Ancient Buddhism

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Ancient Buddhism

Gautama buddha history

Mahatma Buddha is a humanist, who believes society/person is a greater than the God. Worship of man, worship of poor is important than worshipping of God. He was an Atheist. Gurunanak & Vivekananda are also humanists.

Introduction to Buddhism

  • Life of Buddha - As per Buddhist texts 566-486 BC.
  • Mahatma Buddha was born in Kshatriyas and he is a Sakya.
  • His father Shuddodana and ruler of small Himalayan Kingdom of Kapilavasthu.
  • His mother's name is Mahamaya, and she gave birth to Siddhartha (Initial name of Buddha) at Lumbini now in Nepal.
  • Lotus - Symbolises the birth of Buddha.
  • His wife's name is Yashodhara and son is Rahul.
  • Mahabhinishkrama is a going ceremony or Great Departure and Horse became his symbol.
  • At an age of 35, Siddhartha became Buddha - Tathagatha. He got enlightened and became Tathagatha. He then got in meditation.
  • Sambodhi - Enlightenment of Buddha, Gaya (place) - Bodhi (Pipal Tree - Symbol).
  • Sermon - A religious lecture is called a sermon.
  • The first sermon of Buddha is called as Dharma chakra Parivartana and first sermon was given at Sarnath.
  • Dharma chakra Parivartana - Sarnath, Kashi
                 --> A wheel with 8 spokes, this indicated Astangamarga.
                 --> Vishnu Chakra — Spokes
                 --> Ashoka Chakra — 24 Spokes
  • Kusinara/Kusi(UP) - Death place of Buddha.
  • Mahaparinirvana - Kusi Stupa (symbol).
  • The stupa is a sacred structure which is built on the relics of Buddha. The stupa is a semi-domical solid structure made of bricks. Buddhist calls this as 'Anda' Prakara and 'Torana' are outer structures and 'Pradakshinapata' and 'Anda' are inner parts. Sanctum Sanctorum is not present in Stupa. Circumambulation is allowed. The stupa is the latest Buddhist religious monument and was originally only a simple mound of mud or clay to cover supposed relics of the Buddha (cetiya). After the Parinirvana of the Buddha, his remains were cremated and the ashes divided and buried under eight stupas with two further stupas encasing the urn and the embers. Little is known about these early stupas, particularly since it has not been possible to identify the original ten monuments.

Symbolism

"The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne. His crown is the top of the spire, his head is the square at the spire's base, his body is the vase shape, his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace, and the base is his throne".

Five purified elements

Although not described in any Tibetan text on stupa symbolism, the stupa may represent the five ,Purified elements:
          --> The square base represents earth.
          --> The hemispherical dome/vase represents water
          --> The conical spire represents fire
          --> The upper lotus parasol and the crescent moon represents air
          --> The sun and the dissolving point represents the element of space
  • There are two reasons stupas were built after the historical Buddha Sakyamuni died
            --> To commemorate eight great deeds accomplished during his life
            --> To enshrine relics after he passed away
            --> The Eight Great Deeds
  1. Birth: Built at Lumbini
  2. Enlightenment: Built in the kingdom of Magadha, on the banks of the river Nairanjana
  3. Turning to the Wheel, the first teaching: Built at Sarnath (Varanasi)
  4. Miracles: Built at Sravasti
  5. Descent from Tushita: Built at Samkashya after Buddha returned from Tushita heaven, where he'd gone to give teachings to his mother
  6. Reconciliation: Built at Rajagriha, after Buddha reconciled the disagreements of the monks
  7. Complete Victory: Built at Vaishali, where Buddha meditated extensively.
  8. Parinirvana: Built at Kushinagara, where Buddha entered Mahaparinirvana.
  • Different kinds of Buddhist Monuments were
            --> Stupa - Monument of the Mahatma Buddha
            --> Chaitya - A prayer hall of the Monks and nuns
            --> Vihara/Arama -the residences of monks & nuns.

Doctrines of Buddhism

  • Four Noble truths - As universal truths
  1. Dukha - The world is full of sorrows
  2. Desires - Dukha is caused by human desires
  3. Nirodha - It can be prevented
  4. Marga - There is a way to come out of Dukha

Teachings of Buddha(Gautama buddha teachings)

  • Astangamarga - Eightfold path (Central theme of Buddhism)
  1. Right Speech - Always speak well
  2. Right Action - Do Good
  3. Right Vision
  4. Right Aim - Aim must be good & positive
  5. Right Effort
  6. Right livelihood - be Honest
  7. Right Awareness
  8. Right meditation - That gives peace
  • The middle path - Avoid the extremes of anything
  • Pratitya Samutpada - that refers to the causal relations between the psychophysical phenomena that sustain dukkha (dissatisfaction) in worldly experience
  • God & Mahatma Buddha - Scholars described Buddha as Agnostic - who neither accepts nor rejects the God. No comments on God. Mostly, Atheism.

Conquest of Sindh - Punjab - Doctrine of Lapse

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Sindh Conquest

  • Hyderabad, Pakistan was the capital.
  • Sher Mohammed was king during British annexation in 1843. He was already a signatory of Subsidiary Alliance and loyal to its provisions but due to its economical aspects and other features British have conquered it using the subsidiary forces that are supposed to protect. This was an act of gross misuse of the subsidiary alliance.
  • Annexation of Bengal, Mysore and Maratha were given justification. But annexation of Sindh was a naked example of British imperialism and there was universal condemnation of this act.
  • Charles Napier was the resident of who was a good friend of Sher Mohammad. On orders of the then Governor General Ellen Borough he has to conquer the territory using the forces against his friend. He describes this act as treachery. Later he wrote a letter to Ellen Borough in a very diplomatic way saying 'I have Sindh', which gives two meaning that he has conquered Sindh and he has 'sin'.

Punjab Conquest 

  • During disintegration of Mughal Empire, 12 small Sikh kingdoms emerged in Punjab which was known as Misel and the rulers were called 'Miseldars'.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh

  • Miseldar of Sukherchekia who little later took a title Maharaja who ruled from 1792 to 1839.
  • He conquered all other Misels and created a huge Sikh state with Lahore as capital.
  • He was a very good administrator and possessed a huge army which is 2nd most powerful after British.
  • He donated gold to 'Harmandir Sahiba' and got it plated with gold, since then it is known as 'Golden Temple'.
  • He was a man of religious tolerance.
           -->His Foreign Minister was Azeez-ud-din, a Muslim
           -->His Prime Minister was Pandit Dinanath, a Brahman
           -->His Governor of Peshawar was Avitabile, an Italian
  • He has maintained the cordial relationship with British so there were no revolts against him. His relations were not only political but also personal relations.
  • In less than 10 years after his death, Sikh state was annexed by British.
  • After his death in 1839 his minor son 'Dalip Singh' came to power and defacto authority was his mother 'Jindan'. During this period two wars were fought between Sikhs and British knew Anglo-Sikh wars.

First Anglo-Sikh War 

  • In this war the Governor General Hardinze I fought against Sikh forces in which Sikhs were defeated.
  • This war concluded with a truce 'Treaty of Lahore'.

Second Anglo-Sikh War

  • In this war, the then Governor General Dalhousie defeated Sikh forces and annexed Sikh state.
  • Dalip Singh and his mother Jindan were sent to London as pensioners. Later this family settled in London and descendants of Ranjit Singh are still seen in London.
  • This was the last war fought by British in India this means Punjab was the last kingdom to be conquered by means of war. This doesn't put an end to the conquest of British but only means changed. Hereafter they annexed Indian territories through diplomatic ways. By this time British became so powerful and Indian Kings who were not so powerful were not in a position to offer resistance so they simply bent down for British.

Doctrine of Lapse

  • Dalhousie an imperialist developed an imperial scheme to annexe diplomatically called '
  • The doctrine of Lapse'.On this pretext, territories were annexed.
  • This says, if there was no any natural born heir to the throne (Born to King and Queen, not adapted) then British were empowered to annexe such state. Few kingdoms which were annexed on this pretext were annexed
            -->1848 - Satara, MP
            -->1849 — Sambhalpur (Orrisa), Jaipur (Bundelkhand)
            -->1850 Bhagat (Punjab)
            -->1852 — Udaipur (Rajasthan)
           -->1863 —Jhansi (MP) - widow Jashi Lakshmi Bhai adopted a son as her successor.
           -->1854 —Nagpur (Maharastra)
  • In 1856 Dalhousie wanted to annex 'Avad state' but the then King 'Wajid Ali Shah', a very old man and has a natural born legal heir. So Dalhousie who wanted Avad badly at any cost developed another scheme called 'Mis-Governance'. On the pretext of Mis-governance, the king was dethroned and territory was annexed. Deposed king was sent to Calcutta as a pensioner but soon king died heart Sobbing.
This was the last kingdom to be conquered by British in India by any means with this British conquest In India came to an end.



advent of islam in history

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 Islam


  • According to historians, Islam was found in 6th -7th C AD.
  • Prophet Mohammed was the founder of this religion. He was born in Mecca in 571 AD and then he founded this religion there. He died in Medina in 632 AD. The spread of Islam started from Medina. 
  • Islam was a revolting religion born out of huge instability and agitation prevailing during those times in Saudi Arabia. Various tribes were living in the various uncivilised way. Polytheism and huge idolatry were in practice.
  • Islam is a missionary religion.
  • The literary meaning of Islam means surrender similar to that of Bhakti in Hinduism.
  • Islam was founded on the basis of five principles/ Doctrines. The Pillars of Islam (arkan al-Islam; also arkan ad-din, "pillars of religion") are five basic acts in Islam, considered obligatory for all believers.
  • The Quran presents them as a framework for worship and a sign of commitment to the faith. They are (1) the shahadah (creed) or Kalima (kalma), (2) daily prayers (salat) or Namaz, (3) Roza or sawn, fasting during Ramadan and (4) almsgiving (zakah), (5) the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) at least once in a lifetime.
  • The Shahadah or Kalima which is the basic creed of Islam that must be recited under oath with the specific statement: "ashadu al-la ilaha illla llahu wa aghadu anna muhammadan rasalu-llah", or "I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God". This testament is a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Muslims must repeat the shahadah in prayer, and non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam are required to recite the creed.
  • Whoever has faith in Kalima are called believers or faithful and Arabic term for the faithful is  'Muslim'. Whoever doesn't believe are non-believers and Arabic term for them was 'Kafir'.
  • Sahib or Namaz or ritual prayer, which must be performed five times a day.
  • Sawn or Roza or fasting during the month of Ramadan. Muslims must not eat or drink (among other things) from dawn to dusk during this month, and must be mindful of other sins.
  • Zakat or aimsgiving, which is giving a fixed portion of accumulated wealth by those who can afford it to help the poor or needy, and also assist the spread of Islam.
  • The Hajj, which is the pilgrimage during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime.
  • Prophet was hated initially by Meccaist. He was described as 'Majnu' (mad). There was a serious revolt against him. 
  • During this revolt, in the year 622 AD - Prophet has migrated from Mecca to Madina and this process of migration is known as 'Hijra' (Hijra in Arabic means migration).
  • People of Madina welcomed him and liked his preachings and took the Islam religion thereafter. Eventually, people started converting to Islam and Madina has become the place from where the spread of Islam started. By Sword spread of Islam started.
  • In the year 630, Mecca was captured and all the idols in Kabah were destroyed and thereafter this has become a holy place for Islamites.
  • Prophet became the spiritual and political head for a small domain and ruled with Mecca as the capital city. After his death in 632 AD, a serious issue of succession started as he doesn't have any male child except a female child.
  • As per Sharia, an administrative law for Islamites - it says female cannot be a Calipha (an Arabic term for successor). 
  • Two were the aspirants for being Caliphas. They were
                  1) Mohammed Ali - A great warrior and Son-in-law of Prophet 
                  2) Abu Bakar — A staunch follower and a senior person.

  • Md Ali supporters were small in number a Minority number, whereas Abu Bakar has large group followers. So Abu Bakar has become Calipha. But this didn't digest for Md Ali's followers so they refused Abu Bakar. Thereafter this minority number came to known as Shias. And the majority numbers of Abu Bakar were known as Sunnis. This is the start of Schism in Islam.
  • Shias give the status of Prophet to Mohammed Ali whereas Sunnis just consider him as a son-in-law. In the course of time, these two communities started hating each other and serious revolt and agitation started in them which led for many blood baths and carnages between them. (Recently Saddam Hussain a Sunni, who massacred Shias and issued policies and laws against Shias).
  • Throughout the world, Shias are in the minority. Only 3% of Shias and 97% of Sunnis. In India majority of are in Hyderabad and Lucknow (as these two places were ruled by Shia rulers). These Shias in India are called as Iranians as they have come from Iran. Iran is only a country in the world with 100% Shias. Then comes Iraq with 60% Shias followed by 40% Sunnis.

Calipha

  • Calipha is the political and spiritual head of the Islam domain. As per Sharia, there shall be only one spiritual and political head.
  • In expanding the territory of Islam by conquering and converting, there never had a problem with the spiritual head but the political administration has become a problem. Islam was expanding in leaps and bounds. All Buddhist, Zoroastrians, Jains, Christian territories being conquered & converted by word or sword. 
  • Islamic priestly class Ulema considers themselves as custodians of Sharia. The administration should be in accordance with Sharia and there should not be any deviation or blasphemy. These Ulema(s) have the Dower to issue Fatwa.
  • Sultans of India ruled in the name of Calipha. They called themselves as representatives of Calipha. Coins were issued in his name to show the sovereignty of Calipha.
  • Qutba — A special prayer on Friday. A chief priest read out the prayer in the name of Calipha.
  • Sultans of India were sending periodical gifts for requesting or asking Calipha to admit them as subordinates.
  • If Calipha was happy he would send a letter of acceptance called Mansoor.Indian rulers were struggling to get Mansoor. Only 3 rulers of India got the Mansoor. 
  1. Iltutmish(Read as Altamash) 
  2. Mohammed-bin-Tughlaq 
  3. Feroz shah Tughlaq (He got Mansoor twice from two different Calipha(s)). 
  • Even today Qutba is read in the name of first four Caliphas.

Pre Mauryan Age

   

Pre-Mauryan Age (600 BC - 300 BC)


This age can be termed as Pre- Mauryan Age / Age of Buddha / Age of  "Shodasa Maha Janapadas" (Shodasa - 16, Maha - Great, Janapadas - Kingdoms).

Political System 

  •  Anguttara Nikaya — A Buddhist text of this age contains a list of 16 kingdoms. 
  1. Magadha - 1st Rajagruha (Rajgeer — Bihar), later Pataliputra (Patna)
  2. Anga - Champa (Bihar)
  3. Vajji or Lichachavi - Vaishali (Bihar)
  4. Kashi - Varanasi ( UP)
  5. Kasala - Shravashi (UP)
  6. Vatsa Kaushambi (Kasam close to Allahabad)
  7. Kuru 1st Hastinapur (Meerut, UP) and 2nd Indraprastha (Delhi)
  8. Sourasena Mathura (UP)
  9. Panchala Ahichachatra (UP)
  10. Malla 1st Kusi (UP) and 2nd Pava (Bihar)
  11. Matsya Vir a tnagar (Rajsathan — Jaipur)
  12. Chedi Suktimati (MP)
  13. Avanti Ujjain (MP)
  14. Garighadhara Thakshashila(Rawalpindi — Pakistan)
  15. Ka mboja Rajapura (Mujapurabad — Pakistan)
  16. Asmaka Podana (Bodan —AP) 

  • 600 BC - 350 BC - Amongst the sixteen Mahajanapadas, Magadha rose to prominence under a number of dynasties that peaked with the reign of Asoka Maurya, one of India's most legendary and famous emperors. Reasons may be like

          -->Geographical
          -->Human factors - Most powerful Kings are present in Magadha
  • According to the Puranas, the Magadha Empire was established by the Brihadratha Dynasty, who was the 'sixth in line from Emperor Kuru of the Bharata dynasty through his eldest son Sudhanush. The first prominent Emperor of the Magadhan branch of Bharathas was Emperor Brihadratha. His son Jarasandha appears in popular legend and is slain by Bhima in the Mahabharata. Vayu Purana mentions that the Brihadrathas ruled for 1000 years.
  • The Brihadrathas were succeeded by the Pradyotas who according to the Vayu Purana ruled for 138 years. One of the Pradyota traditions was for the prince to kill his father to become king. During this, it is reported that there were high crimes in Magadha. The people rose up and elected Haryanka to become the new king, which destroyed the power of the Pradyotas and created the Haryanka dynasty: Due in part to this bloody dynastic feuding, it is thought that a civil revolt led to the emergence of the Haryanka-dynasty. 
  • Sanskrit Language - Language of great intellectuals of ancient India (Brahman) not for common man. 
  • There are two more languages used by common people in ancient India.

  1. Pali - Buddha adopted Pali so it became Buddhist language
  2. Prakrit - Became the language of Jains
  3. But both the languages disappeared later on 

  • Prakrit has various dialects

  1. Magadhi - All Ashokan inscriptions
  2. Artha Magadha - All Jain inscriptions and literature
  3. Maharastri - Sathavahana literature
  4. Paisachi

  • Magadha was ruled by 3 different dynasties

  1. Haryanka (name of the family)
  2. Sisunaga
  3. Nanda

Kings of Haryanka 


  • According to tradition, the Haryanka dynasty founded the Magadha Empire in 684 BC, whose capital was later Pataliputra, near the present day Patna.
  • Bimbisara - 1st King of Magadha and founder of Haryanka. He conquered Anga and Kasi Kingdoms. He married Princess Kasala Mahadevi. He got the Kasi Kingdom as dowry from Kasala.
  • Ajatasatru - Son of Binibisara - 2nd king of Magadha. He is a patricide. He came to power by killing his father. He conquered Kasala, Vajji and Malla Kingdoms.
  • Udayana/Udayabhadra - 3rd King of Magadha - Son of Ajatasatru. He was the weak king so Udayana was killed by his Senapati 'Sisunaga'. Then Magadha kingdom was closed and Sisunaga came to power.

Kings of Sisunaga 

  • Sisunaga 1st King and founder. He conquered Avanthi.
  • Kalashoka - He is the son of Sisunaga. He was the 2nd and last king of this dynasty. Mahapadma Nanda killed Kalashoka and came to power establishing Nanda Kingdom (350 BC).

Kings of Nanda

  • Mahapadmananda - He conquered all the Janapadas left over including the Asmaka Kingdom. Up to Godavari basin, he conquered and he was the 1st king to conquer the South India. He is considered as the Greatest of Magadha. The first Sudra King of India - Mahapadmananda. Jain by religion. He conquered all the kingdoms except two kingdoms of North-West of India.
  • Gandhara and Kamboja Kingdoms - Nanda Kings didn't touch these kingdoms. Even Haryanka & Sisunaga kingdoms also didn't.
  • Dhanananda — Son of Mahapadma Nanda. He was defeated and the power had been captured by Chandragupta Maurya (321 BC). Thereafter Mauryans came into power.

History of Gandara & Kamboja Kingdoms

  • Around 600 BC — Iranians/Persians were very powerful emperors in the world. These kingdoms are in the Iranians province.
  • Cyrus — 1st foreign conqueror of India.
  • Darius I — (Cyrus grandson) then came to power.
  • Persians used 'Hi' instead of 'Si' (Sindhu — Hindu). So is the name Hindustan.
  • Two great empires in the world at this time were Macedonian (Greeks) and Iranian (Persia). There exists a lot of conflicts between both the kingdoms.
  • 'Alexander' (334 BC) was the conqueror of the world for the first time. His teacher was Aristotle.
  • Darius III (329 BC) was killed by Alexander and ends the Iranians.
  •  Ambhi - King of Taxila (Thakshashila). He gave an invitation to Alexander. Rival of Ambhi is 'Porus'. Hence Alexander came to India
  • 327BC - 325 BC — Alexander spent 19 months in India.
  • 326 BC — Battle of Hydaspus (River Jhelum) with Porus. Porus was then defeated by Alexander and he conquered all the territories.
  • When Alexander was in India, The contemporary Magadha king Dhanananda was in power.
  • 323 BC — Alexander died at Babylonia (At the age of 33 or 34 ).
  • Three Greek Empires were Ended after Alexander's death.
  1. Europe — Macedonia(Headquarters)
  2. Africa — Egypt (Headquarters)
  3. Asia — Syria (Headquarters)
  • Seleucid Empire was founded by military commander 'Seleucus Nicator' in Asia.

Economic System

  • Metal coins - 1st coins of India started around 600 BC. Silver & Copper both sorts of metal coins used.
  • Punch marked coins made up of silver/copper are used. Coins marked with a tree/hill/bird/sun/moon etc are punch marked coins. These coins are uninscribed.
  • The growth of Guilds — Guild is an English word but Indian literature it is called 'Sreni' (Guilds are associations of merchants& Traders). Every guild works like a modern banking system. Few of them

  1. Kalika Sreni (Weaver's Guild)
  2. Pathika Sreni (Pattu - silk Guild)
  3. Telika Sreni (Oil Maker Guild)
  4. Kulala Sreni (Potters Guild)
  5. Gandhika Sreni (Perfumer Guild) — (Mahatma Gandhi belong to this guild)

Religions of Pre- Mauryan Age 

  • This period produced many great intellectuals.
  • 62 philosophical movements, which were completely against with the rituals & Brahmanistic society. These movements are called 'Heterodox'. Heterodox - Means Unorthodox. Shreemana and Orthodox are Brahaminates. All those were against the Brahmanas called Shreemana.
  • In 62 movements, 4 prime and fully fledged religions were

  1. Buddhism
  2. Jainism
  3. Ajivika
  4. Charvaka