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During the 5th-6th centuries BC two new religions emerged in the form of Jainism and Buddhism. So today, we will be studying about these two religions. Let&#39;s start now. 

<h2>Jainism</h2>

Jainism is an ancient religion that is rooted in the philosophy that teaches the way to liberation and a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through disciplined nonviolence to all living creatures. The founder of Jainism was Mahavira. He was born in 540 BC as Vardhamana (childhood name) at Kundagrama near Vaishali. His father Siddhartha was the head of a famous Kshatriya clan, and his mother, named Trishala, was the sister of Chetak, the king of Vaishali. He was also related to Bimbisara, the ruler of Magadha, who had married Chellana, the daughter of Chetak. During the early stages, Mahavira joined a group of the founders of this sect. Mahavira attained Kaivalya (perfect knowledge) under sal tree, near village Jimbhikagrama, on the bank of the river Rijupalika and died at the age of 72 at Pavapuri near modern Rajgir in 468 BC. 

After the death of Mahavira, during the reign of King Chandragupta Maurya (the founder Mauryan empire), a severe taminess led to the migration of some Jains under Bhadrabahu to the Deccan. Sthula Bhadra remained in the North and was allowed to wear white garments. Bhadrabahu maintained nudity leading to division as Digambaras (sky-clad or naked) and Svetambaras (white-clad). There are 24 Tirthankaras in the history of Jainism. Mahavir Swami was the last and the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.

<h2>Preaching of Mahavira</h2>

He rejected the authority of the Vedas and the Vedic rituals and he did not believe in the existence of God. He believed in the attainment of salvation (Moksha) by believing penance and dying of starvation. In Jainism, there are three Ratnas and they are called "the Way of Nirvana":

<ol>
	<li>Right faith-Samyak Vishwas</li>
	<li>Right knowledge-Samyak Gyan</li>
	<li>Right conduct-Samyak Karma</li>
</ol>

<h2>Jain Councils</h2>

<table cellspacing="0" class="Table" style="border-collapse:collapse; border:none">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Jain Councils
			</td>
			<td>
			Duration
			</td>
			<td>
			Place
			</td>
			<td>
			President
			</td>
			<td>
			Aftermath
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			First
			</td>
			<td>
			300 BCE
			</td>
			<td>
			Pataliputra
			</td>
			<td>
			Sthulabhadra
			</td>
			<td>
			Split into two factions: Svetambara and Digambara
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Second
			</td>
			<td>
			512 AD
			</td>
			<td>
			Vallabhi and Mathura
			</td>
			<td>
			Devaradhi Kshama Ramana
			</td>
			<td>
			Completed compilation of twelve Angas and Upangas
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Third
			</td>
			<td>
			453 or

			456 CE
			</td>
			<td>
			Vallabhi
			</td>
			<td>
			Devarddhigani Kshamashramana
			</td>
			<td>
			Minimise the number of writings

			in Agmas
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Jain Literature</h2>

The sacred books of the Jains are known as Siddhartha or Agama, it includes:

<ol>
	<li>Twelve Angas</li>
	<li>Twelve Upangas</li>
	<li>Ten Prikarnas</li>
	<li>Six Chheda Sutras</li>
	<li>Four Mulasutras</li>
	<li>Two Sutra Granthas</li>
</ol>

They are written in the Prakrit language. Among the Jaina writers, the most important were Bhadrabahu (Kalpa-Sutra), Siddhasena, Divakara, Manibhadra, Siddha Hemachandra (Parisistha Parvan), Nayachandra and Mallinath. The Jainas wrote narrative literature, kavyas, novels, dramas and hymns.

<h2>Buddhism</h2>

The founder of Buddhism, Gautam Buddha (Sakyamuni or Tathagat), was born in Lumbini. He too was of Kshatriya clan. He was married and had a son. But he left home to become an ascetic. He wandered for 7 years under different teachers but couldn’t get enlightenment. Finally, under the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya on banks of Niranjan river after deep penance he attained enlightenment. His childhood name was Siddhartha. Buddha didn’t accept or reject God. He was a rationalist and didn’t believe in blind faith. He never dealt with metaphysical questions like God, soul but focused on problems concerning man. He believed in karma. He was against any caste distinctions Buddha organised the religious disciples into Sanghas. The work of these sanghas made Buddhism into a large religion. Two hundred years after Buddha’s death Emperor Ashok embraced Buddhism and through missionary efforts spread it to west Asia and Ceylon.

<h2>Buddha&#39;s Life</h2>

He was born in 563 BC (widely accepted) in a sal groove of Lumbini garden in Kapilavastu. His mother was Mahamaya (a Kosalan princess) and his father was Sudhodhana (of Sakya tribe). He gave his first sermon at Sarnath at deer park. He died at 80 in kusinagara. There are 29 Buddhas, Gautam is 28th and Maitreya is 29th. He was moved by the misery, which people suffered in the world and looked for its solution. He left home at the age of 29. This incident became famous as Mahabhinishkramana- ‘great going forth&#39;.

He first became a disciple of Alara Kalam. Kalam left Alara and joined Rudraka. From there, he went to Uruvela and practised great penance. His conception of religion was purely ethical. Buddha got enlightenment under the pipal tree known as a Bodhi tree at Gaya in Bihar. He gave his first sermon at Sarnath (ancient name was Rishipattan) first sermon was by the name of Dhammachakra Pravartan (or the turning of the wheel of law). He spent his last days near Vaishali. At Pava, a man named Chunda fed him pork, after eating it Buddha died of dysentery at the age of 80 in 483 BC in Kushinagar the capital of Mallas. His death is known Mahaparnirvana i.e. final blowing out. His favourite disciple was Ananda Buddhist, Chaityas are places of worship. Viharas are monasteries and Sangharam are monasteries or schools.

<h2>Teachings of Buddha</h2>

His four Noble Truths (Arya Satyas):

<ol>
	<li>World is full of sufferings</li>
	<li>Desire is cause of all sufferings</li>
	<li>Remove desire and remove sufferings</li>
	<li>Desire can be removed from eight-fold path</li>
</ol>

The world is full of sorrows (Sabbam Dukham). The cause of sorrow is desire (Dwadash Nidan/ Pratityasamutpada). If desires are conquered, all sorrows can be removed (Nirvana). This can be achieved by following the 8-fold path (Ashtangika Marga). The second truth is based on Buddha’s doctrine of Paticheha samutpada or Pratitya samutpada i.e. law of dependent origination or causation.

Belief in Nirvana: Also known as moksha or salvation. It refers to belief in the concept of ultimate bliss, whereby the person gets freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

Belief in Ahimsa: It implies the total avoidance of harming of any kind of living creatures not only by deeds, but also by words and in thoughts. Kutagorshala is a place where Buddhist monks discuss religious issues.

<h2>Buddhism texts</h2>

Tripitakas refers to Buddhists scriptures, it includes Vinay Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka.

<ul>
	<li>Vinaya Pitaka: It contains the rules and regulations of monastic discipline for monks. An account of the life and teaching of the Buddha is also given.</li>
	<li>Sutta Pitaka: Few discourses delivered by many Buddhist scholars like Sariputta, Ananda and others are given in it. It lays down the principles of Buddhism. It is a collection of Buddha’s sermons and is divided into five groups.</li>
	<li>Abhidhamma Pitaka: It contains the rules and regulations of Abhidhamma Pitaka. Having the philosophy of Buddha’s teachings. It investigates mind and matter to help the understanding of things as they truly are.</li>
	<li>Milindapanho: A conversation among Greco-Bactrian kings, Menander and a Buddhist monk, Nagasena. It is written in the form of a question-and-answer type.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Buddhist Councils</h2>

<ul>
	<li>The First Council (483 BC) was held at Sattenapalli (Saptaparni) cave near Rajagriha under the chairmanship of Mahakassapa. Here Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka were compiled by Upali and Ananda respectively. Ajatashatru was the king at that time.</li>
	<li>The Second Council (383 BC) was held at Vaishali during the reign of Kalashoka, the king of the Shishunaga dynasty. The chairman was Sabakami. The monk of Vaishali wanted some changes in the rites. It resulted in division of the sect into Sthaviravada and Mahasanghika.</li>
	<li>The Third Council (250 BC) was held at Pataliputra during the reign of Ashoka (the Mauryan ruler). This council was held under the Presidentship of Mogaliputta Tissa, to revise the Buddhist texts.</li>
	<li>The Fourth Council (AD 72) It was held during the reign of Kanishka (the Kushana ruler) in Kashmir under the presidentship of Vasumitra and Ashwaghosha. Buddhism got divided into Hinayana and Mahayana.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Stupa and Vihara</h2>

Three types of structures are associated with the religious architecture of early Buddhism: monasteries (Viharas), places to venerate relics (Stupas), and shrines or prayer halls (Chaityas, also called Chaitya Grihas), which later came to be called temples in some places. Stupas are domed monuments containing relics of the Buddha. The stupas are carved with symbols of the Buddha footprint, bodhi tree, and vase. Viharas are monastery halls, which the monks would originally have used for study, solitary, meditation and communal worship.

We’ve seen the rise of Jainism and Buddhism and next blog we will study the rise of empires in Ancient India. So stay tuned for more.

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