• Gautama Budhha was the founder of Buddhism. He was born in 563 BC at Lumbini in Kapilavastu (Nepal) on Vaiskha purnima day.
• He belonged to Sakya clan of Kahatriyas.
• He is known as “Light of Asia”. Buddha means ‘enlightened one’. The book ‘Light of Asia’ on the life of Gautama Budhha was written by Edwin Arnold.
• He was also known as Sakyamuni or Tathaghata. His earlier name was Siddhartha.
• His father was Suddhodhana (Saka ruler) and mother Mahamaya (Kosala Dynasty).
• His mother died after 7 days of his birth and he was bought up by his step mother Mahaprajapati Gautami.
• He married to Yashodhara at the age of 16 and had a son Rahul.he enjoyed the married life 13 years.
• He becomes wanderer after seeing an old man, a sick man, a dead body and an ascetic.
• He left his home at the age of 29 years and this event is known as Mahabhiniskramana or The Great Renunciation.
• The name of his charioteer and horse was Channa and Kanthaka respectively.
• His first teacher was Alara Kalama and next teacher was Udraka Ramputra.
• Five great events of Buddha’s life and their symbols:-

Great Events	Symbols
Birth	Lotus or Bull
Mahabhiniskramana (Renunciation)	Horse
Nirvana (Enlightenment)	Bodhi tree
Dharmachakra pravartana ( First Sermon)	Wheel
Mahaparinirvana (Death)	Stupa

 

• He got Nirvana or enlightenment at the age of 35 years at Uruvela (Bodh Gaya) under a papal tree on the bank of Niranjana (Phalgu) river after 49^th day of meditation.
• He delivered his first sermon at Sarnath to five disciples (Sariputta, Mahamoggallana, Ananda,Asvajit,Upali ) and called this Dharmachakra pravartana.
• He delivered his last sermon at Vaishali to Subhadda.
• Sujata the girl, who offered rice and milk to Gautam Buddha.
• Gautam Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, attained Mahaparinirvan on vaishakha purnima day.
• He died at the age of 80 years (483 BC) at Kusinagar in UP in the Malla republic. This is known a Mahaparinirvana.

Four Noble truths of Buddhism or Arya Satyas

1. Sabbam Dukkam :- The world is full of sorrow.

2. Dwadash Nidan :- There are causes of sorrow.

3. Nirvana :- This sorrow can be stopped.

4. Ashtangika Marga:- This can be achieved by following the Eight Fold Path.

Eight fold paths or Ashtangika marga

1. Right speech

2. Right Understanding

3. Right concentration

4. Right effort

5. Right livelihood

6. Right mindfulness

7. Right thought

8. Right action

Triratna or Three Jwels

1. Buddha (The Enlightened)

2. Dhamma (Doctrine)

3. Sangha (Order)

Buddhist Councils

First Buddhist Council :-

Year - 483 BC

Vanue – Saptaparni Cave ,Rajgiha

Chairman - Mahakassaapa

Patron – Ajatashatru (Haryanka Dynasty)

Result- Upali wrote Vinaya Pitaka. Ananda complied Sutra Pitaka , contains the preachings of Buddha

Second Buddhist Council :-

Year -383 BC

Venue - Vaishali

Chairman - Sabakami

Patron – Kalashoka (Shisunaga Dynasty)

Result – Followers were divided into Sthavirmadins and Mahasanghikas.

Third Buddhist Council :-

Year - 250 BC

Venue – Patliputra

Chairman – Mogaliputtra Tissa

Patron – Ashoka(Maurya Dynasty)

Result – Complication of Abhidharmma Pitaka in Pali language.

Fourth Buddhist Council :-

Year – 72 AD

Venue - Kashmir

Chairman - Vasumitra

Patron - Kanishka

Result- Divided Buddhism into Mahayana and Hinayana

Buddhist Literature

Jatakas - Jatakas are the stories of different births of Buddha

Tripitaka- It is a holly book of Buddhism (In Pali language).it means Threefold Basket. Tripitaka divided into three parts.

1. Vinaya Pitaka – Rules of discipline in Buddhist Monasteries.

2. Sutta Pitaka(Largest) - Contains collection of Buddhist sermon and

3. Abhidhamma Pitaka -Philosophy of Buddha’s teaching.

Dipavamsha and Mahavamsha – Provide information about Sri Lanka.

Buddhacharita- It is a biography of Buddha, written by Ashvaghosha.

Sects of Buddhism

Mahayana :-

1.They favoured Sanskrit language.

2. They belived in idol-worship.

3. Its followers believed in the heavenlines of Buddha.

4. It became popular in Japan, China, Korea.

Hinayana :-

1.They favoured Pali language.

2. They did not belived in idol-worship.

3. Its followers believed in the original teachings of Buddha

4. It became popular in Sri Lanka, Myanmar

Vajrayana:-

1 .Its appeared in 8^th century.

2. They did not treat fish, meat, wine etc.

3. It became popular in Bihar, West Bengal.

Buddhist Monuments

Buddhist monuments were developed in three forms:-

1.Stupa:- relics of the Buddha or some prominent monks.

2. Chaitya:- Prayer hall

3. Vihara:- Residence

Buddhist Universities location and their founder:-

Buddhist Universities	Location	Founder
Nalanda	Badagaon, Bihar	Kumargupta-I (Gupta ruler)
Somapuri	North Bengal	Dharmapala (Pala ruler)
Odantapuri	Biharsharif, Bihar	Gopala (Pala ruler)
Vikramshila	Bhagalpur, Bihar	Dharmapala (Pala ruler)
Jagadal	Bengal	Ramapala (Pala ruler)
Vallabhi	Gujarat	Bhattarka(Maitrak ruler)