Chapter 6, Upanishads, Jainism and Buddhism

SOLVED NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS 

A. Answer the following questions briefly.

Q.1. What was the aim of thinkers in society?
Ans. The thinkers wanted to understand the ongoing changes in society and to try to find out the true meaning of life.

Q.2. What did the Buddha do after his enlightenment?
Ans. The Buddha went to Sarnath and taught for the first time. He spent the rest of his life traveling and teaching people.

Buddha

Q.3. What was the 'karma' according to the Buddha? 
Ans. 'Karma' refers to our actions - good or bad.

Q.4. How did the Buddha connect to everyone in society? 
Ans. The Buddha used Prakrit so that everyone could understand his teachings.

Q.5. What sort of people became Upanishadic thinkers? 
Ans. The Upanishadic thinkers consisted of men, especially "brahmins' and 'rajas'. There were exceptions, however.

Q.6. What did Mahavira do to attain enlightenment? 
Ans. Mahavira left home at the age of thirty then he spent 12 years in the forest and led a hard and lonely life. Then he got enlightenment.

Mahavira

B. Tick (√ ) the correct answer.

 1. Buddhism was found by...........
A. Mahavira.                                 (   )
B. Zoroaster.                                 (   )
C. Ramakrishna Paramhansa.       (   )
D. None of these.                         (√ )

2. Jainism was founded by...........
A. Mahavira.                                ( √ )
B. Buddha.                                   (    )
C. Zoroaster.                                (    )
D. Tao.                                         (    )

3. The vinaya pitaka is a sacred text of ........
A. The Buddhist.                            ( √ )
B. The jainas.                                 (    )
C. The Hindus.                               (    )
D. The Sikhs.                                 (    )

4. Buddha used........... to communicate with people.
A. Prakrit.                                      ( √ )
B. Sanskrit.                                    (    )
C. Urdu.                                         (    )
D. Hindi.                                        (    )

5. The universal soul has been referred to as:
A. Atman.                                      (    )
B. Brahman.                                  ( √ )
C. Karma.                                      (    )
D. Tauha.                                       (    )

C. Fill in the blanks. 

1. The Buddha belonged to a small gana called Sakya.

2. The Buddha got enlightenment at Bodhgaya.

3. The Buddha used the word tauha for desire of wordly things.

4. Satyakama Jabala was the son of a slave woman called Jabali.

5. The prakrit spoken in Magadha was known as Magadhi.

6. Jainism was initially supported by only the Traders.

7. The teachings of Mahavira were written down for the first time about 1500 years ago.

8. The earliest Viharas were made of wood and of brick.

D. Matching skill.

Match the column with Answer

E. Short Answer type Questions. 

Q.1. Write a short note on the Buddha's teachings? 
Ans, The Buddha sand said that life is full of suffering and unhappiness. He said that its cause lies in our unfulfilled desires and dissatisfaction. He suggested moderation in everything as a solution. He told people to be kind and to respect each and every life.

Q.2. What a short note on Mahavira's teachings. 
Ans. Mahavira said that those who wish to known the tenth must leave their homes. People must follow "ahinsa". The Jaina had to leave very simple lives and be very honest throughout. The men had to give up clothes.

Q.3. Describe how Jainism spread in other parts of India?
Ans. Jainism as initially supported mainly by traders. Farmers found it difficult to follow the rules since they required to kill the insects after affecting crops.

F. Long Answer Type Questions. 

Q.1. Describe Buddha's life in brief. 
Ans. The Buddha (original name - Siddhartha Gautama) belonged to a small gana' and was a kshatriya. At an early age, he left the comforts of home and went in search of knowledge. He wondered for several years met and discussed with other contemporary thinkers. He meditated for several days under a 'peepa tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar'. Here, after meditation, he attained enlightenment. This gave him the name "the Buddha' (wise one). He went to samath and taught people. He travelled and preached for the rest of his life. He spoke of 'tauha', "karma' etc. He died at Kusinara.

Exercise

A. Define. 

 1. Upanishads-The word 'Upanishad' means 'To set at the feet of the guru to receive the teaching'. The upanishads are the last books of the vedic literature. There are 108 upanishads but many of which are lateral additions. They are also called the Vedanta.

2. Vaishya- Vaishyas are landowners traders and money lenders. These are the members of the second lowest of the four major castes of traditional Indian society.

3. Moksha- The main objective of Mahavira's teaching was liberation from worldly bonds. He called it 'Moksha'. According to him, goal could be achieved if a man led a virtuous life. It was a simple practice which anyone could follow.

4, Parinirvana - It occurs upon the death of the body of someone who has attained nirvang during his or her lifetime.

B. Write short answer for the following questions.

Q.1. What does the Upanishads says?
Ans. According to the upanishads, salvation comes from knowledge rather than from mere faith or works. It means "To set at the feet of the guru to receive the The term parinirvana is used to refer to Nirvana after death

Q.2. Who was Satyakama Jabala?
Ans. Satyakama Jabala was the disciple of Gautama, a brahmin. He was the son of a slave woman named Jabali. Satyakama was a great thinker and contributed much to the Upanishads.

 Q.3. What are the Triratnas of Jainism?
Ans. Right faith, right knowledge and right action are the Triratanas of Jainism.

Q. 4.what are the different seats of Buddhism?
Ans. The different sects of Buddhism are Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, along with a fourth-zen Buddhism that grew out of Mahayana and has gained increasing popularity in the west.

C. Answer the following questions in detail.

Q.1. The factors which gave rise to Buddhism and Jainism.
Ans. The factors which gave rise to Buddhism and Jainism. are following -
(a) Jainism and Buddhism emerged as a reaction to the rigid Vedic religion.
(b) The Vedic religion was a religion of many rites and sacrifices.
(c) Mahavira and Gautama, two great men protested against the corruptions which had crept into the Vedic religion Their ideas became new religions.
 (d) Mahavira preached came to be called Jainism.
(e) The ideas of Gautama took the shape of Buddhism.

Q.2. How did Buddhism become more popular than Jainism?
Ans. Buddhism became more popular because it was very easy to understand and follow, It attracted many kings, like Ashoka, Kanishka, and Harsha to its fold. So it became more and more popular.

Q. 3.write the principles of the eightfold path.
Ans.  The following are the principles of fight fold path.
(a) Right Knowledge
(b) Right Aspirations
(c) Right Speech
(d) Right Action
(e) Right Living
(f) Right Efforts
(g) Right Mindfulness
(h) Right Meditation

Q.4. What is the teaching of Mahavira?
Ans. The Mahavira taught his followers the lesson of Ahimsa or non - violence The main objective of Mahavira's teaching was liberation from worldly bonds. He called it Moksha'. The goal could be achieved if a man led a virtuous life.

 D. Fill in the blanks.

1. The Upanishads are the last books of the Vedic literature.

2. It is the human soul where  Brahman resides.

 3. The Vedic religion was a religion of many rites and sacrifices.

4. The main objective of Mahavira's teaching was liberation from worldly bonds.

5. Hinayana stressed the worship of Buddha without any form.