Hinglish

New Schools of Thought: Buddhism and Jainism

Class 6 Social Science · Chapter 7: India's Cultural Roots · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 7.2

Learn

In the 1st millennium BCE, many thinkers in north India questioned old ways and searched for new answers about suffering and how to live. Two great teachers from this time were the Buddha and Mahavira.

Siddhartha Gautama was a prince. When he saw old age, sickness and death, he left his palace to find a way to end suffering. After years of searching, he gained enlightenment under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya and became the Buddha, "the awakened one". He gave his first teaching at Sarnath, near Varanasi.

The Buddha taught that suffering comes from desire and attachment, and that it can be ended by following the Middle Path: neither too much luxury nor too much hardship, but right thinking, right speech and right action. He taught in the people's language, so anyone could understand.

Vardhamana Mahavira, also a prince, became the 24th tirthankara of Jainism. Jains follow ahimsa (not harming any living being), aparigraha (not clinging to possessions) and anekantavada (truth has many sides, so respect other views). Both traditions spread across India and beyond.

Explore: the Buddha's journey.

  1. Put the events in order.

Remember

  • The Buddha gained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and taught the Middle Path, first at Sarnath.
  • Mahavira, the 24th tirthankara, taught ahimsa, aparigraha and anekantavada.

Quick check

Which idea is central to Jainism?

  1. Ahimsa: not harming any living being
  2. Winning wars
  3. Collecting wealth
  4. Ignoring others
Answer

Ahimsa: not harming any living being. Jains try to avoid harming even tiny creatures.

Think about it

Anekantavada says truth has many sides. How could this idea help in a class discussion?

One answer

It reminds us that others may see a part of the truth we missed, so we listen, stay respectful and can reach a fuller understanding together.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.