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BUDDHISM AND JAINISM

  Ø  BUDDHISM

·           Siddhartha was born in 563 BC in Lumbini near Kapilavastu(Nepal).

·           His father’s name was Shuddhodhana.

·           His mother’s name was Mahamaya or Mayadevi. She died after seven days of his birth.

·           He belonged to Shakya clan, hence called Shakya Muni.

·           His foster mother’s name was Gautami Prajapati.

·           He was married to Yashodhara and Rahul was born to them.

·           At the age of 29, he left his home on his horse Kantaka.

·           He learn meditation from Alara Kalma.

·           He got Enlightenment at the age of 35 at Bodh Gaya under pipal tree on yhe bank of river Nilanjana Hence he was called Buddha.

·           He delivered his first sermon at deer park in Sarnath.

·           Four important events in the life of Buddha were Mahabhimisikram, Nirvana, Chakra Pravarthan and Mahaparinirvana.

·           He passed away at the age of 80 in 483 BC at Kusinagar.

·           He rejected caste restrictions.

·           Initially, he did not allow women in Sangha but agreed later, on the advice of his chief disciple Ananda. His foster mother became the first woman to join Sangha.

·           The followers of Buddha fell into two categories (1.)- The upasakas (lay followers) and (2)-The bhikshus(monks).

·           The followers of Buddhism enjoyed equal rights irrespective of their varna and jati.

·           Three vows of Buddhism are Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

·           Sutta Pitaka, Vinay Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka are known of the tripitakas of Buddhism.

·           Tripitakas are the most important holy books of Buddhism.

·           Sutta Pitaka is the collection sermons and teaching of Buddha.

·           Vinay Pitaka is the collection of the rules governing the sangha and monks.

·           Abhidhamma Pitaka deals with the philosophy of Buddhism.

·           Buddha charitra, a book written in Sanskrit is the biography compiled by Ashvaghosh.

·           Stupa:- It is a semi-domical structure. Ashoka constructed the most important stupa at Sanchi in MP.

·           Chaityas :- These are Buddhist temple near Nasik.

·           Viharas:- These are the buildings constructed for the residence of monks. The first Vihara was erected by Kumargupta-1 at Nalanda which was called Nalanda Mahavihara.

        Buddhist councils

S No.	Year	Place	Importance
First	483 BC	Rajgriha	Compilation of Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka
Second	383 BC	Vaishali	Buddhists split into Sthaviravadins and Mahasanghikas
Third	250 BC	Patliputra	Abhidhamma Pitaka compiled
Fourth	100 AD	Kundala Van (Kashmir)	Division into Hinayana and Mahayana sect.

  Ø JAINISM

·      Jainas believe in 24 tirthankaras or great teachers or leaders of their religion.

·      Rishabhdeva is believed to be first tirthankara by the Jainas. He was also known as Adinath.

·      The 24^th tirthankara was Vardhamana Mahavira.

·      Vardhamana Mahavira, was born in the village of Kundagrama near Vaishali in about 540 BC.

·      His father’s name was Siddhartha.

·      His mother’s name was Trisala.

·      He was married to Yashoda.

·      His daughter’s name was Annoja and his son in law was Jameli.

·      He sat under a sal tree on the bank of river Riju Palik or Riju Kala in Jambhika gram near Vaishali for the attainment of Kaivalya.

·      He was also known as Jina which means conqueror of senses and his followers were called Jainas.

·      He founde a Jain Sangha at Pawapuri to propagate his faith.

·      He died in 468 BC at the age of 72 at Pawapuri.

·      Jainsm says that souls are everywhere even in stone, rocks, water etc.

·      According to Jainsm the eternal world is full of sorrow and pain.

·      Jainism did not recognize caste system and Aryan religion.

·      Jainism did not believe in god.

·      According to Jainism there are three sources of knowledge viz. pratyaksha, anumn and sayings of the tirthankaras.

·      It is believed that about two hundred years after the death of Mahavira a terrible famine broke out in Magadha.

·      Chandragupta Maurya was the king and Bhadrabahu was the chief of jaina community at that time.

·      Chandragupta and Bhadrabahu, along with their followers went to Karnataka leaving Sthulabahu incharge of the Jainism that remained in Magadha.

·      The Jainas who went to Karnataka were called Digambaras and Magadhan Jainas were called Shvetambaras.

·      Jaina literature was first written in Prakrit and later in Sanskrit.

·      Purvas literature is almost lost. Later literature consists of 12 angas, 12 upangas, 10 prakirnas, 6 chhedsutras and 4 mulasutras.

·      Kalpasutran was written by Bhadrabahu.

 Jaina Councils

S No.	Year	Place	Importance
First	300 BC	Pataliputra	Jains divided into Shvetambara and Digambara
Second	6th Century	Vallabhi	12 angas and 12 upangas were compiled

·     Digambaras did not wore any cloths.