History for CLAT GK IV : Buddhism & Jainism

THE BUDDHA

Also known as Sakyamuni or Tathagata.
Born in 536 BC. On the vaishakha poornima day at Lumbini ( near Kapilavastu) in Nepal.
His father Suddhodhana was the Saka ruler.
His mother (Mahamaya, of Kosala dynasty) died after 7 days of his birth. Brought up by the stepmother Gautami.
Married at 16 to Yashodhara. Enjoyed the marital life for 13 years and had a son named Rahula.
After seeing an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic, he decided to become a Wanderer.
Left his place at 29 in search of truth ( also called ‘Mahabhinishkramana’ or the Great Renunciation ) and wandered for 6 years .
Attained ‘Enlightenment’ at 35 at Gaya in Magadha (Bihar) under the Pipal tree.
Delivered the first sermon at Sarnath where his five disciples had settled . His first sermon is called ‘Dharmachakrapravartan’ or ‘Turning of the wheel of law’.
Attained Mahaparinirvanda at Kushinagar (identical with village Kasia in Deoria district of UP) in 483 BC at the age of 80 in the Malla Republic.

BUDDHIST COUNCILS

FIRST COUNCIL: At Rajgriha , in 483 BC under the chairmanship of Mehakassaapa ( King was Ajatshatru). Divided the teachings of Buddha into two Pitakas- Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka.
SECOND COUNCIL : At Vaishali, in 383 BC under Sabakami (King was Kalasoka). Followers divided into Sthavirmadins and
THIRD COUNCIL : At Pataliputra, in 250 BC under Mogaliputta Tissa (king was Ashoka). In this, the third part of the Tripitaka was coded in the Pali language.
FOURTH COUNCIL: At kashmir ( Kundalvan), in 72 AD under Vasumitra (King was Kaniska. Vice-Chairman was Ashwaghosha). Divided Buddhism into Mahayana and Hinayana

BUDDIST LITERATURE

VINAYA PITAKA

SUTTA PITAKA

ABHIDHAMMA PITAKA

JAINISM

Founded by Rishaba.
There were 24 Tirthankaras ( Prophets or Gurus ), all Kshatriyas. First was Rishabnath (Emblem: Bull).
The 23^rd Tirthankar Parshwanath (Emblem : Snake ) was the son of king Ashvasena of Banaras.
The 24^th and the last Tirthankar was Vardaman Mahavira ( Emblem : Lion ). He was born in Kundagram (District Muzaffarpur, Bihar) in 599 BC.
His father Sidhartha was the head of Jnatrika clan.
His mother was Trishala, sister of Lichchavi Prince Chetak of Vaishali.
Mahavira was related to Bimbisara.
Married to Yahoda, had a daughter named Priyadarsena, whose husband Jamali became his first disciple.
At 30, after the death of his parents, he became an ascetic.
In the 13^th year of his asceticism (on the 10^th of Vaishakha), outside the town of Jrimbhikgrama, attained supreme knowledge (Kaivalya).
From now on he was called Jaina or Jitendriya and Mahavira, and his followers were named Jains. He also got the title of Arihant, i.e worthy.
At the age of 72, attained death at Pava, near Patna, in 527 BC.
Mahavira preached almost the same message as Parsvanath and added one more, Brahmcharya (celibacy) to it.