Jainism and Buddhism
ICSE Class 9 · History & Civics · Chapter 8
What this chapter covers
- The sixth century BCE: an age of questioning
- Sources: the Angas, the Tripitakas and the Jatakas
- Causes for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the sixth century BCE
- Doctrines of Jainism: the Tri-ratnas
- Doctrines of Jainism: Karma
- Doctrines of Jainism: Equality
- Doctrines of Jainism: Moksha
- Doctrines of Buddhism: the Four Noble Truths
- Doctrines of Buddhism: the Eight-fold Path
- Doctrines of Buddhism: Nirvana
- Jainism and Buddhism compared
Key points
- Jainism and Buddhism arose in the sixth century BCE in the Ganga plain as heterodox sects that rejected the Vedas, sacrifices and Brahmin supremacy.
- Mahavira (about 540–468 BCE) was the twenty-fourth Tirthankara; Gautama Buddha (about 563–483 BCE) attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and preached his first sermon at Sarnath.
- Sources: the Angas (Jain, Ardhamagadhi Prakrit); the Tripitakas, the Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma Pitakas (Buddhist, Pali); the Jatakas, stories of the Buddha's previous births.
- Religious causes: costly rituals, the dominance of priests, Sanskrit as the language of religion, and the ideas of the Upanishads.
- Social causes: the rigid varna system and the resentment of the Kshatriyas against Brahmin supremacy.
- Economic causes: farmers' need for cattle, and the wealth but low status of the trading class.
- Political causes: the rise of the Mahajanapadas, whose kings supported the new faiths.
- Jainism: the Tri-ratnas (Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct) and the five vows; karma as matter binding the soul; equality of all souls; moksha as the soul's freedom from karma.
- Buddhism: the Four Noble Truths (suffering, its cause in desire, its ending, the path); the Eight-fold Path, or Middle Path; nirvana as the blowing out of desire and the end of rebirth.
- Both religions taught ahimsa, equality and self-effort, but Jainism stressed severe penance and strict non-violence, while Buddhism followed the Middle Path.
Questions answered
What is a heterodox sect? Name two heterodox sects of the sixth century BCE.
A heterodox sect is a religious movement that does not accept the authority of the Vedas, the supremacy of the Brahmins or the value of Vedic sacrifices. Jainism and Buddhism are two such sects.
Who was the twenty-third Tirthankara, and what did Mahavira add to his teaching?
Parshvanatha was the twenty-third Tirthankara. He taught four vows; Mahavira added the fifth, brahmacharya.
Why was Vardhamana called Jina and Mahavira?
He was called Jina, "conqueror", because he had conquered his senses and desires, and Mahavira, "the great hero", for his courage in his long austerities.
What are the Angas? In which language are they written?
The Angas are the twelve oldest books of the Jain sacred literature, recording Mahavira's teachings. They are written in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit.
Name the three Pitakas and say what each contains.
The Vinaya Pitaka contains the rules of the Sangha; the Sutta Pitaka contains the Buddha's sermons and sayings; the Abhidhamma Pitaka explains the philosophy behind his teaching.
What are the Jatakas? Why are they useful to historians?
The Jatakas are stories in Pali about the previous births of the Buddha. Besides their moral lessons, they describe the kings, merchants, craftsmen, guilds and villages of the time, so they tell historians about social and economic life.
Give two reasons why the merchant class supported the new religions.
The Brahmins gave the Vaishyas a low social rank despite their wealth, while the new faiths respected people for conduct, not birth. Vedic law books also frowned on lending money at interest, which trade needed, whereas the new faiths did not condemn it.
How did the doctrine of ahimsa help the farmers of the Ganga plain?
Farming with iron ploughs depended on cattle, but Vedic sacrifices killed many animals. Ahimsa opposed the killing of animals and so protected the cattle farmers needed.
Past board exam questions
ICSE 2019 sample paper · 2 marks
Who were the founders of Jainism and Buddhism?
Show answer
Jainism – Vardhamana Mahavira (the 24th Tirthankara; Rishabhanatha is regarded as the first Tirthankara).
Buddhism – Gautama Buddha (Siddhartha).
ICSE 2019 sample paper · 4 marks
Mention any two similarities in the teachings of Jainism and Buddhism.
Show answer
1. Both rejected the authority of the Vedas, the caste system and costly rituals and sacrifices.
2. Both laid stress on Ahimsa (non-violence) and right conduct, and believed in Karma and rebirth, aiming at liberation (Nirvana/Moksha).
(Also: both preached in the language of the common people – Prakrit/Pali; both did not give importance to God as creator.)