Tag: jainism, buddhism and ajivika philosophy in tamil nadu

Confucius said that wisdom grows from the family and that the foundation of society is the disciplined individual in an orderly family. The superior man, according to him, is not merely intelligent or scholarly, but his character should be exemplary. The superior man of Confucius possesses three virtues: intelligence, courage and goodwill.

Ahura Mazda in Persian means the Lord of Light.

Zoroaster of Persia is the founder of Zoroastrianism. Zoroaster was pained to find his people worshipping primitive deities. He revolted against it and proclaimed to the world that there is one god, Ahura Mazda (the Lord of Light).

The holy book of Zoroastrians is Zend Avesta. It is a collection of sacred literature of different epochs, containing religious hymns, invocations, prayers, confessions, laws, myths and sacred reminiscences.

Rig Veda makes a clear reference to Rishabha and Arsishtanami , the Jaina tirthankaras. Rishabha , the first tirthankar of Jainism , is known to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is mentioned in the Bhagavat Purana and the Rig Veda and Arishtanemi also called Neminatha the 22nd of the 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism a traditional religion of India.While the last two Tirthanakaras may be considered historical personages. Arishtanemi is a legendary figure. Said to have lived 84,000 years before the coming of the next Tirthankara.

Zoroastrianism ceased to exist in its place of origin, as in the wake of the Muslim conquest of Persia (Iran), many of the Zoroastrian families fled to different countries, including India between the eighth century and tenth century CE. With their dwindling numbers and in the face of coercive measures adopted by the Arabs to push through their new faith, as well as the incidents of destruction of fire temples and killing of priests, Zoroastrianism went into a decline.

Buddhism in China was introduced by Indian Monks in ca. 150 CE during Han Dynasty. Kublai Khan was the first Mongolian emperor who promoted it in China.  Though the successors practiced Shamanism which was widely popular in northern Europe and Siberia.  

Vardhaman Mahavira was born in 540 BC in Kundagrama near Vaishali, capital of Videha. He had an aristocratic Kshatriya background, his father Siddhartha being the Chief of Jnatri clan and mother Trishala the sister of the Videha king. 

Tirthankara, in Jainism, is a saviour who has succeeded in crossing over life’s stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow. According to Jain belief, each cosmic age produces its own group of 24 Tirthankaras. The first tirthankara in this present time cycle was Rishabhanatha. He attained moksha on Mount Kailas in the Himalayas,

Lord Mahavir was the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara in Jainism. At the age of 30, he left his family and royal household, gave up his worldly possessions, including clothing and become a monk.

King Siddhartha was the father of Lord Mahavira.Lord Mahavira was born Prince Vardhamana to king Siddhartha and Queen Trishala of the Ikshvaku dynasty. King Siddhartha was the chief of the Jnatrika clan, an indigenuous oligarchical tribe.

Mahavira was born in 540 B.C in a village called Kundgrama near Vaishali in Bihar. Mahavira was the 24th and last Tirthankar and it was he who made Jainism a separate religion.