Emergence of Budhism and Jainism | BPSC Preparation: All subjects - BPSC (Bihar) PDF Download

Emergence of Buddhism and Jainism

The 6th century BC marked the rise of Buddhism and Jainism, two new religious sects that originated and flourished in Bihar. Bihar is considered the most sacred land for Buddhism, as it is where Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment and preached many of his sermons.

Buddhism

• Gautam Buddha, born in 563 BC in Lumbini (now in Nepal) to the Sakya Kshatriya clan, was the son of Suddhodana and Mahamaya, and was married to Yashodhara.
• At the age of 29, he left his home in search of truth, an event known as Mahabhinishkramana.
• After years of meditation, he reached Uruvela on the banks of the Niranjana River, where he attained enlightenment in 528 BC under a Peepal tree (Bodhi tree) in Bodh Gaya, becoming the Buddha or the Tathagata.
• Following his enlightenment, Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, known as Dharmachakra Pravartana, and his last sermon in Vaishali. His Mahaparinirvana occurred in Kushinagar, the capital of the Malla Mahajanapada.
• Sariputra, a renowned Buddhist monk, was born in Nalanda and conducted three of the four Buddhist Councils in Bihar.

Buddhist Councils

• First Buddhist Council (483 BC): Held in Rajgir under King Ajatashatru’s patronage and presided over by monk Mahakasyapa. The focus was on preserving Buddha’s teachings (sutta) and rules for disciples (Vinaya).
• Second Buddhist Council (383 BC): Conducted in Vaishali under King Kalasoka’s patronage and Sabakami’s presidency, aimed at resolving a dispute on Vinaya Pitaka, the code of discipline.
• Third Buddhist Council (250 BC): Held in Patliputra under Emperor Asoka’s patronage and Moggaliputta Tissa’s presidency, establishing Abhidhamma Pitaka and addressing Vinaya Pitaka disputes.
• Fourth Buddhist Council (78 AD): Conducted in Kundalavana, Kashmir, under Kushana ruler Kanishka’s patronage, where Mahayana Buddhism emerged.
• The Buddhism propagated by Buddha and Asoka was known as ‘Hinayana’, while the texts known as the ‘Tripitakas’ were compiled five centuries after Buddha’s death, consisting of Vinayapitaka (monastic rules), Suttapitaka (Buddha’s sermons), and Abhidhammapitaka (philosophical interpretations of Buddhist doctrine).

Jainism

• Jainism, like Buddhism, has its roots in Bihar and traces its history through 24 Tirthankars. Rishabhdeva is regarded as the first Tirthankar, Parshvanatha as the 23rd, and Mahavira as the 24th and the last Tirthankar.
• Mahavira, born in 540 BC in Kundagrama near Vaishali, belonged to the Jnantrika Kshatriya clan, with his father Siddhartha and mother Trishala, who was a Licchavi princess. At the age of 30, he left home and attained Kaivalya at 42, earning the title ‘Nirgranthas’.
• Through Kaivalya, he overcame both misery and happiness, earning the titles Jina and Mahavira. He delivered his first sermon at Vipulgiri (Rajgir), where his first disciple, Jamali, joined him. 
• Jainism teaches that the most important human goal is to achieve Moksha or Nirvana. To attain Moksha, one needs the three gems or ratna: right faith, right conduct, and right knowledge. Mahavira attained Nirvana in 468 BC in Pavapuri, near Rajgriha (Rajgir).