Great Preachers: Mahavira and Buddha

perfect knowledge

Prakrit.

Sarnath.

salvation.

Angas.

Although Buddha did not believe in the existence of God, the central theme of his preaching was to help people end suffering and attain peace and happiness through the Four-Noble truths and the Eight-fold path. His teachings were based on ahimsa or non-violence, love and compassion for all living beings. The Buddha urged his followers to avoid living a life of extremes and to follow the Middle Path.

One example of avoiding a life of extremes, as taught by the Buddha is:
Not living a life of too much luxury or too much hardship.

Buddha advised his followers to follow the Middle Path, which means living a balanced life — neither giving in to all desires nor punishing the body with severe suffering.

Two causes that led to the rise of Jainism and Buddhism were:

1. During the Later Vedic Age, complex rituals, superstitions and ceremonies began to dominate the practice of worship. Rituals became expensive and elaborate. Thus, common people felt burdened by such practices.
2. The caste system became rigid, and it created inequality in society. The lower castes were denied the right to practise religion.

Jina means 'the conqueror of self'. Vardhamana Mahavira attained the perfect knowledge or kaivalya at the age of 42, after refraining from worldly pleasures for years. Therefore, he was called Mahavira (the great hero) or jina (the conqueror of self).

Mahavira placed the jina higher in importance than God. Mahavira taught that right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct, called the triratnas (three jewels), were the path to liberation. He emphasized ahimsa (non-violence), believing that all living and non-living things had souls. He preached five main principles:

1. Ahimsa (non-violence): not to injure any living being
2. Satya: to speak the truth
3. Asteya: not to steal
4. Tyaga: not to own property
5. Brahmacharya: to lead a life of celibacy

Two examples of the contribution made by Jainism to Indian architecture were:

1. The Jaina temple, called Dilwara Temple, at Mount Abu in Rajasthan is famous for its intricate carvings and architecture.
2. Gomateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola near Mysore is another noteworthy Jaina monument.

The Four Great Sights, an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a peaceful ascetic, deeply moved Siddharth. Realising life’s miseries, he left his palace in search of truth. This marked the Great Renunciation.

The two major branches of Buddhism are:

1. Mahayana Buddhism
2. Hinayana Buddhism

Buddha's teachings were based on the principles of ahimsa or non-violence, love and compassion for all living beings. The Buddha urged his followers to avoid living a life of extremes and to follow the Middle Path.

The spread of Buddhism enriched Indian culture in the following ways:

1. The teachings of Buddha have been compiled into three books called Tripitakas (three baskets). Another contribution to literature are the tales from the Jataka, which describe the previous births of the Buddha.
2. Many educational centres such as Nalanda, Valabhi and Vikramashila were famous for Buddhist learning.
3. Many beautiful stupas at Sanchi, Valabhi and Nalanda were built.
4. Gandhara sculptures and paintings at Ellora and Ajanta are great examples of Buddhist art.
5. The Buddhists built structures called chaityas (prayer halls), stupas and viharas (monasteries).

Differences between Jainism and Buddhism