JAINISM AND BUDDHISM

 

JAINISM AND BUDDHISM

NUMEROUS religious, sects arose in the

middle Gangetic plains in the second half of

the sixth century B.C. Of these sects Jainism

and Buddhism were the most important, and

they emerged as the most potent religious

reform movements.

Causes of Origin

In post-Vedic times society was clearly

divided into four varnas: brahmanas,

kshtriyas, vaishyas and shudras. Each varna

was assigned well-defined functions,

although it was emphasised that varna was

based on birth. The brahmanas, who were

given the functions of priests and and

teachers, claimed the highest status in society.

The kshatriyas ranked second in the varna

heiracrchy. The vaishyas were engagerd in

agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade.

They appear as principal taxpayers. The

shudras were meant for servint the three

higher varnas, and along with women were

barred from taking to Vedic studies.

Naturally the varna-divided society

seems to have generated tensions. We have

no means to find out the reactions of the

vaishyas and the shudras. But the kshatriyas,

who functioned as rulers, reacted strongly

against the ritualistic domination of the

brahmanas, and seem to have led a kind of

protest movement against the importance

attached to birth in the varna system. The

kshatriya reaction against the domination of

the priestly class called brahmanas, who

claimed various privileges, was one of the

causes of the origin of new religions.

Vardhamana Mahavira, who founded

Jainism, and Gautama Budha, who founded

Buddhism belonged to the kshatriya clan, and

both disputed the authority of the

brahmanas.

But the real cause of the rise of these

new religions lay in the spread of a new

agricultural economy in north-eastern India.

In the middle Gangeic plains, large-scale

habitations began in about 600 B.C., when

iron came to be used in this area. The use of

iron tools made possible clearance,

agriculture and large settlements. The

agricultural economy based on the iron

ploughshare required the use of bullocks, and

it could not flourish without animal

husbandry. But the Vedic practice of killing

cattle indiscriminately in sacrifices stood in

the way of the progress of new agriculture.

But if the new agrarian economy had to be

stable, this killing had to be stopped.

The period saw the rise of a large

number of cities in north-eastern India. We

may refer, for example, to Kaushambi near

Allahabad, Kusinagar (in Deoria district of

Uttar Pradesh).'

Banaras, Vaishali (in the newly created

district of the same name in north Bihar),

Chirand (in Saran district) and Rajgir

(situated at a distance of about 100 km southeast of Patna). 

Besides others these cities had

many artisans and traders, who began to use

coins for the first time. The earliest coins

belong to the fifth century B.C., and they are

called punch-marked coins. They circulated

for the first time in eastern Uttar Pradesh and

Bihar. The use of coins naturally facilitated

trade and commerce, which added to the

importance of the vaishyas. In the

brahmanical society the vaishyas ranked

third, the first two being brahmanas and

kshatriyas. Naturally they looked for some

religion which would improve their position.

Vardhmana Mahavira and Jainism

According to the Jainas, the origin of

Jainism goes back to very ancient times. They

believe in twenty-four tirthankaras or great

teachers or leaders of their religion. The first

tirthankara is believed to be Rishabhadev

who was born in Ayodhya. He is said to have

laid the foundations for orderly human

society. The last, twenty-fourth, tirthankara,

was Vardhamana Mahavira who was a

contem-porary of Gautama Buddha. The

twenty-third tirthankara was Parshvanath

who was born in Varanasi. He gave up royal

life and became an ascetic. Many teachings

of Jainism are attributed to him. According

to Jaina tradition, he lived two hundred years

before Mahavira. Mahavir is said to be the

twenty-fourth.

According to one tradition,

Vardhamana Mahavira was born is 540 B.C.

in a village called Kundagrama near Vaishali,

which is identical with Basarh in the district

of Vaishali, in north Bihar. His father

Siddhartha was the head of a famous

kshatriya clan called Jnatrika and the ruler

of his own area. Mahavira’s mother was

named Trishala, sister of the Lichchhavi chief

Chetaka, whose daughter was wedded to

Bimbisara.

In the biginning, Mahavira led the life

of a householder, but in the search for truth

he abandoned the world at the age of 30 and

became an ascetic. In the thirteenth year,

when he had reached the age of 42, he

attained kaivalya.

Through kaivalyahe conquered misery

and happiness. Because of this conquest he is

known as Mahavira or the great hero or jina,

i.e. the conqueror, and his followers are

known as Jainas. He propagated his religion

for 30 years, and his mission took him to

Koshala, Magadha, Mithila, Champa, etc. He

passed away at the age of 72 in 468 B.C. at a

place called Pavapuri near modern Rajgir.

According to another tradition, he was born

in 599 B.C. and passed away in 527 B.C

Doctrines of Jainism
Jainism taught five doctrines: 

(i) do not
commit violence, 

(ii) do not speak a lie, 

(ii) do not steal, 

(iv) do not acquire property, and
(v) observe continence (brahmacharya. 

It is said that only the fifth doctrine was added
by Mahavira: the other four were taken over
by him from previous teachers. Jainism
attached the utmost importance to ahmsa or
non-injury to living beings in later times,
Jainism was divided into two sects:
shvetambaras or those who put on white
dress, and digmbaras or those who keep
them-selves naked.

Jainism mainly aims at the attainment
of freedom from worldly bonds. No ritual is
required for acquiring such liberation. It can
be obtained through right knowledge, right
faith and right action. These three are
considered to be the Three Jewels or triratna
of Jainism.
Jainnism prohibited the practice of war
and even agriculture for its followers because
both involve the killing of living beings.
Eventually the Jainas mainly confined
themselves to trade and mercantile activities.