BUDDHISM AND JAINISM:

BUDDHISM:

The Buddha:

• ·         The Buddha also known as Sakyamuni or Tathagata.
• ·         Born in 563 BC on the Vaishakha Poornima Day at Lumbini (near Kapilavastu) in Nepal.
• ·         His father Suddhodana was the Saka ruler.
• ·         His mother (Mahamaya, of Kosala dynastry) died after 7 days of his birth. Brought up by stepmother Gautami.
• ·         Married at 16 to Yoshodhara. Enjoyed the married life for 13years and had a son named Rahula.
• ·         After seeing an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic, he decided to become a wanderer.
• ·         Left his palace at 29 in search of truth (also called ‘Mahabhinishkramana’ or The Great Renunication) and wandered for 6 years.
• ·         Attained ‘Enlightenment’ at 35 at Gaya in Magadha (Bihar) under the Pipal tree.
• ·         Delivered the first sermon at Sarnath where his five disciples had settled. His first sermon is called ‘Dharmachakrapracartan’ or ‘Turning of the Wheel of Law’.
• ·         Attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (identical with village Kasia in Deoria district of UP) in 483 BC at the age of 80 in the Malla republic.

 

Buddhist Councils:

·         First Council:  

Rajgriha- 483 BC

Chairman- Mehakassaapa 

King- Ajatshatru

Divided the teachings of Buddha into two Pitakas-Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka.

 

·         Second Council: 

Vaishali- 383 BC 

 Sabakami 

King- Kalasoka. 

Followers divided into Sthavirmadins and Mahasanghikas.

 

·         Third Council: 

Pataliputra- 250 BC 

Chairman- Mogaliputta Tissa 

King- Ashoka

The third part of the Tripitaka was coded in the Pali language.

 

·         Fourth council: 

Kashmir (Kundalvan)- 72 AD

Chairman- Vasumitra

Vice-Chairman was Ashwaghosha

King- Kanishka

Divided Buddhism into Mahayana and Hinayana sects.

 

·       

  Buddist Literature: In Pali language.

 

·         Vinaya Pitaka: Rules of discipline in the Buddhist monasteries.

 

·         Sutta Pitaka: Largest, contains collection of Buddha’s sermons.

 

·         Abhidhamma Pitaka: Explanation of the philosophical principles of the Buddhist religion

JAINISM:

• ·         Jainism founded by Rishabha.
• ·         There were 24 Tirthankaras (Prophets or Gurus), all Kshatriyas. First was Rishabhnath (Emblem: Bull).
• ·         The 23rd Tirthankar Parshwanath (Emblem: Snake) was the son of King Ashvasena of Banaras.
• ·         The 24th and the last Tirthankar was Vardhman Mahavira (Emblem: Lion). He was born in kundagram (Distt Muzaffarpur, Bihar) in 599 BC.
• ·         His father Siddhartha was the head of Jnatrika clan.
• ·         His mother was Trishla, sister of Lichchavi Prince Chetak of Vaishali.
• ·         Mahavira was related to Bimbisara.
• ·         Married to Yashoda, had a daughter named Priyadarsena, whose husband Jamali became his first disciple.
• ·         At 30, after the death of his parents, he became an ascetic.
• ·         In the 13th year of his asceticism (on the 10th of Vaishakha), outside the town of Jrimbhikgrama, he attained supreme knowledge (kaivalya).
• ·         From now on he was called Jaina or Jitendriya and Mahavira, and his followers were named Jains. He also got the title of Arihant, i.e., worthy.
• ·         At the age of 72, he attained death at Pava, near Patna, in 527 BC.
• ·         Mahavira preached almost the same message as Parshvanath and added one more, Brahmcharya (celibacy) to it.

·         Jain Councils:

·         First Council: Pataliputra - 300 BC 

Chairman- Sthulabhdra. 

The Jain canons were compiled in this council.

·         Second Council- Valabhi - 5^th century AD 

Chairman-  Devardhi Kshamasramana (by the Svetambaras)

During this Council, the 12 Angas and 12 Upangas were finally compiled here in Ardh Magadhi language.