Rise of Jainism & Buddhism

• Why new religions arose in north India around 600–400 BCE.
• Mahavira — founder of Jainism; core beliefs.
• Gautama Buddha — founder of Buddhism; Four Noble Truths; Eightfold Path.
• How these religions spread; impact on Indian society.

Why did new religions arise?

Around 600 BCE in north India (Gangetic plains):

• Vedic religion had become complex — expensive rituals (yajnas) only priests (Brahmins) could perform.
• Caste discrimination was increasing; lower castes excluded from religious life.
• Merchants (vaishyas) and warriors (kshatriyas) wanted a simpler path to salvation.
• Philosophers questioned: "What causes suffering? How do we escape it?"
• Both Mahavira and Buddha were kshatriyas (warrior/ruling class) who rejected wealth and power to find truth.

Jainism

Vardhamana Mahavira (599–527 BCE)

• Born in Vaishali (Bihar); prince of the Lichchavi clan.
• At 30, gave up palace life and wandered for 12 years seeking truth.
• Attained Kevalya (perfect knowledge) after intense meditation.
• Called Jina ("conqueror") and Mahavira ("great hero") → followers called Jains.

Core beliefs of Jainism

Path to liberation (Moksha)

Three Jewels (Triratna):

1. Right Faith — believe in Jain teachings.
2. Right Knowledge — understand the nature of the universe correctly.
3. Right Conduct — follow the five vows above.

Sallekhana: voluntary fasting unto death; accepted for monks who are very old/ill.

Spread of Jainism

• Mahavira taught in Ardha-Magadhi (language of the people, not Sanskrit).
• Merchants supported Jainism (no violence → no farming → traders more Jain-friendly).
• Strong in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka.
• Digambara (sky-clad, monks wear no clothes) vs Shvetambara (white-clad) — two sects.

Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama (563–483 BCE)

• Born in Lumbini (now Nepal); prince of the Shakya clan.
• Saw an old man, a sick man, a dead body, and a monk → the Four Sights showed him suffering.
• At 29, renounced palace life; wandered 6 years.
• Attained enlightenment (Bodhi) under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya (Bihar).
• Called the Buddha ("Awakened One").
• First sermon at Sarnath (near Varanasi) — called Dhamma Chakka Pavattana ("Turning of the Wheel of Law").

Four Noble Truths (Arya Satya)

1. Dukkha: Life is suffering.
2. Samudaya: Suffering has a cause — craving and desire.
3. Nirodha: Suffering can end — extinguish desire.
4. Magga: The path to end suffering is the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path

Middle Path: avoid extreme luxury AND extreme self-mortification; balance.

Key Buddhist concepts

• Nirvana: liberation from the cycle of rebirth; end of suffering.
• Sangha: community of monks and nuns.
• Tripitaka: Buddhist scriptures (in Pali language).
• Stupas: dome-shaped structures built over Buddha's relics; Sanchi Stupa (MP) is the most famous.

Spread of Buddhism

• Buddha taught in Pali — language of common people, not Sanskrit.
• King Ashoka (3rd century BCE) converted to Buddhism after Kalinga War; sent missionaries worldwide.
• Mahinda (Ashoka's son) took Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
• Spread to China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia.
• Nalanda University (Bihar) — great Buddhist university; students from across Asia.

Comparison

• Why did new religions arise in north India around 600 BCE?
• Who was Mahavira? Name three Jain vows.
• What were the Four Sights that changed Siddhartha's life?
• State the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.
• How did King Ashoka help spread Buddhism?

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Jainism & Buddhism.