Development of New Religious Chapter Notes | History Class 6 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

The Upanishads

• Upanishads are Hindu religious texts, categorized as shrutis, believed to be God's words.
• The term "Upanishad" means "to sit near the teacher" (Upa = near, ni = down, shad = sit).
• Written in Sanskrit, they are dialogues between teachers and students.
• There are 108 Upanishads, with 11 considered most important: Aitareya, Chandogya, Katha, Isa, Kena, Svetasvatara, Mandukya, Brihadaranyaka, Taittiriya, Prasna, and Mundaka.
• More spiritual and philosophical than the Vedas, focusing on labor, generosity, compassion, and bravery.
• Teach that the soul (atman) is reborn but can achieve moksha (freedom from rebirth) by uniting with brahman (universal soul) through right conduct, knowledge, and belief.
• Thinkers were mostly Brahmin men and kings, but women like Gargi and low-caste individuals like Satyakama Jabala also participated.
• Satyakama Jabala, son of a low-caste woman named Jabala, was a learned thinker accepted by sage Gautama.

Buddhism

Life of Gautama Buddha

• Founded by Siddhartha, later known as Gautama Buddha, born around 563 BCE in Lumbini, near Kapilavastu (present-day Nepal).
• A Kshatriya from the Sakya clan, son of Suddhodana (chief of Sakya gana-sangha) and Queen Maya.
• Married Princess Yashodhara and had a son named Rahul.
• Despite a luxurious life, he was dissatisfied and sought deeper meaning.

Early Life

• Siddhartha got married at a young age to Princess Yashodhara and had a son named Rahul.
• Even though he lived a happy and rich life, he felt unfulfilled and wanted more meaning in life.
• These experiences led him to seek a state beyond birth and death.

Enlightenment

• At 29, left his palace to search for true knowledge.
• Wandered for six years, met sages, and learned meditation.
• Attained enlightenment under a peepal tree (Bodhi tree) in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, becoming "the Buddha" (Enlightened One).
• Delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, near Varanasi, and preached in Pali (a form of Prakrit).
• Passed away at 80 in Kushinagar, eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Teachings of Buddhism

• Buddhism is the religion founded by Buddha; followers are called Buddhists.
• Main teachings are the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

The Four Noble Truths:

• The world is full of suffering.
• Suffering is caused by desires.
• End suffering by overcoming desires.
• Follow the Eightfold Path to end suffering.
• Eightfold Path includes right action, meditation, livelihood, mindfulness, speech, intention, view, and effort.
• Buddha taught that unfulfilled desires (tanha) cause suffering; the Eightfold Path or Middle Path (moderation) removes it.
• Promoted ahimsa (non-violence), respect for all beings, and equality; rejected animal sacrifices and caste system.
• Believed karma affects current and next lives.
• After Buddha’s death, Buddhism split into Hinayana (worship through symbols) and Mahayana (worship through idols).

Buddhist Literature

• Teachings compiled in the Tripitakas (Three Baskets): Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka, written in Pali.
• Jataka Tales describe Buddha’s life and previous births.

Spread of Buddhism

• Promoted by monks after Buddha’s death, spread across India and to Sri Lanka, Japan, China, Myanmar, Tibet, Thailand, and Indonesia.
• Received patronage from rulers like Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty.
• Buddhist monuments include stupas (domes with sacred remains) at Sanchi, Bharhut, and Amravati.
• Early Buddhist art used symbols like the Bodhi tree; later, human forms were depicted, as at Amravati.

Jainism

Life of Mahavira

• Founded by Vardhamana Mahavira, born around 599 BCE in Kundagrama, near Vaishali, Bihar.
• A Kshatriya from the Jnatrika clan, son of Siddhartha and Trishala (a Lichchhavi princess).
• Married Yashoda and had a daughter.
• At 30, became an ascetic, wandered for 12 years, and attained enlightenment at 42, becoming Jina (conqueror) or Mahavira (great hero).
• Spread Jainism, passed away at 72 in Pavapuri, near Rajagriha, Bihar.
• Jains believe in 24 tirthankaras (enlightened teachers); Rishabadeva was the first, Mahavira the last.

Teachings of Jainism

• Mahavira spread teachings in the common people’s language, focusing on triratnas: Right belief, right knowledge, right action.
• Advocated simple living and strict ahimsa (non-violence), prohibiting harm to any living being.
• Rejected rituals, sacrifices, and the caste system; promoted equality.
• Believed karma determines future births: A disciplined life leads to freedom from rebirth.
• Followers gave up possessions; male Digambars wore no clothes, while Svetambars wore white clothes.
• After Mahavira’s death, Jainism split into Digambars (sky-clad, strict) and Svetambars (white-clad, less strict).

Jain Literature

• Jain texts, initially oral, were compiled at Vallabhi, Gujarat, in Prakrit to reach the masses.
• Original teachings (purvas) in 14 texts are lost.
• Includes epics, novels, and dramas like Thirukkural (by Thiruvalluvar) and Silappadikaram (by Ilango Adigal, a Jain monk).

Spread of Jainism

• Spread to Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Nepal.
• Received patronage from rulers like Bimbisara and Chandragupta Maurya.
• Jain art includes Dilwara Temple (Mount Abu, Rajasthan), Adinath Temple (Ranakpur, Rajasthan), and Gomateshwara statue (Shravanabelagola, Karnataka).

Sanghas and Monasteries

• Buddhism and Jainism attracted followers who joined sanghas (monastic orders) to gain knowledge.
• Sanghas, established by Buddha and Mahavira, were for those who renounced worldly lives.
• Open to all, regardless of caste or gender; women needed husbands’ permission, children needed parents’, and slaves needed masters’.
• Monks (bhikshus) and nuns (bhikshunis) followed rules, meditated, and begged for food.
• Initially, monks traveled, staying in temporary shelters or caves during the rainy season.
• Permanent viharas (monasteries) were built, first of wood, then brick, with separate quarters for men and women.
• Chaityas (prayer halls) were large rectangular halls with columns.
• Viharas in western India, like Ajanta, Karle, Bhaja, and Bedsa, were carved into hills.
• Wealthy traders, kings, and landowners donated land and funds for viharas.
• Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra), a UNESCO site, has 30 caves (five chaityas, rest viharas) with paintings of Buddha and Jataka Tales.

Meanwhile

• During the rise of Buddhism and Jainism, Confucianism and Zoroastrianism emerged elsewhere.
• Zoroastrianism, founded by Zoroaster in Iran (6th century BCE), worships Ahura Mazda, with fire as a symbol.
• Its sacred book, Zend Avesta, is similar to the Vedas; Parsis, Zoroastrian migrants, settled in Gujarat and Maharashtra in the 8th century CE.
• Confucianism, founded by Confucius (6th–5th century BCE), is a way of life in China, influencing Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.