2. JAINA AND BUDDHIST LITERATURE
• Religion played an important role in the lives
of the Indians from the earliest times, as in
the case of many other ancient nations of the
world.
• The most important teachers of the time were
Mahātmā Buddha and Lord Mahāvīra, which
were the founder of Buddhism and Jainism
respectively.
3. JAINA AND BUDDHIST
LITERATURE
• The early Jaina adopted Prākrit language of
the common people to preach their doctrines.
The Jaina literature contains the way of life.
• The personality of Buddha and method
adopted by him to preach his religion helped
the spread of Buddhism. The use of Pali, the
language of the people contributed to flourish
the literature. Pali is the language of the holy
texts of the Buddhist.
4. Jaina Literature
• Jaina literature begins with Lord Mahāvīra;
last Trīthankara of Jaina in the six-century
BCE.
• The Jaina Canon took its present shape in the
second council (CE 512 or 525) at Vallabhī.
5. Jaina Literature
The canonical books are divided into six groups,
• Aṅgas,
• Upaṅgas,
• Prakīrnaka
• Chhedasūtras
• Mulasūtras
• and an unnamed group .
6. Jaina Literature
• The Jaina literature of this period is written
not only in Sanskrit, Tamil, and Kannaḍa but
also in Prākrit.
7. Buddhist Literature
• A Chinese pilgrim Huen-Tsang’s account gives
us reliable information about the condition of
Buddhism in Indian in the seventh century BC.
• In Kashmir, he was received with great
honour by the king who gave him twenty
Paṇḍitas to make copies of Buddhist work
besides a few monks to help him in his
mission.
8. Buddhist Literature
• The most important Buddhist monastic
centers in the early medieval period were
located in Kashmir, Bihar, Bengal, which were
the great centers of literary activities.
• Nālandā was the oldest and had attained
worldwide fame by the seventh century BC.
9. Buddhist Literature
• Many original works of Buddhist were burnt in
the library of Nālandā, which might be a great
source to construct the history of India and
Buddhism. The monastery of Vikramaśilā
founded by Dharampāla was the greatest
institution of the age and surpassed Nālandā.
10. Buddhist Literature
• Tāntrik Buddhist texts were composed during
this period, which showed that Tantricism was
became the part of Buddhist. Many Buddhist
scholars adopted the Sanskrit as a medium of
their work.
11. Buddhism
• Buddhism was one of the greatest religion to
emerge in the world of human history.
• It was founded by Gautama Buddha
• His original name was Siddhartha.
• He was born in a royal family at Lumbini in 563
BC. His father Suddhodana was the ruler of
Shakya kingdom of Kapilavastu located in Nepal
tarai.
• At the time of his birth the astrologer had
prophesized that the boy would become either a
great general or a great preacher.
• https://youtu.be/cyxJNpEIO24
12. Life of Buddha
• To ensure that Siddhartha did not leave household life to
become a saint, he was married to an extremely beautiful
princess named Yashodhara at a very young age of 16
years. A son named Rahul was borned to them. Siddhartha
was kept away from the realities of the outside world could
not affect his thinking.
• Siddhartha developed a deep curiosity to know about the
other people living in this world. He started going to the
city at night with his charioteer ‘Channa”. His chariot was
pulled by the horse named “Kanthaka”. During these visit
Siddhartha came across 4 different individuals which
changed his thinking completely. He met an old man, a sick
man, and a beggar. He made up his mind to leave this
world and search truth.
13. The Enlightenment
• One night when his wife Yashodhara and son
Rahul were sleeping, Siddhartha left his home at
the age of 29 years. This event is know as
“Mahabhinishkramana” . He roamed around for
6 years but could not satisfy his quest for truth.
Finally he sat down under a Pipal Tree at Uruvela
(modern Bodhgaya) on the bank of river
Niranjana and decided not to get up until he
found truth. On the 49th day of his meditation ,
he realized truth and attained enlightment. He
came to be known as “Buddha” (the
enlightened).
14. First Sermon
• Buddha delivered his first sermon in a deer
park at Rishipattana (modern Sarnath) to 5
ascetics. They were Kondanja, Mahanama,
Baddiya, Assaji and Vappa. This event is
known as “Dharmachakraparivartana”. All
these 5 persons became disciples of Buddha
and Buddhist Sangha was established here.
15. Fundamental Elements of Buddhist
Teachings
• 4 noble truths, 8-fold path, 10 percepts and 3
jewels constitute the fundamental elements of
Buddhist teachings.
• According to Mahatma Buddha, ignorance was
the root cause of sufferings of people. Due to
ignorance, people indulge in acts of greed. Greed
pushes people into misdeeds. These misdeeds
keep them trapped in a cycle of birth and death.
This cycle can be brought to an end by following
the teachings of Mahatma Buddha.
16. Four Noble Truths
(Chatvari Aryasatyani)
• The world is full of sorrow (Dukkha)
• The cause of sorrow (Dukkha Samudaya) is
desire.
• Cessation of sorrow (Dukkha-Nirodha) is
possible.
• The path leading to cessation of sorrow is
Astangika-Marga.
17. Eight-fold Path (Astangika Marga)
• Right Thinking (Samma-Ditthi)
• Right Determination (Samma-Sankalpa)
• Right Speech (Samma-Vaca)
• Right Action (Samma-Kammanta)
• Right means of livelihood (Samma-Ajiva)
• Right efforts (Samma-Vayama)
• Right recollection (Samma-Sati)
• Right meditation (Samma-Samadhi)
18. Ten Percepts
• Not to harm living beings
• Not to take what is not given
• Abstain from false speech
• Abstain from evil behaviour
• Abstain from alcoholic drinks
• Abstain from eating at forbidden times
• Abstain from dancing/singing/music/dramatic
performance
• Abstain from use of jewellery/perfumes/garlands
19. Ten Percepts
• Abstain from dancing/singing/music/dramatic
performance
• Abstain from use of
jewellery/perfumes/garlands
• Abstain from receiving gold/silver
• Abstain from use of broad or high bed
21. Three Trainings or Trisiksha
• Morality (Sila)
• Meditation (Samadhi)
• Wisdom (Prajna)
22. Holy Books
• Teachings of Buddha were organized in two
Pitakas known as Sutta Pitaka and Vinaya
Pitaka.
• Sutta Pitaka contains teachings of Buddha. It
was composed of Ananda who was one of the
discilpe of Buddha.
• Vinaya Pitaka was composed by Upali. This
book contains rules of Buddhist monastic
order.
23. Rules and Regulations of Buddhist
Monastic Order (Sangha)
• Buddhist Sangha (monastery) consisted of
Chaityas and Viharas. Chaitya was a place of
worship and Vihara was a place of residence of
monks.
• Anyone could acquire the memebership of
Buddhist Sangha irrespective of Varna or caste
status.
• Soldiers, slaves, debtors and other persons under
obligation could not enter Sangha without the
permission of their superior or masters.
24. Rules and Regulations of Buddhist
Monastic Order (Sangha)
• Criminals, leapers and person afflicted with
infectious diseases were not allowed to enter
Sangha.
• Women were allowed entry into Sangha.
• A novice might be admitted from the age of 8
upwards but was qualified for full
membership at the minimum age of 20.
25. The rites ( sacred procedures) of
admission included
• Putting on the 3 yellow or orange robes
• Ceremonial shaving of head
• Pronouncing “three jewels” and “ten
percepts”
