Jainism and Buddhism — REET Notes (Social Studies)

Jainism — core facts

Last / 24th tirthankara

Mahavira Swami (birth name Vardhamana)

Birth

At Kundagrama (Vaishali, Bihar); father Siddhartha (head of the Jnatrika clan), mother Trishala

Kaivalya (omniscience)

On the banks of the Rijupalika river at Jrimbhikagrama, at age 42

Nirvana

At Pavapuri (near Rajgir)

First tirthankara

Rishabhadeva

23rd tirthankara

Parshvanatha — he laid down four vows (Chaturyama) for householders

The three jewels (Jain)

Right faith, right knowledge, right conduct — the three means to moksha

Key principles

Anekantavada (truth has many facets), Syadvada (relativity of statements), Panchamahavrata (for ascetics), Panchanuvrata (for householders — Mahavira added celibacy to Parshvanatha's four vows)

Split into sects

Digambara and Shvetambara — the group that went to south India under Bhadrabahu adopted stricter rules (Digambara), while the group that stayed in Magadha continued wearing clothes (Shvetambara)

Buddhism — core facts

Birth

At Lumbini (in the Nepal Terai), of the Shakya clan; father Shuddhodana, mother Mahamaya

Attaining enlightenment (Buddhahood)

At Bodh Gaya, under a peepal (Bodhi) tree, at age 35

First sermon

At Sarnath (Rishipattana/Mrigadava), to five disciples — this is called the 'Dharmachakra Pravartana'

Mahaparinirvana

At Kushinagar, at age 80

The three jewels (Buddhist)

Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha — the three refuges

The Four Noble Truths

There is suffering; suffering has a cause (craving); the cessation of suffering is possible; there is a path to that cessation (the Eightfold Path)

The Eightfold Path

Right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration

Key principles

Anishvaravada (not denying god's existence outright but not treating it as central), Anatmavada (rejecting a permanent soul), the law of karma, rebirth, Pratityasamutpada (the chain of cause and effect)

Jainism vs Buddhism — confusing differences

In REET, elimination-type questions on 'which principle does NOT belong to which religion' are usually based on exactly this difference.

The four Buddhist councils

Why Jainism and Buddhism rose

In the 6th century BCE, the spread of iron tools boosted farming and trade in north India, and a new merchant-and-artisan class (the Vaishyas) had grown economically strong, but the Vedic varna system gave them no high social standing. Traders and common people were also unhappy with expensive, elaborate yajna rituals and animal sacrifice, which caused loss of livestock.

Both Jainism and Buddhism valued conduct and karma over caste distinctions, preached in simple languages (Prakrit, Pali) and stressed non-violence — which is why they won wide support from the merchant class, common people and several rulers.

Spread, and patron rulers

Buddhism's early spread was backed by the Magadha rulers Bimbisara and Ajatashatru. Mauryan emperor Ashoka adopted Buddhism after the Kalinga war (261 BCE) and spread it to Sri Lanka and Central Asia through dhamma-mahamatras and dhamma-yatras. Later, under the Kushan ruler Kanishka, the Mahayana branch spread further.

Jainism, too, received royal patronage — the Kalinga king Kharavela was a great patron of Jainism, and tradition holds that the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta Maurya adopted Jainism in his final years and undertook penance at Shravanabelagola (Karnataka). Rajasthan also carries ancient evidence of both religions — Jain temples and sculptures in cities such as Ranakpur and Dilwara form the base of a whole art tradition, while the remains of Buddhist stupas have also been found at some sites, showing that the Shramana tradition wasn't confined to north India alone.

How to teach this to children

Questions asked in REET 2024 (solved)

Practice questions

Frequently asked questions

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