Jainism and Buddhism

• The sixth century BC saw the rise of Buddhism, Jainism, and other religious sects, which was destined to bring to an end the unquestioned supremacy of Vedic Culture. They mainly originated in the middle Gangetic plains

Emergence of Heterodox Religious Sects

• The sixth century BC marked a significant period in Indian history concerning the development of alternative belief systems. 
• During this time, there was a noticeable opposition to the ritualistic and orthodox ideas propagated by the Brahmanas.
• This resistance paved the way for the emergence of various non-conformist religious movements, such as Jainism and Buddhism, which found patronage from different rulers.

Reasons Behind the Emergence of New Religions

Several factors contributed to the rise of these new non-conformist religions:

• Expensive Rituals: The Vedic religious practices had become intricate and burdensome, filled with numerous meaningless ceremonies, prompting a need for simpler alternatives.
• Discriminatory Systems: The later Vedic culture was characterized by a rigid caste system, leading to a hierarchical structure with the proliferation of castes and sub-castes. This discriminatory system became a driving force for the quest for alternative religious paths.
• Social Transformations in the Sixth Century BC
• The prevalent social conditions during the sixth century BC were marked by the subjugation of women and Shudras, leading to widespread distress among ordinary people. Notably, the growing influence of Brahmanas further exacerbated these inequalities.
• Dominance of Brahmanas: During this period, the significance of sacrifices and Yajnas solidified the dominance of Brahmanas in society. Acting as both priests and authoritative figures, they held a monopoly on performing sacred religious rites.
• Emergence of New Social Groups: The expansion of cultivated land gave rise to new states and social groups, gaining substantial economic power. The merchant class and affluent agricultural householders opposed the social positions imposed by Brahmanas based on heredity.
• Supremacy of Scriptures: Vedic literature, diverse and specialized in various aspects, was written in Sanskrit, a language accessible only to Brahmanas. This linguistic barrier prompted a yearning among the common people for a new, comprehensible language to understand their religion and literature.
• Rise of Non-Vedic Sects: In response to these social and linguistic challenges, various non-Vedic sects or religions emerged in the sixth century BC. These movements catered to the aspirations of Vaishya and non-Brahmanical powerful individuals and groups.

Jainism:

• Jain tradition claims antiquity predates Aryan Brahmanism. The succession of teachers, known as Tirthankaras, played a crucial role in Jainism.
•  The 24 Tirthankaras include Rishabhanath, Ajinatha, and Aristanemi, with Rishabhanath considered the first and Vardhamana Mahavira the last.
• Teachings of ParshvanathaThe 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha, emphasized four principles: Satya, Ahimsa, Asteya, and Aparigraha.
•  Renouncing his throne at 30, he attained enlightenment after 84 days of penance, living to 100 years.

Vardhamana Mahavira

• Vardhamana Mahavirahe 24th Tirthankara, Vardhamana Mahavira, introduced celibacy (Brahmacharya) to his teachings.
•  After 13 years of penance, he achieved Kevala Jnana, the highest spiritual knowledge, at Jimbhikagrama village. 
• Known as Mahavira, he preached for 30 years, passing away at Pava at the age of 72.

Philosophy of Jainism

• Jainism believed in the theory of Syadvada (Theory of Conditional), i.e., the Theory of Relativity of Knowledge. It is believed that there is no absolute answer to a question. Every object exists in relation to other objects. In one way, it is only an extension of Anekanta ontology but a separate system of logic.
• The main features of Jaina philosophy remain in its dualistic metaphysics, which states that there are two categories of living:
  • Conscious being (Jiva)
  • Non-living beings (Ajiva

Other important aspects of the philosophy of jainism

List of 24 Tirthankaras