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600 BCE–400 BCE 567 BCE 540 BCE 487 BCE 468 BCE

Vardhaman Mahavira passed away

Birth of Vardhaman Mahavira

Upanishads were composed

Birth of Gautama Buddha

Gautama Buddha passed away

Age of the UpanishadsThe term Upanishad literally means ‘approaching and sitting near’. This implies students sitting down, near their Guru to learn. In Sanskrit, upa means near; ni means down and sad means to sit. Upanishads came into existence as a result of the attempts made by the philosophers and thinkers to fi nd answers to many diffi cult questions. These questions were based on the life after death, reason behind performing sacrifi ces, the universe and the presence of an Eternal Being. Many of their ideas are recorded in the Upanishads. They were compiled over a long period, mainly the Mahajanapadas period.

The Upanishads were initially known as Vedanta, which literally means the conclusion to the Vedas. There were various Upanishads such as Isha, Kena, Katha, Parsha, Mundaka, Koushik, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka. The Upanishads were primarily written by

Age of the Upanishads

Factors responsible for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism

Jainism

Buddhism

Let’s Learn

7. Jainism and Buddhism

Tune InRead the poem given below and discuss what is the main crust of the poem.

All men are created equal.

Rich or poor, ill or able,

of any religion, race or gender.

A worker or a master.

All men are created equal.

Our Constitution says it, and so shall we.

It doesn’t change the joy and struggle. Deep in our hearts, we know it’s true.

All men are created equal.

Why is it so hard for us to admit?

Why must we reject and blame?

It’s time we end the shame.

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men especially Brahmins and rajas but there is also a reference of woman thinkers such as Gargi who participated in discussions held in Royal courts. Poor people could rarely participate in these discussions. However, Satyakama Jabala, son of a slave woman, Jabali, was an exception. A Brahmin teacher accepted him as his student and named Gautama. His desire to learn about reality made him a one of the best thinkers of the time.

Factors responsible for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism

The period during 600 BCE and 400 BCE saw the development of a complex caste system which came to be based on birth.

The rigidity in the caste system saw great opposition, which later on gave rise to new religions.

The caste system gave importance to the three upper castes; Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. The Shudras were looked down upon.

As trade was increasing, the economic conditions of the Vaishyas improved. However, they were considered lower in the social ladder as compared to Brahmins and Kshatriyas. This became the reason for their dissatisfaction.

People were forced to follow elaborate and costly rituals as subscribed by the Brahmins. Animal sacrifi ce became common.

Importance was given to Sanskrit which was not understood by the masses. All these factors led to religious unrest in India.

People wanted a simple religion in a language known to them. These were fulfi lled by the teachings of Gautama Buddha and Vardhaman Mahavira.

Jainism

Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara. A Tirthankara is an enlightened soul who is born as human being and attains perfection through intense meditation. The fi rst tirthankara and the founder of Jainism was Rishabhadev.

Vardhamana Mahavira

Birth year: 540 BCE

Place of Birth: Vaishali

Father’s Name: Siddhartha

Mother’s Name: Trishala

Death: 468 BCE, Pavapuri Fig. 7.1: Vardhamana Mahavira

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Teachings of Jainism

The fi ve principles of Jainism are:

Ahimsa: not to injure any living being

Satya: not to speak lies

Asteya: not to steal

Tyag: not to own property

Brahmacharya: observance of celibacy

The fi rst four teachings were taken from the earlier Tirthankaras whereas the last teaching was added by Mahavira. The followers of Jainism are known as Jains. The Jains believe that liberation from worldly bonds can be obtained by following Triratnas or three jewels of Jainism. They are: right knowledge, right faith and right action.

Fig. 7.2: Jain Temple at Palitana

Jain monks

A Jain monk or nun lives away from his or her family and travels from one place to another on foot. They usually live in groups of fi ve or six. They eat the food offered to them by the householders. They study almost the whole day. They meditate two or three times each day. They do not eat before sunrise or after sunset. They wear a cloth while talking so that they do not kill any organism in the process.

Sacred books

Jain religion does not have a single sacred book but it has many books compiled after Lord Mahavira’s nirvana. Lord Mahavira’s preachings were compiled by his immediate disciples known as Gandharas into many texts known as Sutras. These Sutras are collectively known as Agams or Agam Sutras, the sacred books of the Jain religion. They were written in Prakrit.

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Jainism was later divided into two sects: Digambaras and Shvetambaras

Table 7.1: Sects of Jainism

DIGAMBARAS SHVETAMBARAS

Stress the practice of nudity as a path and to the attainment of salvation. They chose not to wear clothes.

Assert that the practice of complete nudity is not essential to attain liberation. They wear white dress and covered their mouth with white cloth.

Believe that women cannot achieve liberation

Believe that women can achieve liberation

Believe that a saint needs no food and he can sustain life without eating.

The view that a saint can live without eating is not acceptable by the Shvetambaras.

According to Census of 2011, the total population of Jains is 4,225,053. They account for 0.4% of the total population of India.

Did You Know

Spread of Jainism Jainism reached South and West India where the Brahmanism was not strong. It extended to Odisha in 4th century BCE and in 1st and 2nd century BCE; it touched the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. The spread of Jainism in Karnataka can be accredited to Chandragupta Maurya who converted to Jainism. In later centuries, Jainism made its way into Malwa, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Very few people followed Jainism as it did not condemn the caste system.

According to Mahavira, a person is born into high or low caste depending on his virtues acquired by him in his previous birth. Farmers found it diffi cult to follow the rules laid by the religion. They had to kill insects to protect their crops. Jainism was largely supported by the traders.

1. Do you think the farmers could have become good followers of Jainism?

2. Why do you think so?

Rapid Round

Fig. 7.3: Symbol of Jainism

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Buddhism

Gautama Buddha

Birth year: 567 BCE

Place of Birth: Lumbini, Nepal

Father’s Name: Shuddhodana

Mother’s Name: Maya

Wife’s Name: Yashodhara

Death: 487 BCE, Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh

Teachings of BuddhismGautama Buddha delivered his fi rst sermon in the Pali language at Sarnath, which is called the ‘Turning of the Wheel of Law’. He spoke to a small group of fi ve men who became his earliest followers. Gradually, he attracted large crowds and instructed them to preach his message far and wide. His fundamental teachings include the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path.

The Four Noble Truths are as follows:

The world is full of suffering and sorrow.

The cause of suffering and sorrow is human desire.

The sufferings can be ended by conquering desires.

Desires can be conquered and freedom from the cycle of birth and death can be attained by nirvana. The Eightfold Path or the Ashtangika Marga leads to nirvana.

The basic teachings of the Eightfold Path are also known as Middle Way as they guide people to achieve nirvana without extreme ease or hardship.

The Eightfold Path consists of

Right Meditation Right Belief Right Thought

Right EffortThe Eightfold

PathRight Speech

Right Memory Right Means of Livelihood Right Action

Fig. 7.5: Symbol of Buddhism

Fig. 7.4: Gautama Buddha

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Buddhism also advocated the doctrines of Karma and rebirth. Karma means the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous births.

Buddhist monks

Buddha formed the religious order known as sangha. Both men and women could join it. He laid down the rules and regulations for the sangha. Buddhist monks and nuns had to abandon the world, lead a simple life and follow the rules of the sangha. They went different villages and cities begging for food for their meals. Hence, they were known as bhikshus and bhikshunis. They spent most of their time in meditation.

Sacred books

The sacred books of Buddhism are called the Tripitakas. It is written in Pali language. In Pali, Tri stands for three and Pitaka means a basket. The Baskets of Teachings were handed down over the centuries from the teacher to the student. The Three Baskets are, Basket of Discipline (Vinaya Pitaka), Basket of Discourses (Sutta Pitaka), and Basket of Ultimate Things (Abhidhamma Pitaka).Buddhism was later divided into two sects: Mahayana and Hinayana.

Table 7.2: Mahayana and Hinayana

MAHAYANA HINAYANA Believed that the Buddha is an incarnation

of God. Considers the Buddha as a teacher and

guide.

Emphasis on effi cacy of worship and devotion. Introduced many rituals and ceremonies

Relied on good deeds and a holy life based on eight fold path.

Worshipped the images of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas and prayed for forgiveness.

No faith in idol worship. The Buddha represented only through symbols.

Adopted Sanskrit for writing. Used Pali for preaching their faith.

Fig. 7. 6: Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath

Fig. 7. 7: The Fugong Temple (Pagoda), China Fig. 7. 8: Buddhist Monastery, Ajanta

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Spread of Buddhism

The spread of Buddhism was due to two main things; the support of the common people and state patronage. It was a simple religion to follow and pali, the language of common people was adopted to spread the teachings of Buddhism. Ashoka, after his conversion to Buddhism incorporated the principles of Buddhism in his ruling practices. He promoted Buddhism. By 250 BCE, Buddhism had spread to Sri Lanka. Later, the Mahayana sect of Buddhism reached South-East Asia and China. In the 6th century CE, it extended to Cambodia and in the 4th century CE to Thailand. The infl uence of Buddhism also established its root in countries and regions such as Myanmar, Nepal, Tibet, Central Asia and Japan.

Global Connection

Confucianism Taoism

Founder Confucius LaoziPeriod 6th–5th century BCE 6th century BCEMain Beliefs The practitioners have to follow

the Confucian virtues, namely: humaneness, righteousness, justice, ritual decorum, knowledge, integrity, self-cultivation and fi lial piety.

Taoism promotes: achieving harmony or union with nature, the pursuit of spiritual immortality, being virtuous and self-development

Holy books The Five Classics and Four Books Tao Te Ching and Chuang-tzu

Word Galaxy

fi lial piety – (in Confucianism) the important virtue and primary duty of respect, obedience, and care for one’s parents and elderly family members

Stupas are dome-shaped monuments used to house Buddhists’ relics or to commemorate signifi cant facts of Buddhism. Pagodas are the principle form Buddhist architecture, which are used as religious multistoried Buddhist towers, erected as a memorial or shrine. Monasteries are a place of abode for the monks.

Did You Know

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incarnation – a person who embodies in the fl esh a deity, spirit, or quality

liberation – an occasion when something or someone is released or made free

meditate – to think calm thoughts in order to relax or as a religious activity

sermon – a talk on a religious or moral subject

Concept Map

Let’s Exercise

1. Choose the appropriate option.a) Asteya means .

i) not to injure any living being ii) not to own propertyiii) not to steal iv) not to speak lies

b) means sum of a person’s actions in this and previous births.

i) Tyag ii) Karmaiii) Dharma iv) Moksha

c) are the sacred books of the Jainism.

i) Tripitakas ii) Vedasiii) Upanishads iv) Agam Sutras

2. Fill in the blanks.a) A is an enlightened soul who is born as human being and attains

perfection through intense meditation.

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b) The founder of Jainism was .

c) A Buddhist monk is also known as .

3. Match the columns.

Column A Column B

a) Chandragupta Maurya i) Basket of Discipline

b) Vinaya Pitaka ii) Jainism

c) Lumbini iii) Sect of Jainism

d) Shvetambara iv) Birth place of Gautama Buddha

4. Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words.a) Which languages were adopted by the Mahayana and Hinayana sects? b) What were the Upanishads initially known as? c) Which event is called as the ‘Turning of the Wheel of Law’?

5. Answer the following questions in 50 to 70 words.a) Write a brief note on the Upanishads. b) Discuss the teachings of Jainism.

c) What were the factors responsible for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism?

d) Write about the Four Noble Truths.

6. Give reasons. a) Buddhism spread nationally and internationally.

b) Very few people followed Jainism.

7. Picture Study a) Which religion is the symbol shown associated with?

b) Discuss about the sacred books of the religion.

8. What is your opinion on the factors responsible for the rise of new religions? Share your views in class.

9. Life Skills Discuss religious equality in India with reference to the picture given.

HIND U I SMJ A I N I S M

B U D D H I S MS I K H I S M

C H R I S TA I N I T YI S L A M

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Do it to know it!

10. Class Discussion: Have a class discussion on, “Why did Buddhism prosper more as compared to Jainism?”

11. Art Frenzy: Make a scrap book on Buddhist stupas and pagodas in various Asian countries.

12. Collage Making: Make a collage on Buddhism and Jainism.

Confucius The original name of Confucius was Kong Qui. He was born in 551 BCE in Shandong province in China. He was teacher, philosopher and political scholar. His teachings have left a long lasting infl uence on the East Asian countries. His teachings emphasise ethical codes regarding private and public life. He underlined the importance of educational ethics as well. His birthday is an offi cial holiday in Taiwan and has been celebrated as Teacher’s Day. He is believed to be the fi rst person in China who wanted education to be freely available to all, irrespective of class. He was responsible for making teaching as a profession in China. He believed that education is not only for gaining of knowledge but it is also important for one’s character.

People Who Made History

Confucius

WEBLINKS

http://www.importantindia.com/638/comparative-study-of-buddhism-and-jainism/

http://www.jainism.org/m1.html

http://www.aboutbuddhism.org/As on 30/04/2019