Intellectual Awakening And Socio-political Changes

Mahavira and Buddha the founder of Jainism and Buddhism respectively were a preacher of simplicity and self-denial.

Bimbisara and Ajatshatru were influenced by his teachings.

They were Kasi, Kosla, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja.

The Tri ratnas is the teaching of Mahavira:

1. Right Faith: he said to have belief in the teachings of Mahavira and have wisdom.

2. Right Knowledge: He said that the world is without god and there is no creator.

3. Right actions: By this, he meant ahimsa, honesty, kindness, truthfulness, no desires for others’ belongings.

His account named Indica throws light on Mauryan polity and society.

Chandragupta was an ardent follower of Jainism.

Zend Avesta is a collection of the sacred literature of different epochs, containing prayers, confessions, and myths.

It is a holy book of Zoroastrians.

In the Gangetic plain Iron plough agriculture required the use of bullocks. This region is the most traditional cultivation region of India which usually uses livestock instead of modern agricultural techniques.

Jains believe that Mahavira came in a long line of Tirthankaras and he was the twenty - fourth and the last. In Jainism, a tirthankara (Sanskrit tīrthaṅkara) is an omniscient Teaching God who preaches the dharma.

The place where Buddha attained enlightenment has been built into the Mahabodhi temple that still exists in Bodh Gaya. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, but much rebuilt and restored, Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

The rock edicts form the reliable source to know about the Mauryan empire, in particular, the Dharmic rule of Asoka. Various edicts depict different events for instance, the 13th Major Rock Edict vividly describes the horrors and miseries of this war and the deep remorse it caused to Ashoka.

a) True

b) False.

It has a small presence in Southern India under the Chola empire.

c) True.

They were pre Mauryan and known as janapadas.

d) True

These were Gangetic plain and had economic and strategic advantages.

a) True.

He made the kingdom powerful and expanded it.

b) True.

He had established a good format structure with the village as a basic unit, each village had a headman.

c) False.

The Nandas were the first nonkshatriya to rule in northern India.

d) False.

It was cut short by Chandragupta Maurya.

1. Eight Fold Paths: the path to attain the purest state of Mind.

Explanation: Buddha this path to attain the purest state of mind. These are right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

2. Bahubali: Tallest Jaina Statue

3. The spring and Autumn Annals: a code of political morality

Explanation: This is a book written by Confucius on the code of political morality.

4. Zend Avesta: sacred literature of laws and myths

5. Rishabha: first Tirthankara

Smelting of Iron transformed both production and warfare as prior to its invention copper and bronze were used which were expensive and would become blunt quickly, so the products could not be used effectively both in warfare and agriculture.

Iron was easily available, the iron ax was very effective in clearing jungles, plow the field and break the hardest soil. The weapons used in warfare were advanced too.

The Tri ratnas is the teaching of Mahavira:

1. Right Faith: he said to have belief in the teachings of Mahavira and have wisdom.

2. Right Knowledge: He said that the world is without god and there is no creator.

3. Right actions: By this, he meant ahimsa, honesty, kindness, truthfulness, no desires for others’ belongings.

Ajathsatru was the son of Bimbisara who murdered his father and attained the throne. He expanded his empire and strengthened the Rajgriha fort. After his death, he was succeeded by 5 kings.

After the Kalinga war Ashoka was shattered by the bloodshed and gave up his warriors and turned Buddhist. He carved out 33 edicts where he elaborated his experiences and teachings of Budhha.

In Kalinga edict, Ashoka has described the horrific bloodshed of the Kalinga war and he vowed not to further indulge in any such war.

Ashoka sends his council members to various places like Sri Lanka, Tibet to spread the philosophies of Buddha. He carved out many rock edicts and Pillars where he elaborated the principles and philosophies of Budhha.

(a) Zoroaster was from Persia and founder of Zoroastrianism. He was against the worshipping of primitive deities and proclaimed that there is one god Ahura Mazda (the Lord of Light).

(b) Zoroaster was from Persia, He was against the worshipping of primitive deities and proclaimed that there is one god Ahura Mazda (the Lord of Light).

He emphasized upon virtues like fighting evil, making effort for good and working for Ahura Mazda.

(c) The teachings of Zoroaster:

1. Cultivating morality gives rise to religion, state or society.

2. The purity of thought, word and deed are the highest religious forms.

3. Charity id essential part of religion.

4. He emphasized upon virtues like fighting evil, making effort for good.

(d) According to Zoroaster Purity of thought, word and deed are the highest religious forms.

(a) Buddha was born to the chief of Kshatriya clan at kapilavastu and was named as Sidhhartha.

(b) He was born at Kapilavastu, present-day Nepal.

(c) He left is a kingdom and went into the forest in search of truth. He attained enlightenment under the Banyan tree at Bodhgaya Bihar.

(d) He gave his first sermon at Sarnath in Varanasi.

Confucius was born in China, studied history, philosophy, poetry, and music. He has written 5 books on society, religion, songs, metaphysics etc.

The five cardinal principles of him are:

1. Humaneness: It refers to the behaviour of human that he/she must be kind.

2. Righteousness: The quality of being morally right.

3. prospriety: The state of being successful.

4. Wisdom: Having experience and good judgment.

5. Trustworthiness: being worthy of keeping trusts.

Confucius’ philosophies raised awareness among the people regarding their political rights. His philosophy guided the government regarding their duties towards the people of their country.

Difference between Jainism and Buddhism:

1. Mahavira was the founder of Jainism while Gautam Buddha was the founder of Buddhism.

2. Buddhism believes that Karma is the direct outcome of their action while the Jainism differed from this principle.

3. Buddhism had a notion that soul is present only in living beings while the Jainism believed that soul is present in both living and nonliving.

4. Buddhism believed that Nirvana is the ultimate aim of the soul while Jainism believed that soul continues even after attaining Nirvana.

5. Buddhism emphasized on right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration while Jainism emphasized on right perception, right knowledge, and right conduct.