Buddhism, Jainism & Indian Philosophy

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Buddhism & Jainism — Key Facts for BPSC

Buddhism and Jainism were the two most important Shramana (renouncer) movements that arose in the 6th century BCE in India as protests against Vedic ritualism and Brahminical dominance.

Core Facts:

• Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama): Born c. 563 BCE in Lumbini (Nepal); attained Nirvana at Bodh Gaya; died at Kushinagar (c. 483 BCE)
• Mahavira: 24th Tirthankara of Jainism; born at Vaishali (Bihar) c. 540 BCE
• Four Noble Truths (Buddhism): Dukha (suffering), Samudaya (cause), Nirodha (cessation), Magga (path)
• Ahimsa (Jainism): Non-violence — the supreme vow; applied to all living beings (even microscopic organisms)
• Buddhist councils: Rajagriha (c. 477 BCE), Vaishali (c. 377 BCE), Pataliputra (c. 250 BCE — under Ashoka), Kashmir (c. 100 BCE)
• First Buddhist Council at Rajagriha: Organized by Ajatashatru; compiled the Vinaya Pitaka

⚡ Exam tip: The differences between Buddhism and Jainism, the Four Noble Truths, and the geography of Buddha’s life events are BPSC favourites.

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Standard content for students with a few days to months.

Buddhism

Life of Buddha

Birth & Early Life:

• Born as Siddhartha Gautama to King Suddhodana and Queen Maya (Mahamaya) of the Shakya clan
• Birthplace: Lumbini (modern Rupandehi district, Nepal — near the India-Nepal border)
• A prophecy by the sage Asita said the child would either be a great king or a great ascetic
• Raised in luxury in three palaces: Kapilavastu — shielded from the harsh realities of life
• Married Yashodhara at 16; had a son Rahula

The Four Great Sights (c. 534 BCE):

• At 29, Siddhartha secretly left the palace — saw four sights that changed his life:
  1. An old man (old age)
  2. A sick man (disease)
  3. A corpse (death)
  4. A wandering ascetic (renunciation — a monk seeking salvation)
• These sights revealed the suffering (Dukha) inherent in worldly life

The Great Renunciation:

• Left the palace on the night of his son’s birth (Rahula was born on the same night)
• Left with his charioteer Channa and horse Kanthaka
• Lived as an ascetic for 6 years — studied with famous teachers (Alara Kalama, Uddaka Ramaputta) but found their teachings insufficient

Nirvana (Enlightenment):

• Under the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya (Bihar), at age 35, he attained Nirvana (enlightenment)
• The Mara (demon of desire) tried to distract him — Buddha touched the earth (Bhumi Sparsa mudra) to call the earth as witness
• Now called Buddha (the Enlightened One) or Tathagata (one who has come)

First Sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana):

• Delivered at Sarnath (near Varanasi) to his five former ascetic companions
• Preached the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path
• This is the turning of the wheel of law (Dharmachakra)

Mahaparinirvana (Great Final Liberation):

• Died at Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) at age 80 (c. 483 BCE)
• His last words: “All conditioned things are impermanent — strive for your own liberation with diligence”

The Four Noble Truths

1. Dukha (Suffering): Life is permeated with suffering — birth, old age, disease, death, grief, sorrow, despair
2. Samudaya (Cause of suffering): Caused by Tanha (craving, desire) — for pleasure, existence, non-existence
3. Nirodha (Cessation): The cessation of suffering is possible by eliminating craving
4. Magga (Path): Through the Noble Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path (Astangika Marga)

Path Element	Description
Right Understanding (Samma Ditthi)	Understanding the Four Noble Truths
Right Thought (Samma Sankappa)	Thoughts of renunciation, goodwill, harmlessness
Right Speech (Samma Vacha)	Abstaining from lying, gossip, abuse
Right Action (Samma Kammanta)	Non-violence, non-theft, non-misconduct
Right Livelihood (Samma Ajiva)	No trade in weapons, living beings, meat, alcohol, poison
Right Effort (Samma Vayama)	Preventing unwholesome states; cultivating wholesome ones
Right Mindfulness (Samma Sati)	Mindfulness of body, feelings, mind, dhammas
Right Concentration (Samma Samadhi)	Meditation; 4 stages of Dhyana

Buddhist Philosophy

The Three Characteristics of Existence:

1. Anicca (Impermanence): Everything is constantly changing
2. Dukha (Suffering): Nothing is truly satisfying because everything is impermanent
3. Anatta (No-self): There is no permanent, unchanging soul (Atman)

Karma and Rebirth:

• Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism does NOT believe in a permanent soul
• The being is a process of mind-body continuity — not a soul
• Karma affects rebirth — good karma leads to better rebirth

Nirvana:

• Complete liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara)
• Not a place or a state of bliss — it is the extinction of craving
• Attainable in this lifetime

Buddhist Sangha (Monastic Order)

• Buddha established the Bhikshu Sangha (monk’s order) — first monastery
• Monks took 347 precepts (rules of discipline) under the Vinaya Pitaka
• Key vows: Ahimsa, no private property, no stealing, no sexual relations, no lying
• Bhikshunis (nuns) order established later (Ananda’s request; Buddha initially reluctant)
• Sangha became the vehicle for spreading Buddhism across India and beyond

Buddhist Literature

The Tripitaka (Three Baskets):

1. Vinaya Pitaka: Rules of discipline for monks and nuns; accounts of Buddha’s life
2. Sutta Pitaka: Discourses (sermons) attributed to Buddha and his disciples
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka: Philosophical and psychological analysis of Buddhist teachings

Spread of Buddhism

In India:

• Ashoka embraced Buddhism and spread it widely (3rd BCE)
• He built 84,000 stupas — most famous: Sanchi Stupa (Madhya Pradesh)
• Patronized the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra (c. 250 BCE)
• Sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia

Outside India:

• Sri Lanka: Missionaries led by Mahinda (Ashoka’s son) — Sri Lanka became the stronghold of Theravada Buddhism
• Central Asia: Via the Silk Route — China, Korea, Japan
• Southeast Asia: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos (Mahayana Buddhism spread here)
• Tibet: Via Padmasambhava (8th century) — developed Vajrayana Buddhism

Schools of Buddhism

School	Period	Key Features
Theravada (Elder)	5th century BCE onwards	Original teachings; Sri Lanka, SE Asia; conservative; Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle)
Mahayana (Greater Vehicle)	1st century CE	Bodhisattva ideal; Amitabha Buddha; spread to China, Japan, Korea
Vajrayana (Thunderbolt)	8th century CE	Tantric practices; mantras, mudras; Tibet, Nepal

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Jainism

Life of Mahavira

• Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara (ford-maker — one who helps others cross the ocean of existence)
• Born as Vardhamana Mahavira to King Siddhartha and Trishala (of the Lichchhavi clan — Vaishali, Bihar)
• Birthplace: Kundalagrama near Vaishali (Bihar) — modern-day Vaishali district
• Born c. 540 BCE (some texts say 599 BCE — but 540 is more accepted)
• Was a Kshatriya prince — married to Yashoda; had a daughter
• At age 30, after his parents’ death, he left home and became an ascetic
• For 12 years, he practiced severe austerities (fasting, meditation, silence)
• Attained Kevalya (omniscience) under a Shala tree at Jrimjhrim (near Pawapuri, Bihar)
• Spent the rest of his life teaching — founded the Jain Sangha
• Died at Pawapuri (Bihar) at age 70 (c. 470 BCE)

Jain Philosophy

Core Principles (Ahimsa — Non-Violence):

• Ahimsa is the supreme vow — not just physical non-violence but also mental and verbal non-violence
• Ahimsa extends to ALL living beings — even microscopic organisms (one-sensed, two-sensed beings in Jain cosmology)
• Jain monks carry a peacock feather broom (pichhi) to sweep insects away; wear a cloth over their mouth

The Five Vows (Anuvratas):

1. Ahimsa (Non-violence): Not to cause harm to any living being
2. Satya (Truth): Always speak the truth, but truth should not harm anyone
3. Asteya (Non-stealing): Not to take anything not willingly given
4. Brahmacharya (Chastity): Non-attachment to worldly pleasures
5. Aparigraha (Non-possession): Limit worldly possessions

The Three Jewels (Ratnatraya):

1. Samyak Darshana (Right Faith/Belief): Faith in the Tirthankaras
2. Samyak Gyana (Right Knowledge): Knowledge of reality — the five truths
3. Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct): Living according to the vows

Anekantavada (Many-sidedness of Truth):

• The most distinctive Jain philosophical principle
• Truth can be viewed from multiple perspectives — no single view is completely true
• Related concept: Syadvada — every statement should be qualified with “perhaps” (syat)
• This is a pluralistic approach to truth — opposed to dogmatism

Jain Literature — The Agamas

• 12 Upangas (secondary texts)
• Tattvartha Sutra (by Umaswati) — the most important Jain text; summarises Jain philosophy
• The Shvetambar and Digambar sects have slightly different canons

Key Differences: Buddhism vs Jainism

Feature	Buddhism	Jainism
Founder	Siddhartha Gautama	Vardhamana Mahavira (24th Tirthankara)
Birthplace	Lumbini (Nepal)	Kundalagrama near Vaishali (Bihar)
Background	Kshatriya (Shakya clan)	Kshatriya (Lichchhavi clan)
Ultimate Goal	Nirvana (cessation of suffering)	Kevalya (omniscience/liberation)
Soul (Atman)	Anatta (no permanent soul)	Atman exists (eternal soul)
Ahimsa	Important but not supreme	Supreme vow — extends to all beings
Founder’s Status	Not divine; a teacher	Tirthankara (liberated soul)
Monastic Rules	347 precepts	28 Purva Agamas (now lost)
Fasting	Not mandatory	Important practice
Spread	Global (Sri Lanka, SE Asia, East Asia)	Primarily India

Jain Sects

Digambara (Sky-clad — naked):

• monks go naked (sky is their clothing)
• monks own no property
• Mahavira was a Digambara saint
• Main region: South India

Shvetambara (White-clad):

• monks wear white robes
• more moderate
• Main region: North and West India
• They possess a canonical text ( Siddhanta)**

Impact on Indian Culture

• Jain temples: Dilwara Temples at Mount Abu (Rajasthan), Palitana Temples (Gujarat) — exquisite white marble architecture
• Ahimsa principle: Influenced Gandhi’s philosophy deeply
• Ambika (Jain goddess of yakshi) — widely worshipped
• 24 Tirthankaras: Prominent in Jain temples — each has a distinct iconography
• Kundalagrama: The birthplace village — recently developed as a Buddhist and Jain pilgrimage site

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Buddhist Architecture — Important for BPSC

Stupas

• Sanchi Stupa (Madhya Pradesh): Built by Ashoka; has four toranas (gateways) — most famous Buddhist monument outside India
• Sarnath Stupa (Uttar Pradesh): Where Buddha gave his first sermon; Dhamekh Stupa marks the exact location
• Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath: 43 metres tall; marks Buddha’s first teaching site
• Amravati Stupa (Andhra Pradesh): Famous for its narrative sculptures
• Nalanda (Bihar): University town, not a stupa — but major Buddhist centre

Chaityas (Prayer Halls)

-早期: Rock-cut caves at Bhaja, Bedsa, Karli — 2nd–1st century BCE

• Later: Ajanta caves (Maharashtra) — 2nd century BCE to 7th century CE; paintings of Buddha’s life
• Ellora caves (Maharashtra) — Kailasa temple (Hindu), Buddhist caves

Viharas (Monasteries)

• At Nalanda, Valabhi, Taxila — became major centres of Buddhist learning
• Nalanda was the world’s first residential university (5th century CE)

Jain Tirthankaras — Iconography

Tirthankara	Symbol	Colour	Region Associated
Rishabhnatha (1st)	Bull	Gold	Worshipped since ancient times
Mahavira (24th)	Lion	Gold/White	Vaishali (Bihar)
Neminatha (22nd)	Conch shell	Black	Gujarat

Buddhist Councils — Chronology

Council	Year	Place	Significance
1st Council	c. 477 BCE	Rajagriha	Compiled Vinaya Pitaka; 500 Arahats
2nd Council	c. 377 BCE	Vaishali	Split over Vinaya rules; first schism (Sthavira vs Mahasanghika)
3rd Council	c. 250 BCE	Pataliputra	Under Ashoka; purified Buddhist doctrine; compiled Abhidhamma
4th Council	c. 100 BCE	Kashmir	Written tradition; Sarvastivada school

Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites (The Four善逝八塔 — Ashtamahasthana)

1. Lumbini (birth)
2. Bodh Gaya (enlightenment)
3. Sarnath (first sermon)
4. Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana)

Jain Pilgrimage Sites (The 24 Tirthankaras)

• Palitana (Gujarat) — most important Shvetambara site; over 800 temples
• Mount Abu (Rajasthan) — Dilwara Temples; finest Jain architecture
• Shravanbelagola (Karnataka) — 57-metre statue of Gomateshwara (Bahubali)
• Pawapuri (Bihar) — where Mahavira died
• Vaishali (Bihar) — birthplace of Mahavira

Archaeological Evidence for Buddha’s Life

• Lumbini Pillar inscription (1896): Discovered by General Alexander Cunningham — an inscription confirming Lumbini as Buddha’s birthplace (Ashoka’s pillar)
• Sarnath Lion Capital (Ashoka Pillar): Now the National Emblem of India; shows four lions back-to-back

BPSC Previous Year Pattern

• Differences between Buddhism and Jainism
• Buddha’s four sights and the Great Renunciation
• Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
• Jain principles — Ahimsa, Anekantavada, Syadvada
• Buddhist councils — why they were held, what they achieved
• Jain Tirthankaras — especially Mahavira’s life
• Buddhist and Jain architecture — stupas, temples, caves
• Vaishali — both Buddha and Mahavira visited; site of Second Buddhist Council

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t confuse Nirvana with a state of eternal happiness in Buddhism — it is the extinction of craving
• Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara — not the founder of Jainism (Jainism predates him)
• The Buddha’s birth is celebrated as Vesak/Buddha Purnima — not his death
• Anekantavada is NOT relativism — it is a nuanced pluralism (truth has multiple aspects)
• Both Buddhism and Jainism arose in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (the ancient “Madhya Desh” region)

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