Jainism and Buddhism

Vyakhya Pragnapti

Reason — Vyakhya Pragnapti is one of the Jain sacred texts that contains the teachings of Lord Mahavira.

Dhammapada

Reason — The Dhammapada, an important part of the Sutta Pitaka, contains mainly Buddha's teachings, emphasising moral principles and the path to truth.

P and R

Reason — The Vinaya Pitaka contains the rules and regulations for the daily living of the monks and nuns (P). Statement Q describes the Abhidhamma Pitaka, which explains the human mind and Buddhist metaphysical concepts, and statement S describes the Jatakas, which give moral lessons through stories. Note: The chapter states that the Vinaya Pitaka describes "some important aspects of ancient Indian history, arts, crafts, customs and tradition" but does not explicitly say it documents Buddha's life events (R), so the inclusion of R in the answer key may need manual verification.

Only (ii) and (iii)

Reason — Jainism rejected the caste system and class distinctions, so statement (i) is false. Jainism rejects the authority of the Vedas, and the Jains believe the chief aim of a man is to attain moksha or salvation, making statements (ii) and (iii) true.

Vinaya Pitaka : Buddha's birth stories

Reason — The Vinaya Pitaka contains the rules and regulations for monastic life, not Buddha's birth stories. The birth stories of the Buddha in his previous lives are found in the Jatakas, so this pair is incorrectly matched.

Non-violence and ethical living

Reason — Buddhism laid great stress on non-violence towards all living beings and on ethical, righteous living, unlike the Vedic religion which involved ritualistic animal sacrifices, caste distinctions and Sanskrit prayers.

Ahimsa

Reason — The Triratna (Three Jewels) of Jainism are right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. Ahimsa is a core principle of Jainism but is not part of the Triratna.

Ritualistic dominance of Brahmanas

Reason — The Varna based society generated social tensions, and the Kshatriyas reacted strongly against the ritualistic domination of the Brahmanas. This opposition to the privileges claimed by the priestly class made them support Buddhism.

Complicated rituals, excessive animal sacrifice and predominance of the Brahmanas led people away to the new religions

Reason — The rise of the two new religions was caused by the complications and ritualism in the Vedic religion, the excess of animal sacrifice, and the predominance of the priesthood (Brahmanas), which drove the common people away towards these simpler faiths.

Buddha found five disciples who followed him at Sarnath where he delivered his first sermon

Reason — The picture shows the Buddha with his five disciples at Sarnath, where, after attaining enlightenment, he delivered his first sermon known as Dharmachakrapravartana or 'Turning of the Wheel of Law'.

P, Q, and S

Reason — Ahimsa (non-violence), Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) and Asteya (non-stealing) are among the five vows of Jainism and reflect its ethical philosophy. Ritual sacrifices (R) are rejected by Jainism, which had no faith in Yajnas and sacrificial practices, so R does not align with its principles.

(A) and (B) are independent of each other

Reason — Both statements are true, but statement (A) concerns Jainism's rejection of Yajnas and rituals, while statement (B) concerns its social outlook of equality and rejection of caste discrimination. Since neither causes nor explains the other, the two statements are independent of each other.

Fourth Council

Reason — During the deliberations of the 4th Buddhist Council, Buddhism split into two sects, the Hinayana and the Mahayana.

Getting royal patronage

Reason — The decline of Buddhism was caused by factors such as corruption among the monks, the shift from Pali to Sanskrit, and the revival of Hindu practices. It was the loss of royal patronage, not gaining it, that led to decline, so 'Getting royal patronage' is the odd one out.

Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

Explanation — The Buddha's first Noble Truth (Dukkha) states that the world is full of suffering, and the second Noble Truth (Samudaya) states that desire is the main cause of suffering. Both statements are therefore true, and the Reason correctly explains why the world is full of suffering, so (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

Explanation — It is true that every Jain has to take five vows, and it is also true that the first four vows were enunciated by Parshvanath while the fifth vow of Brahmacharya (chastity) was added by Mahavira. However, the historical origin of the vows does not explain why every Jain must take them, so (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Gautam Buddha was the founder of Buddhism.

The teachings of Lord Mahavira were compiled by his disciples in 12 parts called Angas (meaning 'parts'). These Angas are together called Dwadashangi.

The Sutta Pitaka focuses on the basic principles of Buddhist thought and practice. It is a central text in the Theravada Buddhist tradition and serves as a foundation for understanding Buddhist doctrine.

The Chaitya Hall at Karle was constructed in the beginning of the Common Era during the Satavahana period.

Sakya Muni means the sage of the Sakya clan. Since Gautam Buddha belonged to the Sakya clan, he was known as 'Sakya Muni'.

The Vedic literature was written in Sanskrit, which was difficult for the common people to understand. The Brahman priests recited mantras and conducted rituals in Sanskrit language, making the religion less understandable.

The Triratnas of Jainism are — right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.

After renunciation, Mahavira practised severe penance and asceticism for twelve years in search of truth before attaining Kevala Jnana (supreme knowledge).

Two places where Buddhist rock-temples have been found are — Nasik and Karle.

Two places where Jain rock-temples have been found are — Odisha (the Hathi Gumpha Cave), and Ellora (the Indra Sabha Cave).

The Shwetambara sect was led by Sthulabhadra, and they were based in Magadha.

After attaining enlightenment, Gautam Buddha went to Sarnath and delivered his first sermon at the Deer Park. This event is known as Dharmachakrapravartana or 'Turning of the Wheel of Law'.

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism are:

1. World is full of sorrows.
2. Desires are the main source of sorrows.
3. One can get rid of sorrows by killing desires.
4. The desires can be killed by following the EightFold Path or the Middle Path.

The colossal statue of Bahubali (Gommateswara) which is situated at Shravanbelagola in Karnataka is known for its huge height (57 feet) and grandeur. That's why this place has become an important Jain pilgrimage site.

The "Four Great Sights" that changed Gautama's perspective on life are an old man, a sick man, a dead body, and an ascetic.

(a) Mahaparinirvana refers to the final Nirvana attained by Gautama Buddha at the time of his death. Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (Kushinagara), near Gorakhpur in present-day Uttar Pradesh.

(b) Gautama Buddha's sacred remains were distributed among his followers and taken to eight different places, where large mounds, called stupas, were built over them.

(a) The Sanchi Stupa, located in Madhya Pradesh, is believed to have been originally built in the 3rd century BCE by Emperor Ashoka to enshrine the Buddha's relics.

(b) Stupas played a central role in the spread and symbolism of Buddhism, serving both religious and cultural purposes.

Every Jain has to take the following five vows :

1. Not to injure life (Ahimsa)
2. Not to tell a lie (Satya)
3. Not to steal (Asteya)
4. Not to possess any property (Aparigraha)
5. To practise chastity (Brahmacharya)

(a) The teachings of Lord Mahavira were compiled by his disciples in 12 parts called Angas. They were compiled at Vallabhi in Gujarat in the sixth century CE.

(b) The Aacharang Sutra deals with the code of conduct to be followed by Jain monks.

Jainism failed to spread actively to other countries compared to Buddhism due to the following reasons:

1. Strict rules: The rigid practices of Jainism like severe penance and extreme non-violence, were hard for common people to follow.
2. Division into sects: After Mahavira's death, Jainism split into two groups - Shwetambaras and Digambaras, which weakened unity and efforts to spread the religion.
3. Lack of missionary effort: Unlike Buddhism, Jainism did not actively spread to other countries and remained limited to certain areas in India.
4. Loss of Royal Patronage: Jainism did not receive much royal patronage compared to Buddhism, which was supported by rulers like Ashoka and Harsha.
5. Social inequality: Although Jainism promoted equality, it did not completely remove social hierarchies, which reduced its appeal.
6. Rise of Hinduism: During the Gupta period, the resurgence of Hinduism with royal patronage confined Jainism to smaller regions.

To spread his teachings, Buddha formed the Sangha, a community of monks and nuns who lived disciplined lives in monasteries. They travelled from place to place, preached the Buddha’s message in the local languages, and lived simply so common people could connect with them. In this way, the Sangha played a key role in the growth and spread of Buddhism across India.

The caste system greatly affected the Vedic religion. People from higher caste began to discriminate against those from the lower castes, especially the Shudras. Such treatment led to resentment among common people, who sought a religion free of caste based discrimination. They sought and promoted love and harmony instead of caste distinctions and social divisions.

Social factors that made Jainism and Buddhism more accessible to the masses are:

1. Both Jainism and Buddhism rejected the caste system and emphasized equality. They accepted followers from all varnas and backgrounds.
2. The people sought and promoted love and harmony instead of caste distinctions and social divisions.

Linguistic factors that made Jainism and Buddhism more accessible to the masses are:

1. The Vedic literature, written in Sanskrit, was difficult for the common people to understand. Jains and Buddhists rejected Sanskrit, the elite language of Vedic rituals.
2. Buddhism primarily used Pali and Jainism used Prakrit, which were the language of the people. This made their teachings understandable and relatable to the general population.

(a) Mahavira was born at Kundagrama near Vaishali (in present-day Bihar) in the second half of the sixth century BCE.

(b) Mahavira practised severe discipline and self-mortification for 12 years.

(c) Two teachings of Lord Mahavira are given below:

1. Nine Truths : According to Jaina philosophy, the realisation of these Nine Truths is essential. These are : Jiva (living beings), Ajiva (Non-living things), Punya (results of good deeds), Papa (sin), Ashrav (good deeds), Sanvar (hindrance to karma), Bandha (bondage), Nirjara (destruction of karmas) and Moksha (Salvation).
2. Believe in equality : Jainism rejected the caste system and class distinctions, advocating the equality for all. Mahavira strongly believed in the equality of all people and opposed caste discrimination. He supported women's freedom, allowing them to join the Jain Sangha, and emphasised equality between men and women. Mahavira promoted universal brotherhood, recognising all individuals as equal, regardless of caste or creed. He taught that virtuous actions lead to ultimate salvation (moksha) and that compassion should be shown to all living beings, from the smallest insect to the highest forms of life.

After attaining enlightenment, Gautam Buddha went to Sarnath and delivered his first sermon at the Deer Park. This event is known as Dharmachakrapravartana or 'Turning of the Wheel of Law'. Here, he found five disciples who followed him, and he travelled across the country, spreading his teachings.

(a) The reasons for Jainism's decline are given below:

1. Strict rules: The rigid practices of Jainism like severe penance and extreme non-violence, were hard for common people to follow.
2. Division into sects: After Mahavira's death, Jainism split into two groups - Shwetambaras and Digambaras, which weakened unity and efforts to spread the religion.
3. Lack of missionary effort: Unlike Buddhism, Jainism did not actively spread to other countries and remained limited to certain areas in India.
4. Loss of Royal Patronage: Jainism did not receive much royal patronage compared to Buddhism, which was supported by rulers like Ashoka and Harsha.
5. Social inequality: Although Jainism promoted equality, it did not completely remove social hierarchies, which reduced its appeal.
6. Rise of Hinduism: During the Gupta period, the resurgence of Hinduism with royal patronage confined Jainism to smaller regions.

(b) Jainism's contributions to Indian art, architecture, and literature were significant.

1. They built monasteries and temples to perpetuate the memory of their saints and sages. They also decorated their buildings with stone railings, beautiful gateways, stone umbrellas and finely carved pillars.
2. They built beautiful temples and images at their sacred places like the Parasnath Hill, Pawapuri (Bihar), Rajgriha, Girnar and Mount Abu. The Dilwara Jain temple at Mount Abu in Rajasthan is a fine specimen of Jain temple architecture.
3. The Jains also cut rocks to build caves and rock-temples. The Hathi Gumpha Cave in Odisha, the Indra Sabha Cave at Ellora and the Lion Cave in Udayagiri are the fine specimens of the Jain art.
4. The colossal statue of Bahubali (Gommateswara) which is situated at Shravanbelagola in Karnataka is known for its huge height (57 feet) and grandeur. This place has become an important Jain pilgrimage site.
5. Their chief works called the Angas, are written in Prakrit. They also wrote some other texts in Apabhramsa. They also took to Sanskrit and wrote legends, fables, and several valuable books on grammar and poetics which contributed richly to the development of the Sanskrit language.

(a) The approaches of Jainism and Buddhism towards non-violence and asceticism are similar but differ in strictness:

(b) The focus on the laity in Jainism differs from the reliance on the Sangha in Buddhism in the following ways:

(c) Buddhism spread beyond India, while Jainism remained limited to the Indian subcontinent. This is due to the following reasons:

1. Strict rules: The rigid practices of Jainism like severe penance and extreme non-violence, were hard for common people to follow.
2. Division into sects: After Mahavira's death, Jainism split into two groups - Shwetambaras and Digambaras, which weakened unity and efforts to spread the religion.
3. Lack of missionary effort: Unlike Buddhism, Jainism did not actively spread to other countries and remained limited to certain areas in India.
4. Loss of Royal Patronage: Jainism did not receive much royal patronage compared to Buddhism, which was supported by rulers like Ashoka and Harsha.
5. Social inequality: Although Jainism promoted equality, it did not completely remove social hierarchies, which reduced its appeal.
6. Rise of Hinduism: During the Gupta period, the resurgence of Hinduism with royal patronage confined Jainism to smaller regions.

(a) The Middle Path or the Eight-fold path consists of the following principles:

1. Right Belief
2. Right Thought
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Living
6. Right Effort
7. Right Recollection
8. Right Meditation

This path is also called the 'Middle Path', as the Buddha on the one hand condemned the life of pleasure as practised by the Brahmana or priests, while on the other hand he opposed the life of severe penance, such as dying by starvation as preached by the Jains.

(b) Buddha was more focused on ethical conduct than metaphysical beliefs, advocating a way of life that anyone could follow. His Four Noble Truths, introduced in his first sermon at Sarnath, form the core of his teachings. They are:

1. Dukkha : This world is full of sufferings.
2. Samudaya : Desires are the main cause of sufferings.
3. Nirodhe : One can get rid of sufferings by removing desires.
4. Megga : The desires can be removed only by following the Eight-fold Path or the Middle Path.

The Four Noble Truths explain the nature and cause of suffering, while the Eightfold Path provides the method to overcome it and attain nirvana (liberation or salvation).