Vedas V jainisn V buddhism
Whether or not it was an influence of Jain culture and philosophy in ancient [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihar"]Bihar[/ame] that gave rise to [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism"]Buddhism[/ame] is unclear, but there are some striking similarities between the two traditions, and Buddhism may have adopted many of its ideas and traditions from pre-existing ones held by the Jains. The Buddha Nirvana calendar (with a zero point in 544 BCE) may actually be significantly older than the Kaliyuga calendar. And so, quite possibly, is the Mahavira Nirvana calendar of the Jains (with a zero point in 527 BCE).
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira"]Mahāvīra[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha"]Buddha[/ame] were contemporaries. The Pali Canon does not record that the two teachers ever met, though instances of Mahavira's disciples questioning Gautama Buddha are to be found in various suttas. The Buddhists have always maintained that by the time [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha"]Buddha[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira"]Mahavira[/ame] were alive, [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism"]Jainism[/ame] was already an entrenched faith and culture in the region. Buddhist scriptures record philosophical dialogues between the wandering seeker Siddartha Gautama (who was to become the Buddha) and Udaka Ramaputta, and the first of several teachers that young Siddartha Gautama studied with before his enlightenment. Buddhist scriptures attest that some of the first Buddhists were in fact Jains ([ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirgrantha"]Nirgranthas[/ame] as they were then called, meaning "the unbonded ones") who "converted", but were encouraged by Buddha to maintain their Jain identity and practises such as giving alms to Jain monks and nuns.
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[FONT="]"Jain" and "Jaina" redirect here. For other uses, see [/FONT][FONT="]Jain (disambiguation)[/FONT][FONT="] and [/FONT][FONT="]Jaina (disambiguation)[/FONT][FONT="].[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jainism[/FONT][FONT="] is one of the oldest [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_religions"][FONT="]religions[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] that originated in the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent"][FONT="]Indian subcontinent[/FONT][/ame][FONT="]. It is generally accepted that Jainism started spreading in south India from the third B.C.E. i.e. since the time when Bradrabahu, a preacher of this religion and the head of the monks' community, came to Karnatak from Bihir. Jains believe that every soul is divine and has the potential to achieve God-consciousness. Any soul which has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state of supreme being is called [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jina"][FONT="]jina[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] (Conquerer or Victor). Jainism is the path to achieve this state. Jainism is often referred to as Jain [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma"][FONT="]Dharma[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] or Shraman Dharma or the religion of Nirgantha by ancient texts.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jainism was revived by a lineage of 24 enlightened ascetics called [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirthankaras"][FONT="]tirthankaras[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] culminating with [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsva"][FONT="]Parsva[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] (9th century BCE) and [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira"][FONT="]Mahavira[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] (6th century BCE). In the modern world, it is a small but influential religious minority with as many as 10 million followers in [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India"][FONT="]India[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], and successful growing immigrant communities in the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States"][FONT="]United States[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe"][FONT="]Western Europe[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_East"][FONT="]Far East[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia"][FONT="]Australia[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] and elsewhere. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Jains have sustained the ancient [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shraman"][FONT="]Shraman[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] ([/FONT]श्रमण[FONT="]) or [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascetic"][FONT="]ascetic[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] religion and have significantly influenced other religious, [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical"][FONT="]ethical[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political"][FONT="]political[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] and economic spheres in India.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jains have an ancient tradition of scholarship and have the highest degree of literacy in India. Jain libraries are India's oldest.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Buddhism[/FONT][FONT="] is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religion. Buddhism is based on the teachings attributed to [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhartha_Gautama"][FONT="]Siddhartha Gautama[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], commonly known as "The Buddha" (the Awakened One), who lived in the northeastern region of the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent"][FONT="]Indian subcontinent[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] and likely died around 400 BCE. Buddhists recognize him as an awakened teacher who shared his insights to help [/FONT][FONT="]sentient beings[/FONT][FONT="] end their [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukkha"][FONT="]suffering[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] by understanding the true nature of phenomena, thereby escaping the cycle of suffering and rebirth (sa[FONT="]ṃ[/FONT]sāra). Among the methods various schools of Buddhism apply towards this goal are: ethical conduct and altruistic behavior, devotional practices, ceremonies and the invocation of [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisatva"][FONT="]bodhisatvas[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] that help them achieve [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana"][FONT="]Nirvana[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nekkhamma"][FONT="]renunciation of worldly matters[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation"][FONT="]meditation[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trul_khor"][FONT="]physical exercises[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], study, and the cultivation of wisdom.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Buddhism is broadly recognized as being composed of two major branches:[/FONT]
[FONT="]Buddhist schools disagree on what the historical teachings of Gautama Buddha were, so much so that some scholars claim Buddhism does not have a clearly definable common core. Significant disagreement also exists over the importance and canonicity of various scriptures.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Various sources put the number of Buddhists in the world between 230 million and 500 million. While formal conversion or membership varies between communities, basic lay adherence is often defined in terms of a traditional formula in which the practitioner "takes refuge" in The [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Jewels"][FONT="]Three Jewels[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha"][FONT="]Buddha[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], the [/FONT][FONT="]Dharma[/FONT][FONT="] (the Teaching of the Buddha), and the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangha"][FONT="]Sangha[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] (the Community of Buddhists). Most Buddhists live in [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia"][FONT="]Asia[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], but adherents are found worldwide.[/FONT]
The Vedas are among the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_literature"]oldest sacred texts[/ame] in the world dating from c. 1500-500BCE. Most [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indologist"]Indologists[/ame] agree that an [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_tradition"]oral tradition[/ame] existed long before a literary tradition tentatively may have been set in (in one shakha, Kanva) from about the 1st century BCE; however it was again superseded by oral tradition until c. 1000 CE. Due to the ephemeral nature of the manuscript material (birch bark or palm leaves), surviving manuscripts rarely surpass an age of a few hundred years. The Benares Sanskrit University has a Rigveda manuscript of the mid-14th century, however, there are a number of older Veda manuscripts in Nepal belonging to the Vajasaneyi tradition that are dated from the 11th century onwards.
The Vedic period lasts for about a millennium, spanning the Late Bronze Age and the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age_India"]Iron Age[/ame]. Gavin Flood sums up mainstream estimates, according to which the Rigveda was compiled from as early as 1500 BCE over a period of several centuries. The Vedic period reaches its peak only after the composition of the mantra texts, with the establishment of the various [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakha"]shakhas[/ame] all over Northern India which annotated the mantra [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhitas"]samhitas[/ame] with [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmana"]Brahmana[/ame] discussions of their meaning, and reaches its end in the age of [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha"]Buddha[/ame] and Panini and the rise of the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahajanapadas"]Mahajanapadas[/ame] (archaeologically, [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Black_Polished_Ware"]Northern Black Polished Ware[/ame]). Michael Witzel gives a time span of c. 1500 BCE to c. 500-400 BCE. Witzel makes special reference to the Mitanni material of ca. 1400 BCE as the only epigraphic record of Indo-Aryan that may date to the Rigvedic period. However Mitanni Indo-Aryan is linguistically slightly older than the language of the Rigveda, and the comparison thus still does not allow for an absolute dating of any Vedic text. He gives 150 BCE ([ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali"]Patanjali[/ame]) as a terminus ante quem for all Vedic Sanskrit literature, and 1200 BCE (the early [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age_India"]Iron Age[/ame]) as terminus post quem for the Atharvaveda
Whether or not it was an influence of Jain culture and philosophy in ancient [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihar"]Bihar[/ame] that gave rise to [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism"]Buddhism[/ame] is unclear, but there are some striking similarities between the two traditions, and Buddhism may have adopted many of its ideas and traditions from pre-existing ones held by the Jains. The Buddha Nirvana calendar (with a zero point in 544 BCE) may actually be significantly older than the Kaliyuga calendar. And so, quite possibly, is the Mahavira Nirvana calendar of the Jains (with a zero point in 527 BCE).
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira"]Mahāvīra[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha"]Buddha[/ame] were contemporaries. The Pali Canon does not record that the two teachers ever met, though instances of Mahavira's disciples questioning Gautama Buddha are to be found in various suttas. The Buddhists have always maintained that by the time [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha"]Buddha[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira"]Mahavira[/ame] were alive, [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism"]Jainism[/ame] was already an entrenched faith and culture in the region. Buddhist scriptures record philosophical dialogues between the wandering seeker Siddartha Gautama (who was to become the Buddha) and Udaka Ramaputta, and the first of several teachers that young Siddartha Gautama studied with before his enlightenment. Buddhist scriptures attest that some of the first Buddhists were in fact Jains ([ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirgrantha"]Nirgranthas[/ame] as they were then called, meaning "the unbonded ones") who "converted", but were encouraged by Buddha to maintain their Jain identity and practises such as giving alms to Jain monks and nuns.
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]"Jain" and "Jaina" redirect here. For other uses, see [/FONT][FONT="]Jain (disambiguation)[/FONT][FONT="] and [/FONT][FONT="]Jaina (disambiguation)[/FONT][FONT="].[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jainism[/FONT][FONT="] is one of the oldest [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_religions"][FONT="]religions[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] that originated in the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent"][FONT="]Indian subcontinent[/FONT][/ame][FONT="]. It is generally accepted that Jainism started spreading in south India from the third B.C.E. i.e. since the time when Bradrabahu, a preacher of this religion and the head of the monks' community, came to Karnatak from Bihir. Jains believe that every soul is divine and has the potential to achieve God-consciousness. Any soul which has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state of supreme being is called [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jina"][FONT="]jina[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] (Conquerer or Victor). Jainism is the path to achieve this state. Jainism is often referred to as Jain [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma"][FONT="]Dharma[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] or Shraman Dharma or the religion of Nirgantha by ancient texts.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jainism was revived by a lineage of 24 enlightened ascetics called [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirthankaras"][FONT="]tirthankaras[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] culminating with [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsva"][FONT="]Parsva[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] (9th century BCE) and [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira"][FONT="]Mahavira[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] (6th century BCE). In the modern world, it is a small but influential religious minority with as many as 10 million followers in [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India"][FONT="]India[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], and successful growing immigrant communities in the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States"][FONT="]United States[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe"][FONT="]Western Europe[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_East"][FONT="]Far East[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia"][FONT="]Australia[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] and elsewhere. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Jains have sustained the ancient [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shraman"][FONT="]Shraman[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] ([/FONT]श्रमण[FONT="]) or [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascetic"][FONT="]ascetic[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] religion and have significantly influenced other religious, [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical"][FONT="]ethical[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political"][FONT="]political[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] and economic spheres in India.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jains have an ancient tradition of scholarship and have the highest degree of literacy in India. Jain libraries are India's oldest.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Buddhism[/FONT][FONT="] is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religion. Buddhism is based on the teachings attributed to [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhartha_Gautama"][FONT="]Siddhartha Gautama[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], commonly known as "The Buddha" (the Awakened One), who lived in the northeastern region of the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent"][FONT="]Indian subcontinent[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] and likely died around 400 BCE. Buddhists recognize him as an awakened teacher who shared his insights to help [/FONT][FONT="]sentient beings[/FONT][FONT="] end their [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukkha"][FONT="]suffering[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] by understanding the true nature of phenomena, thereby escaping the cycle of suffering and rebirth (sa[FONT="]ṃ[/FONT]sāra). Among the methods various schools of Buddhism apply towards this goal are: ethical conduct and altruistic behavior, devotional practices, ceremonies and the invocation of [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisatva"][FONT="]bodhisatvas[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] that help them achieve [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana"][FONT="]Nirvana[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nekkhamma"][FONT="]renunciation of worldly matters[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation"][FONT="]meditation[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trul_khor"][FONT="]physical exercises[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], study, and the cultivation of wisdom.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Buddhism is broadly recognized as being composed of two major branches:[/FONT]
- [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada"][FONT="]Theravada[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], which has a widespread following in [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia"][FONT="]Southeast Asia[/FONT][/ame][FONT="].[/FONT]
- [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana"][FONT="]Mahayana[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] (including Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren and [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajrayana"][FONT="]Vajrayana[/FONT][/ame][FONT="]), found throughout [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asia"][FONT="]East Asia[/FONT][/ame][FONT="].[/FONT]
[FONT="]Buddhist schools disagree on what the historical teachings of Gautama Buddha were, so much so that some scholars claim Buddhism does not have a clearly definable common core. Significant disagreement also exists over the importance and canonicity of various scriptures.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Various sources put the number of Buddhists in the world between 230 million and 500 million. While formal conversion or membership varies between communities, basic lay adherence is often defined in terms of a traditional formula in which the practitioner "takes refuge" in The [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Jewels"][FONT="]Three Jewels[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha"][FONT="]Buddha[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], the [/FONT][FONT="]Dharma[/FONT][FONT="] (the Teaching of the Buddha), and the [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangha"][FONT="]Sangha[/FONT][/ame][FONT="] (the Community of Buddhists). Most Buddhists live in [/FONT][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia"][FONT="]Asia[/FONT][/ame][FONT="], but adherents are found worldwide.[/FONT]
The Vedas are among the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_literature"]oldest sacred texts[/ame] in the world dating from c. 1500-500BCE. Most [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indologist"]Indologists[/ame] agree that an [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_tradition"]oral tradition[/ame] existed long before a literary tradition tentatively may have been set in (in one shakha, Kanva) from about the 1st century BCE; however it was again superseded by oral tradition until c. 1000 CE. Due to the ephemeral nature of the manuscript material (birch bark or palm leaves), surviving manuscripts rarely surpass an age of a few hundred years. The Benares Sanskrit University has a Rigveda manuscript of the mid-14th century, however, there are a number of older Veda manuscripts in Nepal belonging to the Vajasaneyi tradition that are dated from the 11th century onwards.
The Vedic period lasts for about a millennium, spanning the Late Bronze Age and the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age_India"]Iron Age[/ame]. Gavin Flood sums up mainstream estimates, according to which the Rigveda was compiled from as early as 1500 BCE over a period of several centuries. The Vedic period reaches its peak only after the composition of the mantra texts, with the establishment of the various [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakha"]shakhas[/ame] all over Northern India which annotated the mantra [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhitas"]samhitas[/ame] with [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmana"]Brahmana[/ame] discussions of their meaning, and reaches its end in the age of [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha"]Buddha[/ame] and Panini and the rise of the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahajanapadas"]Mahajanapadas[/ame] (archaeologically, [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Black_Polished_Ware"]Northern Black Polished Ware[/ame]). Michael Witzel gives a time span of c. 1500 BCE to c. 500-400 BCE. Witzel makes special reference to the Mitanni material of ca. 1400 BCE as the only epigraphic record of Indo-Aryan that may date to the Rigvedic period. However Mitanni Indo-Aryan is linguistically slightly older than the language of the Rigveda, and the comparison thus still does not allow for an absolute dating of any Vedic text. He gives 150 BCE ([ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali"]Patanjali[/ame]) as a terminus ante quem for all Vedic Sanskrit literature, and 1200 BCE (the early [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age_India"]Iron Age[/ame]) as terminus post quem for the Atharvaveda
