.Spread of Jainism
Mahavira organised the Sangha to spread his teachings. He
admitted both men and women in the Sangha, which consisted of
both monks and lay followers. The rapid spread of Jainism was
due to the dedicated work of the members of the Sangha. It spread
rapidly in Western India and Karnataka. Chandragupta Maurya,
Kharavela of Kalinga and the royal dynasties of south India such as
the Gangas, the Kadambas, the Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas
patronized Jainism.
By the end of the fourth century B.C., there was a serious
famine in the Ganges valley. Many Jain monks led by Bhadrabagu
and Chandragupta Maurya came to Sravana Belgola in Karnataka.
Those who stayed back in north India were led by a monk named
Sthulabahu who changed the code of conduct for the monks. This
led to the division of Jainism into two sects Svetambaras (whiteclad)
and Digambaras (Sky-clad or Naked).
The first Jain Council was convened at Pataliputra by
Sthulabahu, the leader of the Digambaras, in the beginning of the 3rd
century B.C. The second Jain Council was held at Valabhi in 5th
century A.D. The final compilation of Jain literature called Twelve
Angas was completed in this council.
Mahavira organised the Sangha to spread his teachings. He
admitted both men and women in the Sangha, which consisted of
both monks and lay followers. The rapid spread of Jainism was
due to the dedicated work of the members of the Sangha. It spread
rapidly in Western India and Karnataka. Chandragupta Maurya,
Kharavela of Kalinga and the royal dynasties of south India such as
the Gangas, the Kadambas, the Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas
patronized Jainism.
By the end of the fourth century B.C., there was a serious
famine in the Ganges valley. Many Jain monks led by Bhadrabagu
and Chandragupta Maurya came to Sravana Belgola in Karnataka.
Those who stayed back in north India were led by a monk named
Sthulabahu who changed the code of conduct for the monks. This
led to the division of Jainism into two sects Svetambaras (whiteclad)
and Digambaras (Sky-clad or Naked).
The first Jain Council was convened at Pataliputra by
Sthulabahu, the leader of the Digambaras, in the beginning of the 3rd
century B.C. The second Jain Council was held at Valabhi in 5th
century A.D. The final compilation of Jain literature called Twelve
Angas was completed in this council.
Buddhism
Life of Gautama Buddha (567- 487 B.C.)
Gautama or Siddhartha, the founder
of Buddhism, was born in 567 B.C. in
Lumbini Garden near Kapilavastu. His father
was Suddodhana of the Sakya clan and
mother Mayadevi. As his mother died at child
birth, he was brought up by his aunt Prajapati
Gautami. At the age of sixteen he marriedYasodhara and gave birth to a son, Rahula. The sight of an old man,
a diseased man, a corpse and an ascetic turned him away from
worldly life. He left home at the age of twenty nine in search of
Truth. He wandered for seven years and met several teachers but
could not get enlightenment. At last, he sat under a bodhi tree at
Bodh Gaya and did intense penance, after which he got
Enlightenment (Nirvana) at the age of thirty five. Since then he
became known as the Buddha or ‘the Enlightened One’. He
delivered his first sermon at Sarnath near Benares and for the next
forty five years he led the life of a preacher. He died at the age of
eighty at Kusinagara.
The most important disciples of Buddha were Sariputta,
Moggallanna, Ananda, Kassapa and Upali. Kings like Prasenajit of
Kosala and Bimbisara and Ajatasatru of Magadha accepted his
doctrines and became his disciples. Buddha in his lifetime spread
his message far and wide in north India and visited places like
Benares, Rajagriha, Sravasti, Vaisali, Nalanda and Pataligrama. It
should be noted that he did not involve himself in fruitless
controversies regarding metaphysical questions like god, soul, karma,
rebirth, etc., and concerned himself with the practical problems
confronting man.
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