Buddhism and Jainism Notes for SSC Exams

Buddhism and Jainism started in the sixth century BCE as two new religious movements against the rituals and the sacrifices of the later Vedic age. They are among the most repeated topics of ancient history in SSC exams, and the questions ask about the life of Buddha and Mahavira, the councils, the sects and the teachings. These Buddhism and Jainism notes for SSC give everything in simple tables with a difference chart and practice questions.

Gautama Buddha: Life Facts

Teachings of Buddha

• Four Noble Truths: there is suffering; suffering has a cause (desire); suffering can end; there is a path to end suffering.
• Eightfold Path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
• He taught the Middle Path, which avoids both luxury and severe self-torture.
• The ultimate aim is Nirvana, freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
• The holy books are the Tripitakas (Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka), written in the Pali language.

Buddhist Councils

Buddhist Sects and Symbols

Mahavira and Jainism: Life Facts

Teachings of Jainism

• Five Mahavratas: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (no stealing), Aparigraha (no possessions) and Brahmacharya (chastity). Mahavira added the fifth, Brahmacharya, to the four vows of Parshvanatha.
• Three Jewels (Triratna): right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.
• Syadvada (Anekantavada): truth has many sides.
• Jainism does not accept the existence of God as the creator, and it gives great importance to non-violence.
• The Jain texts were written in Prakrit (Ardhamagadhi).

Jain Sects and Councils

Difference Between Buddhism and Jainism

Quick Tips

• Learn the life events of Buddha and Mahavira in two parallel tables.
• Remember the four councils with the place and the ruler.
• Remember the five vows of Jainism, because Brahmacharya was added by Mahavira.
• Do not mix Hinayana (original teachings) and Mahayana (idol worship).

Quick Revision Points

• Buddha was born at Lumbini and got enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
• The first sermon was at Sarnath and death at Kushinagar.
• Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara.
• Jainism has five Mahavratas and Three Jewels.
• The Tripitakas are in Pali.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Where was Gautama Buddha born?
   Answer: Lumbini
2. Where did Buddha give his first sermon?
   Answer: Sarnath
3. Where did Buddha die?
   Answer: Kushinagar
4. How many Tirthankaras are there in Jainism?
   Answer: 24
5. Who was the first Tirthankara?
   Answer: Rishabhanatha (Adinath)
6. Who was the 24th Tirthankara?
   Answer: Mahavira
7. Which vow was added by Mahavira?
   Answer: Brahmacharya
8. In which language are the Tripitakas written?
   Answer: Pali
9. Where was the Third Buddhist Council held?
   Answer: Pataliputra
10. Which king patronised the Fourth Buddhist Council?
    Answer: Kanishka

How to Practise This Chapter

Make two parallel tables for the life of Buddha and the life of Mahavira, and revise them daily for a week. Then solve questions from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. Read the next chapter, Vedic Period, and the related chapters Mauryan Empire and Gupta Empire. See all topics on the Indian History notes page.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where was Buddha born?

Gautama Buddha was born in about 563 BCE at Lumbini, which is now in Nepal.

Where did Buddha get enlightenment?

Buddha got enlightenment at Bodh Gaya under a peepal tree, which is called the Bodhi tree.

What are the Four Noble Truths?

They are that there is suffering, that desire is the cause, that suffering can end, and that the Eightfold Path leads to its end.

What is the Eightfold Path?

It is the path of right view, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration.

Which language was used by Buddhists for their texts?

The Buddhist Tripitakas were written in the Pali language.

Who was Mahavira?

Mahavira was the 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism, born in about 540 BCE near Vaishali in Bihar.

What are the five Mahavratas of Jainism?

They are Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha and Brahmacharya.

What are the Three Jewels of Jainism?

The Three Jewels (Triratna) are right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.

What are Digambara and Svetambara?

They are the two sects of Jainism. Digambara monks wear no clothes, and Svetambara monks wear white clothes.

What is the difference between Hinayana and Mahayana?

Hinayana follows the original teachings of Buddha without idols, while Mahayana worships Buddha as a god with idols.

What is the main difference between Buddhism and Jainism?

Buddhism follows a middle path, while Jainism follows strict penance and extreme non-violence.

How many questions come from Buddhism and Jainism in SSC exams?

Usually one or two questions come from this topic in SSC General Awareness papers, but the number changes from year to year.