Great Preachers: Mahavira and Buddha

Choose the most appropriate option to complete this statement: Mahavira at the age of 42 attained Kaivalya, which means ............... .

1. education.
2. perfect knowledge
3. philosophy

Answer

perfect knowledge

Replace the underlined word to correct the statement: Mahavira preached Jainism in Greek.

1. Prakrit.
2. Sanskrit.
3. Pali.

Answer

Prakrit.

The Buddha gave his first sermon at:

1. Sarnath.
2. Takshila.
3. Bodhgaya.

Answer

Sarnath.

The Four Noble Truths can lead one to attain:

1. salvation.
2. suffering.
3. sorrow.

Answer

salvation.

The teaching of Mahavira was compiled into:

1. Puranas.
2. Tripitaka.
3. Angas.

Answer

Angas.

If Buddha did not believe in the existence of God, then what was the central theme of Buddha's preaching?

Answer

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.

'The Buddha urged his followers to avoid living a life of extremes.' Give any one example of what this entails.

Answer

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.

State any two causes that led to the rise of Jainism and Buddhism.

Answer

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.

What does jina mean?

Answer

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).

What were Mahavira's teachings?

Answer

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

Mention two examples of the contribution made by Jainism to Indian architecture.

Answer

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.

What led to the Buddha's Great Renunciation?

Answer

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.

What were the two major branches of Buddhism?

Answer

The two major branches of Buddhism are:

1. Mahayana Buddhism
2. Hinayana Buddhism

What were the principles of Buddha's teachings?

Answer

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.

What was the contribution of Buddhism to Indian culture?

Answer

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).

State the differences between Jainism and Buddhism.

Answer

Differences between Jainism and Buddhism

The 6th century BCE was a period of religious reforms in various parts of the world. It was an age when great religious teachers, philosophers and thinkers lived. Their ideas brought about revolutionary changes in many aspects of daily life. India saw the rise of Jainism and Buddhism.

1. What were the social conditions that led to the rise of these reform movements?
2. Which reform movement took place in China around the same time?

Answer

1. Several social conditions led to the rise of Jainism and Buddhism:

   1. Rituals in the Later Vedic Age became complex, costly, and dominated by Brahmanas, making them burdensome for common people.
   2. The caste system became rigid, creating inequality and denying religious rights to lower castes.
   3. Vedic texts in Sanskrit were inaccessible to the masses, who spoke Prakrit or Pali, leading to a disconnect.
   4. Brahmanas exploited this ignorance to increase their power and wealth.

2. In China, Confucianism and Taoism developed around the same time as Jainism and Buddhism.

Gautama Buddha (born as Siddhartha), was the founder of Buddhism. He was a contemporary of Mahavira. In this context, answer the following questions:

1. Why did the Great Renunciation take place?
2. What were the similarities and differences between the teachings of Mahavira and Buddha?

Answer

1. 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.

2. Similarities between the teachings of Mahavira and Buddha —

1. Both rejected the caste system and believed in equality.
2. Both opposed animal sacrifices and complex Vedic rituals.
3. Both believed in ahimsa (non-violence) and kindness to all living beings.
4. Both taught simple living and self-discipline.
5. Both believed in karma and rebirth.

Differences between the teachings of Mahavira and Buddha —