BUDDHISM & JAINISM



Introduction : The post vedic society was mainly divided into four varnas. They are 
  1. Bhramanas
  2. Kshatriyas
  3. Vaishyas
  4. Shudras
Bhramanas claimed the high status in the society. They recieve gifts, exempted from paying taxes. Kshatriyas were engaged in ruling and administration. Vaishyas were engaged in trade, agriculture and cattle rearing. The Shudras were engaged in serving the higher three varnas. They also barred from studying vedas along with women. The Shudras mainly worked as domestic slaves, craftsmen and labourers. They were treated as untouchables. 

  
Buddhism and Jainism were originated and spreaded mainly  because of the society existed then.

Causes of Origin: 

  1) The Varna System
 
   2) Treating Shudras as untouchables

  3)  Domination of Brhamanas

  4)  Killing of Cattle

  5) Gender Discrimination

  6) Vaishyas wanted a religion to promote peace so that they can have good trade. 




BUDDHISM


Gautama Buddha   :

                                   Original name of Buddha was Siddhartha  born in 567 BC in Shakya Kshatriya family in Lumbini in Nepal near Kapilavastu. When he is in twenties four things changed his life and they are : 1) an old man 2) a sick man 3) a corpse 4) a monk .

At the age of 29 he left home. He wandered from place to place and then attained enlightenment at the age of 35 at Bodh Gaya under a pipal tree. From this time he began to be  called as  Buddha or enlightened one.

He visited Kaushambi, Sharavasti , Varanasi , Vaishali and Rajgriha  cities.He passes away at the age of 80 in 487 BC at Kusinagara.


Doctrines of Buddhism : 

  1. He did not invoved in conversation regarding the soul.
  2. He said that the world was full of sorrows and desire is the main cause of all sorrows.
  3. He recommended an eight fold path :   
  •  Right Observation
  • Right Determination
  • Right Speech
  • Right Action
  • Right Livelihood
  • Right Effort
  • Right Awareness
  • Right Concern.
     4) He also laid down code of conduct for his followers :
  • do not commit violence
  • do not steal the property of others
  • do not use intoxicants
  • do not indulge in sexual misconduct and adultery

Features of Buddhism :

  1. Buddhism does not recoginze the existence of god and soul.
  2. It got support from lower people because it attacked the varna system
  3. Women too were accepted 
  4. People from lower cast also accepted into the religion
  5. It preached in pali language which common people language
  6. Many great kings like Ashoka, Kanishka etc followed Budhhism  .

Causes of the Decline of Buddhism :

Some reforms happened in Buddhism were main cause of decline of Buddhism in India.There also changes in Bhramanism which is the main cause for rise of Buddhism. 

  1. The Buddhists gave up on pali(people language) and shifted to Sanskrit language
  2. Adopted some corrupt practices like collecting revenue from Nalanda University which had prohibited by Gautam Buddha.
  3. Buddhists began to looking upon women as objects of lust.
  4. Persecution of Buddhists by kings like Pushyamitra shunga. 
  5. In south rise of Shaivites and Vaishnavites who opposed Jains and Buddhists.
  6. Foreign invasions.