Goutham Buddha was born in 563 BC at Lumbini (a grove of sal tree). He was born to Suddodana, the shakya king and Mahamaya. Lumbini was very near to sakya capital Kapilavastuy. He was married to yasodara. Rahul was his son. Goutham Buddha got an idea of renunciation after seeing 4 persons in 4 different stages i.e. and old man, very sick man, a corpse, an acetic. His horse was kantaka. His charioteer was chenna. At the age of 29 he left the house. It is called Mahabinishkramana. He attained enlightenment at the age of 35 at Uruvella (Bodha Gaya). Under papal tree near the bank of river niranjan. Sujatha , a daughter to peasant gave him milk.
Goutham Budha delivered his first sermon at Saranath near varanasi
ARYA SATYA: Goutam Buddha says four noble truths: They are:
The world is full of sorrows.
The cause of sorrow is desire.
If desires are conquered all sorrows can be removed.
The only way this can be done is by following right-fold path.
The following are famous Buddhist centres:
Benaras
Nalanda
Saranath
Amaravati
Kanheri
Karle
Nagarjunakonda
Sanchi
Bodh Gaya
Taxila.
BUDDHIST COUNCILS:
The first Buddhist council took place at Rajagruham in the same year of Goutham Buddha death i.e.483 during the period of Ajata Satru under the chairmanship of Mahakassapa. In this council Suttapitaka was settled by Ananda and vinaya pitaka was settled by Upali.
The Second meeting conducted at vaisali in 383 BC during the period of kalashoka under the chairmanship of Sabakami. In this meeting they divided into sthavirvdins and Mahasanghikas.
The third meeting was conducted at Pataliputram in 250 BC during the period of Ashoka under the chairmanship[ of Mogaliputta. In this meeting Rripeetakas were recompiled and Abhidamma pitaka was added.
The fourth meeting was conducted during the period of kanishka at Kashmir in 72AD under the chairmanship of vasumitra. In this meeting Buddhisam was divided into the Mahayana and the Hinayana> Commentaries were written on pitakas in Sanskrit language.
The famous Buddist stupas are:
Bahrut stupa
Sanchi Stupa
Amaravati Stupa
Saranath Stupa and
Nalanda Stupa.
The famous Buddhist caves are
Barabar caves. These are the oldest rock cut caves.
Bhoja caves. These are the oldest caves in Daccan
Karle chaitya
Kanheri
TRIPITAKAS: Tripitakas are the Buddhist scriptures. These were written in Pali language. They are:
Sutta Pitaka: Suttapitaka contains the teachings of Buddha. It is the largest and most important among Tripitakas. It is divided into five Nikayasi.e. Groups. They are:
Diga Nikaya: It contains long sermons of Buddha
Majjhima Nikaya. It contains shorter sermons.
Samyutta Nikaya
Anguttara Nikaya
Khuddaka Nikaya
Vinaya Pitaka: It contains rules for the conduct of the monastic order.
Abhidhamma Pitaka: It contain philosophy of Buddhisam.
Milinda-panho is the discussion between Bactrian king Menandar and Buddhist monk
Nagasena. Deepavamsa, Mahavamsa and culavamsa are the ceylone chronicles. Yogachara/ vignanavadin philosophy was founded by Maitrelyanath. Madhyamik philosophy was founded by nagarjuna. Lokottaravadin philosophy was emerged from Mahasanghikas.
BUDDHIST SECTS: In the fourth meeting conducted at Kashmir during the period of Kanishka in 72 AD Buddisam was divided in to Mahayana and the Hinayana. The main sects of Buddhisam are as follows:
Mahayana
Hinaylana
Vajrayana
MAHAYANA: Mahayana arose out of Mahasanghikas. They believed the divinity of Buddha. They gave more importance to faith rather than reason. The ultimate aim of life was to go to heaven. They offered prayers to Buddha. They believed in the worship of Buddha and made his beautiful idols. Sanskrit was the religious language. They had many religious rituals. Mahayana had two philosophicial schools. Mahayana had two philosophical schools, the madhyamika and yogachara. They teaches the salvation for all. Skhovati his the Mahayana heaven. They gave prominent place to the Boddhisatvas, who for the great kindness and helped humanity with their own suffering. It is very popolar in china, Japan ,Central Asia and many parts of India India Ceylon ,Burma ,Thailand ,Cambodia ,Laos
VAJRAYANAM: It came into existence under the patronage of the palas in eastern India Tibet
SYMBOLS IN BUDDHISAM:
Birth-Litus and Bull
Mahavbhinishkramana – Horse.
Nirvana (enlightenment) – Bodhi tree.
Dharmachakra pravartan – wheel.
Mahaparinirvana (death) – stupa