Buddhism: Indian History Study Notes
BUDDHISM
- Buddhism was started by Gautam Buddha who was also known as Sakyamuni and Tathagata
- Gautam Buddha was born in the year 563 B.C at Lumbini near Kapilvastu district of Nepal on the day of the poornima (full moon day)
- His childhood name was Siddhartha
- His father’s name was king Suddhodhana who was the ruler of the Saka dynasty and the mother’s name was Mahamaya who was the princess of the Kosalan dynasty
- 7 days after the birth of Gautam Buddha died and he was brought up by his stepmother Mahaprajapati Gautami who gave him the title of Gautam
- In his childhood Gautam Buddha use to play with his horse named Kanthak
- At the age of 16 years Gautam Buddha was married with extremely beautiful Yasodhara and had a son named Rahula
- After seeing the sorrow of the world Gautam Buddha decided to leave the pleasures of the life and start living the life of the wanderer
- At the age of 29 years he left home in search of salvation or Nirvana and reached Vaishali where he became the disciple of Alara Klama but he was not convinced by the teachings of Alara Klama and he moved from there and became the disciple of Udraka Ramputra
- He wondered for 6 years and one day at Bodh Gaya under the Peepal tree (bodhi tree) he attained the Nirvana or Enlightenment at the age of 35 years
- Tapasso and Mallic became the first disciple of Gautam Buddha whereas Ananda was the most favourite disciple of Gautam Budddha
- Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath on the topic “Dharmachakrapravartan” or Turning of the Wheel of Law
- In his last days of life he reached Vaishali where his disciple named Kunda fed him pork due to which he died at the age of 80 years in the year 483 B.C at Kushinagar district Deoria in the Malla republic. His death is known as Mahaparinirvana
Teachings of Gautam Buddha
Gautam Buddha gave four great truths of life
- The world is full of sorrows and misery
- The desire of human being is the main cause of his sorrows
- If there are no desires there are no sorrows
- The desires can be conquered be Eight Fold Paths
Eight Fold Paths of Buddhism
- Right Speech
- Right Livelihood
- Right Efforts
- Right Thoughts
- Right Actions
- Right Remembrance
- Right Concentration
- Right Mindfulness
Buddhist Literature
The Buddhist literatures were written in the Pali language
Vinay Pitaka
It deals with the laws of the Buddhist monasteries. It was recited by Uppali in the first Buddhist council in the year 483 B.C
Sutta Pitaka
It is the collection of the Buddha’s sermons and it is divided in 5 parts
Abhidhamma Pitaka
It deals with the life and the philosophy of the Buddha’s teachings
Milindapanho
It deals with the conversation with the Greek king Menander and the Buddhist Monk Nagasena
Tripitaka
It is the sacred book of the Buddhism
Buddhist Councils
First Council
The first council was held in the year 483 B.C at Saptaparni caves near Rajgriha in Bihar under the chairmanship of king Ajatshatru, during the first council two Buddhist literatures were compiled Vinaya and Sutta Pitaka by Upali
Second Council
The second council was held in the year 383 B.C at Vaishali under the chairmanship of king Kalashoka
Third Council
The third council was held in the year 250 B.C at Patliputra under the chairmanship of king Ashoka the Great, during the third council Abhidhamma Pitaka was added and Buddhist holy book Tripitaka was compiled.
Fourth Council
The fourth council was held in the year 78 A.D at Kundalvan in Kashmir under the chairmanship of king Kanishka, during this council Hinayana and Mahayana were divided.
Types of Buddhist
The Buddhism after the death of Gautam Buddha was divided into 3 parts
Hinayan
They believe in the real teachings of Gautam Buddha of attaining Nirvana. They do not believe in idol worship and Pali language was used in the Hinayana text
Mahayana
They believe that Nirvana is attained by the grace of Gautam Buddha and not by following his teachings. They believe in idol worship and Sanskrit was used in Mahayana text
Vajrayana
They believe that Nirvana is attained by the help of magical tricks or black magic.
Symbols Associated with Gautam Buddha
Birth- Lotus or Bull
Great renunciation- Horse
First Sermon- Wheel
Nirvana- Bodhi tree/ Peepal tree
Mahaparinirvana/ Death- Stupa
Famous Monks at the time of Buddha
- Ananda – constant companion of Buddha and most devoted disciple
- Anurddha – master of right mindfulness
- Mahakassapa – president of Buddhist council held at Rajagriha
- Moggallana – he had greatest super natural powers
- Sariputta – possessed the profound insight into the dhamma
- Upali – master of Vinaya
Famous Buddhist Scholars
- Ashvagosha – contemporary of Kanishka, poet, dramatist, musician who wrote famous book Buddhacharita
- Nagarjuna – friend and contemporary of Satavahana kings wrote the famous book Madhyamik Shastra
- Buddhagosha – pali scholar who wrote “Visuddhimaga”
- Dinnaga – founder of Buddhist logic
Important Buddhist Gods and Goddess
- Buddha Shakyamuni -the historical Buddha
- Buddha Maitreya -the future Buddha.
- Avalokiteshavara - the Bodhisattva of Compassion
- Manjushri - the bodhisattva of wisdom and literature.
- Tara - a female Bodhisattva. She is considered a great protector that guards people against the eight major dangers in life
- Padmasambhava -also called Guru Rinpoche, is the historically tangible founder of Tibetan Buddhism
All the best
Team AIMSUCCESS
