✦ Ancient India · Religion & Invasions ✦
Ancient India · Religion & Foreign Invasions
Concise bullet-point revision notes covering Foreign Invasions (Iranian & Alexander), Jainism, Buddhism, Buddhist & Jain Councils, Four Noble Truths, Eight-Fold Path, Buddhist Architecture & Universities. Ideal for UPSC, SSC CGL, Railways & all state competitive exams.
⚔️ Foreign Invasions
Before we dive into Jainism and Buddhism, it is important to understand the geo-political backdrop of 6th–3rd century BC India. Iran and Greece both invaded the North-West, leaving lasting impacts on Indian coinage, art, trade routes and cultural exchange. These invasions also helped open India to the wider ancient world.
🇮🇷 Iranian Invasion
- Cyrus of Persia — first foreign conqueror; destroyed city of Capisa
- Successors Darius I and Xeres invaded North-West India
- Cultural exchange: Kharoshti script from Iran; bell-shaped capitals in sculpture
🏹 Alexander's Invasion
- Alexander — conquered Kabul in 328 BC; entered India via unguarded Khyber Pass
- Ambhi (Taxila) submitted; first strong resistance from Porus
- Battle of Hydaspes — on bank of Vitasta (Jhelum); Alexander defeated Porus but restored his kingdom
- Army refused to cross Beas → forced to retreat; placed NW India under Selucus Nikator
- Remained in India 19 months (326–325 BC); died in Babylon 323 BC at age 33
- Indians learnt from Greeks: coinage, astronomy, Gandhara School of sculpture
🪷 Jainism
Jainism is one of India's oldest religions, predating Buddhism. It was founded to protest the excessive ritualism and caste hierarchy of Brahmanical religion. Its 24 Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers) form a lineage of enlightened beings, with Vardhaman Mahavira being the most historically significant as the reformer who gave Jainism its final shape.
- Founded by Rishabhnath — 1st Tirthankara (emblem: bull)
- 23rd Tirthankara: Parsavanath (symbol: serpent); died at Sammet Sikhar, Hazaribagh
- 24th Tirthankara: Vardhaman Mahavira (emblem: lion)
👑 Life of Mahavira
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth | 540 BC, Kundagram near Vaishali; father Siddhartha, mother Trishla |
| Wife / Daughter | Yashoda / Priyadarsena; son-in-law Jamali |
| Renunciation | Age 30 |
| Kaivalya | Age 42, under sal tree at Jimbhikgrama |
| First Sermon | At Pava, to 11 disciples (Gandgharas) |
| Death | Age 72, 468 BC, Pavapuri near Rajagriha |
📖 Teachings of Mahavira
- Rejected authority of Vedas; did not believe in God
- Strict non-violence
- Salvation through penance & dying of starvation
- Universal brotherhood; non-belief in caste
- Believed in karma & transmigration of soul
⚖️ Jaina Philosophy
- Syadavada — theory of "may be"; 7 modes of prediction
- Anekantavada — doctrine of mayness of reality
- Three Ratnas: Right Faith (Samyak Vishwas), Right Knowledge (Samyak Gyan), Right Conduct (Samyak Acharan)
🌿 Five Cardinal Principles
- Ahimsa (Non-injury)
- Satya (Non-lying)
- Asteya (Non-stealing)
- Aparigraha (Non-possession)
- Brahmacharya — added by Mahavira; first four by Parsvanath
🧠 Five Instruments of Knowledge
- Mati Jnana — perception through sense organs
- Avadhi Jnana — clairvoyant perception
- Shruta Jnana — knowledge from scriptures
- Manparyay Jnana — telepathic knowledge
- Keval Jnana — omniscience / temporal knowledge
🏛️ Jain Councils
| Council | Year | Venue | Chairman | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 300 BC | Pataliputra | Sthulabhadra | Compiled 12 Angas to replace 14 Purvas; patron: Chandragupta Maurya |
| 2nd | AD 512 | Vallabhi | Devridhigani Kshmasramana | Final compilation of 12 Angas & 12 Upangas |
- Sects: Digambaras (nudity, led by Bhadrabahu) vs Svetambaras (white garments, led by Sthulabhadra) — split after Mahavira's death during famine in Chandragupta Maurya's reign
- Jaina Literature: Kalpasutra (by Bhadrabahu), Parishishta Parvan (by Hemchandra), Bhadrabahu Charita
- Decline: Extreme ahimsa & austerity; no royal patronage; no missionary efforts
☸️ Buddhism
Buddhism emerged in the 6th century BC as a revolutionary response to the suffering and inequality of the time. Founded by Siddhartha Gautama — a prince who renounced his wealth in search of truth — it offered a practical path to liberation that rejected caste, complex rituals and the authority of the Vedas. It eventually spread across all of Asia.
- Founded by Gautama Buddha (Sakyamuni/Tathagat); originally known as Siddhartha
🌟 Life of Buddha
| Event | Detail | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 563 BC, Lumbini; father Suddhodhana, mother Mahamaya; raised by aunt Gautami | Lotus & Bull |
| Marriage | At 16 to Yashodhara; son Rahul | Horse |
| Enlightenment | Age 35 at Uruvella (Bodh Gaya) under pipal tree; 49th day | Bodhi tree |
| First Sermon | At Sarnath; to five disciples | Wheel |
| Death | Age 80, 483 BC, Kusinagara (Malla republic) | Stupa |
📜 Four Noble Truths (Arya-Satyas)
- Dukkha — world is full of sorrow
- Dukkha Samuddaya — there are causes of sorrow
- Dukkha Nirodha — sorrow can be stopped
- Dukkha Nirodha Gamini Pratipada — path to cessation; root cause = desire; salvation = Nirvana via Eight-Fold Path
🛤️ Eight-Fold Path (Ashtangika Marga)
- Right understanding
- Right thought
- Right speech
- Right action
- Right livelihood
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness
- Right concentration
💎 Three Jewels & Types
- Buddha (the enlightened)
- Dhamma (doctrine)
- Sangha (order)
Types of Buddhism
- Vajrayana — salvation by magical power (vajra)
- Hinayana — the lesser vehicle
- Mahayana — the greater vehicle
🏛️ Buddhist Councils
| Council | Year | Venue | Chairman | Patron | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 483 BC | Saptaparni Cave, Rajgriha | Mahakassaapa | Ajatshatru (Haryanaka) | Compiled Sutta & Vinaya Pitaka |
| 2nd | 383 BC | Vaishali | Sabakami | Kalasoka (Shishunaga) | Split into Sthavirmadins & Maha Sanghikas |
| 3rd | 250 BC | Pataliputra | Moggaliputta Tissa | Ashoka (Maurya) | Compiled Abhidnamma Pitaka |
| 4th | AD 72 | Kundalvan, Kashmir | Vasumitra & Ashvaghosha | Kanishka (Kushan) | Division into Hinayana & Mahayana |
- Tripitakas: Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules), Sutta Pitaka (sermons), Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophies)
- Architecture: Stupa (relics), Chaitya (prayer hall), Vihara (residence); Gandhara art; stone-pillars at Gaya, Sanchi, Bharhut
- Buddhist Universities: Nalanda (Bodagaon, Bihar), Vikramshila (Bhagalpur), Somapuri (N. Bengal), Vallabhi (Gujarat)
- Decline: Incorporation of rituals; rise of Bhagavatism; Buddhists took up Sanskrit, idol worship, huge donations
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