Samacheer Class 6 Social Science - Great Thinkers and New Faiths

Sangha, meaning association or community, was an important institution formed by Buddha for the propagation and preservation of his faith and teachings. The members of the Sangha were called Bhikshus or monks, who dedicated their lives to spreading Buddhism and living according to Buddhist principles. These monks led lives of strict austerity, renouncing worldly possessions and pleasures to focus on spiritual development and the attainment of Nirvana. The Sangha served as a monastic order that helped organize Buddhist communities, preserve Buddhist texts and teachings, and provide guidance to followers seeking to understand and practice Buddhism. The establishment of the Sangha was crucial in making Buddhism a well-organized religion that could survive and spread across different regions and generations.

The Silapathikaram, an ancient Tamil literary work, mentions Gownthiyadigal as a female Jain monk who played a significant role in the narrative. According to the text, when Kovalan and Kannagi were traveling to Madurai, they encountered Gownthiyadigal, who blessed the couple and accompanied them on their journey. This reference is important as it demonstrates that Jainism had female ascetics or monks who were respected members of the religious community and played active roles in the spiritual and social life of the time. The mention of Gownthiyadigal in this classical Tamil work provides historical evidence of women's participation in Jain monastic orders during the ancient period.

The five important rules of conduct in Jainism, known as the Mahavratas or great vows, are fundamental principles that guide the behavior and spiritual development of Jain monks and nuns. Ahimsa, the principle of non-violence, requires followers not to injure or harm any living beings, as all life is considered sacred. Satya, the vow of truthfulness, demands that followers speak only the truth and avoid deception in all circumstances. Asteya, the vow of non-stealing, prohibits taking anything that is not freely given and requires respect for others' possessions. Aparigraha, the vow of non-attachment, teaches followers to renounce the desire to own property and accumulate material possessions, recognizing that attachment to worldly things leads to suffering. Brahmacharya, the vow of celibacy, requires followers to abstain from sexual relations and maintain purity of body and mind. Together, these five vows form the ethical foundation of Jain practice and help practitioners progress toward spiritual liberation and enlightenment.

The Four Noble Truths are the core teachings of Buddhism that explain the nature of suffering and the path to liberation. The First Noble Truth states that life is full of sorrow, misery, and suffering, encompassing physical pain, emotional distress, and the inevitable experiences of aging, illness, and death that all living beings must face. The Second Noble Truth identifies desire or craving as the root cause of this suffering and misery, explaining that human attachment to worldly pleasures, possessions, and the desire for continued existence perpetuates the cycle of suffering. The Third Noble Truth teaches that sorrows and sufferings can be removed and that liberation is possible by giving up or overcoming one's desires and attachments to the material world. The Fourth Noble Truth prescribes the practical method for achieving this liberation, which is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path, also known as the right path, which provides the ethical, mental, and spiritual disciplines necessary to overcome desire and attain Nirvana, the ultimate state of peace and enlightenment.

Hinayana and Mahayana are two major sects of Buddhism that developed different interpretations and practices of Buddhist teachings. In terms of worship practices, Hinayana did not worship idols or images of Buddha, considering such practices unnecessary for spiritual development, while Mahayana embraced the worship of Buddha images and statues as aids to devotion and spiritual practice. Regarding lifestyle and discipline, Hinayana practitioners practiced strict austerity and renunciation of worldly life, whereas Mahayana observed more elaborate rituals and ceremonies that were accessible to lay followers. The two sects also differed in their spiritual goals: Hinayana focused on the salvation of the individual through personal effort and discipline, aiming for individual enlightenment, while Mahayana believed in the salvation of all beings as its ultimate objective, emphasizing compassion and the bodhisattva ideal of helping all sentient beings achieve liberation. Linguistically, Hinayana used Prakrit languages in its texts and teachings, while Mahayana adopted Sanskrit, which facilitated its spread to wider regions. Geographically, Hinayana remained largely confined to India, whereas Mahayana spread extensively to Central Asia, Ceylon, Burma, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, and other regions, where the middle path and more inclusive approach were readily accepted by diverse populations.

(i) In ancient Tamil literature, Jainism is referred to as Samanam. There is a Samanar Hill or Samanar Malai in Keelakuyilkudi village, 15 km away from Madurai. The images of Tirthankaras created by Jain monks are found in the hill. It is a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India.
(ii) There is a reference to Aravor Palli, a place of living for Jain monks, in Manimegalai.
(iii) Buddhism spread to Tamil Nadu much later than Jainism. Manimekalai, one of the epics of the post-Sangam age is Buddhist literature.
(iv) There is an elaborate description of Kanchipuram in the classical epic Manimegalai.

The Four Great Sights refer to four significant encounters that profoundly influenced Prince Siddhartha and motivated him to seek spiritual enlightenment. At the age of twenty-nine, while living a sheltered life in his father's palace, Siddhartha ventured outside and witnessed four sorrowful sights that awakened him to the reality of human suffering. The first sight was an uncared old man in tattered rags with a bent back, which made Siddhartha realize the inevitability of aging and the physical decline that comes with old age. The second sight was a sick man suffering from an incurable disease, which revealed to him the reality of illness and the pain that accompanies disease. The third sight was a man's corpse being carried to the burial ground by weeping relatives, which confronted him with the reality of death and the grief it causes to loved ones. The fourth sight was an ascetic, a wandering holy man who had renounced worldly life in search of spiritual truth, which inspired Siddhartha to believe that there might be a way to transcend suffering through spiritual practice. These four encounters deeply moved Siddhartha and led him to abandon his princely life and embark on a spiritual quest that eventually resulted in his enlightenment as Buddha.

Karma refers to the principle that a person's actions have consequences that shape their present and future circumstances. Good actions or deeds are those performed with positive intentions and that benefit others or contribute to personal moral development. Some examples of good actions include helping a friend in need during difficult times, performing charitable acts and donating to those less fortunate, planting trees to contribute to environmental conservation, donating old cell phones or other useful items to those who need them, donating blood to save lives, making positive changes in oneself to become a better person, swallowing one's pride and apologizing sincerely for mistakes or wrongdoings, donating school supplies to children from underprivileged homes to support their education, answering the phone in a cheerful and respectful voice to spread positivity, and purchasing extra food items while shopping to donate to food pantries or homeless individuals. These actions embody the principles of compassion, generosity, honesty, and service to others, which are considered virtuous deeds that generate positive karma and contribute to a more compassionate and just society.

Hinduism is characterized by the Dasavathara, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, and the Rudra Tandava, the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva that represents the cycle of creation and destruction. The Maha Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage gathering held periodically where millions of Hindus gather to bathe in sacred rivers. Christianity centers on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who was crucified for the salvation of humanity. The Holy See is the central authority of the Christian Church, and Nazareth is the birthplace of Jesus. The Sermon on the Mount contains Jesus's core ethical teachings, and the Twelve Disciples were his closest followers who spread his message. Islam is centered on the city of Mecca, the holiest site in Islam where pilgrims gather for the Hajj. The number 786 is considered sacred in Islamic numerology, and the Hijri calendar marks the Islamic era beginning with Prophet Muhammad's migration. The Quran is the holy scripture of Islam, and Muhammad is revered as the final prophet. Buddhism emphasizes the teachings of Buddha at Bodh Gaya, the place of his enlightenment. Hinayana is one major sect of Buddhism, Dhamma refers to Buddhist teachings, the Tripitakas are the three baskets of Buddhist scriptures, and Stupas are sacred monuments built to enshrine Buddhist relics. Jainism is founded on the teachings of the Tirthankaras, the enlightened spiritual teachers. Svetambara and Digambara are the two major sects of Jainism, Gownthiyadigal was a respected female Jain monk mentioned in ancient texts, and the Triratnas or three jewels of Jainism are right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.

Left to right:
1. One of the Tri Rathna: Right
2. Buddha’s teachings are referred to as
3. A great center of education
4. The place where Buddha attained enlightenment
5. Not to injure any living being
Right to left:
6. Mother of Siddhartha Maya
7. The Quality of man’s life depends on his deed
Top to bottom:
8. Lumbini is in
9. Buddhist prayer hall
10. A state of freedom from birth
11. Jain scripture compiled by Gautama Swami.

Mahavira is widely believed to be the real founder of Jainism because, although there were earlier Tirthankaras, Mahavira systematized and revitalized the ancient Shramanic traditions, giving them a distinct philosophical and ethical framework. He was the 24th and last Tirthankara, and his teachings provided a comprehensive and accessible path to spiritual liberation. Mahavira's emphasis on strict asceticism, the five great vows (ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, and aparigraha), and the concept of Anekantavada (non-absolutism) profoundly shaped Jainism into the religion it is known as today. His efforts led to the widespread propagation and organization of the Jain community, making him the pivotal figure in its historical development and establishment as a distinct religion.