CBSE Notes Class 6 History: New Questions and Ideas

In the 6th century BCE, the Indian subcontinent witnessed a period of significant intellectual and social ferment. As urban life expanded and trade flourished, people began questioning traditional rituals and sacrifices. This chapter explores the rise of new religious movements, most notably Buddhism and Jainism, which challenged the existing social order.

The Story of Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was a kshatriya who belonged to a small gana known as the Sakya Gana. He led a life of luxury but was deeply disturbed by the suffering he saw in the worldold age, disease, and death. Searching for the truth, he left his home at the age of 29.

After years of wandering and meditation, he attained enlightenment under a pipal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. He became known as the Buddha, or the 'Enlightened One.' He gave his first sermon at Sarnath and spent the rest of his life teaching people about kindness, respect for life, and the effects of one's actions (karma).

The Upanishads

Around the same time as the Buddha, other thinkers were trying to understand the nature of the universe, life, and death. Their ideas were recorded in the Upanishads, which are part of the later Vedic texts. The term 'Upanishad' literally means 'approaching and sitting near,' implying that students sat near their teachers to learn.

The Upanishads contain dialogues between teachers and students. Most thinkers were men, especially brahmins and rajas, though there are mentions of women thinkers like Gargi, who was famous for her learning and debates.

Jainism

Vardhamana Mahavira, the most famous thinker of the Jainas, also spread his message around this time. He was a kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis, a group that was part of the Vajji sangha. At the age of 30, he left home and lived in the forest for 12 years before attaining enlightenment.

His teachings were simple: those who wish to know the truth must leave their homes. They must follow the principle of ahimsa, which means not hurting or killing living beings. Mahavira taught in Prakrit, making his ideas accessible to common people across different regions.

The Sangha

Both the Buddha and Mahavira felt that only those who left their homes could gain true knowledge. They organized them into groups called the Sangha. The rules for the Buddhist Sangha were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka.

People from all walks of life joined the Sanghabrahmins, kshatriyas, merchants, laborers, and even slaves. Within the Sangha, all members were considered equal, as they shed their former identities upon joining.

Monasteries (Viharas)

As the need for a permanent shelter increased, both Jaina and Buddhist monks began to live in monasteries, known as Viharas. Initially, these were temporary shelters made of wood or mud, but later, many were built of brick or carved out of hills, especially in western India.

The System of Ashramas

As the Vedic religion continued to evolve, the system of Ashramas was developed to organize a person's life into four stages:

• Brahmacharya: The stage of being a student and living in simplicity.
• Grihastha: The stage of a householder and raising a family.
• Vanaprastha: The stage of living in the forest and meditating.
• Sannyasa: The final stage of renouncing everything and becoming a sannyasin.

This system allowed men to spend a portion of their lives focused on meditation, though women were generally not allowed to study the Vedas and had to follow the ashramas chosen by their husbands.