Buddhism, Jainism and the Mahajanapadas
Buddhism, Jainism and the Mahajanapadas
The sixth century BCE saw sixteen great states (mahajanapadas) and two new religions that rejected Vedic ritual: Buddhism and Jainism. NTPC asks their founders' lives, councils, texts and symbols, and the capitals of the mahajanapadas, especially Magadha.
1. Buddhism
| Item | Facts |
|---|---|
| Founder | Gautama Buddha (Siddhartha), born at Lumbini (Nepal), Shakya clan |
| Enlightenment | Bodh Gaya, under the peepal (Bodhi) tree |
| First sermon | Sarnath (Dharmachakra Pravartana) |
| Death (mahaparinirvana) | Kushinagar |
| Teachings | Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Middle Path |
| Texts | Tripitaka: Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma (in Pali) |
| Sects | Hinayana and Mahayana (split at the Fourth Council) |
| Council | Place | Patron | Presided by |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Rajagriha | Ajatashatru | Mahakashyapa |
| Second | Vaishali | Kalashoka | Sabakami |
| Third | Pataliputra | Ashoka | Moggaliputta Tissa |
| Fourth | Kashmir (Kundalvana) | Kanishka | Vasumitra |
2. Jainism
| Item | Facts |
|---|---|
| Tirthankaras | 24; first Rishabhadeva, 23rd Parshvanatha, 24th Mahavira |
| Mahavira | Born at Kundagrama near Vaishali; attained kaivalya; died at Pavapuri |
| Teachings | Triratna: right faith, right knowledge, right conduct; five vows including ahimsa |
| Sects | Digambara (sky-clad) and Shvetambara (white-clad) |
| Councils | First at Pataliputra; second at Vallabhi |
3. Mahajanapadas
| Mahajanapada | Capital |
|---|---|
| Magadha | Rajagriha, later Pataliputra |
| Kosala | Shravasti |
| Vatsa | Kaushambi |
| Avanti | Ujjain (north), Mahishmati (south) |
| Anga | Champa |
| Vajji | Vaishali |
| Gandhara | Taxila |
Magadha's rise: Bimbisara (Haryanka dynasty), Ajatashatru; later the Shishunagas and Nandas
4. Key Terms and Symbols
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sangha | The Buddhist order of monks and nuns |
| Dhamma | The Buddha's teaching |
| Nirvana | Freedom from the cycle of rebirth (Buddhism) |
| Kaivalya | Supreme knowledge attained by Mahavira (Jainism) |
| Stupa | Mound holding relics; Sanchi stupa built under Ashoka |
| Symbols of the Buddha's life | Lotus and bull (birth), horse (renunciation), Bodhi tree (enlightenment), wheel (first sermon), stupa (death) |
| Jain symbols | Bull for Rishabhadeva, snake for Parshvanatha, lion for Mahavira |
✗ Buddha gave his first sermon at Bodh Gaya | ✓ He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya; the first sermon was at Sarnath
✗ Mahavira founded Jainism as its first Tirthankara | ✓ Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara; Rishabhadeva was the first
हिंदी नोट: बुद्ध: जन्म लुंबिनी, ज्ञान बोधगया, प्रथम उपदेश सारनाथ, निर्वाण कुशीनगर। जैन धर्म के 24 तीर्थंकर; महावीर 24वें, ऋषभदेव पहले। मगध की राजधानी राजगृह, बाद में पाटलिपुत्र।
Exam Pointer: These patterns had no verified NTPC shift in our check and are tagged syllabus-based. They are among the most repeated ancient-history topics in railway exams.
Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic
Pattern 1: Places in the Buddha's life
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Where did Gautama Buddha deliver his first sermon?
At Sarnath, near Varanasi.
Answer: Sarnath
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Match the events with places: the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.
Birth at Lumbini, enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar.
Answer: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar
Pattern 2: Buddhist councils and texts
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Under which ruler was the Third Buddhist Council held?
Ashoka, at Pataliputra.
Answer: Ashoka
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Where was the Fourth Buddhist Council held, under whom, and what split happened there?
In Kashmir under Kanishka, presided over by Vasumitra; Buddhism split into Hinayana and Mahayana.
Answer: Kashmir, Kanishka; Hinayana and Mahayana
Pattern 3: Jainism
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Who was the 23rd Jain Tirthankara?
Parshvanatha.
Answer: Parshvanatha
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Where was Mahavira born and where did he die, and what are the three jewels (triratna) of Jainism?
Born at Kundagrama near Vaishali, died at Pavapuri. The triratna are right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.
Answer: Kundagrama, Pavapuri; right faith, knowledge and conduct
Pattern 4: Mahajanapadas and capitals
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. What was the capital of Kosala?
Shravasti.
Answer: Shravasti
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Which mahajanapada had Ujjain as its capital, and which dynasty did Bimbisara of Magadha belong to?
Avanti had its northern capital at Ujjain. Bimbisara belonged to the Haryanka dynasty.
Answer: Avanti; Haryanka
60-Second Revision
- Buddha: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar.
- Councils: Rajagriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra (Ashoka), Kashmir (Kanishka).
- Jainism: 24 Tirthankaras; Mahavira 24th; triratna.
- Kosala-Shravasti, Avanti-Ujjain, Magadha-Rajagriha then Pataliputra.