ICSE • कक्षा 6 • Social Science • अध्याय 6
अनुमानित समय: 45 Mins
प्रगति: अध्ययनरत
जैन और बौद्ध धर्म का उदय (Rise of Jainism and Buddhism)
The sixth century BCE was a major turning point in the history of ancient India and the world. Across Eurasia, great thinkers such as Zoroaster in Persia, Confucius in China, and Pythagoras in Greece were asking fundamental questions about ethics, society, and human existence. In the Middle Gangetic Plains of northern India, this era witnessed the rise of more than sixty heterodox philosophical sects that challenged orthodox Later Vedic ritualism. Among these reform movements, two towering traditions—Jainism, revitalized by Vardhamana Mahavira, and Buddhism, founded by Gautama Buddha—reshaped Indian civilization forever.
Causes for the Rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the Sixth Century BCE:
By the end of the Later Vedic Period (c. 1000–600 BCE), the simple, joyous, open-air nature worship of the Early Rig Vedic period had given way to rigid orthodoxy. Five major historical factors triggered the rise of Jainism and Buddhism:
First, Degeneration of Vedic Religion and Costly Rituals: Religion had become dominated by elaborate, expensive, and lengthy royal and domestic sacrifices (Yajnas). Priests demanded hefty ritual fees (Dakshina) in cattle, gold, and cloth, while superstitions and magical incantations overshadowed sincere spiritual devotion.
Second, Rigidity of the Birth-Based Caste System: The fourfold Varna system (Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras), which had been flexible and occupation-based in the Early Vedic Age, hardened into a rigid hereditary caste system based strictly on birth (Janma). The Brahmanas claimed absolute social and religious supremacy and enjoyed tax exemptions, while the Shudras faced severe social restrictions and were barred from reading or hearing the sacred Vedas. The Kshatriya ruling class—to which both Mahavira and Gautama Buddha belonged—strongly resented priestly domination.
Third, Agricultural Economy and Opposition to Animal Sacrifice: The widespread adoption of iron axes and iron ploughshares (Krishna Ayas) in the fertile Gangetic valley created an agrarian surplus, leading to the Second Urbanization. However, iron-plough farming depended heavily on healthy bullocks and draught cattle. The large-scale slaughter of cattle during Vedic Yajnas depleted livestock and threatened the livelihood of farmers, who enthusiastically welcomed movements preaching Ahimsa (non-violence towards animals).
Fourth, The Language Barrier (Sanskrit vs. Prakrit and Pali): All Vedic hymns and rituals were composed in classical Sanskrit, which was understood only by a small educated priestly elite. Mahavira preached in Prakrit (specifically Ardha-Magadhi) and Gautama Buddha preached in Pali—the spoken vernacular languages of the common people—allowing men, women, and all social classes to understand spiritual truths directly.
Fifth, Rise of the Vaishya Merchant Class: Expanding trade, crafts, urban markets, and the introduction of punch-marked silver and copper coins enriched the Vaishyas (merchants, bankers, and guild masters). Although economically prosperous, Vaishyas ranked third in the Brahmanical Varna hierarchy, and orthodox texts frowned upon money-lending and sea voyages. Vaishya merchants generously patronized Jainism and Buddhism because both religions preached social equality, thrift, honesty, and non-violence (which prevented destructive wars between kingdoms and kept trade routes safe).
Vardhamana Mahavira and the Rise of Jainism:
Jainism is an ancient religious tradition that traces its spiritual lineage through twenty-four Tirthankaras (literally ford-makers or spiritual teachers who guide souls across the ocean of rebirth). The first Tirthankara was Rishabhadeva (also known as Adinath), and the twenty-third Tirthankara was Parshvanatha, an eighth-century BCE prince of Varanasi who taught four ethical vows: non-violence (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satya), non-stealing (Asteya), and non-possession (Aparigraha).
The twenty-fourth and final Tirthankara was Vardhamana Mahavira, regarded as the historical reformer and real founder of organized Jainism. Born around 599 BCE (or 540 BCE according to another chronological tradition) at Kundagrama near Vaishali in modern Bihar, Vardhamana was the son of Siddhartha, chief of the Kshatriya Jnatrika clan, and Queen Trishala, sister of the Lichchhavi ruler Chetaka. Raised in royal comfort, he married Princess Yashoda and had a daughter named Priyadarshana (also called Anojja). At the age of thirty, after the death of his parents, Vardhamana renounced his family and royal life to seek spiritual truth.
For twelve long years, he practiced severe asceticism, fasting, meditation, and bodily penance, wandering without even a garment. In the thirteenth year of his ascetic life, at the age of forty-two, under a Sal tree on the banks of the river Rijupalika near Jrimbhikagrama, he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience or supreme spiritual knowledge). Having conquered his senses, passions, and desires, he came to be called Jina (the Conqueror), Nirgrantha (free from bonds), and Mahavira (the Great Hero). His followers became known as Jains. For the next thirty years, Mahavira traveled across Magadha, Kosala, Anga, and Videha preaching his message until he attained Nirvana (final liberation from rebirth) at Pavapuri in Bihar at the age of seventy-two (around 527 BCE or 468 BCE).
Core Teachings, Sects, and Literature of Jainism:
Mahavira rejected the authority of the Vedas, opposed animal sacrifices, denied the existence of a creator God as the cause of the universe, and condemned caste distinctions based on birth, teaching instead that a person becomes high or low solely by their Karma (actions). According to Jainism, the primary goal of human life is Moksha (liberation of the soul from the cycle of birth and rebirth), which is achieved by following the Triratnas (Three Jewels of Jainism): (1) Samyak Darshana (Right Faith in the Tirthankaras and truth), (2) Samyak Jnana (Right Knowledge of the soul and universe), and (3) Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct in daily life).
To practice Right Conduct, Jains observe the Pancha Mahavratas (Five Great Vows): (1) Ahimsa (strict non-violence toward all living beings), (2) Satya (speaking only truth), (3) Asteya (not stealing), (4) Aparigraha (non-attachment to worldly possessions), and (5) Brahmacharya (chastity and celibacy, added as the fifth vow by Mahavira to the four vows of Parshvanatha). Jainism uniquely teaches that not only humans, animals, and plants, but even earth, water, fire, air, and microscopic organisms possess souls (Jiva), leading Jains to practice extreme care such as filtering drinking water and wearing cloth masks to avoid inhaling tiny insects.
Around 300 BCE, during a severe twelve-year famine in Magadha, a group of Jain monks led by Bhadrabahu migrated south to Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, while another group led by Sthulabhadra remained in Magadha. This led to the division of Jainism into two sects: the Digambaras (sky-clad, followers of Bhadrabahu who renounce all clothing and follow strict austerity) and the Svetambaras (white-clad, followers of Sthulabhadra who wear simple white garments). The teachings of Mahavira were orally preserved in the Fourteen Purvas and later compiled in Prakrit into the Twelve Angas and Twelve Upangas at the First Jain Council at Pataliputra (c. 300 BCE) and finalized in written form at the Second Jain Council at Vallabhi in Gujarat (c. 512 CE).
Gautama Buddha and the Rise of Buddhism:
Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a contemporary of Mahavira. Born in 563 BCE at Lumbini Gardens near Kapilavastu (on the Indo-Nepalese border), Siddhartha was the son of King Suddhodana, chief of the Kshatriya Shakya clan, and Queen Mahamaya. Because his mother died seven days after his birth, he was lovingly raised by his maternal aunt and foster mother, Mahaprajapati Gautami. Shielded within palace walls by his father, Siddhartha married Princess Yashodhara and had a son named Rahula.
Siddhartha's life changed forever when he rode out through Kapilavastu with his charioteer Channa and witnessed the Four Great Sights: (1) a bent, frail old man, (2) a man groaning with severe illness, (3) a dead body being carried to cremation by weeping relatives, and (4) a calm, radiant ascetic who had renounced the world. Deeply moved by the universality of human suffering, Siddhartha left his palace, wife, and infant son one night at the age of twenty-nine on his favourite horse Kanthaka—an event celebrated in Buddhism as the Mahabhinishkramana (The Great Renunciation).
After six years of wandering and extreme fasting at Uruvela (Bodh Gaya) nearly cost him his life, Siddhartha realized that extreme bodily torture does not bring wisdom. Accepting a bowl of milk-rice from a village maiden named Sujata, he sat in deep meditation beneath a Pipal tree (the Bodhi Tree) on the banks of the Niranjana river at Bodh Gaya. At the age of thirty-five, he attained supreme enlightenment (Bodhi) and became known as the Buddha (The Enlightened or Awakened One) and Tathagata (One who has found the Truth). He then walked to the Deer Park at Sarnath near Varanasi, where he delivered his first sermon to five ascetics—an event known as Dharmachakra Pravartana (Turning of the Wheel of Law). For forty-five years he preached in Pali across northern India before passing into Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh in 483 BCE at the age of eighty.
Core Teachings, Sangha, Tripitakas, and Spread of Buddhism:
The core of Buddha's teaching rests on the Four Noble Truths (Chatvari Arya Satyani): (1) The world is full of suffering (Dukkha); (2) The root cause of suffering is selfish desire or craving (Tanha or Trishna); (3) Suffering can be ended by overcoming and eliminating desire (Nirodha); and (4) The way to overcome desire is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path (Ashtangika Marga). Because the Eightfold Path avoids both the extreme of sensual luxury and the extreme of severe ascetic self-torture, it is called the Middle Path (Madhyama Marga). Its eight principles are Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
Buddha established a democratic monastic order called the Sangha, open to monks (Bhikshus) and nuns (Bhikshunis) of all castes. His teachings were compiled in Pali into the Tripitakas (Three Baskets): the Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules), the Sutta Pitaka (Buddha's sermons and the popular Jataka Tales narrating over 550 stories of Buddha's previous births), and the Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophical analysis). At the Fourth Buddhist Council held in Kashmir under Emperor Kanishka (first century CE), Buddhism split into Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle, which viewed Buddha as a human teacher and rejected idol worship) and Mahayana (Greater Vehicle, which worshipped Buddha as a divine saviour, honoured compassionate Bodhisattvas, and sculpted magnificent Buddha images in the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art). With royal patronage from rulers like Ashoka the Great, Kanishka, and Harshavardhana, Buddhism spread across Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, and Japan, becoming one of the major world religions.
