History Quiz : Buddhism and Jainism and their contribution to Indian culture | 5th Dec. 2020

Sixth century BCE was a period of intense intellectual ferment. There are several reasons for the emergence of this ferment.
•State formation and the rigidity of the Vedic religion constrained the liberty of thought and action.
•A revolt against religious practice of following dogmas found its articulation in heterodox sects.
•The emergence of territorial identities accelerated the process of sociopolitical and economic changes.
•The elite class, disillusioned with the system in place, began to move in protest towards the heterodox religions blossoming in Magadha or middle Ganges plains.
•As the Vedic religion was not fully organized, its reach did not permeate into the society and hence people did not find it difficult to follow the newly emerging religious sects.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 46.

A Buddhist text, Samannaphala Sutta, while making a reference to Ajatashatru of Magadha meeting Gautama Buddha.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 46.

The Ajivikas are believed to have evolved from one of the many ascetic groups of the times.
According to Buddhist records, Nanda Vaccha was considered the founder of the Ajivika sect.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 46.

The term “lokayata” signifies materialist thought. Indian materialism has also been named Carvaka after one of the two founders of the school.
•Carvaka and Ajita Kesakambalin are said to have established Indian materialism as a formal philosophical system.
•Carvakas developed the concept of scepticism and believed in the pursuit of knowledge through experience. They questioned the authority of Vedas.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 47.

There was intense rivalry among the various heterodox sects.
•This is evident from the various religious accounts of the period.
•Buddhist and Jaina texts not only mention other heterodox sects but also belittle them.
•For example, Bhagavatisutra, a Jaina text, provides a poor account of Makkhali Gosala.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 47.

Among the various sects, the sect led by Vardhamana Mahavira (referred to as Nigantha Nataputta by Buddhist texts) bloomed into a religion called Jainism. It was earlier known as Nirgranthas (free from bonds).
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 48.

Magadha was affected by severe famine and some of the Jaina monks under Bhadrabahu went south to maintain their strict discipline.
•They remained without garments and were known as Digambaras (space-clad or naked).
•Others stayed back under the leadership of Sthulabhadra and adopted a white garment and were known as Svetambaras (white-clad).
•The schism weakened Jainism in Magadha, but it found ardent followers in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 49.

Jain discipline requires adherence to certain rigorous rules. The Jains are required to follow three principles called Triratnas or Three Gems.
•Right faith (samyag-darshana);
•Right knowledge (samyag-jnana);
•Right conduct (samyag-mahavrata)
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 49.

Jainism is an egalitarian religion. It does not sanction any inequality based on birth.
•It is one’s deeds that determine one’s status in society and not birth.
•Jainism believes that “by one’s action one becomes a Brahmin, a Kshatriya, or a Vaishya, or a Sudra.”
•Pride based on birth is considered a sin.
•Women were admitted into the monastic order. However, as a woman one cannot attain salvation.
•By accumulating merit by good deeds, a woman could be reborn as a man and then strive to attain salvation.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 50.

Jainism spread to Tamil Nadu from about the third century CE. Jaina rock shelters are found in large numbers around Madurai and other places.
•The mention of death of Kopperuncholan by fasting in chol Purananuru is considered by some to be similar to Jaina practice of sallekhana.
•Jaina influence is strong in early Tamil literature. Naladiyar, Palamoli, Jivaka Chinthamani, Yapperunkalam Karikai, Neelakesi are some of the prominent Jaina works in Tamil.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board class 11, page 51.