Buddhism

Background

First institutionalised religion of India is Buddhism and it is Established by Gautham Buddha
Gautam Buddha is born as Siddarth in 563 bc in Lumbini
his father name was Suddodhana who belong to shakya clan of kshatriya => hence Buddha is aka. Shakya Muni (there is also a version that buddha belonged to bhramin clan)
his mother name was MAHAMAYADEVI who belong to KOSALA dynasti.
he was married to YASHODARA. His son's name was RAHULA.
at the age of 29 when buddha saw an old man, A DEAD BODY, A SICK MAN he became restless. this lead to buddha following SHRAMANA Tradition and he became PRAVRAJAK => this is ka. RENUNCIATION or MAHAVINISHKRAM.
after wandering for 5 years at the age of 35, buddha attained NIRVANA under a Peepal tree(Ficus) near the banks of River NIRANJANA (modern day Phalgu river)
then he went to SARNATH and preached his first seremon. => this whole event is known as DHARMACHAKRAPARIVARTHAN or TURNING THE WHEEL OF RELIGION

Sermon content of Buddha

Samyak Drishti : Right view: the perception of reality as it is and not merrily as it appears to be
Samyak Samkalp: Right intention :it is focus desire on achieving Liberation
Samyak Vacha: Right speech: Speeking Sweetly in a truthful or honest manner.
Samyak Kammanta: Right Action: Acting in a way that does not causes harm to others
Samyak Ajeevan: Right Livelihood: that does not harm to others
Samyak Vyayam: Right Effort: Training Mind and body for improving the self
Samyak Smrithi: right concentration: Awareness about one self.
Samyak Samadhi: Right Mindfulness: following the right path of meditation and concentration leading ultimately to NIRVANA

After preaching for many year Buddha attained MAHAPARINIRVANA in 483 BC at Kushinagar.

Buddhist Councils

1st Buddhist Council @ 483 BC

after the death of Gautham buddha his followers convened 1st Buddhist council @ Rajgir, which was presided by Buddhist Scholar Mahakashyap and patronised by contemporary king Ajatasatru.
In this council 2 books were compiled

2nd Buddhist Council @ 383 BC

it was held at Vaishali, and it was presided by buddhist scholar Sabakami and it was patronised by Contemporary king Kalaashok.
in this assembly there was an informal division among the followers in to 2 sects( note: difference b/w sect and cult; sect => vaishnavism, shaivism + Strict rules ; cult => personic/group followers like dera such sauda...etc + Easy norms)

3rd Buddhist Council @ 250 BC

it was convened in Pataliputra; it was presided by Mogaliputta Tissa, and patronised by Ashoka
in this council a new text was compiled ka. ABHIDHAMMAPITAK which is philosophical interpretation of the teachings of buddha.
the proceedings of this assembly also lead to spread of buddism outside India.
he send his own son and daughter MAHENDRA & SANKAMITRA to Srilanka and other Easten nations to spread buddhism
he also send missionaries to Greek and Arabia along with Central Asia. => that's why inscription of Ashoka also found in ARAMIC & GREEK script.
note: the original bodhi tree is there in ANURADHAPURAM in sri lanka, from where seedlings was brought back in bodhgaya (As Shashank Gaur, ruler of Bangal, destroyed bodhi tree; the tree which planted by missionaries in srilanka was taken from buddha tree)

Note: Chandra Gupta Mourya was Jain; his son Bindusara followed Ajeevika Sect. Hence Ashoka initially followed Ajeevika Religion before getting converted in to buddhism. => thus 3 religion for 3 rulers;

4th Buddist council @ 78 AD

in Kashmir; presided by Buddhist monk Vasugupth; patronised by KANISHKA.
the major event of this council was a formal split among the followers of buddism into 2 sects.

there are around 21 sects of buddism in world. out of which 3 are most important

Mahayana (Greater Vehicle)

Biggest sect of buddhism. they follow the idol worship of Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
according to mahayan teaching NIRVANA => Bliss and Rest.

one of the famous Bodhisattvas is Avolokiteshwara which means the "lord who looks with compassion".
note: Bhodisattvas are those people who didn't yet achieved Nirvana, but are helping others to achieve the same along with themselves. they are actually considered as previous births of Buddha.
Bhodisattvas are enlightened beings who postpone their own salvation to help all Sentient beings. According to mahayan teachings buddha was first born as a bodisatva and then after many life times progressed to the buddhahood.

Theravat (School of Elders)

they are orthodox followers of buddhism, and mainly they reside in Sri Lanka, and in India perticularly MH.

Vajrayan

this sect is known for Thantric practices which is the eg of Shamanism(note: IVC people used to distinguish b/w good and evil and called them Shaman.)
one of the vesion of Vajrayana ka. KALACHAKRA practiced in Tibet.

Note: Hinayana Buddism is already got extinct in the world.

P.R. Sayooj IAS