Buddhism & Jainism

Indian History · बौद्ध और जैन धर्म · 28 facts

Three Jewels (Triratna): Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha

Middle Path (Madhyam Marg) — avoid extreme luxury and extreme self-torture

Buddha did NOT believe in God or Soul (Atman). He rejected the Vedas and caste system.

Language: Pali (Buddha preached in Pali, NOT Sanskrit)

Believed in Soul (Atman) but NOT in God as creator

Rejected Vedas. Did NOT reject caste system completely.

Believed in extreme non-violence — even filtering water, sweeping path while walking

Language: Prakrit (Ardhamagadhi)

First Buddhist Council → Rajgriha, under Ajatashatru

Ashoka sent Buddhism to Sri Lanka through his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra

Kanishka = 'Second Ashoka' of Buddhism (patron of Mahayana)

First Tirthankara Rishabhadeva is mentioned in Rig Veda and Vishnu Purana

Chandragupta Maurya became a Jain monk at Shravanabelagola and died by Santhara (fasting unto death)

Buddha born in Lumbini (Nepal), died in Kushinagar (UP)

Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya under Peepal/Bodhi tree

First sermon at Sarnath = Dharmachakra Pravartana

Triratna: Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha

Tripitaka: Vinaya + Sutta + Abhidhamma (in Pali)

4 Buddhist Councils: Rajgriha, Vaishali, Patliputra, Kashmir

Hinayana (Pali, no idol) vs Mahayana (Sanskrit, idol worship)

Jainism has 24 Tirthankaras. 1st = Rishabhadeva, 24th = Mahavira

Mahavira born in Kundagram (Vaishali), died in Pavapuri (Bihar)

5 Jain vows: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha, Brahmacharya

Jain Triratna: Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct

Digambara (naked, strict) vs Shvetambara (white clothes, moderate)

Buddhism = Pali language. Jainism = Prakrit language.

Both rejected Vedas and caste system. Both founded in Bihar.

Chandragupta Maurya → Jain. Ashoka → Buddhist. Kanishka → Buddhist.