{"id":336518,"date":"2025-05-14T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T03:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=336518"},"modified":"2025-05-13T12:44:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T07:14:12","slug":"day-6-prelims-20-jainism-buddhismliteraturephilosophy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/day-6-prelims-20-jainism-buddhismliteraturephilosophy\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 6 Prelims 20+: Jainism &amp; Buddhism+Literature+Philosophy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In today\u2019s Prelims 20+, we cover Jainism and Buddhism\u2014two key non-Vedic traditions that challenged ritualism and promoted ethical living, renunciation, and self-realisation. Their literature, like the Jain Agamas, Tattvartha Sutra, Tripitakas, and Dhammapada, reflects deep philosophical thought and shaped ancient Indian culture and polity. Jainism taught Anekantavada (many-sided truth), Syadvada (relativity), and strict asceticism, while Buddhism emphasized the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, and the Middle Way- a balanced route to enlightenment.<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse;border-style: solid\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;text-align: center\"><strong>Table of Content\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%\"><strong>Jainism<br \/>\n<\/strong><a href=\"#h1\">HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF JAINISM<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h2\">MAHAVIRA AND HIS LIFE<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h3\">5 DOCTRINES OF JAINISM<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h4\">TRIRATNAS OF JAINISM<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h5\">PHILOSOPHIES OF JAINISM<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h6\">ASHTAMANGALA<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h7\">JAIN FLAG<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h8\">JAINA SECTS \u2013 DIGAMBAR &amp; SHVETAMBAR<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h9\">JAINA COUNCILS<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h10\">JAINA SCHOOLS<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h11\">JAINA LITERATURE<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h12\">POPULAR PRACTICES UNDER JAINISM<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%\"><strong>Buddhism<br \/>\n<\/strong><a href=\"#h13\">GAUTAM BUDDHA &amp; HIS LIFE<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h14\">Three jewels \u2013 TRIRATNA<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h15\">Basic tenets of Buddhism &#8211; explained through FOUR MAJOR NOBLE TRUTHS<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h16\">Noble eightfold path &#8211; to end suffering &#8211; ASHTANGIKA MARG<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h17\">BUDDHIST LITERATURE<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h18\">BUDDHIST COUNCILS<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h19\">PROMINENT BODHISATTVAS<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h20\">SCHOOLS OF BUDDHISM<\/a><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%\"><a href=\"#h21\">Click here to download pdf of Jainism &amp; Buddhism+Literature+Philosophy<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>JAINISM<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"h1\"><\/a>HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF JAINISM<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to Jaina traditions,\u00a0twenty-four Tirthankaras\u00a0were responsible for the origin and development of Jaina religion and philosophy. Of these, the first twenty-two are of doubtful historicity. In the case of the last two, Parsvanatha and Mahavira, Buddhist works confirm their historicity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adinath\/Rishabhdev:\u00a0The first Tirthankara (supreme preacher) and establisher of the Ikshvaku dynasty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ajita: The second Tirthankara<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Neminatha:\u00a0the twenty-second Tirthankara<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Parsvanatha:\u00a0According to Jaina tradition, the\u00a0twenty-third Tirthankara,\u00a0Parsvanatha, was the son of\u00a0King Asvasena\u00a0of Varanasi and Queen Vama. Parsvanatha believed in the\u00a0eternity of \u2018matter\u2019. The followers of Parsvanatha wore\u00a0white garments. Thus, it is clear that\u00a0even before Mahavira,\u00a0some kind of Jaina faith existed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mahavira: The twenty-fourth Tirthankara was Vardhamana Mahavira.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h2\"><\/a>MAHAVIRA AND HIS LIFE<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 24th Tirthankara was Vardhamana Mahavira.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Birth:\u00a0Born in Kundagrama (Basukunda), a suburb of Vaishali (Bihar), in 540 BC.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Parents:\u00a0Father Siddhartha (head of the Jnatrikas, a Kshatriya clan) and mother, Trishala, a Lichchavi princess.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Spouse:\u00a0Yashoda<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At the age of thirty, Vardhamana left his home and became an ascetic.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For twelve years, he lived the life of an ascetic following severe austerities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the 13th year of his asceticism, at the age of 42, he attained the\u00a0\u2018Supreme Knowledge\u2019 (Kaivalya).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Titles:\u00a0He was later known as \u2018Mahavira\u2019 (the supreme hero) or \u2018Jina\u2019 (the conqueror). He was also hailed as\u00a0\u2018Nirgrantha\u2019.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Preachings:\u00a0For the next thirty years, he moved from place to place and preached his doctrines in\u00a0Kosala, Magadha, and further east.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Patronage:\u00a0He often visited the courts of\u00a0Bimbisara and Ajatasatru.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Death:\u00a0He died at Pawa (near Rajagriha) in Patna district at the age of 72 (468 BC).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Two of his disciples, Indrabhuti Gautama and Sudharman, both of whom survived Mahavira, are regarded as the founders of the historical Jain monastic community, and a third, Jambu, is believed to be the last person of the current age to gain enlightenment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h3\"><\/a>5 DOCTRINES OF JAINISM<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do not commit violence &#8211; Ahimsa\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do not speak a lie &#8211; Satya\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do not steal &#8211; Asteya\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do not acquire property &#8211; Aparigraha\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Observe continence \u2013 Brahmacharya\u2192 Added by Mahavira<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h4\"><\/a>TRIRATNAS OF JAINISM<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right knowledge (Samyak Gyana)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right belief (Samyak Darshana)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right conduct (Samyak charitra)\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These three jewels or gems of Jainism are called Ratnatraya.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"h5\"><\/a>PHILOSOPHIES OF JAINISM<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Anekantavada<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; fundamental doctrine of Jainism &#8211; many truths &#8211; ultimate reality is complex- no single statement can describe ultimate truth.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Syadvada<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; All judgements are conditional holding good only in certain conditions, circumstances or senses &#8211; method of examining different possibilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><a id=\"h6\"><\/a>ASHTAMANGALA<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">8 auspicious symbols under Jainism (Specially in Shvetambara tradition):<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Swastika<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 It signifies peace and well being of the humans.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Nandavarta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 It is a large swastika with nine end points.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Bhadrasana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 A throne which is said to be sanctified by the Jaina\u2019s feet.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Shrivatsa<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (endless knot)\u2192 A mark which is manifested on the chest of tirthankara image and signifies his pure soul.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Darpana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 The mirror which reflects the inner self.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Minayugala<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 A couple of fish which signifies the conquest over sexual urges\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Vardhamanaka<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 A shallow dish used as lamp which shows the increase in the wealth, due and merit.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Kalasha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 A pot filled with pure water signifying water.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The symbol hand with a wheel on the palm symbolises Ahimsa in Jainism. The word ahimsa is written in the middle of it.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h7\"><\/a>JAIN FLAG<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Jain flag has five colours namely red, yellow, white, green and dark blue.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These five colours represent the <\/span><b>Pancha-Parame\u1e63\u1e6dhi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> i.e., the five-fold hierarchy of religious authorities under Jainism.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All 24 tirthankaras are associated with one of the colours.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Red Represents Arihant (one who has attained Kevala gyana).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yellow Represents Siddha.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">White Represents Acharya.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Green Represents Upadhyay.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dark blue Represents Sadhu.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Swastika in the middle of the flag represents embodiment of soul in either of four forms: in deities, in human beings, in animal\/birds\/insects\/these four forms depend on the Karma. The purpose of soul is to liberate from these four forms\/stages and become Arihant or Siddha eventually.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The three dots above Swastika represents Ratnatraya (or three jewels) of Jainism, i.e., Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The curve above the three dots denotes Siddhashila i.e., an eternal place situated at the top of the Universe where Arihants and Siddhas reside.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h8\"><\/a>JAINA SECTS \u2013 DIGAMBAR &amp; SHVETAMBAR<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>PARSHVANATHA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; had asked followers to cover upper and lower portions of their body, Mahavira asked them to discard clothes altogether &#8211; divided into shvetambaras and Digambaras.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jainism &#8211; rejected authority of the vedas &#8211; recognized the existence of gods but placed them lower than jinas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also it did not condemn the Varna system. According to Mahavira &#8211; birth in high or low varna is defined by virtues of previous birth.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also believed in the concept of soul\/atman &#8211; soul is the core and fundamental focus on Jain philosophy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Jainism didn&#8217;t radically separate itself from Brahmanism &#8211; it didn&#8217;t attract the masses \u2013 but gradually spread to west and south India. Propagation to south is sometimes attributed to Chandragupta Maurya &#8211; but its not confirmed by any archaeological evidence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But a drought 200 years after Mahavira &#8211; forced many people to migrate south from Magadh &#8211; under the leadership of Bhadrabahu &#8211; those stayed back in Magadha under Sthulabahu &#8211; became slightly lax in following rules &#8211; when they returned &#8211; there was conflict.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h9\"><\/a>JAINA COUNCILS<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-style: solid\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 22.9746%\"><b>1<\/b><b>st<\/b><b> council\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 76.058%\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Time period: 300 BC<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">President: Sthulbhadra\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Patronage: Chandragupta Maurya\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place: Pataliputra (Bihar)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Outcomes: Sthulabhadra divided the Jaina canon into\u00a012 \u2018angas\u2019\u00a0or sections, and they were compiled.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 22.9746%\"><b>2<\/b><b>nd<\/b><b> council\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 76.058%\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Time period: 512 AD<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">President: Devardhi Kshmasramana.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place: Vallabhi<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Outcomes: Final Compilations of 12 Angas and 12 Upangas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><a id=\"h10\"><\/a>JAINA SCHOOLS<\/h2>\n<p><b>DIGAMBARA SCHOOL:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Monks do not wear clothes &#8211; female monks unstitched plain white sarees &#8211; called Aryikas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They follow all 5 constraints &#8211; including brahmacharya.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bhadrabahu &#8211; led people who moved south &#8211; was exponent of Digambar.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Believes women can&#8217;t be tirthankars and Malli was a man.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prakrit book &#8211; <\/span><b>SUTTAPAHUDA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; by <\/span><b>Kundakunda<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; earliest record.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another Book in <\/span><b>Shuraseni.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Two main monastic order (saints):<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Mula Sangh<\/strong> &#8211; original community &#8211; Kundakunda associated here &#8211; Further subdivided &#8211; Nandi Gana ( Sravanabelgola) , Sana Gana , Deva gana, Simha Gana.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Kashtha Sangh<\/strong> &#8211; Nomadic Order &#8211; North and West India. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Main sects of modern community (common people):<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Bispanthis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 worship Tirthankars as well as Yaksha and Yakshinis like Bhairava and Kshetrapala &#8211; Bhattarakas are their dharmagurus and they are concentrated in Rajasthan and Gujarat.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Terapanthi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 worship only idols of teerthankara -with ashta dravya &#8211; reject Bhatrrakas (head of jain institutions).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Taranapanthi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 Do not believe in idol worship. Their shrines are called Chaiyalayas &#8211; which have book instead of idol.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>SHWETAMBARA SCHOOL:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Follow the preachings of Parshvanatha &#8211; believe in only four restraints to achieve Kaivalya.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They believe 23rd and 24th tirthankara did marry.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sthulabahu &#8211; was a proponent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Believes women can be tirthankars and Malli was a princess.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The monks of Svetambara School can have simple white clothing, a begging bowl, a brush to remove insects from their path, books and writing materials with them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Svetambara tradition of Jainism indicates five eternal substances in existence: Soul (Jiva), Matter (Pudgala), Space (Akasha), Motion (Dharma) and Rest (Adharma), unlike Digambaras which added the sixth eternal substance as Time (Kala).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Divided into three sub sects<\/strong>:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Sthanakavasi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 believed in praying to saints rather to an idol. Saints Wear a muhpatti to cover mouth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Murthipujaka<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 Live in temples keep idols of tirthankaras at their temples and worship them &#8211; saints don&#8217;t wear mukhpatti. Further subsects:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gacchas &#8211; monastic order + lay followers of Murthipujaka subsects<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kharatara Gaccha , Ancala Gaccha , Tristek Gaccha, Tapa Gaccha (largest), Vimal Gaccha, Pashvachandra Gaccha<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Terapanthi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 similar to Sthanakavasi &#8211; reject Bhattrakas<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h11\"><\/a>JAINA LITERATURE<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The original, unadulterated teachings of the Tirthankaras, the Purvas, are said to have been contained in 14 ancient or \u201cprior\u201d (<\/span><b>PURVA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">) texts &#8211; Bhadrabahu, traditionally recognized as the last Jain sage to know the contents of the Purvas, is thought to be the author of the <\/span><b>NIRYUKTIS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the earliest commentaries on the Jain canonical texts. He also wrote &#8211; <\/span><b>UVASAGGAHARAM TOTRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>KALPA SUTRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> -Biographies of Jain Tirthankars &#8211; These concise, metrical commentaries, written in Prakrit, gave rise to an expanded corpus of texts called <\/span><b>BHASHYAS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><b>CHURNIS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>ACHARRANGASUTRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>SUTRAKRITANGA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and <\/span><b>KALPASUTRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are the earliest Jaina texts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Shwetambara<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8212; the number of texts in this canon at 45, divided into six groups: the 11 <\/span><b>Angas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (\u201cParts\u201d; originally there were 12, but one, the <\/span><b>Drishtivada<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, has been lost), 12 <\/span><b>Upangas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (subsidiary texts), 4 <\/span><b>Mula-sutras<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (basic texts), 6 <\/span><b>Cheda-sutras<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (concerned with discipline), 2 <\/span><b>Chulika-sutras<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (appendix texts), and 10 <\/span><b>Prakirnakas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (mixed, assorted texts). The Angas contain several dialogues, mainly between Mahavira and his disciple Indrabhuti Gautama, presumably recorded by the disciple Sudharman, who transmitted the teachings to his own disciples. Not the purest form &#8211; have been adopted over the ages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Digambaras<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> give canonical status to two works in Prakrit: the <\/span><b>Karmaprabhrita<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (\u201cChapters on Karma\u201d), also called <\/span><b>Shatkhandagama<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (\u201cScripture of Six Sections\u201d &#8211; Shuraseni language), and the <\/span><b>Kashayaprabhrita<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (\u201cChapters on the Kashayas\u201d). Digambaras also value the Prakrit works of <\/span><b>Kundakunda<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (c. 2nd century, though perhaps later), including the <\/span><b>Pravachanasara<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (on ethics), the <\/span><b>Samayasara<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (on the essence of doctrine), the <\/span><b>Niyamasara<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (on Jain monastic discipline), and the six <\/span><b>Prabhritas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (\u201cChapters\u201d; on various religious topics).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jain authors were also an important formative influence on Kannada literature. The Jain lay poet Pampa\u2019s <\/span><b>Adipurana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (another text dealing with the lives of Rishabha, Bahubali, and Bharata) is the earliest extant piece of mahakavya (\u201chigh poetic\u201d) Kannada literature.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tamil texts &#8211; Tirutakkatevar\u2019s <\/span><b>Civaka Cintamani<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, an ancient Tamil text composed by Jain monks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Umaswati\u2019s Tattvartha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; <\/span><b>sutra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (2nd-5th century AD) is an important Jain work in Sanskrit on logic, epistemology, ethics, and astronomy. (accepted both by Digambara and Svetambara sect).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jinasena (8th-9th centuries) was a revered Digamabara monk. He wrote Mahapurana and Adipurana.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h12\"><\/a>Popular practices under Jainism<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>SALLEKHANA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; basically Santhara &#8211; voluntarily fasting to death &#8211; gradually reducing the intake of food and liquids.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>PRATIKRAMAN<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; process during which Jains repent for their sins during their daily life. There are five types of Pratikaman include <\/span><b>Devasi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Rai Pakhi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Chaumasi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><b>Samvatsari<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All Jain renunciants must exercise the three <\/span><b>GUPTIS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (care in thought, speech, and action) and the five <\/span><b>SAMITIS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (types of vigilance over conduct). Essential to regular monastic ritual are the six \u201cobligatory actions\u201d (<\/span><b>AVASHYAKA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">), practiced daily and at important times of the ritual calendar.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The layman (Jainism\u2019s focus is invariably upon the male) is enjoined to observe eight basic rules of behavior, which vary but usually include the avoidance of night eating, as well as a diet that excludes meat, wine, honey, and types of fruits and roots deemed to harbour life-forms. There are also 12 vows to be taken: five <\/span><b>ANUVRATAS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (\u201clittle vows\u201d), three <\/span><b>GUNAVRATAS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and four <\/span><b>SHIKSHAVRATAS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The anuvratas are vows to abstain from violence, falsehood, and stealing; to be content with one\u2019s own wife; and to limit one\u2019s possessions. Can do samayika at regular occasions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>BUDDHISM<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"h13\"><\/a>GAUTAM BUDDHA &amp; HIS LIFE<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Born as <\/span><b>Siddhartha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> at <\/span><b>Lumbini<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Kapilavastu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mother Queen Maya and father King Suddhodana.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Belonged to <\/span><b>Sakya Clan.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Born on auspicious day of Vaishakha Purnima.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Married Yashodhara\u2192 They had a son named Rahul.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At the age of 29, he left his house riding horse Kanthaka with his charioteer Channa &#8211; (called Mahabhiraskramana or the Great Going Forth) &#8211; to find the truth of life.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After that left home and wandered as an ascetic. At age 35 &#8211; attained enlightenment (nirvana) under a pipal tree in Gaya, Bihar &#8211; again Vaishakha Purnima.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First sermon to his five companions (Place: Deer Park, Sarnath Varanasi) &#8211; the event is called <\/span><b>Dharma Chakra Pravartana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Varanasi probably chosen even though 300km from Gaya because junction of Uttarapath and Dakshinapath &#8211; hustle bustle from all walks of life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1st Five disciples\/Companions &#8212; <\/span><b>Kaudinya, Bhadrika, Vashpa, Mahanaman, Ashvajit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buddha was contemporary to Bimbisara.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other names &#8211; Tathagata and Sakyamuni<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Predecessor &#8211; Kassapa Buddha and successor will be Maitreya Buddha.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h14\"><\/a>Three jewels \u2013 TRIRATNA<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buddha &#8211; The enlightened one<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dhamma &#8211; Teachings of Buddha<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sangha &#8211; The Monastic Order &#8211; This was the one established by Buddha and his 5 companions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h15\"><\/a>Basic tenets of Buddhism &#8211; explained through FOUR MAJOR NOBLE TRUTHS<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Truth of suffering (Dukkha)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Truth of origin of suffering (Samudaya) -also called Pratiya Sampada and Hetuvada or Kshanbhangavada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Truth of cessation of suffering (Nirodha)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The truth of path to the cessation of suffering (Marga) &#8211; also called Dukha Nirodha Gamina Pratipada<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sorrow is caused by desires. This keeps a person caught in samsara, the endless cycle of repeated rebirth, dukkha and dying again. If one gets rid of desires and needs, then one can be free and at peace.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"h16\"><\/a>Noble eightfold path &#8211; to end suffering &#8211; ASHTANGIKA MARG<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kind, Truthful and right speech<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Honest, Peaceful and Right Action<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Find right livelihood which does not harm any being<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right effort and cultivating self-control<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right mindfulness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right meditation and concentration on the meaning of life<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right thoughts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right understanding (avoid superstition)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to Buddha &#8211; <\/span><b>MADHYAM MARG<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; middle path is the answer &#8211; not too much ritual\/asceticism , also not too much worldly pleasures.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buddhism rejects the authenticity of Vedas, rejects the concept of existence of soul (atman) unlike Jainism &#8211; but believes in rebirth.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h17\"><\/a>BUDDHIST LITERATURE<\/h2>\n<p><b>TRIPITAKA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After Mahaparinirvana &#8211; compilation of his teachings started. In next 500 years over four Buddhist Councils were held\u2192 Three books &#8211; <\/span><b>TRIPITAKAS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Triple Basket) were compiled &#8211; Vinaya (rules of Buddhist order) , Sutta (Great collection of Buddha&#8217;s sermons) and Abhidhamma &#8211; All 3 Pali language.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>VINAYA PITAKA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Basket of Discipline.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Oldest, smallest and least variations among sects.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It regulates monastic life and daily affairs of monks according to rules attributed by Buddha.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Three sub sections:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Sutta Vibhanga<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; monastic rules for individuals, disciplinary actions for offense etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Khandhaka<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; admission to the order, procedure for handling disputes, conduct of monastries as a whole &#8211; rules governing food, lodging, clothing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Parivara<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; classified digest of rules in other Vinaya texts &#8211; confined to Theravada buddhism.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>SUTTA PITAKA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; Sanskrit Sutra Pitaka:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Basket of discourse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Extensive body of texts constituting the basic doctrinal section of the Buddhist canon\u2014teachings of Buddha.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The contents of the Sutta Pitaka are attributed, with few exceptions, to the Gautama Buddha himself. The schools whose works were written in Sanskrit divided this body of literature into four collections, called Agamas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>ABHIDHAMMA PITAKA<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Basket of Special Doctrine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Claim to represent words not of Buddha himself but of disciples and great scholars .\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It was not accepted as canonical by the Mahasanghika school, the forerunners of Mahayana &amp; also by Sautantrika (under Sarvastivadins).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>JATAKAS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: The Jatakas are the best example of Buddhist non-canonical literature. These are compilation of the stories from the previous births of Buddha. The stories of the Bodhisattva or the (future) would-be Buddha are also discussed in these Jatakas.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>DIPAVAMSA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: It was probably composed in 3rd-4th centuries AD in Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) &#8211; Pali Language. It literally means \u201cChronicle of the Island\u201d. It mentions about the visit of Buddha to Sri Lanka and the arrival of tooth relic of Buddha.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>MILINDA PANHO:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It contains a dialogue between King Meander (or Milinda) and Buddhist monk Nagasena. It means \u201cQuestions of Milinda\u201d. These are one of the highest philosophical enquiries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>MAHAVAMSA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: It is an epic poem similar to Dipavamsa and is written in Pali language. It dates back to 5th century AD and has account of Buddha\u2019s visit to Ceylon (Srilanka), Chronicles of Kings of Ceylon, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>MAHAVASTU<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: It contains Jakata and Avadana tales. It is written in mixed Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit. It is said to be compiled between 2nd century BC and 4th century AD.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>LALITAVISTARA<\/b> <b>SUTRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: meaning \u201cThe play in full\u201d, is an important Mahayana text. It contains various stories associated with the life of Buddha till his first sermon at Sarnath.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>BODHI VAMSA:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It was prose-poem, written in 12th century in Sri Lanka. It was translated from a Sinhalese version. It was written by Upatissa in Sanskritised Pali.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>MAHAVIBHASA SHASTRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: It was written in Sanskrit. It is said to be written around 150 AD by Vasumitra. It contains discussions about other non-Buddhist philosophies also. It is essentially a Mahayana text.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>VISUDDHIMAGGA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: It was written by Buddhaghosa in 5th century in Sri Lanka. It is a text of Theravada doctrine. It contains discussions on various teachings of Buddha. Buddhaghosha also wrote Attakathayen and Sumangalvasini. All of these are in Sanskrit<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>BUDDHACHARITA:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Written by Ashvaghosha in Sanskrit. He also wrote Saundarananda, Sutra Alankar, Sariputra Prakaran and Vajra Suchi.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"h18\"><\/a>BUDDHIST COUNCILS<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>1st Buddhist Council:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place: Rajgir\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">483 BC<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Held immediately after death of Buddha.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Held in Sataparani cave.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Patronage of Ajatshatru<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chairman: Mahakasyapa\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Upali recited Vinaya Pitaka\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anand recited Sutta Pitaka<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>2nd Buddhist Council:\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place: Vaishali\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">383 BC\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Patronage of King Kalasoka<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chairman &#8211; Sabakami\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">10 disputed points of Vinaya Pitaka resolved.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Split into Mahasanghika and Sthavirvada (10 basic differences &#8211; between Vaishali monks and others. Vaishali monks less strict\u2192 formed Mahasanghika &#8211; differences were like begging after prescribed hours, accepting alms of gold and silver, storing of salt, taking precedent the practices of one&#8217;s tutor etc).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>3rd Buddhist Council:\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place: Pataliputra\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">250 BC\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">King Ashoka\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chiarman -Moggaliputta Tissa\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compilation of Abhidhamma Pitaka\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It was mainly confined to Sthavirvadins (Theravada)\u2192 From them too Sravastivadins were excluded, Only Vibhajayvadins were permitted.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>4th Buddhist Council:\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place: Kundalvana, Kashmir\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Around 100AD\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Patronage of King Kanishka\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chairman &#8211; Vasumitra\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Resulted in division of Buddhism into Hinayana and Mahayana\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ashvaghosha deputy of Vasumitra also participated.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All deliberations were made in Sanskrit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sravastivadins mention of this as the 3rd Council while Theravadins are silent about this.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h19\"><\/a>PROMINENT BODHISATTVAS<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>AVALOKITESVARA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cCompassion\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the three protective deities around Buddha.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Holds lotus flower.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also called Padampani.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Painting Ajanta caves.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also appears unofficially in Theravada Buddhism as Lokesvara.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>VAJRAPANI<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cPower\u201d \u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the three protective deities \u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also depicted in Ajanta caves \u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vajrapani is contemplated to manifest all the powers of Buddha as well as the power of all five tathagatas namely Vairocana, Akshobhya, Amitabha, Ratnasambhava and Amoghasiddhi.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>MANJUSRI<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWisdom\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wields a sword.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Associated with wisdom of Buddha\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>MAITREYA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Future Buddha who will appear in earth in future<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Achieved complete enlightenment.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>SAMANTABHADRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Associated with practice and meditation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Together with the Buddha and Manjusri, he forms the Shakyamuni trinity in Buddhism.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>KSITIGARBHA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He is depicted a Buddhist monk and took vow not to achieve Buddhahood till the hell is completely emptied\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>AKASARGARBHA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Associated with element of space Tara.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Associated with Vajrayana Buddhism and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>VASUDHARA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Associated with wealth, prosperity, and abundance.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Popular in Nepal.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>SKANDA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Guardian of viharas and the Buddhist teachings.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>SITATAPATRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: She is contemplated as a protector against supernatural danger and is worshipped in both Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"h20\"><\/a>SCHOOLS OF BUDDHISM<\/h2>\n<p><b>Early Buddhist Schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> = After passing of Buddha, the original Sangha is believed to have split into the two early schools in between 383 and 250 BC:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>STHAVIRA NIKAYA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or <\/span><b>STHAVRIVADA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Followers of School of Elders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Small group that moved out after 1st split of the Sangha.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Main text = Sariputrapariprccha\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sub-sects included\u2192 Mahisasaka, Sarvastivada, Sankrantika, Sautrantika, Dharmaguptaka, Vatsiputriya, Dharmottariya, Bhadrayaniya, Sannagarika and Sammitiya<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>MAHASAMGHIKA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or <\/span><b>ACARIYAVADINS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Followers of traditional teaching\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sub-sects included Gokulika, Prajnaptivada, Bahusrutiya, Ekavyaharikas, Caitika<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Separated itself from the Sthaviravada over differences in monastic practices (known as Vinaya).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mahasanghika were the Vaishali monks &#8211; who followed less stricter traditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After split, they moved to Amaravati and Nagarajunakonda.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They are the first to attribute divinity to him and represent him in anthropomorphic form.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The famous caves of Ajanta, Ellora, and Karla in India, intricately carved and painted with images of Buddha and his teachings, are associated with the Mahasanghika sect Caitika.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Mahasanghikas\u2019s views on the nature of the Buddha and the arhat (\u201csaint\u201d) foreshadowed the development of the Mahayana form of Buddhism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Further subdivisions of the Mahasanghikas over the next seven centuries included:\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ol>\n<li><b>Lokottaravadins<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 Wrote biography of Buddha\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Ekavyavaharikas<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Kaukkutikas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2192 Set down an early chronology of buddha&#8217;s life<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Later Buddhist Schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>HINYANA BUDDHISM<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It means the lesser vehicle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also called Southern Buddhist religion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It includes followers of original preaching of Buddha &#8211; orthodox school<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do not believe in idol or image worship<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They believe in individual salvation and try to attain it through self discipline and meditation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arhats\u2192 Ultimate aim is Nirvana<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ashoka belonged to this sect.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scholars used Pali language<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Current day almost absent &#8211; but Theravada is a subsect of Hinayana.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Theravada Buddhism = It is a successor of Hinayana &#8211; 35.8% people follow it &#8211; SL, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>MAHAYANA BUDDHISM<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It means the greater vehicle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also called Bodhisttvayana or Bodhisattva vehicle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The school is more liberal and believes in heavenliness of Buddha.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bodhisattvas embodying Buddha nature is the ultimate goal is spiritual upliftment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Followers believe in Bodhisattva concept of salvation of all conscious individual.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Liberation from suffering for all.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They believe in idol or image worship of Buddha.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prominent Mahayana texts include Lotus Sutra, Mahavamsa, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As per Lotus Sutra, Mahayana school believes in six perfections (or paramitas) to be followed by an individual:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dana (generosity)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sila (virtue, morality, discipline and proper conduct)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ksanti (patience, tolerance, acceptance)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Virya (energy, diligence, vigor, effort)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dhyana (one-pointed concentration)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prajna ( wisdom and insight)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Used Sanskrit as language.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kanishka is one of the founders<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Currently majority of Buddhists follow this (53.2%)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Madhyamaka School: It is a sub school under Mahayana Buddhism. The school is based on Sunyata Doctrine and was found by a very prominent Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna in 2nd-3rd century AD. The central idea of Sunyata Doctrine under Mahayana Buddhism lies in the fact that all things or phenomena (dharmas) are empty (sunya) of nature, substance or the essence (svabhava). Chandrakirti was a great scholar of this school.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>VAJRAYANA BUDDHISM<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scholars believes this developed because of royal courts sponsoring both Buddhism and Shaivism.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Main deity &#8211; Tara &#8211; a lady<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It combines Brahmanical rituals with Buddhist philosophies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Believes in Tantras, Mantras and Yantras superiority as being faster vehicle to liberation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mantra is an easy path to achieve Buddhahood.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Practiced in Tibet, Bhutan &amp; Mongolia. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a id=\"h21\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Jainism-Buddhism.docx.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here<\/a> to download pdf of Jainism &amp; Buddhism+Literature+Philosophy<\/p>\n<p><em>To Read more about Prelims 20+ initiative<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/prelims20-a-free-initative-for-cse-prelims-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In today\u2019s Prelims 20+, we cover Jainism and Buddhism\u2014two key non-Vedic traditions that challenged ritualism and promoted ethical living, renunciation, and self-realisation. Their literature, like the Jain Agamas, Tattvartha Sutra, Tripitakas, and Dhammapada, reflects deep philosophical thought and shaped ancient Indian culture and polity. Jainism taught Anekantavada (many-sided truth), Syadvada (relativity), and strict asceticism, while&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/day-6-prelims-20-jainism-buddhismliteraturephilosophy\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Day 6 Prelims 20+: Jainism &amp; Buddhism+Literature+Philosophy<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10367,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12123],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-336518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prelims-20","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10367"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=336518"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336518\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=336518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=336518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=336518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}