Buddhism

 

Lecture 5 Buddhism

Buddha Life Events

Born- 563 BC, Lumbini(Nepal- while is mother was in journey), Name- Siddhartha

Died-(Mahaparinirvan) 483 BC, Kushinagar(Malla mahajanapada)

Father- Shuddhodhan(Leader of Shakya Kul, King of Kapilvastu)

Mother- Mahamaya(Princess from Koshalan dynasty), Foster mother(Dai maa)- Gautami

Wife- Yashodhara

Son -Rahul

Left house at the age of 29 to become ascetic(Mahabhinishkramana/The great departure).

Enlightenment(Nirvana) at the age of 35 at bodhgaya under a pipal tree(on the bank of niranjana river).

First sermon at sarnath(Dharma chakra pravartan).

Lumbini was built by Anjana(King of the koliya clan), for his queen Rupa Devi or Rummindei. In buddhist texts, Lumbini is mentioned as Pradimokhsha-vana(sin free forest). 

Buddha Names

1. Sidhartha- Childhood name/Original Name
2. Gautam Buddha- After enlightenment
3. Tathagata- Buddha used this word instead of I or myself(in pali texts)
4. Shakyamuni- Ashokan inscriptions
5. Light of Asia(book, 1879)- Sir Edwin Arnold

Buddha used to live a confined life. At the age of 29, for the first time he came out of his palace on a chariot, accompanied by his charioteer Channa.

On his journey he observed 4 scenes.

1. An old man(Consequence of aging)
2. A sick person(All beings are subjected to disease and pain)
3. A dead body(Death is an inevitable fate)
4. An Ascetic(A path of salvation)

Next day, Buddha left the palace on his horse Kantaka, accompanied only by Channa.

Buddha learned meditation(Dhyanik state- sphere of nothingness) from Alara Kalama, a monk of the sarman tradition(first teacher of buddha). 

After that Buddha learned another meditation(Dhyanik state- formless attainments) from Uddaka Ramaputra.

After attending enlightenment/nirvana at the age of 35, Buddha gave his first sermon at sarnath to his 5 disciples. 

In his first sermon he told about 4 noble truths.

Preached most sermons at sravasti.

Preached last sermon(to mass) at vaishali.

Buddha preached his last sermon to disciple Subhadra(at Kushinagar).

Buddha was cremated at Ramabhar Stupa.

On the request of his favorite disciple ‘Ananda’, he allowed females to join buddhism. 

First female to endorse buddhism- Prajapati Gautami(foster mother of buddha)

Second female- Amrapali

People were accepted by buddhist order without consideration of caste, creed and sex. However soldiers, slaves and debators were not allowed to join buddhist sangh. 

Triratna(three jewels of buddhism)- Buddha, Sangha and Dhamma

Buddhist Philosophy

Unlike Jainism, Buddhism did not recognize the existence of god and soul. Buddhism also reject the aryan caste system. 

Instead of soul and other philosophical stuff, he focused on worldly problems.

He described three marks of existence

1. Impermanence(Anicca)- Nothing is permanent
2. Unsatisfactoriness(Dukkha)- Sorrow is an integral part of life. 
3. Non-self(Anatta)- No unchanging permanent self. As one can't remain connect with anything permanently, this philosophy support the concept of non-attachment. In philosophical terms it rejects the concept of soul. 

For salvation from samsara(birth cycle/rebirth), Buddha told about 4 noble truths and eightfold path for salvation.

Buddha suggested a middle path(eightfold path) for salvation, neither too luxurious life nor too ascetic.

Buddha also laid down code of conducts for his followers(same as jainism)

1. Non violence(Ahimsa) 2. Truth(Satya) 3. Non stealing of others property(Astay) 4. No use of intoxicants(Aparigraha of intoxicants) 5. No sexual misconduct(Bramhacharya)

Buddhist Council

Early Buddhist Schools 

In the 2nd buddhist council, the sangh got split into two sects/schools(Sthaviranikaya and Mahasanghika). And between the 2nd buddhist council and the 3rd buddhist council, there were 18 different schools that emerged from these two main schools.

King Ashoka was related to the Vibhajyavadin school. 

He had sent tripitaka with his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to spread buddhism. (Mahavamsa text of sri lanka) 

At that time, Sri Lanka was ruled by the king Devanampiya Tissa. Sanghamitra planted Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura(capital of sri lanka kingdom at that time).

After the 3rd council more schools emerged from these schools. In Chinese texts(written by Chinese travelers), there is mention of more than 20 schools. 

With the passing of time, many schools disappeared and in the 4th buddhist council only few survived. One of the surviving schools was Mahayana(mahasanghika). And the Mahayana school started mentioning other surviving schools as Hinayana or Sravakayana. With further passing of time, only Theravada branch of Hinayana survived and after that theravada was used as synonyms to hinayana. A new school Zen originated in china from mahayana buddhist during the tang dynasty. 

At the time of Gupta age, a new school emerged known as Vajrayana(Tantric buddhism). Besides the study of major mahayana texts, this branch used to study Kanjur and Tanjur. 

In modern times, BR Ambedkar gave reinterpretation of buddhism and this is known as 5th school- Navayana.

Early Buddhist Schools Philosophy

Four stages of awakening(Cutting 10 fetters) 

1. Sotapanna(Stream entrant- cutting of first three fetters by joining Dhamma)
2. Sakadagami(Returning once- only one more rebirth for those who weakened 4th and 5th chains)
3. Anagami(Non-returning- no rebirth for those who cut down first 5 chains)
4. Arahant(A person who achieved nirvana but not the buddhahood- abandoned all 10 fetters)

Hinayana Vs Mahayana

The terms hinayana and mahayana originated in the prajnaparamita sutra.

Buddhist Texts

Mahavastu is written in mixed Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit language.

Bodhisattva

Bodhisattva is one who generated the Bodhichitta to attain buddhahood. So even the previous life birth of buddha is known as bodhisattva. 

Three bodhisattva around buddha

1. Avalokiteshvara/Padmapani(bodhisattva of compassion)- Lotus bearer
2. Vajrapani(bodhisattva of power)- Bears thunderbolt
3. Manjusri(bodhisattva of wisdom)- Bears a book(Prajnaparamita sutra) and a sword

Other bodhisattva

1. Akasagarbha(bodhisattva of happiness)- Associated with element of space
2. Ksitigarbha(bodhisattva of great vows)- Guardian of children, twin of Akasagarbha
3. Vasudhara(bodhisattva of fertility)- Popular in nepal
4. Skanda- Guardian of Dhamma
5. Samantabhadra- Represent practice and meditation of all buddha
6. Sitatapatra- Goddess to protect from supernatural danger
7. Maitreya- Future buddha

 

Bodhisattva Vajrayana

Tara- Female deity associated with success and achievement.

Vajrapani

1. Vairocana
2. Akshobhya
3. Amitabha(bodhisattva of infinite light)
4. Ratnasambhava
5. Amoghasiddhi

Buddhist Monks 

Nagsen(150 BC, Sarvastivdan)- Answered the question of Meander(Milind, Indo-Greek king). The conversation is recorded in the book Milinda Panho(Pali). Sanskrit version of milind panho is Nagsenbhiksutra

Asvaghosha(1st century AD, Mahayana)- Wrote Buddhacharita(sanskrit). Contemporary of Kanishka.

Nagarjuna(2nd century AD, Mahayana)- Founder of Madhymaka school of Mahayana.

Vasubandhu(4th century AD, Mahayana)- Wrote Abhidharmakosa(encyclopedia of buddhism)

Buddhaghosa(5th century AD, Theravada)- Wrote Visuddhimagga(pali). He was scholar from sri lanka. 

Bodhidharma(5/6th century AD)- Transmitted buddhism to China. He started Shaolin Kungfu.

Padmasambhava(8th century AD, Vajrayana)- Considered as 2nd Buddha in Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.

Buddhist Monks China

Kumarajiva(4th century AD)- Introduced the Madhyamaka school in China. Translated many Sanskrit Buddhist texts into the Chinese language.

Fahien(402 AD)- Came via land route(Kashmir) and left via sea route(Bengal)- only visited the north India + Sri Lanka(2 Year stay). He visited India during the rule of Chandragupta II(gupta dynasty). He visited nalanda, but at that time Nalanda university was not established. His Travelogue “Records of Buddhist Kingdoms”(Fo-kyo-ki). He wrote about the caste system in india. 

Hiuen Tsang(629-645 AD)- Came and left via land route(Kashmir).During his journey he was attacked by the robbers. He came to India during the reign of the king Harshavardhana, Pulakeshin II, Mahendravarman I. He studied at Nalanda, where he met Silabhadra(Yogacara teacher, personal teacher of Hiuen Tsang). He visited different parts of India. In Amravati, he learned Abhidhamma Pitaka. He attained king Bhaskar Verman’s court of Kamrupa. He recorded his 15 year experience(of India) in his book Si-yu-ki. He mentioned about Chandal(untouchable, caste system) in his writing. 

I-sing(675 AD)- Came via sea route(via Indonesia to Bengal). He studied at the Nalanda university.

Buddhist Architecture

Stupa- Vedic age culture but popularize by buddhism

Vihar and Chaitya- Cave architecture emerged during Mauryan times

Statue- Buddhist statue by gandhara school of arts(Kushan), mathura school of art(Kushan) and amaravati school of arts(Satavahana)

Buddhist Monastery at Shravasti

1. Migarmataupasada- built by Visaka/Migarata (Chief female patron of buddha)
2. Jetavana- built by Anathapindika(Chief male patron of buddha) on the land bought from kosala king

Dhamma Dipa International Buddhist University (DDIBU), Tripura --> first Buddhist-run university in modern India

Buddhist Architecture Stupa

Burial mounds prevalent in India from vedic period. Although Stupa was a vedic tradition, it was popularised by buddhism.

Earlier stupas were made up of woods.

After the death of buddha, 9 stupas(8- relics, 1- pot) were erected in gangetic plains. (Rajagriha, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, Ramagrama, Vethapida, Pava, Kushinagar, and Pippalivana)

The textual tradition also mentions construction of various other stupas on the relics of the Buddha at several places including Avanti and Gandhara which are outside the Gangetic valley.

During Ashoka time, the art of stupas reached its climax. Around 84,000 stupas were erected during his time. 

The foundation of the Amaravati Stupa was laid by the great Mahadeva-Bikshu emissary of the Emperor Ashoka.

Largest Buddhist Stupa in world- Kesariya buddha stupa

Lord buddha cremation- Ramabhar Stupa/Mukut-Bandhan Chaitya(built by Malla people)

Oldest surviving stupa- Piprahwa stupa(5th century BC, bricks structure, built by Shakya clan)

Oldest stone stupa- Sanchi stupa(built by Ashoka, During Mauryan time- most of the stupas were constructed with the help of bricks)

Stupa where buddha gave first sermon- Dhamek Stupa(Originally built by Ashoka)

Stupa made by Kanishka- Peshawar Stupa

Phanigiri(1st century BC to 4th century AD)- Buddhist site in Suryapet district, Telangana. The place consists of a Buddhist complex which is adorned with a massive stupa. 

Stupa Design

Toranas(Gateways) were added by Shung dynasty.

Torans and medi were decorated with various motifs like jataka tales and other stories.

Buddhist Architecture Chaitya and Vihar

Chaitya

It refers to a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in Indian religions. Most early examples of chaitya that survive are Indian rock-cut architecture

Chaityas have a gigantic hall with high vaulted roof, with a lot of sculpture work on the pillars and the entrance. The largest Chaitya-Griha among all Buddhist monuments in India is the Karle caves.

Many Chaityas show a stupa at the back. Chaityas were carved either as rectangular halls or apsidal vault-roof or apsidal vault pillarless halls.

Vihar

Originally, viharas were dwelling places used by the wandering monks during the rainy season but eventually it get evolved into the centers of learning and Buddhist architecture through the donations of wealthy lay Buddhists.

Life in “Viharas” was codified under the Pali canon- the Vinaya Pitaka.

Typical large sites such as the Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad Caves, Karli Caves, and Kanheri Caves contain several viharas.

The Mauryan period witnessed the emergence of the rock cut cave architectures. During the Mauryan period, these caves were generally used as vihars and the earliest viharas were made for the ajivika sect. Later on, different dynasties in different parts of India contributed to the cave architecture. 

Cave Architectures

1. Mauryan Times

• Barabar Caves, Bihar- 4 caves were built under patronage of Ashoka named Lomash Rishi cave(Ajivika sect), Sudama cave, Vishwamitra cave(Ajivika sect) and Karan Chaupar cave(Buddhist)
• Nagarjuni Caves, Bihar- 3 caves were built under patronage of Dasrath(grandson of Ashoka) for ajivika sect.
• Junagadh Caves, Gujrat- Buddhist caves built between Ashoka times to 4th century AD.

2. Satavahana Times

• Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad(Maharashtra)- 29 buddhist caves(25- vihars, 4- chaityas ) on sahyadri range on the bank of waghora river. It was built in two phases.

First phase(200-100 BC)- Under satavahana rulers

Second Phase(5th century AD)- Harisen(Vakataka ruler)+ Chalukyas

Famous mural paintings- Jataka Tales, Bodhisattva, Birth of buddha, Flying Apsara, Dying Princess

The mention of these caves can be found in the writings of Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang. Ain-e-akbari(Abul Fazal) also mentions about these caves.

• Mahakali Caves, Mumbai- 19 Buddhist caves in the Udayagiri hill built from 200 BC to 60 AD.
• Pandavleni Caves, Nasik- 24 buddhist cave(hinayan) built around 1st century AD. Gautami Balasani(mother of Gautamiputra Satakarni) gave finance for the cave number 3.
• Bedsa Caves, Pune- Buddhist caves built around 1st century AD.
• Karle Caves, Bannerghatta Hills(Lonavala)- Largest rock cut chaitya of India built around 120 AD.
• Kanheri Caves, Mumbai- 2nd largest chaitya hall. Cave making started during satavahana times and continued till 9th century AD.

An inscription mention about marriage of Vashist Putra Satakarni and daughter of Rudradaman I

• Bhaja Cave, Pune- Cave with wooden ceiling built around 2nd century AD.
• Patan Cave, Maharashtra- Built around 2nd century AD.

Mural- painting directly on wall.

Fresco- paintings on freshly plastered wall(wet plaster). 

3. Post Satavahana 

• Elephanta Caves, Mumbai- Built around 5th-11th century AD. originally buddhist site but later dominated by Shaivites. Cave temple was built by Krishnaraja of Kalchuri dynasty
• Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve(MP)- 26 Mahayana Buddhist caves of 2nd to 5th century AD + 26 temples of 9-11th century AD(Kalachuri dynasty) 
• Ellora Caves, Maharashtra- 34 caves built around 600-1000 AD. out of 34, 12 are buddhist caves, 17 are hindu caves, and 5 are jain caves. Hindu and buddhist caves were carved out under rashtrakuta patronage and jain caves were carved out under Yadava patronage. 

Cave 16- Kailash temple built by Krishna I(Rashtrakuta dynasty)- world largest single monolithic structure. 

• Jogeshwari Caves, Mumbai- Built around 6th century AD by monks and Brahman.
• Montperir(mandapeshwar) Caves, Mumbai- originally buddhist and hindu caves, but later hindu caves transformed into christain caves.
• Bagh Caves, Gwalior(MP)- Buddhist caves on the southern slope of vindhya range built under patronage of Gupta rulers. Cave 4 of Bagh caves is known as rangmahal.  

Buddhist Architecture Statue

In Post Mauryan time, three prominent schools of sculpture developed at three different region of india. 

Various Mudras are defined based on hand gesture of Buddha Statue.

• Anjali Mudra- for bodhisattva who aims for enlightenment.

• Dhyan Mudra- Used by buddha during the final meditation under the bodhi tree(before enlightenment).

• Bhumisparsha Mudra- The moment buddha attained enlightenment. This mudra significance- calling the earth to witness the truth.

• Abhay(Fearlessness) Mudra- Gesture immediately after attaining enlightenment.

• Uttarabodhi Mudra- Supreme enlightenment

Vajra Mudra(Korea and Japan region)- Represent Knowledge or supreme wisdom 

Dharmachakra Mudra- When buddha preached his first sermon.

Vitarka Mudra- For intellectual debate and discussion

Varada Mudra- For granting wishes

Karana Mudra- to ward off evil and negative thought

Reclining Buddha

It represent last illness before parinirvan. 

The first reclining buddha statue was made at gandhara school of arts.

In 2021, India’s largest reclining buddha statue(100 feet) was installed at bodhgaya.

World largest reclining buddha statue- Tawya buddha(600 feet), Mawlamyine((Myanmar)

Decline of Buddhism

In 254 BC, Tissarakkha, Ashoka's queen, destroyed the original Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, as she did not favour Ashoka embracing Buddhism.

Various rulers(Pusyamitra sung, Mihirkula) started persecution of Buddhists. The shaivite Shashank of gauda felled the bodhi tree in 7th century AD. 

In starting, buddhism is about reforms, but eventually it succumbs to the ritual and ceremonies it originally denounced. And at the same time Brahman reformed their religion. 

Buddhist monks started the use of sanskrit language instead of pali and introduced idol worship on a large scale. They start taking offerings from devotees. This led to change in the nature of the Buddhist monasteries- Monks became easy loving and corrupt.

Enormous wealth of the Buddhist monastery attracted foreign invaders. Turkish invaders destroyed Nalanda and Vikramshila in 12th century AD. 

And by the end of the 12th century, Buddhism became virtually extinct from India.

The Current bodhi tree was planted by lord Cunningham in 1881 with the help of branch from Anuradhapura(Sri Lanka).

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