Sects from Sanatan

 

Blog #14

  Jainism and Buddhism

 

 

Abstracts:

                     The sixth century BCE has been seen as a landmark in the history of India. There had been many rapid religious, political, social and economic changes, not only in India, but also on the cultural and traditional history of the world. There was discontent among the people regarding the socio religious order of the Brahmanical system in India. The religion had become more rigid and complex. This led to the opposition of thoughts and eventual establishment of new and more lenient religious sects. Vardhamana Mahavira and Gautam Buddha brought about religious reformation in India, Confucius in China and Zoroaster in Iran. All these reformers, unknown to one another, propagated new and more accommodating religions. They questioned the orthodox religions and practices that existed during that time in India.

 

Introduction:

                     In post Vedic period the expensive and unnecessary rites and rituals were increased due to the extremism of Brahmins on the name of religion and faith. The common people were divided into caste and race. The socially and economically sound people were exploiting the lower class people coming from service providing backward class called “Shudra”. The Shudras were even not allowed to use the public utility facilities and the other community accommodations for their use. It is said that the Jainism and Buddhism are the answer to it and these sects fostered the freedom to those backward class people to live with dignity and with easy ways of life.

 

The Factors Which Led to the Rise of Jainism and Buddhism

Opposition to the rituals and rites: the rituals in Hinduism had become too expensive and complex which could not be afforded by the common people to conduct the yajnas or the sacrifices. The Vedic philosophy had lost its purity. The people had developed a strong dislike for these rituals. The sacrifices prescribed by the Vedas had become a difficult affair and consumed immense amount of money, time and energy.

Supremacy of the Brahmin: The Brahmin priests began encouraging the ordinary people to perform expensive yajnas and sacrifices which were beyond their means. The Brahmin priests failed to understand and grasp the gravity of the situation. Hence, this attitude of the priests was not liked by the common people and the kshatriya rulers. Bhagwan Buddha and Mahavir Swami were from the family of the two kshatriya rulers who found their own way to get enlightened and state of salvation on the basis of their penance and un-attachment from the material world.

Casteism: the classification of society and the caste system amongst people had become mandatory. With the passage of time castes became extremely rigid like tight compartments of water. There were strict restrictions on food and drinks and even inter caste marriages or interactions were not possible. A person of low caste had to live a miserable life and the person of a high caste lived a comfortable life. Bhagwan Buddha and Mahavir Swami treated all the people from any caste or varna equally.

 

The sources which led to the formation of the two sects of religion:

The Angas:

                     Several categories into which the Buddhist canonical writings were divided in early times is known as Angas. This system was based on a combination of form and content. Previously, it used to categorize types of material within the text followed by classification of text themselves.

the Mahayana school used a system of twelve categories while the Theravada and Mahasanghika schools used an ancient nine-fold division.

The nine angas in Pali are the following:

Sutta/Sutra: These were the discourses or sermons of the Buddha in the Prose (short stories) form.

Geyya/Geya: The term Geya means mixed prose and verse. It was usually understood as the Sutta which encompassed verse, or Gatha.

Veyyakarana: These were prophecies or explanations, under which a popular Pali work Abhidhamma Pitika has been known.

Gatha: These were the poems.

              Udana: These were the special teachings of Buddha in verse or prose.

Itivuttaka: These contained the tales about the past lives of Buddha’s disciples.

Abbhutadhamma/Abdhutadharma: These comprised of miraculous stories.

Vedalla: These comprised of religious instructions.

The twelve-fold system added the following three angas:

Nidana: The term nidana means cause. These were the historical narratives or introduction.

Avadana: The term avadana means noble deeds. Hence, these were the Buddha’s stories about the good deeds or karma in people’s previous lives.

Upadesa: This comprised the discussion on doctrines.

 

 

 Tripitakas:                    

Tripitakas were written in Pali and are revered by the Theraveda school of Buddhism. The term tripitaka in Sanskrit means three baskets. Hence, the work is divided into three categories, each containing a basket of teaching: Sutra Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka and Abhidharma Pitaka.

Sutra Pitaka: it is the oldest and the shortest of all the other categories. It talks about regulations of monastic life.

Vinaya Pitaka: the second and the longest of all categories, it comprises doctrines and discourses of Buddha and his disciples centered on ethics.

Abhidharma Pitaka: it is the philosophical as well as physiological analysis of the doctrines of Buddha.

 

 

 

JAINISM

 

Jainism is also a non Brahminical Sect of religion, founded as a result of the revolt against the Brahmanism of the sixth century BC. Some sources place Jainism as one of the oldest religions, belonging to the era of Rig Veda. Jainism rejects the Vedas and condemns the caste system. It believed in Thirtankaras and rejects the existence of God as a Parmatma.

 

The Founders of Jainism: The twenty-four Tirthankars

 

                     Tirthankaras are believed to be the great preachers of the religious order. They can take birth like any other person and they follow the tight path to achieve salvation. In Jainism, there are 24 Tirthankaras, starting from Rishdbhdev (Adinath or Adeshwar) to Vardhaman (Maha-veer)− Rishabhdev, Ajitnath, Sambhavnath; Abhinandan; Sumathinath; Padmaprabhu, Suparaswanath; Chandroprabhu; Suvidhinath; Sitalnath, Shreyansnath Vosupujya; Vimalnath Anartihnalh; Dharamnatn, Shanthinath; Kunthunath; Aranath; Mallinath; Munisuvrath; Naminath (Neminath); Paraswanath Bhagwan and Mahaveer Swami Bhagwan.

 

Jainism was founded by Rishabhdev ji (the first tirtankara), who was the father of King Bharata the first Chakravarti of India. Rishabha was succeeded by twenty-three other Tirthankaras. Jainism became a major religion under Vardhamana Mahavira who was the twenty fourth Tirthankara or Prophet of Jainism. Persons of prime importance to Jainism are:

 

PARSVANATHA (850 BC)

                     The twenty third Tirthankara, has an important place in the history of Jainism. He was the son of the King of Banaras, Ashwasena, and renounced the world to become an ascetic at the age of 30.

 

He laid down four Fundamental principles for his followers:

 

(i)        Ahimsa or non-injury,

(ii)      Truthfulness,

(iii)    No stealing, and

(iv)    Non-attachment to property.

 

 

VARDHAMANA MAHAVIRA (599-527 BC)

 

Important Facts about Bhagwan Mahavira

 

Original name: Vardhamana

Date of birth: 540 BC

Place of birth: Kundalgrama (in Vaishali)

Father: Siddhartha

Mother: Trishala, Lichhavi Princess

Became monk: At the age of 30

Period of asceticism: 12 years

Attainment of Omniscience: At the age of 42 (Kaivalya)

Death: At the age of 72 (468 BC)

Cause of death: Self starvation at Pava, near Rajagriha

 

He was a great Kshatriya belonging to the royal family of Magadha. He was born at Kundalgrama (in Vaishali), near Muzaffarpur in Bihar. At the age of 30, he became an ascetic and after 12 years of penance, at the age of 42, he attained to the enlightenment i.e. kaivalya. He conquered misery and happiness and came to be known as Jina (the conqueror). He added the last vow, to the four vows given by Parsvanatha, Brahmacharya or chastity. These five vows became the fundamentals of Jainism. Many kings like Bimbisara and Ajatshatru became his patrons and he visited many parts of India, the most significant being Kosala. Magadha and Anga. He died at the age of 72, in 527 BC, in Bihar.

 

 

The doctrines of Jainism

 

Triratna or Three Gems of Jainism

The following three gems ate the route to moksha or liberation or deliverance according to Jainism:

(a) Right Faith (firm belief in the omniscient Lord Mahavira)

(b) Right Knowledge (understanding the doctrines of Jainism)

(c) Right Conduct (fulfillment of the great five vows of Jainism)—

(i) Nonviolence,

(ii) Truthfulness,

(iii) No stealing,

(iv) No attachment to property, and

(v) Brahmacharya or chastity

 

Some Aspects and teachings of Mahavira Swami:

 

(a) Ordinarily, it means Pious Act.

 

(b) Duty towards others, society, country, etc.

 

(c) Nature:

(i) The nature of fire is to burn,

(ii) the nature of water is to cool,

(iii) the nature of soul is conscience, sentient, immortality, infinite knowledge, perception, energy, bliss, longs to be purified, to rise upward to moksha — external salvation.

 

(d) Religion; that saves one from sinking in the temporal ocean of births and deaths (Samsar). Religion consist of Dona [Charity), Sheel (Chastily), Tapa (Penance) and Bhava (Intention)].

 

(e) Dharma: Spiritual Samyaka/Jnana, Darshana and Charitra

(Right and True Knowledge, Faith and Conduct)

 

(f) Dharma: Having Shramara Dharma (monkhood) which include the following:

 

(g) Khsama:

(i) Forgiveness, forbearance;

(ii) Mardavo: humbleness, politeness, humility and           courtesy;

(iii) Arjava: frankness, straight forwataness, deceitless;

(iv) Mukti: free from desires and greed;

(v) Tapa: penance of 12 kinds;

(vi) Samyama: to stop all the inflow of karmas,

(vii) Satya: beneficial, pleasant end well-thought truth, avoiding untruth;

(viii) Saucha: purity of conduct, to avoid all, shortcomings;

       (ix) Akimchanya: to abstain from wealth and other material desires, even love and affection of own body;

 (x) Bhramcharya; complete celibacy, chastity in thought, word and deed.

 

 

Spread of Jainism

                     Unlike Buddhism, Jainism did not spread outside India and remained confined to certain parts of India only. The emphasis of Jainism on non-violence (Ahimsa) prevented agriculturalists from embracing Jainism, as cultivation involved killing of insects and pests. As per the Hathigumpa inscriptions, Jainism got plenty of support from kings like Bimbasara, Ajatshatru and Chandragupta Maurya along with the Nandas, Kalinga and the Raja Karavela of Abhaya. Its spread to South India is mostly attributed to the rulers of the Ganges, the Rashtrakutas and the Chalukyas. In the Deccan region, a companion of Chandragupta Maurya (during his Shravanabelagola campaign) Badrabahu, promoted Jainism.

 

 

SOCIAL INFLUENCE OF JAINISM

                     Further weakening of the caste system, development of new styles in art and architecture in temples, construction of several inns, hospitals, schools and other institutions of public utility. Tiger Caves at Udaygiri, Indrasabha at Ellora, Dilwara temples at Mount Abu, Khajuraho at Bundelkhand, Adhinath temple in Chittoor, and the Shravanabelagola Gomateswara (huge statue of Bahubali) are among the famous monasteries and temples that depict the high level of Jain art and architecture in India. Despite being a small community in India, Jainism has contributed to culture and civilization in a big way. Prominent Jain scholars also helped develop various vernacular languages like Tamil and Hemachandra (author of History of Gujarat and Amarasimha (author of Amarakosha) were the greatest of the Jain scholars. Bhadra and Swami Kartikeya were the other important Jain scholars.

 

 

 

 

Jain Councils

 

                     Two Important Jain Councils were held to settle the prevailing differences between the Jain scholars of the respective era. The main difference in opinion was between the followers of Parsvanatha and those of Mahavira. However, the second Council failed to solve the differences and thus, was the last council. It also marked a split in the religion and the advent of two new sects within Jainism: Swethambaras and Digambaras. Swethambars are flexible in their approach, follow the teachings of the 23rd Thirthankara Parasvanatha and clad themselves in white garments Digambaras are followers of the 24th Thirtankara Mahavira. They believe in rigid penance, which can be attained by punishment to self and body. They recommend to be so pious and unattached to the attraction of body to give up even the cloths. Hence, the use of cloth is not allowed to cover the body.

 

 

Decline of Jainism

 

                     Owing to very rigid and high ideals, Jainism suffered a downfall. The austere ways and high ideals of Jainism led to its decline. The followers of Jainism found it difficult to follow the enshrined tenets of austerity and chose to adapt to the changing environment, thus leading to the loss or popularity of the religion. Another reason for the decline of Jainism was the lack of royal support.

 

 

 

Significance of Iron

 

                     Several historians are of the opinion that the introduction of iron implements (around 750 to 700 BC) enabled the people to clear the jungle. They were then able to reclaim the fertile land of the eastern Gangetic It was here that the powerful Mahajanapadas came into existence. However, there has been no solid evidence to support this theory which can explain the use of iron in the rise of the Magadha into an economic and military power. There is no denying of the fact that iron did play a significant role during this period as it was used mostly for making weapons and the Magadha could have had strategic advantage because of its proximity to the iron rich Chotanagpur region. Therefore, perhaps Magadha conducted its first great expedition against ‘Anga’ its neighbour, which was equally close to those iron-ore deposit and possibly controlled the trade routes through which iron could reach northern India. By doing this, Magadha eliminated threatening competitor at the very start of its imperial consolidation.

 

 

 

 

 

BUDDHISM

 

                     Buddhism, the fourth greatest religion in the world, originated in India. It received state patronage from kings like Ashoka the Great, and it spread to neighboring countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand. Founded around sixth century BC. Important causes for the rise of Buddhism are:

(a) Vedic rites become very complicated and expensive.

(b) Domination of Brahmins, who monopolized the religion.

(c) Use of difficult and outdated language in religious ceremonies.

 

 

Buddha in Hinduism

 

                     In Hinduism, Buddha is considered to be the ninth avatar of Vishnu. There are many stories about Buddha's lives and are called Jatakas. Jataka Tales shows how he acquired greater knowledge and strength as he was reborn to another life. There are many versions of his lives.

 

 

Founder: Bhagwan Buddha

 

                     Buddhism was founded by Gautama Siddhartha who was a Kshatriya prince of the Saka clan. He left his family at the age of 29 in search of truth (also called the Great Renunciation) and wandered for approximately seven years; Siddhartha received enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, under a Peepal tree and became the Buddha. He delivered his first sermon at Sarnath in Banaras and spread his message for approximately 40 years, before dying at the age of 80 in 487 BC at Kushinagar in Deoria district of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

 

 

Important Fact About Buddha

 

Birth of Gautama Buddha: 563 BC (by some historians)

Birthplace: Lumbini (near Kapilavastu)

Father: Suddhodana, the king of Shakyas

Mother: Mahamaya

Wife: Yashodhara

Son: Rahul

Cousin: Devedatta

Charioteer (Horsel) : Channa (Kanthaks)

Teacher of meditation: Alara Kama

Place of enlightenment nirvana: Gaya in Magadha (of the age of 35)

Tr                                                                                                          Enlightenment: under Tree of Wisdom Bodhi Tree (or Peepal)

Famous words: ‘I am his witness’

First run and his foster mother: Gautami

Gotra of Buddha (Siddhartha): Gautama

Died at: Kushinagar 483 BC (at the age of 80).

 

Doctrines of Buddhism

The main precepts of Buddhism are:

 

(a) The Four Great Truths

(i) The world is full of sorrow and misery.

(ii) The cause of all pain and misery is desire,

(iii) Pain and misery can be ended by killing or controlling            desire.

(iv) Desire can be controlled by following the eight-fold path.

 

(b) The Eight-Fold Path: Right faith, Right thought, Right action, Right means of livelihood Right exertion of efforts, Right speech, Right remembrance and Right concentration or meditation.

 

(c) Belief in Nirvans: When desire ceases, rebirth ceases and nirvana, a state of bliss and rest is attained, that is freedom from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth is gained by following the eightfold path.

 

(d) Belief in Ahimsa: One should not cause injury to any living being, animal or man.

 

(e) Law of Karma: Man reaps the fruit of his past deeds.

 

(f) Existence of God: Buddhism is silent about the existence of God.

 

The Split in Buddhism

During the fourth Buddhist Council held in Kashmir, the Buddhists split into two groups: The Hinayana and the Mahayana.

 

The Hinayanas believed in the simple teachings of Buddha. They did not worship Buddha in the form of his image but honored his foot prints, umbrella and other objects, Pali was their main language.

 

The Mahayanas worshipped the image of Buddha. Sanskrit was their language. They preached and hence got all of Buddha’s teachings translated into Sanskrit. They became popular in the Kushana period. Ashwagosha Nagarjuna, Vasubhandu were some of the greatest philosophers of Mahayanism. Buddha was regarded as God and the doctrine of Bhakti became an integral part of the Mahayana Buddhism.

 

SOCIAL INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM

                     Buddhism struck a strong blow to the caste system and fostered an atmosphere of peace, stressing on purity of life and metal upliftment. During this period, the development fart and architecture also took place. Educational centers were founded at the Buddhist viharas and Indian culture spread to regions outside India during the reigns of the emperors Ashoka and Kanishka.

 

Some Notable Dynasties in Magadh

 

(a) Haryanka Dynasty Originally founded in 566 BC by the grandfather of Bimbisara, the actual foundation of the Magadha Empire was laid by Bimbisara and Ajatashatru who annexed the neighboring territories and established it as the center of political activity in North India.

 

(b) Shishunaga Dynasty: The Haryanaka Dynasty was overthrown by Shishunaga Dynasty in 413 BC, which ruled for about half a century, the kingdom of Vatsa, Avanti and Kosala were annexed to Magadha, Kalashoka (396-395 BC) was the king when the second Buddhist Council was held.

 

(c) The Nanda Dynasty had its origin, now the region or Magadha. It storied during the fourth century BC and had the period between 345 and 321 BC. The Nanda rulers had extended their empire from Bengal to Punjab and up fill The Vindhya Range. Chandragupta Maurya conquered the Nanda Empire who was the founder of the Maurya Empire. The first known Empire builders in the history of India are the Nanda rulers, who extended the Magadha Empire up to the far off places and also desired to expand it further. They had maintained a large army of 2,00,000 infantries, 20,000 cavalries, 2,000 war chariots and 3,000 war elephants to obtain their purpose of expansion. The Nandas were also very famous for their wealth. They storied many irrigation projects to help agriculture. Trade flourished during they rule Magadha. The fame of the Nanda Empire was also mentioned in the Sangam literature of the Tamil People. However, they become unpopular in the masses because of the financial extortion which led to a revolution. Chandragupta Maurya and Kautilya took the opportunity and overthrew the Nanda Empire. Dhanananda was the last ruler of this dynasty who ruled over Magadha from 329 BC to 321 BCE.

 

 

Comparison of both the sects:

 

Decline of Buddhism

                     When King Ashoka embraced Buddhism and ruled the country between 274 and 232 BC, he became a propagator of Buddhism. King Ashoka made every effort to turn it into a world religion by sending missionaries of Buddhism outside the India mainland. At a period of time, Buddhism flourished in India under the patronage of monarchs such as Ashoka and Kanishka. They patronized the missionary activities of Buddhism in his vast empire, which stretched beyond the borders of India to central Asia, but by the twelfth century, Buddhism had begun to decline in India. The introduction of tantric practices was one of the factors in its growing unpopularity. Also, by coming under the spell of Hindu Shaktism and Tantrism, Buddhism lost its own religious identity. Another factor responsible for the decay and decline of Buddhism in India was that by taking a receptive attitude towards other religions. Buddhism became assimilated into Hinduism; for example, the Vaishnavite made Buddha an avatar of Vishnu. A third factor was the revived and resurgent Hinduism under the Guptas (332-185 BC) when Hinduism experienced its golden age. Thereafter, Buddhism declined as Hinduism advanced with the rise of the Rajputs as a military force. Lack of unity among Buddhists and the increased use of Sanskrit led to a decline in Buddhism. Hinduism started absorbing Buddhism and the later Gupta kings also did not give the needed support to Buddhism. Influential monasteries fell into corruption and also the monks and nuns resorted to immoral ways of life. Muslim invasions in the eleventh and twelfth centuries led to its further disintegration.

 

 

Dissimilarities between Jainism and Buddhism

 

Similarities between Jainism and Buddhism

1.     Both Mahavira and Buddha belonged to the Kshatriya        families of Magadha.

2.     Both the religions opposed the Brahminical system, the   rituals and sacrifices of the Vedas.

3.     Both the religions do not believe in the caste system.

4.     Their aim is moksha, salvation from the cycle of birth,     death and rebirth.

5.     Both the religions emphasize on ahimsa or nonviolence.

6.     The monks and nuns in both the religions have to   renounce material life and had to lead a strict and pure        life.

 

Conclusion:

The two religions, Jainism and Buddhism, both were introduced in India as religions which could reform the society. Both the two sects led to a simple life, which did not require much sacrifices and yajans as in order to worship Gods, as practiced in the other sects or religions of India. Both, Mahavira Swami and Bhagwan Buddha attained enlightens when they renounced all their worldly pleasures and attained moksha, means salvation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Mahavira Swami did not believe in the theories of presence of God, whereas Bhagwan Buddha kept silence in this matter. After they attained moksha, their followers were split, both in Jainism and Buddhism, and some started worshipping their teachers as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Both the religions had their decline, but Jainism was confined to India whereas Buddhism became religion of many parts of the world. Still today, there are more numbers of Jain Monks than compared to Buddha Monks in India.

 

 

Total words:  3700+

 

 

Sources of Data:

Wikipedia

Study.com

Google and other websites

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