Buddhism, Jainism and Other Religious & Intellectual Currents (6th – 3rd c. BCE)

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential terms, personalities, doctrines, symbols, sects, councils, and historical contexts related to Buddhism, Jainism, and other heterodox ideas in 6th–3rd c. BCE India, plus their broader socio-political backdrop.

Heterodox Movements

6th-century BCE religious philosophies that rejected Brahmanical ritualism, e.g., Buddhism, Jainism, Ajivika, Charvaka.

Brahmanical Orthodoxy

Vedic system dominated by Brahmana priests, elaborate sacrifices, and hereditary social privilege.

Sramana

Non-Vedic wandering ascetic who pursued liberation through austerity; milieu from which Buddha & Mahavira emerged.

Gautama Buddha

Siddhartha of the Shakya clan (c. 566-486 BCE); attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and founded Buddhism.

Lumbini

Birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama in the Nepal Terai, marked by an Ashokan pillar.

Mahabhinishkramana

The Great Renunciation; Buddha’s departure from palace life at age 29 to seek an end to suffering.

Bodhi Tree

Pipal tree at Bodh Gaya under which Buddha attained enlightenment after 49 days of meditation.

Dharmachakra Pravartana

“Setting in motion the Wheel of Dharma”; Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath.

Parinirvana

Final passing away of the Buddha at Kushinagar (483 BCE), ending the cycle of rebirth.

Triratna

The ‘Three Jewels’ of Buddhism: Buddha, Dhamma (Doctrine), and Sangha (Community).

Four Noble Truths

Core Buddhist doctrine on suffering (dukkha), its cause (craving), its cessation, and the path leading to cessation.

Eightfold Path

Buddhist practical path of Right View, Intention, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration.

Karma (Buddhism)

Moral law of cause and effect whereby intentional actions condition future rebirths and experiences.

Nirvana

Ultimate liberation in Buddhism; extinction of desire, suffering, and further rebirth.

Middle Path

Buddha’s principle of avoiding extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.

Sangha

Monastic order of Buddhist monks and nuns founded by the Buddha; organized institution for teaching and practice.

Vassa

Annual rainy-season retreat when Buddhist monks remain in one place for concentrated practice.

Stupa

Hemispherical Buddhist monument housing relics and symbolizing the Buddha’s final nirvana.

Lotus Symbol

Represents Buddha’s pure birth and spiritual blossoming.

Wheel (Dharmachakra)

Eight-spoked emblem of the Buddha’s first sermon and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Bodhi Tree Symbol

Emblem of Enlightenment associated with Buddha’s awakening.

Buddhist Councils

Canonical assemblies convened to compile and preserve the Buddha’s teachings (1st – 4th Councils).

First Buddhist Council

Rajagriha, 483 BCE; Mahakassapa presided; Vinaya and Sutta Pitakas recited by Upali and Ananda.

Second Buddhist Council

Vaishali, 383 BCE; dispute over monastic rules; split into Sthaviravadins and Mahasanghikas.

Third Buddhist Council

Pataliputra under Ashoka, c. 250 BCE; chaired by Moggaliputta Tissa; compiled Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Fourth Buddhist Council

Kashmir under Kanishka, c. 1st c. CE; compilation of Vibhashas and emergence of Mahayana formulation.

Hinayana

‘Lesser Vehicle’; conservative Buddhist schools adhering to early doctrines; later term for Theravada lineage.

Mahayana

‘Greater Vehicle’; Buddhism that venerates bodhisattvas and Buddha images; stresses universal salvation.

Sthaviravadins

Early orthodox Buddhist school emphasizing strict Vinaya discipline.

Mahasanghikas

Early liberal Buddhist school advocating relaxed monastic rules; precursor to Mahayana tendencies.

Tripitaka

‘Three Baskets’ of Buddhist canon: Vinaya (discipline), Sutta (discourses), Abhidhamma (philosophy).

Pali

Prakrit language in which Theravada Buddhist scriptures were composed; medium of mass preaching.

Ashoka

Mauryan emperor (r. c. 268-232 BCE) who adopted Buddhism, issued edicts, and promoted dharma.

Kharoshthi Script

Right-to-left script derived from Aramaic, introduced to NW India under Achaemenid rule.

Jataka Tales

Stories of Buddha’s previous births, found in the Sutta Pitaka, illustrating moral lessons.

Anathapindika

Wealthy merchant of Shravasti; major lay patron who donated Jetavana monastery to the Sangha.

Moggallana & Sariputta

Two foremost monk-disciples of the Buddha renowned for supernatural powers and wisdom, respectively.

Amrapali

Famed courtesan of Vaishali who became a devotee and benefactor of the Buddha.

Tirthankara

‘Ford-maker’; enlightened teacher in Jainism who shows the path to liberation; 24 in total.

Parsvanatha

23rd Tirthankara (c. 9th c. BCE); taught fourfold vow and preceded Mahavira.

Mahavira

Vardhamana (540-468 BCE); 24th Tirthankara, systematized Jainism, emphasized five great vows.

Ahimsa (Jainism)

Supreme principle of non-violence toward all living beings; cornerstone of Jain ethics.

Satya

Truthfulness; second great vow in Jain ethical code.

Asteya

Non-stealing; vow forbidding taking anything not freely given.

Brahmacharya

Celibacy or chastity; added by Mahavira as the fifth major vow.

Aparigraha

Non-possession; detachment from material and emotional attachments.

Ratnatraya (Three Jewels)

Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct—the path to liberation in Jainism.

Jiva and Ajiva

In Jain metaphysics, soul (living substance) and matter (non-living substance).

Kevala Jnana

Omniscience obtained at liberation in Jainism.

Digambara

‘Sky-clad’ Jain sect; monks practice nudity, deny women’s possibility of liberation in current form.

Shvetambara

‘White-clad’ Jain sect; monks and nuns wear white robes; accept canonical scriptures compiled at Vallabhi.

Terapanthi

Reform sub-sect of Shvetambaras rejecting idol worship, emphasizing scripture and non-possession.

Ganadhara

Chief disciple of Mahavira; heads of early Jain schools; eleven in number.

Bhadrabahu

6th Jain Thera; led Digambara migration to Karnataka during Magadhan famine; teacher of Chandragupta Maurya.

Jain Councils

Canonical gatherings; 1st at Pataliputra (c. 300 BCE) compiling 12 Angas; 2nd at Vallabhi (512 CE) redacted texts.

Anga

Primary division of early Jain scripture; originally twelve, one later lost.

Ardhamagadhi

Middle Indo-Aryan language of early Jain canonical literature.

Sanghamitra & Mahendra

Children of Ashoka traditionally credited with spreading Buddhism to Sri Lanka.

Ajivika

Fatalistic sect founded by Makkhali Gosala; taught strict determinism and denial of karma’s efficacy.

Makkhali Gosala

Leader who popularized Ajivika doctrine of niyati (predestination).

Charvaka

Materialist school advocating direct perception, denying afterlife and karma; embraced hedonism.

Purana Kassapa

Teacher of akiriyavada (non-action), denying moral consequences of deeds.

Ajita Kesakambalin

Materialist philosopher teaching annihilationism—nothing survives after death.

Pakudha Kachchayana

Proponent of ashasvatavada: seven eternal, immutable elements compose reality.

Kshatriya

Warrior-ruler varna; class that produced Buddha and Mahavira; often resisted Brahmana dominance.

Vaishya

Merchant-agriculturalist varna; supported heterodox movements due to social mobility offered.

Bodhisattva

Being destined for Buddhahood who postpones nirvana to aid others; central to Mahayana.

Pipal

Sacred fig tree species; Bodhi tree belongs to this variety.

Sutta Pitaka

Canonical ‘basket’ containing Buddha’s discourses and dialogues.

Vinaya Pitaka

Collection of monastic disciplinary rules in Buddhism.

Abhidhamma Pitaka

Philosophical and psychological analyses of Buddhist doctrine; third basket.

Vajra

Thunderbolt-diamond symbol signifying indestructibility; appears in Triratna iconography.

Kalinga

Eastern Indian region whose conquest by Ashoka led to his remorse and embrace of Buddhism.

Northern Black Polished Ware

Archaeological pottery phase (c. 700-200 BCE) linked to urbanization and Magadhan expansion.

Kautilya (Chanakya)

Advisor to Chandragupta Maurya; author/editor of Arthashastra treatise on statecraft.

Chandragupta Maurya

Founder of Mauryan dynasty (r. 321-297 BCE); overthrew Nandas with Chanakya’s aid.

Seleucus I Nicator

Alexander’s general; ceded territories west of Indus to Chandragupta in exchange for war elephants (303 BCE).

Kharavela

Mahameghavahana ruler of Kalinga (1st c. BCE); Hathigumpha inscription mentions conflict with Nandas.

Kharoshthi

Ancient script used in Gandhara; reads right-to-left; derived from Aramaic.

Sanchi Stupa

Early Buddhist monument in Madhya Pradesh, built originally under Ashoka; showcases Triratna and Dharmachakra reliefs.

Bamiyan Buddhas

Colossal rock-cut Buddha statues in Afghanistan (6th-7th c. CE) destroyed in 2001; symbol of Buddhist art’s spread.

Jetavana

Monastery near Shravasti donated by Anathapindika; major site of Buddha’s teachings.

Patimokkha

Buddhist monastic code recited fortnightly within the Sangha.

Prakrit

Group of vernacular Indo-Aryan languages used in early Buddhist and Jain texts.

Shvetambara Symbol Hand

Upraised palm with word ‘Ahimsa’ and wheel, emblematic of Jain non-violence.

Jain Temple Symbolism

Tirthankara idols identical in form; each distinguished by lanchhana (emblem) such as lion for Mahavira.

Paryushan

Annual 8-day Jain festival of fasting, reflection, and forgiveness.

Samvatsari Pratikramana

Three-hour Jain penitential ritual on last day of Paryushan seeking universal forgiveness.

Ahimsa in Politics

Doctrine that inspired Gandhi’s philosophy of satyagraha and non-violent resistance.

Moksha (Jainism)

Release of soul from karmic bondage, ascending to Siddhashila at universe’s apex.

Jain Monastic Rule

Rigorous code requiring non-possessiveness, careful walking, and in Digambara case nudity.

Sramanera / Shravika

Buddhist novice monk / Jain laywoman devotee, showing inclusivity of laity in both traditions.

Dāna

Almsgiving; merit-making practice central to Buddhist lay ethics.

Bodhisattva Ideal

Mahayana emphasis on compassionate beings delaying nirvana to save others.

Vajji Confederacy

Republican mahajanapada north of Ganga; defeated by Magadhan king Ajatashatru.

Ajatashatru

Magadhan ruler (r. c. 492-460 BCE); expanded kingdom; contemporary of Buddha.

Nanda Dynasty

Pre-Mauryan rulers of Magadha; possessed vast army; overthrown by Chandragupta.

Northern Route (Uttarapatha)

Ancient trade corridor along Himalayan foothills; controlled by Magadha from Pataliputra.

Aramaic

Imperial Persian language influencing scripts like Kharoshthi; medium of some Ashokan edicts.