GK SERIES FOR SSC,IAS,PCS,HAS,HCS AND OTHER COMPETITIVE EXAMS (HISTORY-11)

GK SERIES FOR SSC,IAS,PCS,HAS,HCS

AND OTHER COMPETITIVE EXAMS

(HISTORY-11)

BUDDHISM

Founder- Gautam Buddha

·         He was born in 563 BC at Kapilvastu in Lumbini.

·         Father - ’Sudhodhana’; Mother - ‘Mahamaya’; Maternal Aunt - 'Gautami'; Wife - 'Yashodhara' (who is also known as Bimba and Gopa); Son - 'Rahul'.

·         Buddha left his place at the age of 29 and became a monk on the banks of river ‘Anoma’.

·         His two teachers were 'Alaraklama' and 'Sudrakaramputra'.

·         Buddha achieved salvation at the age of 35 at a place called Bodh Gaya under a Peepal tree on the banks of river ‘Niranjana’. After this incident, he became famous as Tathagat or Buddha.

·         He delivered his first sermon at Sarnath.

·         His main followers were Bimbisara, Prasenjit, Ajatasatru and Udayin. These were rulers. Besides them, other important were Upali and Ananda.

·         Buddha made two shudra disciples - Tapsus and Kallika.

·         Buddha died in 483 BC at Kushinagar on banks of river Hiranyawati.

Incidents related to his life:

·         ‘Mahabhinishkarmana’ -  when he left his home in search of truth.

·         'Nirvana' - when he achieved salvation.

·         ‘Dharamchakraparivartin’ - when he delivered his first sermon.

·          ‘Mahaparinirvana’ - when he died in 483 BC.

The Tri-Ratnas of Buddhism were:

1)     Buddha

2)     Dhamma

3)     Sangha

·         Buddha propounded the theory of eight fold path for achievement of Nirvana .It included:

1.     Right Vision.

2.     Right Aim

3.     Right Speech

4.     Right Action

5.     Right Faith

6.     Right Exercise

7.     Right Concentration/Memory

8.     Right Knowledge.

This path has been defined by Buddha as ‘Middle path’.

·         Buddha was fed his last meal by ‘Kanda’.

·         A cow named as ‘Sujata’ used to serve Buddha.

·         ‘Kanthak’ was the name of horse of Buddha.

·         ‘Angulimaal’ was a famous dacoit who embraced Buddhism.

·         ‘Amarpali’ was a famous dancer who embraced Buddhism.

·         The ‘Ashtmahasthana’ which includes Lumbini, Gaya, Sarnath, Sravasti, Vaishali, Rajgir, Sankasya, Kushinagar are eight important places associated to Buddhism.

·         BuddhPurnima is important because same day, Buddha was born, gained salvation and died.

·         There are different symbols for different incidents of Buddha’s life:

            1. Bull and lotus for Birth.

            2. Horse for Mahabhanishkarmana.

            3. ‘Peeple’ represents Knowledge.

            4. Footprint represents Nirvana.

            5. ‘Stupa’ represents Mahaparinirvana.

·         Three important buildings of Buddhism are:

Chaityas were the places of worship of the Buddhist monks.

Viharas were the monasteries where monks stayed.

Stupas were meant for keeping relics of Buddhist monks.

·         Tripitakas are the religious texts of Budhism.

·         Wheel is the religious symbol of Budhism.

·         Abstinance from harming living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication are the five truths of Budhism.

BUDDHIST COUNCILS:

S.NO	PLACE	PATRONIZATION	PRESIDED BY	ACHIEVEMENT
1.	Rajgir (483 BC)	Ajatashatru	Mahakshapa	Compilation of sermons of Buddha inti Suttapitaka and Vinaypitaka.
2.	Vaishali (383 BC)	Kalasoka	Sabakami	Buddhism divided into Sthavirvardins &Mahasangikas.
3.	Pataliputra (251 BC)	Ashoka	Mogaliputra Tissa	Compilation of Abidhampitaka.
4.	Kundalvan (72 AD) Jalandhar (as per Ceylonese chronicles)	Kanishka	Ashvagosha	Division of Buddhism into Hinayana & Mahayana.