It is post Brahminical religious
system. Practically nothing is known about its founder.
Mahavir was the last of the Jain teachers who are designated
as Tirthankaras. The main religious tenets of Jainism are–
1. Non-violence,
2. rejection of the authority of Vedas,
3. belief in the immortality of the soul,
4. everything–trees, plants and even matter–has life and is
capable of being injured,
5. the highest aim of life is the attainment of Nirvana.
Unlike, Buddhism, Jainism remained confined within the
borders of India.
Three jewels of Jainism or Tri-ratnas are–
1. Right intention,
2. Right knowledge and
3. Right conduct.
Two broad divisions of Jainism–
1. Shwetambar
2. Digambar.
Birth place of
Mahavir–Vaishali in the district of Muzaffarpur.
Buddhism
Buddhism was founded by a Kshatriya
Prince, Siddhartha who was born in 563 B. C.
at Lumbini village in the Nepalese Terai. Siddhartha, who
later came to be known as the Buddha, was the son of
Shuddhodan, the king of Kapilvastu. Buddhism rejected, like
Jainism, the authority of Vedas but believed in the
transmigration of the soul. Non-violence is its sheet
anchor. It advocates the pursuit of middle path in life.
Nirvana could be attained by reducing the number of wants.
Four Noble Truths of Buddhism :
1. Existence is suffering;
2. Suffering is born of desire and desire unfulfilled leads
to rebirth;
3. When desire ceases rebirth ceases and that is the highest
good;
4. Ceasation of desire is attained by purity in deed, word
and thought.
The Eightfold Path in Buddhism–Which leads to wisdom,
calmness, knowledge, enlightenment and release, (1) Right
belief, (2) Right thought, (3) Right speech, (4) Right
action, (5) Right means of livelihood, (6) Right execution,
(7) Right remembrance, (8) Right meditation.
Two broad divisions of Buddhism–
1. Mahayana and
2.Hinayana
