⚡ Topic 06 of 6 · Chapter 04 · Quick Revision
Jainism vs Buddhism Comparison & Quick Revision
Jainism vs Buddhism comparison table, key facts, complete chapter revision checklist.
📊 Jainism vs Buddhism — Comparison
| Feature | Jainism | Buddhism |
|---|---|---|
| Founder | Vardhamana Mahavira (24th Tirthankara) | Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni) |
| Birth | 599 BCE, Kundagrama (Bihar) | 563 BCE, Lumbini (Nepal) |
| Enlightenment | Kevala Jnana at Jrimbhikagrama | Bodhi at Bodh Gaya (under Bodhi tree) |
| Death | 527 BCE, Pavapuri | 483 BCE, Kushinara |
| Soul (Atman) | Believes in eternal soul (Jiva) | Anatta — no permanent soul |
| God | No creator God; Tirthankaras as role models | No creator God; Buddha as teacher |
| Ahimsa | Extreme non-violence; even microbes | Non-violence; but less extreme |
| Karma | Physical particles binding soul | Mental/intentional actions |
| Liberation | Moksha — through Triratna | Nirvana — through Eightfold Path |
| Caste | Rejected caste system | Rejected caste system |
| Vedas | Rejected Vedic authority | Rejected Vedic authority |
| Language | Prakrit (Ardhamagadhi) | Pali (Hinayana); Sanskrit (Mahayana) |
| Spread | Mainly India (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka) | Spread across Asia |
✅ Complete Chapter 04 Revision Checklist
✅ 16 Mahajanapadas: Mentioned in Anguttara Nikaya (Buddhist) and Bhagavati Sutra (Jain)
✅ Four most powerful: Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa, Avanti
✅ Assaka = only Mahajanapada south of Vindhyas
✅ Vajji = republican confederation; capital Vaishali
✅ Bimbisara (544–492 BCE) = first great Magadha king; contemporary of Buddha
✅ Ajatashatru = killed Bimbisara; defeated Vajji; First Buddhist Council
✅ Nanda dynasty = first non-Kshatriya; largest empire; Alexander’s army refused to cross Beas
✅ Mahavira = 24th Tirthankara; born 599 BCE; died 527 BCE; Pavapuri
✅ Parshvanatha = 23rd Tirthankara; 4 vows (Mahavira added Brahmacharya)
✅ Triratna = Right Faith + Right Knowledge + Right Conduct
✅ Anekantavada = many-sidedness of truth
✅ Digambara = sky-clad; Shvetambara = white-clad
✅ Buddha born 563 BCE; Lumbini; Shakya clan
✅ Enlightenment = Bodh Gaya; First Sermon = Sarnath; Death = Kushinara (483 BCE)
✅ Four Noble Truths = Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha, Magga
✅ Eightfold Path = Middle Path to Nirvana
✅ Anatta = no permanent soul (key difference from Jainism)
✅ First Council = Rajagriha = Ajatashatru = Mahakassapa
✅ Third Council = Pataliputra = Ashoka = Moggaliputta Tissa
✅ Fourth Council = Kashmir = Kanishka = Vasumitra; Hinayana vs Mahayana split
✅ Mahinda and Sanghamitra = Ashoka’s children = took Buddhism to Sri Lanka
✅ Sanchi Stupa = Ashoka; MP; oldest surviving stupa
✅ Ajanta = paintings; Buddhist; Maharashtra
✅ Ellora = Buddhist + Hindu + Jain; Maharashtra
✅ Nalanda destroyed = 1193 CE = Bakhtiyar Khilji
✅ Four most powerful: Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa, Avanti
✅ Assaka = only Mahajanapada south of Vindhyas
✅ Vajji = republican confederation; capital Vaishali
✅ Bimbisara (544–492 BCE) = first great Magadha king; contemporary of Buddha
✅ Ajatashatru = killed Bimbisara; defeated Vajji; First Buddhist Council
✅ Nanda dynasty = first non-Kshatriya; largest empire; Alexander’s army refused to cross Beas
✅ Mahavira = 24th Tirthankara; born 599 BCE; died 527 BCE; Pavapuri
✅ Parshvanatha = 23rd Tirthankara; 4 vows (Mahavira added Brahmacharya)
✅ Triratna = Right Faith + Right Knowledge + Right Conduct
✅ Anekantavada = many-sidedness of truth
✅ Digambara = sky-clad; Shvetambara = white-clad
✅ Buddha born 563 BCE; Lumbini; Shakya clan
✅ Enlightenment = Bodh Gaya; First Sermon = Sarnath; Death = Kushinara (483 BCE)
✅ Four Noble Truths = Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha, Magga
✅ Eightfold Path = Middle Path to Nirvana
✅ Anatta = no permanent soul (key difference from Jainism)
✅ First Council = Rajagriha = Ajatashatru = Mahakassapa
✅ Third Council = Pataliputra = Ashoka = Moggaliputta Tissa
✅ Fourth Council = Kashmir = Kanishka = Vasumitra; Hinayana vs Mahayana split
✅ Mahinda and Sanghamitra = Ashoka’s children = took Buddhism to Sri Lanka
✅ Sanchi Stupa = Ashoka; MP; oldest surviving stupa
✅ Ajanta = paintings; Buddhist; Maharashtra
✅ Ellora = Buddhist + Hindu + Jain; Maharashtra
✅ Nalanda destroyed = 1193 CE = Bakhtiyar Khilji