GSEB Chapter 5 In Search of Peace Buddha and Mahavir

 

This chapter describes the lives, teachings and reforms of Gautam Buddha and Mahavir Swami, who worked against social evils and promoted peace, morality, equality and non-violence.

1. Gautam Buddha

Early Life

• Childhood name: Siddhartha.
• Born in 566 BC in the Shakya republic of Kapilvastu.
• Father: Shuddhodhana, head of the republic.
• Mother: Mayadevi. After her death, Siddhartha was brought up by Gautami Mahaprajapati.
• Guru: Alara Kalam.
• Wife: Yashodhara.
• Son: Rahul.

Home Sacrifice and Sadhana

• At the age of 30, Siddhartha decided to leave his royal family and state in search of truth.
• His charioteer was Channa and his horse was Kanthak.
• He went first to Rajgriha and then to Pururela.
• He practised penance with five Brahmins, but later decided to pursue knowledge alone.
• He meditated under the Peepal/Bodhi tree at Bodhigaya.
• He attained knowledge on Vaishakh Purnima.
• After acquiring knowledge, Siddhartha became Buddha. ‘Buddha’ means conscious or wise.

2. Teachings of Gautam Buddha

• Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath to five Brahmins.
• His first preaching is called ‘Dhammachakrapravartan’.

Four Arya Truths

1. The world is full of miseries.
2. The cause of suffering is greed or strong desire.
3. Destruction of suffering is possible through renunciation of desire.
4. The way to eliminate desire is the Octagonal/Eightfold Path (Astang Marg).

Eightfold Path

• Samyak sight
• Samyak resolve
• Samyak speech
• Samyak deeds
• Samyak earning
• Samyak exercise
• Samyak memory
• Samyak samadhi
• Remember: ‘Samyak’ is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘properly’.

3. Buddha as a Great Reformer

Denial of God and Soul: Buddha denied God and Soul and gave importance to Karmaism. He taught people to live a virtuous life in the present.

Opposition to Rituals: He opposed rituals and animal sacrifice in yagnas. He considered non-violence the highest value.

Opposition to High and Low Discrimination: He opposed the varna system and discrimination between Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. Greatness comes from deeds and conscience, not family or birth.

Importance of Women: Buddha gave equal importance to women and men and taught that women could also achieve Nirvana through sadhana and duty.

Nirvana of Buddha

• Buddha continued spreading the path of righteousness, truth and non-violence.
• He died at the age of 80 at Kushinara and attained Nirvana.

4. Mahavir Swami

• Jainism has 24 Tirthankaras.
• 1st Tirthankara: Rishabhdev or Adinath.
• 23rd Tirthankara: Parshwanath.
• 24th and last Tirthankara: Mahavir Swami.

Early Life

• Mahavir Swami was born in Kundgram of the Vajji Union.
• Childhood name: Vardhaman.
• Father: Siddhartha, king of the republic.
• Mother: Trishladevi.
• Elder brother: Nandivardhan.
• Wife: Yashoda.
• Daughter: Priyadarshini.

Leaving Home and Sadhana

• Mahavir left home at the age of 30 in search of knowledge.
• He lived as a ‘Bhikshuk’ (beggar) and performed harsh penance for twelve years.
• On the bank of river Rijupalika he attained the highest knowledge, ‘Kevalgyan’.
• Because he conquered his mind and senses, he was called ‘Jin’.
• Vardhaman later came to be known as ‘Mahavir’.

5. Five Great Vows of Mahavir Swami

1. Non-Violence (Ahimsa): Violence is one of the biggest evils. Even the smallest creature has the right to live, and mental violence should also be avoided.
2. Truth (Satya): Never speak lies. Truth should always be followed in every situation.
3. Astey: Do not steal or take another person’s things without permission.
4. Non-Possessiveness (Aparigrah): Do not store goods, possessions, ornaments or clothing beyond one’s requirements.
5. Brahmacharya: Mahavir specifically instructed Jain monks and nuns to observe celibacy.

Triratna (Ratnatrayi)

• Triratna means: Samyak vision + Samyak knowledge + Samyak behaviour.

6. Mahavir Swami as a Great Reformer

• He opposed rituals and sacrifices.
• He rejected the presence of God.
• He condemned animal sacrifice in yagnas.
• He said women should be given equal rights.
• He preached in people’s language, i.e. Prakrit and Ardhamagadhi.
• His simple and understandable teachings helped change people’s lives.

Nirvana of Mahavir Swami

• Mahavir Swami died at Pawapuri at the age of 72.

7. Buddha and Mahavir: Quick Comparison

Point	Gautam Buddha	Mahavir Swami
Childhood name	Siddhartha	Vardhaman
Left home	Age 30	Age 30
Highest knowledge	Enlightenment at Bodhigaya	Kevalgyan near river Rijupalika
Key teachings	Four Arya Truths & Eightfold Path	Five Great Vows
Important preaching detail	First sermon at Sarnath	Preached in Prakrit & Ardhamagadhi
Nirvana	Kushinara, age 80	Pawapuri, age 72

8. Common Teachings

• Both promoted peace and non-violence.
• Both opposed rituals and animal sacrifices.
• Both worked against social inequality and discrimination.
• Both encouraged moral and virtuous living.
• Both supported the importance and rights of women.
• Their teachings promoted virtue in society.

9. Must-Memorise Exam Facts

Buddha sequence: Siddhartha → Kapilvastu → left home at 30 → Bodhigaya → enlightenment → Sarnath first sermon → Kushinara → Nirvana at 80.

Mahavir sequence: Vardhaman → Kundgram → left home at 30 → 12 years penance → Kevalgyan → Five Great Vows → Prakrit & Ardhamagadhi → Pawapuri → Nirvana at 72.

Five vows: Ahimsa – Satya – Astey – Aparigrah – Brahmacharya.

Four Arya Truths: Miseries → Desire causes suffering → Renounce desire → Follow the Eightfold Path.

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