Total History and Civics Class 9 ICSE Morning Star Solutions Chapter 3 Jainism and Buddhism.

These Solutions are part of Total History and Civics Class 9 ICSE Morning Star Solutions. Here we have given. Total History and Civics Class 9 ICSE Morning Star Solutions Chapter 3 Jainism and Buddhism.

EXERCISES

I. Short Answer Questions :

Question 1.
Mention a source which gives information about Jainism.
Answer:
The Angas. These are regarded as the most important part of the Jain doctrines. They discuss religious rites, stages of a householder’s life, the vows of chastity, rules of conduct and other features of Jain Philosophy.

Question 2.
What are the Tripitikas ? Name the three Tripitikas.
Answer:
Tripitikas are the most important literary works of the Buddhists.The word ‘Tripitikas’ means ‘Three Baskets’ of Buddhist canon.

  1. The VinayaPitaka which deals with the rules and regulations which Buddha promulgated for the monks (bhikkhus) and the nuns (bhikkunis).
  2. The Sutta Pitaka comprises the discourses of Buddha on various occasions. It also has discourses by some of the disciples of Buddha such as Sariputta, Ananda and others.
  3.  The Abhidhamma Pitaka deals with Buddhist philosophy. It describes things like the working of the human mind and the state of matter.

Question 3.
State two important causes for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism.
Answer:
In the Later Vedic Period, the rigid caste system, monopoly of the priests for expensive rituals, difficulty of the common people to understand Sanskrit language etc. confused the society very much. So people wanted an easy going performance in the religion and practice, hence they were naturally attracted to Jainism and Buddhism. Both Jainism and Buddhism were founded by Two Kshatriya-princes i.e. Mahavira and Gautam Buddha. These two religions followed non-violence, which was also preferred by the farmers due to the safety of their animals against sacrificing them for rituals.

Question 4.
Who was Vardhamana Mahavira ? Give the significance of both parts of his name.
Answer:
Vardhamana Mahavira was born in the second half of 6th century BC. He was the son of the chief of a Kshatriya clan and his mother Trishala of Kundagrama near Vaishali in Bihar. On account of his bravery and heroic deeds, he was called Mahavira. His father held a prosperous kingdom at his birth-time, so he was called ‘Vardhamana’ which meant prosperity.

Question 5.
Name the five vows prescribed for the Jains.
Answer:
The five vows for Jains are as follows :

  1. Ahimsa — Non-Violence
  2. Asateya — not to steal
  3.  Satya — not to tell a lie.
  4.  Aparigraha — not to possess property.
  5. Brahmacharya — to practise chastity.

Question 6.
What are known as the Tri-Ratnas ?
Answer:
According to Mahavira, there were three ways to attain ‘moksha’, known as Tri-Ratnas i.e.

  1. right faith
  2. right knowledge
    right conduct.

Question 7.
Give two causes for the spread of Jainism.
Answer:
Two main causes for the spread of Jainism were the simple local dialect – Prakrit adopted by Mahavira for preaching and the solid patronage by great kings like Chandragupta Maurya and Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas of 5th century AD.

Question 8.
Name the two sects into which Jainism got divided.
Answer:
The two sects of Jainism were as follows :

  1. Shvetambaras: They wore white clothes for cleanliness and purity and covered their nose with a small cover of white cloth to avoid insects etc. They fasted but avoided extreme penance.
  2. Digambaras : They were sky-clad in order to practice detachment from worldly pleasures.  kept long fasts and saintly life.

Question 9.
Mention two points of contribution of Jainism to Indian life and thought.
Answer:
Two points of contribution of Jainism are discarding the caste system and encouraged social service. The Kshatriyas i.e. Kings were deeply motivated by Jainism and cultivated great faith on sacrifice for others by not expanding or establishing their empires by force and bloodshed.

Question 10.
Who was Gautam Buddha ? Where was he born ?
Answer:
Gautam Buddha was the founder of Buddhism. He belonged to the Kshatriya clan of Sakya. He was bom in 563 BC at Lumbini near Kapilavastu, in Nepal.

Question 11.
What are known as Four Great Sights ?
Answer:
‘Four Great Sights’, are related to Gautama Buddha, who was moved by these sights and ultimately decided to renounce the worldly pleasures, e.g. An old man bent with age, a sick man groaning with pain, a dead body of a man being carried etc. filled Gautama with deep sorrow; while the sight of an ascetic in search of salvation consoled him at last.

Question 12.
When and how did Buddha attain enlightenment ?
Answer:
After leaving home in search of Truth, Gautama wandered from place to place. Afterwards he studied under renowned teachers of Rajgriha and at last he went to Gaya and practiced severe penance and life of austerity and finally at the age of thirty-five he was enlightened sitting under a people-tree. That place is known as Boddha (knowledge or enlightenment), Gaya in Bihar.

Question 13.
Give four Noble Truths of Buddhism.
Answer:
These are as follows :

  1. The world is full of suffering.
  2. The suffering has a cause.
  3. Desire is the cause of suffering
  4. desire is stopped, suffering can also be stopped.

Question 14.
Give four points of the Eight fold Path of Buddha.
Answer:
These are as follows :

  1. Right action
  2. Right thought
  3. Right belief
  4. Right living.

Question 15.
Differentiate between Jainism and Buddhism on the basis of their attitude towards God.
Answer:.
Jainism did not believe in the existence of God, the stress was on simplicity and sacrifice. Buddhism was silent in the existence of God, but relief on Dharma, a universal law which controlled the whole world.

Question 16.
What is known as the Sangha ?
Answer:
The organisation for teaching of Buddhism came to known as the ‘Sangha’. On this very basis the slogan became popular as “Sangam Sharnam Gachhami.

Question 17.
Name any two principles that governed the Sangha.
Answer:
Two principles are as follows :

  1. To speak the truth
  2. to abide by Brahmacharya.

Question 18.
What were the features of Buddhism that attracted people towards it ?
Answer:
Budha followed a simple path and inspired people to lead a simple life. Buddha’s teachings have been reconstructed from stories of Sutta Pitaka. His message to people was that world is full of sufferings and man could attain salvation by following his teachings, i.e. Buddhism.
The essence of Buddism lies in Four Noble Truths and Eight fold Path which were as follow:

  1. The world is full of suffering.
  2. The suffering has a cause.
  3.  Desire is the cause of suffering.
  4. If desire is stopped, suffering can also be stopped.These were the causes which attracts the people towards Buddhism.

Question 19.
Give two differences between Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism.
Answer:
Hinayana

  1. Buddha was regarded as human being who attained enlightenment through own efforts.
  2. It shuns idol-worship, Buddha was not believed as God.

Mahayana

  1. Buddha was regarded as the incarnation of God and provider of salvation.
  2. The images of Buddha was worshipped.

Question 20.
Give two causes for the decline of Buddhism.
Answer:
Two causes are as follows :

  1. Splitting of Buddhism into Hinayana and Mahayana along with other sixteen sects created confusion and disorder.
  2. Corruption in sangha was the effect of luxurious life of monks and nuns which resulted in religious decline.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Question 21.
Mention two causes which favoured the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the 6th Century BC.
Answer:
Two causes which favoured the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the 6th Century BC.
were :

  1. Ritualistic Vedic Religion.
  2. Expensive Sacrifices.

Question 22.
Name the first and the last two Jain Tirthankaras.
Answer:
The first Tirthankaras was ‘Risabh’ known as Adi Nath.
The last two Tirathankaras were ‘Parashvanath’ and ‘Mahavira’.

Question 23.
What was the Original name of Mahavira?
Answer:
The Original name of Mahavira was Vardhamana.

Question 24.
How did Vardhamana become Mahavira?
Answer:
Vardhamana renounced all wordly pleasures. At the age of thirteen, he became an ascetic and attained the true knowledge (Kevala Jnana), therefore he come to be known as Mahavira.

Question 25.
Why were the followers of Mahavira called Jaihs?
Answer:
Since Vardhamana became popular with the name of Mahavira (the great hero) or Jina (the conqueror of self), therefore, his followers were called Jains.

Question 26.
Mention any two teachings of Mahavira (any two doctrines of Jainism).
Answer:
The two teachings of Mahavira are :

  1. Ahimsa.
  2. No Belief in God.

Question 27.
What is known as Triratna in Jainism?
Answer:
Right faith, right knowledge and right conduct is known as Triratna in Jainism.

Question 28.
Mention any two factors that led to the growth of Jainism.
Answer:
The following two factors led to the growth of Jainism :

  1. The simple doctrines of Mahavira.
  2. Usage of common language of the masses, instead of Sanskrit.

Question 29.
What were the causes of the decline of Jainism?
Answer:
The causes of the decline of Jainism are :

  1. The loss of royal patronage.
  2. Rigit principles and difficulty in following the severe penance and austerity advocated by Mahavira.
  3. Split-up of the Jainism into two sects i.e.. the Shvetambaras (clad in white) and the Digambaras (Sky-clad or naked).
  4.  The revival of Brahmanism.

Question 30.
Name the two sects of Jainism. What is the main difference between the two?
Answer:
Svetambaras and Digambaras. Their main difference is that the Digambar Munis (ascetics) remain completely nude. They do not keep even a small piece of cloth on their bodies. The Svetambara Munis, on the other hand wear white clothes.

Question 31.
Mention the “Four Great Sights” of Buddhism.
Answer:
The “Four Great Sights” of Buddhism were 

  1. the sight of an oldman.
  2. a sick man. a dead body.
  3. an ascetic.

Question 32.
What is know as the Great Renunciation?
Answer:
The urge for finding a solution to the problems of human suffering and death, made Buddha broke all his wordly ties and left his place at the age of 29 as an ascetic in search of truth. This event came to be known as the Great Renunciation (Maha Parityaga).

Question 33.
How did Gautama come to be known as the Buddha?
Answer:
When Gautama got enlightened with the spiritual knowledge after rigorous meditation, he came to be known as the Buddha or the Enlightened One.

Question 34.
Name the place where Buddha got Enlightenment.
Answer:
At Bodh Gaya, under the Pipal tree Buddha got Enlightenment.

Question 35.
Name the place where Buddha gave his first Sermon.
AAnswer:
At the Deer Park near Samath, Buddha gave his first spiritual sermon.

Question 36.
What are the “Four Noble Truths” of Buddhism?
Answer:
The “Four Noble Truths” of Buddhism are :

  1. The world is full of sorrows and suffering.
  2. The main cause of suffering is man’s desire (Trishna) for sensual pleasures and earthly possession.
  3. Suffering can be removed by getting rid of desires, i.e., renunciation.
  4. One can overcome desires by following the Eight-Fold Path.

Question 37.
Mention the Eight-Fold Path in Buddhism.
Answer:
The Eight-Fold Path in Buddhism is :

  1. Right Faith
  2. Right Aspiration
  3. Right Action
  4. Right Living
  5. Right Speech
  6. Right Effort
  7. Right Meditation
  8. Right Contemplation

Question 38.
Mention any two teachings of Lord Buddha.
Answer:
Ahimsa and no faith in caste system.

Question 39.
Mention two factors that led to the spread and growth of Buddhism.
Answer:
Two factors that led to the spread and growth of Buddhism are :

  1. Simple teachings of Buddha.
  2. Simple language.

Question 40.
Mention any two similarities in the teachings of Jainism and Buddhism.
Answer:
The principle of ‘Ahimsa’ and ‘Opposition to Caste System’.

Question 41.
Mention any two causes of the decline of Buddhism.
Answer:
Two causes of the decline of Buddhism were :

  1. Revival of Brahmanical Hinduism.
  2. Split in Buddhism.

Question 42.
Mention the contribution of Buddhism to India Literature.
Answer:
Buddhism contributed its variety of religious literature in the language of the people. The teachings of Buddha were compiled and known as Tripitaka or the three baskets. The Jatakas contain tales dealing with previous births of the Buddha. These form an important part of Buddhist Literature. The Jataka tales were written in Pali. They greatly enriched the Indian literature. The Mahayana Buddhists produced their religious literature in Sanskrit.

Question 43.
What is the importance the Jatakas in Buddhism?
Answer:
The Jatakas’ tales throw light on the social and plitical conditions of the people in the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. The most important thing about the Jatakas’ tales is that they deal with the previous births of the Buddha.

Question 44.
How do Buddhist ideals still affect our life?

OR

What impact did Buddha’s teachings have on Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts?
Answer:
The Buddhist ideals even today has a significant place in our life. The principles of equality, teachings of non¬violence and individual purification are still working ‘as usual. Evils, such as pride, envy, wrath and lust have no place in our life even today.Mahatma Gandhi took a leaf from the Buddha’s life when he said, “non-violence is the first article of my faith.” He also said, “religion in the sense of peace, fraternity and all-embraching love can alone be the basis of the existence of the world.”

Question 45.
What was the purpose of a Chaitya?
Answer:
Chaityas were the big halls where religious rites and worship were performed.

Question 46.
What is called a Vihara?
Answer:
A Vihara (Monastery) was permanent abode or residence of the monks.

Question 47.
Name any two places famous for Buddhist rock-cut caves.
Answer:
Barabar Hills near Gaya and Nasik.

Question 48.
Mention two important features of any one Chaitya at Ajanta.
Answer:
The Chaitya—19 has the facade beautifully decorated with sculptured images. The fresco painting on the walls and ceilings are judged as being some of the finest contributions to the art of painting in India.

Question 49.
Mention any two features of the Ashokan Pillars.
Answer:
The Ashokan Pillars are made out of stone. All these pillars are monolithic i.e., they are carved out of one piece of stone.Each pillar weighs about 50 tons. At the top of each such pillar is the capital which is also monolithic.

Question 50.
Mention two important features of the Lion-Capital of the Sarnath Pillar.
Answer:
The Lion-Capital of the Sarnath Pillar is chiseled out of single block of stone. The figure of the four lions has been used on the Indian currency and the wheel is shown in our National Flag.

Question 51.
What is the significance of the Lion-Capital for modern India?
Answer:
The Lion-Capital has been accepted as the National Emblem of modern India.

Question 52.
What was the purpose of a Stupa?
Answer:
The purpose of a Stupa was to commemorate a sacred spot or a particular event, or to enshrine the relics of Buddha or those of Buddhist saint.

Question 53.
Name the religious literature containing the teachings of the Lord Buddha.
Answer:
The Tripitaka contains the spiritual teachings of the Lord Buddha.

Question 54.
Mention the reason why the teachings of Buddha were called the ‘Middle Path’.
Answer:
The teachings of Buddha were called the ‘Middle Path’ because his teachings teach neither to indulge in extreme attachment to worldly pleasures, nor practice severe self-mortification.

Question 55.
Name two rulers of Northern India who contributed to the spread of Buddhism in India and abroad.
Answer:
Ashoka the Great and Harsha contributed to the spread of Buddhism in India and abroad.

Question 56.
Mention the influence of Buddhism on Hinduism.
Answer:
The Buddhism was quite popular among the Hindus due to its simple doctrines. The Hindus also followed the practice of the Buddhists and built beautiful temples to worship their Gods and Goddesses.

Question 57.
Mention two important features of each—Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism.
Answer:
The Mahayana Buddhism insisted on worshipping the images of Buddha and prayed for forgiveness of sins and for salvation.
The Mahayana Buddhism adopted Sanskrit for the writing of their scriptural texts.
The Hinayana Buddhism had no faith in idol-worship. Buddha was represented only in symbols such as a pair of foot-prints or an empty seat.

Question 58.
What was the impact of Jainism and Buddhism on the caste system?
Answer:
The Jainism and Buddhism badly sabotaged the Caste System that had been prevailing during that time. The common mass got very much attracted to these religions, who accepted all the followers worship altogether without any caste-distinction. Both the religions united the people in society who had been divided before, over caste and creed-issues.

Question 59.
Mention two features of the Brahmanical faith of the 6th Century BC which were opposed by the Buddha.
Answer:
Two features of the Brahmanical faith of the 6th Century BC which the Buddha opposed were :

  1. Buddha condemned all forms of sacrifices that were conducted by the Brahmins during the 6th Century BC.
  2. Buddha discarded the complicated Sanskrit language of Vedic scriptures which was unintelligible to the ordinary people.

Question 60.
Mention any two features of the Brahmanical faith of the 6th Century BC which were accepted by the Buddha.
Answer:
The ‘Karma theory’ and ‘Nirvana’ are the two features of the Brahmanical faith of the 6th Century BC which were accepted by the Buddha.

Question 61.
Mention the important features of the Viharas at Udayagiri.
Answer:
The Viharas possess semicircular arches resting on pillars surrounded by figures of animals. Some of these caves have two storeys and some consist of a row of cells for the monks with an opening into a courtyard.

II. Structured Questions.

Question 1.
With reference to the sources of information about Jainism and Buddhism, state the significance of the following:
(a) Angas
(b) Tripitikas
(c) Jatakas
Answer:
(a) Angas : The Angas. These are regarded as the most important part of the Jain doctrines. They discuss religious rites, stages of a householder’s life, the vows of chastity, rules of conduct and other features of Jain Philosophy.

(b) Tripitikas :
The Tripitakas (three baskets or books) is a traditional term used by various Buddhist sects to describe their various covers of scriptures. As the name suggests, a Tripitaka traditionally contains three baskets of teaching.

  1. The Vinayct Pitaka which deals with the rules and regulations which Buddha promulgated for the monks (bhikkhus) and the nuns(bhikkunis).
  2. The Sutta Pitaka comprises the discourses of Buddha on various occasions. It also has discourses by some of the disciples of Buddha such as Sariputta, Ananda and others.
  3. The Abhidhamma Pitaka deals with Buddhist philosophy. It describes things like the working of the human mind and the state of matter.

(c) Jatakas : The Jatakas tales written in Pali language refer to the previous birth of Lord Buddha. They also throw light on the political, economic and social conditions ranging from fifth to second century BC.

Question 2.
With reference to Jainism and Buddhism answer the following questions :
(a) Give briefly the background of the socio-economic conditions in 6th century BC.
(b) What were the causes for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism ?
Answer:
(a) Monopoly of the priests, expensive rituals, difficult. Sanskrit language and rigid caste system universally affected the life and feelings of the common people. Some kings had also realised certain social evils and so patronised Jainism and Buddhism for better pattern of life and simple rules for spiritual uplift. ‘Ahimsa’ and safety of animals were also preferred by the farmers.

(b)
The following factors favoured the rise and growth of Jainism and Buddhism:

  1. Reaction against Ritualism : Religious ceremonies by then had become very expensive beyond the means of ordinary people. Some priests hardly realised the sufferings of the common man. This was one of the important causes that gave rise to faiths that were simple and inexpensive.
  2. Corruption in Religion: Corruption crept into religious practices. In order to extract money, the priests encouraged ordinary people to perform Yajnas and conduct household rites beyond their means. Kshatriya rulers protested against the dominance of such practices. The common man could not reconcile to this attitude of the priests.
  3. Rigid Caste System : The division of society into Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras had become rigid. It did not allow any social mobility. A person of one caste could not become a member of the other caste. There were restrictions on the basis of caste on food, drinks and marriage. Interchange of caste was impossible.
  4. Difficult Language : Sanskrit was considered a sacred language. Most of the Vedic literature was composed in Sanskrit. The priestly class gave discourses and chanted mantras in this language, which the common people found difficult to understand. Therefore, many people began to look for an alternative religion that they could understand better.
  5. Political situation : In the sixth century BC, Magadha was ruled by Bimbisara and later by Ajatashatru. Both these rulers were liberal and tolerant. They too were free from Brahmanic influence and condemned certain social evils in their kingdoms. When the opportunity came, they patronised both Jainism and Buddhism.
  6. Agricultural Economy : Killing of animals to perform sacrifices was against the interests of farmers in the Gangetic valley. The use of iron had made the animal- drawn ploughing popular. Such farmers needed a religion that would give protection to animals. Both Jainism and Buddhism preached non-violence and were against animal sacrifices.

Question 3.
With reference to Jainism answer the following questions:
(a) Who was Mahavira ?
(b) Write a brief note on his transformation.
(c) Why was he called Jina ?
Answer:
(a) Mahavira was born in Kundagrama near Vaishali in Bihar in the second half of 6th century BC. His father was the chief of a Kshatriya clan and his mother Trishala belonged to the royal family of Lichchavis.

(b)
He got absorbed in spiritual pursuits from early childhood. At the age of thirty, after the death of his parents, Mahavira renounced the world and became an ascetic. He practiced severe penance for 12 years and attained supreme knowledge.

(c)
Mahavira conquered over all worldly desires and named as ‘Jina’, which means the conqueror.

Question 4.
With reference to Jainism,
(a) Explain briefly the doctrines of Jainism.
(b) State Mahavira’s contribution to Indian thought.
Answer:
(a) The doctrines of Jainism are as follows :

  1. Triratnas :
    • right faith
    • right knowledge
    • right conduct
  2. Karma : good deeds provide ‘Moksha’.
  3. Equality: universal brotherhood.
  4. Eternal soul: soul is immortal.
  5.  Belief in Penance : sacrifice of physical desires.
  6. Salvation : Freedom from life and death.

(b) Although Mahavira did not follow the Vedas but the basic and ultimate aim of life was ‘Moksha’, through good deeds, sacrifice for good cause, ‘ Ahimsa’ and the safety of the animals contributed a positive appeal to Indian Thought.

Question 5.
With reference to Jain religious philosophy, answer the following questions :
(a) Mention the Truths to be followed for obtaining salvation.
(b) What caused the division of Jainism into two sects?
(c) Explain the causes responsible for the decline of Jainism.
Answer:
(a) According to Jain philosophy these are nine Truths to be realised and given importance Punya (results of good deeds), Pap (sin), Ashrav (good deeds), Sanvar (hindrances in the way of karma), Nirjara (destruction of karmas) and Moksha (salvation). Jiva (Living Things), Ajiva (non-living things) Bandha (bondage).

(b)
When Bhadrabahu took Jainism to Karnataka ; at the same time Sthulabhadra in Magadha spread Jainism with different ideas. So after the first Jain council held around 300 BC, Jainism was divided into two groups or sects.

(c)
The following factors were responsible for the decline of Jainism:

  1. Jainism preached rigid austerity. It rose at a time when Buddhism also existed. The theory of ahimsa was extended even to wearing of clothes.
  2. The religion did not spread to foreign countries. It did not have any missionary effort.
  3. Jainism did not get royal patronage from contemporary rulers,
  4.  Though Jainism advocated equality of men, it did not do away totally with the high and low position in society.
  5. During the Gupta period and in later years. Hinduism once again became popular. Therefore, Jainism remained restricted . of a few pockets in the country.

PQ. With reference to the impact of Jainism, explain the following.

(a) Its impact on language and literature.
Answer:
Language and Literature : Jain scholars have made an important contribution in literary field. The Jain texts were written in Prakrit, but at some place in the local languages. They were finally compiled in the sixth century AD at Valabhi in Gujarat. They include 12 Upangas, 10 Prakiranas, Sutras and Mulasutras. Purvas, the fourteen books containing the teachings of Mahavira, are a great source of knowledge. The angas and upangas which were written on the basis of Purvas are twelve in number. The Mahapurana composed by Jinasena, Kalpasutra compiled by Bhadrabahu and Ratna Malika by the Rashtrakuta ruler Amonghavarsha are outstanding literary works. Jain literature is in Ardh-Magadhi and Prakrit dialects. It highlights the values of ahimsa.

(b) Its impact on art and architecture.
Answer:
Art and Architecture : Jains constructed temples and monasteries. Jain relics are found in Khandagiri and Udaygiri caves in Orissa. Jains have constructed hundreds of Dharamshalas, opened several orphanages and supported many charitable institutions.
The gigantic structures of the Bahubali (Gomatesvvara) at Shravanabelagola and at Karkala in Karnataka are good examples of Jain architecture. The Dihvara temples at Mt.Abu in Rajasthan and at Ranakpur near Jodhpur and the Jain Tower at Chittor are famous for Jain architecture. The most famous Jain holy place is Palitcina in Gujarat which has more than 800 temples.

Question 6.
With reference to Buddhism, answer the following questions:
(a) Who was Gautama Buddha ? How did he achieve enlightenment ?
(b) What is known as ‘Dharma chakrapravartana’ ?
(c) How did Buddha have a large following ?
Answer:
(a) Gautama Buddha was the son of Sakya King, Suddhodona of Kapilvastu. He was born in 563 BC at Lumbini. He was married to the princess, Yashodhara. But he was deeply moved by seeing the agony and sorrow of old age and sickness and decided to renounce the home and worldly pleasures. After studying under renowned teachers of Rajgriha, he went to Gaya and practiced severe penance and at the age of thirty-five Gautama attained enlightenment.

(b)
After enlightenment Buddha preached and delivered his first sermon at the Deer Park in Sarnath in presence of five ascetics. This event in the history of Buddhism is known as Dharmachakrapravartan.

(c)
Buddha established a Bodh Sangha at Magadha. He received the patronage of several rulers of Magadha, Kosala and Kosambi and followed by a large number of followers from all classes of society.

Question 7.
With reference to the ‘Sangha’ ; explain the following :
(a) Its membership
(b) The Ten commandments
(c) Its role in spreading Buddhism.
Ans.
(a) The members of the monastic order were called ‘Bhikshus’ (monks) and Bhikshunis (nuns), who had to renounce the world before joining the ‘Sangha’.

(b) The ten commandments were as follows :

  1. To speak the truth
  2. To abide by Brahmacharya
  3. not to harm creatures
  4. not to own property
  5. to shun music and dancing
  6. to take meals only at fixed time
  7. not to use intoxicants
  8. not to use scented goods
  9. not to sleep on cushions
  10.  not to keep money

(c) The principles of Buddhism imported a deep effect on social life by introducing ‘ Ahimsa’, equality of mankind etc. which gave impetus to weaker section of society to fight for their rights and survival. The socio-religious reform movements were the plus points and the solid political ground and patronage was provided by the great rulers like Ashoka and Chandragupta. On account of some ideal elements Bhuddhism spread to large regions, upto S.E. Asia, China and Japan.

PQ With reference to Buddhism, answer the following questions :

(a) What was the influence of Buddhism on the evolution of art and architecture in India ?
Answer:
Art and Architecture : Buddhism made immense contribution to the evolution of art and architecture. Stupas, chaityas, viharas and rock-cut cave temples were their unique contribution. The stupa is a semi-spherical solid dome-like structure containing the relics of Buddha like hair, teeth or bones. The Stupas at Sanchi, Bharhut and Amaravati are remarkable specimens of art surviving upto this day. The Chaityas were rectangular halls with a semi-circular roof supported by a number of columns. These halls were meant for worship. The Viharas were the monasteries for the monks to live in. Later when statues of Buddha began to be carved after the Christian era, there emerged several schools of art and architecture. Even during Mauryan times, specially during the time of Ashoka, stone cutting and chiselling of pillars required high technical skill.

(b) What were the causes that led to the decline of Buddhism in India ?
Answer:

  1. Spilt in Buddhism : The division of Buddhism into Hinayana and Mahayana sects brought about great changes in Buddhism. Its popularity and prestige suffered.
  2. Language : Buddha preached his teachings in Pali. After his death, Sanskrit, the language of the upper classes, also came to be adopted.
  3. Corruption in Sangha : The monks and nuns started living a luxurious life. There was deterioration in the spiritual life. Buddhist Sanghas received patronage of royalty and had become very rich. The monks and nuns used the riches for their personal benefit. They began to lead a worldly life.
  4. Reforms in Hinduism : Reform movement in Hinduism started with full vigour once the appeal of new religions vanished. Hinduism assimilated the positive aspects of Buddhism. Even foreign invaders and settlers adopted Hinduism as their new religion. Among these are included the Shakas and the Satavahanas.
  5.  Invasions : From the eight century AD the Turkish invasion dealt a blow to Buddhism. The monasteries, which had accumulated great wealth, were looted. The invaders plundered the monasteries of Nalanda and Takshila and forced some of the monks to flee to neighbouring countries like Nepal and Tibet.
  6.  End of Royal Patronage : Rajput rulers were warlike and could not follow the policy of ahimsa, Besides, the kings of the Gupta period patronised temples in honour of Hindu gods and goddesses. Thus, the lack of royal patronage brought about the decline of Buddhism.

8. With reference to the given pictures, answer the following questions :
Total History and Civics Class 9 ICSE Morning Star Solutions Chapter 3
Question 8(a).
Identify the two preachers, whose images are given. Name the religions founded by them.
Answer:

  1. Gautam Buddha, he founded the Buddhism.
  2. Mahavira, he founded the Jainism.

Question 8(b).
Mention three main teachings of the two religions founded by these preachers.
Answer:
Main teachings of Jainism :

  1. Ahimsa — Non-violence
  2. Asateya — not stealing
  3. Satya — not telling a lie
  4. Aparigraha — not possessing property
  5. Brahmacharya — practicing charity.

Main teachings of Buddhism :
The essence of Buddism lies in Four Noble Truths and Eight fold Path which were as follow.

  1. The world is full of suffering.
  2. The suffering has a cause.
  3. Desire is the cause of suffering.
  4. If desire is stopped, suffering can also be stopped.

Question 8(c).
Mention any two similarities and two dissimilarities between the two religions founded by them.
Answer:
Similarities
(a) The founders of both religions. Mahavira and Gautam Buddha had similar backgrounds and same Kshatriya clan.
(b) Both sought the attainment of salvation from the cycle of births and rebirths.
(c) Both did not accept the Vedas.
(d) Non-violence was their creed.

Dissimilarities
Buddhism

  1. It was completely a new religion in 6th century BC.
  2. It followed a middle path.
  3. It is silent about existence of God.
  4. It spread far and wide and led to cultural evolution in India.

Jainism

  1. It had been founded long before Mahavira. He was last of its Tirthankars.
  2. It believed in hard penance.It denies existence of God.
  3. It did not spread beyond the Indian shores.

Question 9.
Name one of the famous Chatyas at Elora.
Answer:
Vishvakarma.

Question 10.
There were many factors responsible for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the 6th century BC. In this context, explain the role of the following :
(a) Ritualistic Vedic Religion.
(b) Supremacy of the Priestly Class.
(c) Rigit Caste System.
(d) Difficult Vedic Language.
Answer:
Many factors were responsible for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the 6th century BC in this context the given points are explained as ahead :
(a) Ritualistic Vedic Religion : The simple religion of the early Aryans was replaced by meaningless rituals and complicated ceremonies. The common people were greatly burdened with the elaborate rites and ceremonies which were too expensive for them to perform. They became discontented with the religious beliefs and practices of that age.

(b) Supremacy of the Priestly Class :
The expensive religious rites and rituals made the position of the priestly class quite strong and dominating in the society. They in a sense turned supreme, intervening into the life of a man from birth till death. They even had a strong hold in the royal courts due to enormous powers they exercised. People turned against these priests, who made their religion complicated, expensive and burdensome.

(c) Rigid Caste System :
The Castes became rigid like— water-tight compartments. Castes were decided according to birth and not according to profession. People from the lower castes were maltreated by the high castes. They were deprived of their rights to enter the shrines, to own land or to get on education. The institution of untouchability too came into being. The intellectuals and reformers, therefore resented such unjust social distinctions among the people.

(d) Difficult Vedic Language :
The Vedic literature had been written in Sanskrit, which was beyond the comprehension of the common people. Many could not understand the Vedic mantras recited by the Brahmin priests who conducted the religious ceremonies. The people had to depend on the priestly class to understand the meaning of all these Vedic works.

Question 11.
With reference to the contribution of Jainism to India culture, describe the following :
(a) Its Contribution in the field of Art and Architecture.
(b) Contribution in the Religious field.
(c) Contribution in the Social field.
Answer:
With reference to the contribution of Jainism to India culture, the given points are described as ahead :
(a) Its Contribution in the field of Art and Architecture : In the early years of the second century BC, the followers of jain religion, created stupas, built of stone, to honour their saints. The built many rock-cut cave temples. The famous caves in the Udaigiri Hills of Madhya Pradesh and in Ellora in Maharashtra are fine examples of their architecture and sculpture. The colossal status of Gommatesvara at Sravana Belgola in Karnataka is another example of their skill in sculpture. The beautiful jain temples at Mt. Abu in Rajasthan are some of the best specimens of Jain architecture.

(b) Contribution in the Religious field :
The principle of Ahimsa laid by Mahavira, left a drastic influence on the sacrificial rites and Yajnas of the Vedic religion. The people who got used to these futile rituals, they out of discontent gave-up all such practices.

(c) Contribution in the Social field :
The teachings of Mahavira. had a magnetic effect on his followers. They started paying attention towards humanitarian services. They engaged themselves in works of public utility by opening schools and hospitals. They built a number of inns for the benefit of travellers.

Question 12.
With reference to the spread and growth o Buddhism, explain the role of each of the following :
(a) Simple Teachings.
(b) Similar Language
(c) The Buddhist Sangha.
(d) Royal Patronage
Answer:
With reference to the spread and growth of Buddhism, the role of each of the given heads is explained ahead :
(a) Simple Teachings : Buddha’s teachings were quite simple. He condemned complicated rituals and ceremonies and strongly opposed all forms of sacrifices. He demonstrated a religion devoid of all expensive practices and made it accessible to the common people.

(b) Simple Language :
Buddha and his disciples used only popular dialects as the source for their teachings. They discarded the complicated Sanskrit language of the Vedic scriptures which was unintelligible to the ordinary people.

(c) The Buddhist Sangha :
Buddha established the Buddhist Sangha to spread his teachings far and wide. The male members were called Bhikshus. Even, women were allowed to join the Sangha as Bhikshunis or nuns. They lived in monasteries, know as Viharas, specially constructed for them. They led a highly disciplined life renouncing all pleasures of the world and engaged in preaching the doctrines of Buddha.

(d) Royal Patronge :
Buddhism was apparently accepted by the great leaders like—Ashoka, Kanishka and Harsha. These rulers actively participated in flourishing and popularising Buddhism in the States and abroad. They sent Buddhist Missionaries to many countries like—Sri Lanka, China, Myanmar, Japan and Korea to spread the light of Truth attained by Buddha.

Question 13.
With reference to the decline of Buddhism in India, explain each of the following causes :
(a) Revival of Brahmanical Hinduism.
(b) Loss of Royal Patronage.
(c) Split in Buddhism.
(d) Corruption in Buddhist Sangha.
Answer:
With reference to the decline of Buddhism in India, the given headlines are explained below :
(a) Revival of Brahmanical Hinduism : The efforts of great Brahmin scholars like—Shankaracharya and Kumarila Bhatta to eradicate the evils that had crept into the Brahmanical religion, led to the revival of Hinduism. Eventually, they were able to establish the supremacy of
the Vedic religion over Buddhism.

(b) Loss of Royal Patronage :
The Gupta period marked the beginning of the decline of Buddhism.
The Gupta rulers were zealous followers of Hinduism. They encouraged their religion and the Sanskrit language. They built beautiful temples for the Hindu Gods. Loss of royal patronage was great blow to Buddhism.

(c) Split in Buddhism :
During the reign of Kanishka, Buddhism was split into two sects—the Mahayana and the Hinayana. With the rise of the Mahayana, the line dividing Buddhism from hinduism became very thin. Gradually, the power of Hinduism absorbed Buddhism in itself.

(d) Corruption in Buddhist Sangha :
With the passage of time, the spirit of Buddhism started disappearing in the Buddhist monks and nuns as it was before. They assumed luxurious life in the rich monasteries which had now become the abodes of wealth and power. They indulged in collecting huge amount of money as revenues from the vast estates that were donated to the monasteries. Eventually, corruption crept in. The moral degeneration of the monks and nuns was one of the most important factors of the downfall of Buddhism.

Question 14.
Mention the points of difference between the two sects of Buddhism—the Mahayana and the Hinayana.
Answer:
The points of difference between the Mahayana and Mahayana and the Hinayana are mentioned below :

  1. The Hinayanists belonged to original sect, looking upon Buddha as their teacher and guide and following his simple teachings. They did not look at Buddha as an incarnation of God or as a Saviour.
  2. The Eight-Fold Path was strictly obeyed the followers of Hinayana that constituted on good deeds and a holy life. The Mahayanists, found the concept of Nirvana to be too cold and remote. New ideas of gorgeous heavens came to be developed by them.
  3.  The Hinayanists, rejected idol-worship. Buddha was represented only in Symbols such as a pair of foot-prints or an empty seat.
  4. The Pali script was exercised by the Hinayanists to preach their faith and for writing their sacred literature. The Mahayanists adopted Sanskrit for the writing of the holy texts.

Question 15.
During King Bimbisara’s reign, Magadha rose to great prominence. In this context mention briefly :
(a) The conquests and achievements of King Bimbisara.
(b) Reasons why Magadha became a powerful kingdom.
Answer:
Magadha rose to great prominence during King Bimbisara’s reign in this context the given headlines are briefly described as ahead :
(a) The conquests and achievements of King Bimbisara :
King Bimbisara ruled over Magadha from about 542 BC upto 492 BC. His capital was Rajagriha, the modem Rajgir in the Patna district. Bimbisara conquered Anga, the region to the east of Magadha. He married Kosala Devi of Kosala and received the town of Kasi as dowry. He married Chellana, the youngest daughter of the ruler of Vaishals. Avanti and Gandhara were powerful kingdoms at that time. In the Buddha’s time, Magadha included about eighty thousand villages. Bimbisara was an efficient administrator. He built many roads and bridges and travelled from place to place to find whether his subject was happy or not. He had an effective control over material as well as human resources of kingdom.

(b) Reasons why Magadha became a powerful kingdom :

  1. It has fertile plains to produce a variety of crops. The big landlords employed dasas (slaves) and other labourers. The expansion of the economy led to increased commercial activity. The king received a lot of land-revenue and other taxes. The income was used to maintain vast armies.
  2. Iron was discovered in large quantities in Chota Nagpur and the hilly regions of Magadha. It was used in making weapons and agricultural implements. Magadha’s successful military campaign against Anga eliminated and important rival at the very beginning of its imperial highness.
  3. The rivers – Ganga, Son, Gandaka and Sarayu provided water-ways for traders to go to all actions. The trade, crafts and commercial activity made Magadha a properous kingdom. However, there were great inequalities of income between social classes.
  4. Magadha had a large and strong infantry. It included Chaturangini sena (i.e., the foot-soldiers, the chariot- warriors, the cavalry and the war-elephants). This gave Magadha extra military advantage.

Question 16.
There are many sources to reconstruct the two great religious movements – Jainism and Buddhism. In this context mention the significance of each of the following:
(a) The Jataka tales and the Tripitakas.
(b) Stupa at Sanchi and Shravan Belgola.
Answer:
(a) The Jataka tales and the Tripitakas : The Jatakas tales written in Pali language refer to the previous birth of Lord Buddha. They also throw light on the political, economic and social conditions ranging from fifth to second century BC. The Tripitakas (three baskets or books) is a traditional term used by various Buddhist sects to describe their various covers of scriptures. As the name suggests, a Tripitaka traditionally contains three baskets of teaching.

(b) Stupa at Sanchi and Shravan Belgola :
Stupa at Sanchi is one of the important places of Buddhist pilgrimage. Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of Buddha. It was crowned by the Chatra, symbolising high rank, which was intended to honour and shelter the relics. It showed scenes from the life of the Buddha integrating with everyday events that would be familiar to the onlookers and so make it easier for them to understand the Buddhist creed as relevant to their lives. Shravan Belgola is a city located in the Indian states of Karnataka. It reached a peak in architectural and sculptural activity, under the patronage of Gangas of Talakad. Shravan Belgola which is also known as the white pond of Shravan or the Jain monk. The derivation of the word Belgola appears to have been from the two Kannada words Bel(white) and Kola (pond) in allusion to the beautiful pond in the middle of the town. The Sanskrit equivalents Sveta-Sarovara, and Dhavala Sarovara used in the inscriptions that support the derivation of his word from the Kannada words.

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