preaching his religion, Buddhism, of which he was the founder. He also laid the foundation of Buddhist order of monks and nuns, called Sangha. These Sanghas did useful work in popularising Buddhism.

Buddha breathed his last in about 487 BC at Kushinagar (district Gorakhpur) at the age of 80 years. He is said to have attained Nirvana (i.e. salvation). His disciples took his sacred remains to eight different places, where huge mounds (called Stupas) were erected.

MAIN BELIEFS AND TEACHINGS OF LORD BUDDHA
The Jatakas is a voluminous body of literature concerning the previous births (jati) of the Buddha. The Jataka is among the most ancient story collections in human history, dating to the time of the Buddha, more than twenty-five hundred years ago.

They tell the tales of Buddha in his previous lives (when he was called Bodhisattva or Buddhato- be), which included incarnations in the form of a snake, a tiger and even an elephant. These stories reflect the travails and experiences that he had to go through to attain the wisdom of the Buddha.”

Buddha followed a simple path. He inspired people to lead a simple life. According to Buddha, one can attain salvation by following the four Noble Truths and his Eight-Fold Path, as given below :
Four Noble Truths : According to Lord Buddha, there are Four Noble Truths. These are as follows :
(i) This world is full of misery and sorrow.
(ii) The cause of misery and sorrow is desire.
(iii) Misery and sorrow can be ended by killing the desire.
(iv) The desire can be killed by following the Eight-fold Path.

THE EIGHT-FOLD PATH
The Eight-fold path, which every disciple of the Buddha is supposed to follow, consists of the following eight principles of moral conduct :
(i) Right belief

(ii) Right thought
(iii) Right speech

(iv) Right action
(v) Right living

(vi) Right effort
(vii) Right recollection

(viii) Right meditation

OTHER TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA
Following are some of the other main teachings of Lord Buddha 

(i) Stress on Ahimsa :
He laid great stress on ahimsa or noninjury by thought, word or action. Not only men, but animals, beasts and birds also deserve our love and care.

(ii) Nirvana : He stressed that the chief purpose of a man’s life was to attain Nirvana or salvation, i.e., freedom from the cycle of life and death.

(iii) Karma theory : He also repeated the Karma theory and said that everyone has to reap the fruit of his good or bad deeds.
(iv) No faith in rituals : He had no faith in costly sacrifices or yajnas where animals were sacrificed. He taught that all outward show was a hindrance in the attainment of salvation.

(v) Universal brotherhood and Equality of all men : He stood for the equality of all men and encouraged even the lowest class to become his followers. He was opposed to caste system.

(vi) Silence about God : He was silent about the existence of God. As it was a controversial question, he did not want his religion to be involved in any controversy.
(vii) A code of don’ts : Buddha also laid down a code of don’ts for his disciples. This included :
• Not to kill,
• Not to steal,
• Not to hanker after wealth,
• Not to tell lies,
• Not to commit impure acts,
• Not to wish for others’ property,
• Not to use bad language and
• Not to be angry.

•Important Points

• The political background was provided by Magadha becoming a super power after the Janpadas and Mahajanpadas were reduced to a secondary position by the rulers of Magadha like Bimbisara, Ajatshatru and Ashoka.

• The Aryan or the Vedic religion became a religion of costly rituals and sacrifices. Two Kshatriya Princes, Mahavira and Buddha, started socio-religious reform movements, known as Jainism and Buddhism.

• Mahavira was born at Kundalgram (Bihar). He left home at the age of 30 and performed penances. He got the light of knowledge and was called Jina.

• Mahavira became the founder of Jainism. Moksha (salvation) is the aim of life according to him. Jainism teaches the people to take five vows, i.e., not to injure life, not to tell lies, not to own property, not to steal and not to lead an impure life.

• Mahavira preached the Three-Fold Path: the Right Belief, the Right Knowledge and the Right Conduct.

• Siddhartha (Buddha) was born at Lumbini near Kapilvastu in 567 BC. He was married and had a son, named Rahul. He saw an old man, a sick man, a dead body and an ascetic. He left his palace at the age of 29 in search of true knowledge.

• Buddha gained true knowledge, i.e., Enlightenment, under a Peepal tree at Bodh Gaya at the age of 35. He became the founder of Buddhism.

• Jainism left its impact on the growth of vernacular language, art and architecture and reformed Hindu religion and society.

• Buddhism created impact on political life, religious life, social life, literature, art, architecture, temples and buildings.

• Buddhist and Jain Monasteries and cave temples were built at several places in India. Ajanta and Ellora caves are very famous.

• Chaityas and Viharas for Buddhist monks and nuns to offer prayers and to stay in the temples were also established; Chaitya at Karle and Viharas at Udaigiri are well known.

• Ashokan Pillars at several sites like Sanchi, Sarnath, etc. are symbols of great architecture achievements. The main features of Sanchi Stupa are that it is a hemispherical dome, with an umbrella, four gateways and massive railings.