Buddhism & Jainism — Study Notes for UPSSSC PET

Overview

Buddhism and Jainism emerged in the 6th century BCE as heterodox (nastika) reform movements challenging Brahmanical orthodoxy, ritualism, and the caste system. Both religions rejected Vedic authority and animal sacrifice while emphasizing ethical conduct, non-violence (ahimsa), and personal spiritual effort over birth-based privilege. For the UPSSSC PET exam, you must know the founders (Gautama Buddha and Mahavira), core doctrines, organizational structures (especially the Buddhist Sangha), and the major Buddhist councils that codified teachings. Questions typically test factual recall: birth/death places, key teachings, council locations, and differences between Buddhism and Jainism.

These religions had profound political and social impact—royal patronage from rulers like Bimbisara, Ajatashatru, and Ashoka spread Buddhism across Asia, while Jainism retained strong influence in western and southern India. Understanding their doctrines, literature, and historical development helps you connect them to later topics like the Mauryan Empire and Gupta period in the syllabus.

Key Concepts

• **Sixth Century BCE Context**: Period of intellectual ferment (shramana movement) with 62 heterodox sects questioning Vedic ritualism; urban growth in Magadha and Kosala created merchant classes seeking alternative spirituality beyond expensive Brahmanical ceremonies.

• **Ahimsa and Non-Absolutism**: Both religions placed non-violence at their core—Jainism took it to extreme asceticism (wearing masks, sweeping paths to avoid killing insects), while Buddhism adopted moderate non-violence; Jain anekantavada (many-sidedness) and syadvada (conditional predication) contrast with Buddha's Middle Path.

• **Rejection of Caste and Vedas**: Neither religion accepted Vedic authority or varna hierarchy by birth; both allowed entry to all castes and women (though with restrictions), democratizing spiritual pursuit.

• **Karma and Rebirth Reinterpreted**: Both accepted transmigration but redefined karma—not ritual action but ethical intention; liberation (moksha/nirvana) achievable through personal effort, not priestly intermediaries.

• **Monastic Organization**: Buddhist Sangha was a disciplined order with vinaya rules, biannual uposatha meetings, and collective decision-making; Jain sangha also organized monks/nuns but emphasized extreme asceticism and nudity (Digambaras) versus white-clad (Svetambaras) split.

• **Royal Patronage**: Both religions gained momentum through merchant donations and royal support—Bimbisara and Ajatashatru for Buddha; Chandragupta Maurya and Kharavela for Jainism; Ashoka's conversion made Buddhism a world religion.

Formulas / Key Facts

**Buddhism — Gautama Buddha:**

• Birth: 563 BCE, Lumbini (Kapilavastu, now Nepal), Shakya clan, mother Mahamaya.
• Renunciation: Age 29 after seeing Four Sights (old man, sick man, corpse, ascetic).
• Enlightenment: 35 years old, Bodh Gaya (under Bodhi tree), became the Buddha ("awakened one").
• First Sermon: Sarnath (Deer Park), turning the Wheel of Law (Dharmachakra Pravartana).
• Death: 483 BCE, Kushinagar (mahaparinirvana), age 80.

**Jainism — Mahavira:**

• 24th Tirthankara (first was Rishabhadeva; 23rd was Parshvanatha).
• Birth: 540 BCE, Kundagrama (near Vaishali, Bihar), Kshatriya clan (Jnatrikas).
• Renunciation: Age 30; 12 years of penance, achieved Kevala Jnana (omniscience) at 42.
• Death: 468 BCE, Pavapuri (Bihar), age 72.
• Five Vows (Mahavratas): Ahimsa, Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Aparigraha (non-possession), Brahmacharya (celibacy; added by Mahavira to Parshvanatha's four).

**Buddhist Doctrines:**

• Four Noble Truths: (1) Life is suffering (dukkha); (2) Suffering caused by desire (tanha/trishna); (3) Suffering can end (nirvana); (4) Eightfold Path leads to cessation.
• Eightfold Path: Right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration.
• Three Jewels (Triratna): Buddha (teacher), Dhamma (teaching), Sangha (community).
• Anatta (no-soul), Anicca (impermanence), Pratityasamutpada (dependent origination).

**Jain Doctrines:**

• Triratna: Right faith, right knowledge, right conduct.
• No supreme god; universe eternal, uncreated.
• Jiva (soul) and Ajiva (non-soul, matter); karma as material substance binding soul.
• Liberation through complete detachment and destruction of karmic matter.

Worked Examples

**Example 1: Identify the Buddhist Council** *Question:* The Second Buddhist Council was held at which place and addressed what issue?

*Solution:* Second Buddhist Council held at **Vaishali** in **383 BCE** (or circa 100 years after Buddha's death). Main issue: Dispute over **Vinaya rules** — the Vajjian monks wanted to accept ten relaxations including accepting gold/silver. The orthodox monks rejected this. This led to the first major schism: **Sthaviravadins** (elders, orthodox) and **Mahasamghikas** (great assembly, liberal), precursors to later Theravada-Mahayana split.

**Example 2: Compare Jain Sects** *Question:* What is the main doctrinal difference between Digambaras and Svetambaras?

*Solution:*

• **Digambaras** ("sky-clad"): Monks remain naked as sign of complete renunciation; believe women cannot attain moksha in female form; reject Svetambara scriptures; stricter asceticism.
• **Svetambaras** ("white-clad"): Monks wear white clothes; accept women can attain liberation (19th Tirthankara Mallinatha was woman in their tradition); preserved Agama texts; relatively moderate.

Split formalized at **Council of Vallabhi** (5th century CE), but roots in Mauryan period debates.

**Example 3: Buddhist Literature** *Question:* Name the three Pitakas of Tripitaka and their content.

*Solution:*

• **Sutta Pitaka**: Buddha's sermons and dialogues (e.g., Dhammapada).
• **Vinaya Pitaka**: Monastic discipline, rules for Sangha conduct.
• **Abhidhamma Pitaka**: Philosophical analysis, scholastic interpretations.

Language: Originally Pali (Theravada); later Sanskrit (Mahayana). Compiled at **First Council** (Rajagriha, 483 BCE) under Mahakashyapa; recited by Ananda (Sutta) and Upali (Vinaya).

Common Mistakes

• **Confusing Jain Tirthankaras**: Mahavira was the 24th, not the first Tirthankara. Rishabhadeva (also called Adinath) was the first. Parshvanatha (23rd) preceded Mahavira by 250 years and taught four vows (Mahavira added celibacy as the fifth).

• **Mixing Buddhist Councils**: First Council (Rajagriha, 483 BCE) → compiled Tripitaka. Second (Vaishali, 383 BCE) → schism over Vinaya. Third (Pataliputra, 250 BCE, Ashoka's reign) → under Moggaliputta Tissa, compiled Kathavatthu, sent missionaries. Fourth (Kashmir, 1st century CE, Kanishka) → split into Mahayana-Hinayana formalized. Don't swap locations or purposes.

• **Misidentifying Mahayana-Hinayana split timing**: The terms emerged gradually after the Second Council schism but were formalized during Kanishka's Fourth Council (circa 100 CE). Theravada preserves Pali canon; Mahayana introduced Bodhisattva ideal and Sanskrit texts (Nagarjuna, Asvaghosa).

• **Overstating caste rejection**: While both religions theoretically rejected caste, in practice, upper-caste members dominated monastic leadership and royal patronage. Complete social equality was not achieved, especially as Buddhism absorbed local practices over time.

• **Confusing Buddha's birthplace and enlightenment site**: Birth—Lumbini (Nepal); Enlightenment—Bodh Gaya (Bihar); First Sermon—Sarnath (UP); Death—Kushinagar (UP). These are the four major pilgrimage sites.

Quick Reference

• **Buddha (563–483 BCE)**: Lumbini birth, Bodh Gaya enlightenment, Sarnath first sermon, Kushinagar death.
• **Mahavira (540–468 BCE)**: 24th Tirthankara; five great vows (Pancha Mahavratas); Kevala Jnana at age 42.
• **Four Noble Truths + Eightfold Path**: Core Buddhist doctrine; Middle Path between luxury and extreme asceticism.
• **Buddhist Councils**: (1) Rajagriha—Tripitaka; (2) Vaishali—Vinaya schism; (3) Pataliputra—Ashoka; (4) Kashmir—Kanishka, Mahayana.
• **Jain Split**: Digambaras (nude, strict) vs Svetambaras (white-clad, moderate)—formalized 5th century CE.
• **Triratna**: Buddhism—Buddha/Dhamma/Sangha; Jainism—Right faith/knowledge/conduct.