Religions : Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity & Parsi

Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity, Parsi

The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious experiences and ideas. This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,200 years ago (3200 BCE). The prehistory of religion relates to a study of religious beliefs that existed prior to the advent of written records. The timeline of religion is a comparative chronology of religion.

Budhism

Buddha’s Life

Gautama Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. He was born in 563BC, on the day of Vaishakha purnima at Lumbini vana in kapilavastu which is now situated in the foothills of Nepal.
His father was Suddhodhana and his mother was Mahamaya.
His father was the leader of the Sakya Kshatriya clan and his mother was a princess of Kosala dynasty.
After his mother’s early death, he was brought up by his step mother and Aunt Mahaprajapati Gautami.
His actual name was Siddhartha.
He got married to yasodhara.
He had a son whose name was Rahul.
Four sights: an old man, a diseased person, a deadbody and an ascetic-proved to be the turning point of his life.
At the age of 29, he renounced home, which is called Mahabhinishkramana.
His first teacher was Alara Kalama and next teacher was Rudrak Ramputra.
Alara Kalama was a Sankhya philosopher.
After 6 years at the age of 35, under a pipal tree at Uruvella (Bodhgaya) on the bank of river Niranjana (Falgu) he attained Nirvana (Enlightenment) after 49 days of continuous meditation.
He is called Light of Asia.
He delivered his first sermon at Sarnath in Pali. This is known as Dharma Chakra Pravartana.
He delivered his most of sermon in Shrabasti.
He died at the age of 80 in 483BC at Kushinagar. This is known as Mahaparinirvana.

Buddha said that life is full of sorrow.
Nirvana is the ultimate aim of life. It’s mean the eternal state of peace and bliss, which means liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Buddha said to follow the Ashtangika Marga-

Right Observation,
Right Determination,
Right Speech,
Right Action,
Right Livelihood,
Right exercise,
Right memory and
Right Meditation.

Triratna of Buddhism are-
1. Buddha (The Enlightenment),
2. Dharma (Doctrine) and
3. Sangha (Commune).

We know about Buddha from the Pali text ‘Tripitaka’.
From ‘Jataka’ we know about the birth of Buddha

Some Symbol of Buddhism

Great Events of Buddha’s life	Symbols
Janma (Birth)	Lotus & Bull
Mahabhinishkramana	Horse
Nirvana	Bodhi Tree
Dharmachakra Pravartana	Wheel
Mahaparinirvana	Stupa

Bodh Council

Buddhist Council	Year	Venue	Chairman	Patron
1st	483BC	Rajgriha	Mahakassapa	Ajatashatru
2nd	383BC	Vaishali	Sabbakami	Kalashoka
3rd	255BC	Pataliputra	Mogaliputta Tissa	Ashoka
4th	1st Century	Kundalvana (Kashmir)	Ashvaghosh	Kanishka

Jainism

According to jain text there were 24 Tirthankaras.
The first being Rishabhadeva and last being Mahavira.
We have historical proof of only the last two: Parashwanath (23rd) and Mahavira (24th).
The founder of Jainism was Rishavadeva.
Jainism is well established in India but it could not spread widely outside India.

Mahavira’s Life

Mahavira was born in 540 BC in a village Kundagrama near Vaishali in Bihar.
His father was Siddhartha and his mother was Trishala.
His father was the head of the Jnathrika Kshtriya and his mother was the sister of Chetaka, the king of Vaishali.
His actual name was Bardhaman.
Mahavira married yashoda and had a daughter Annoja Priyadarshini.
Jamil was the husband of Annoja Priyadarshini.
Jamil became the first disciple of Mahavira.
At the age of 30 he renounced his family in search of the truth. After 12 years at the age of 42, under a sal tree at Jimbhikagrama on the bank of river Rijupalika, Mahavira attained Kaivalya (supreme knowledge).
He delivered his first sermon at Pava to his 11 disciples (known as 11 ganadhars)
At the age of 72 in 468BC he passed away at Pavapuri near Bihar sharif in Bihar.

The Triratna of Jainism is :

Samyak Darshana (right faith),
Samyak Gyan (right knowledge) and
Samyak Acharana (right action/conduct).

The Principles of Jainism as Preached by Mahavira

Rejected the authority of the Vedas and Vedic ritual
Did not believe in the existence of God
Believed in karma and the transmigration of soul
Laid great emphasis on equality

Followers of Mahavira are divided into 2groups: Those who follow Sthulabhadra are called Swetambara and those who follow Bhadrababahu are called Digambara.
The principles of Jainism were divided into 12 parts which are called ‘Dadas Anga’ or ‘Siddhanta’.

Jain Council

Jain Council	Year	Venue	Chairman	Patron
1st	300BC	Pataliputra	Sthulabhadra	Chandragupta Maurya
4th	512AD	Vallabhi	Kshmasramana	------

Islam

The founder of Islam was Hajrat Muhammad Sahib.
He was born in 570 A.D. in Mecca.
His father was Abdulla and mother was Amina
He got the supreme knowledge in 610 A.D. in Hira cave which is situated near Mecca.
He went to Madina from Mecca in September 24, 622 A.D. This is called the Hijri Samvat (era).
He was married to Khadija at the age of 25 years.
Fatima was his daughter.
Ali Hussain was husband of Fatima.
Quran Sharif was given to Mohammad Sahib by Gabriel.
Koran Sharif is written in Arabic.
It is the pious book of Islam.
He departed this life in June 8, 632 A.D. After which Islam divided into 2 groups Shia and Sunni.
Sunni are mainly followers of Mohammad Sahib.
Siya are followers of Ali who is son-in-law of Mohammad Sahib.
Ali was killed in 661 A.D.
Hussain, son of Ali was killed in 680 A.D. in Karbala which is situated in Iran.
They are called Khalifa.
This Khalifa system continued till 1924 A.D.
In 1924 A.D. the ruler of turkey Mustafa Kamal Pasha ends this system.
Ibn Ishaq wrote about the life of Mohammad Sahib.
On the birthday of Mohammad Sahib the festival Eid-E-Milad-Un-Nabi is celebrated.

Christianity

The founder of Christianity is Isha Masiha (Jesus Christ).
The pious book of Christian is Bible.
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem which is situated near Jerusalem.
His mother was Merry.
Crishmas is celebrated on the birthday of Jesus Christ.
He was a carpenter in his first life upto the age of 30 years.
His first 2 followers were Andus and Piter.
He was hanged to death by the Roman Governor Pontios.
He was hanged at the age of 33 years.
Christian’s pious symbol is Cross.
The tri ratna of Christian was: God is Father, God is Son and God is the pious Soul.

Parsi

The founder of Parsi was Jarathrushta.
He was a Persian.
Their Pious book is Jend Abesta.
In this religion Ahur is considered as God.
The followers of this religion worship the fire.