Causes of the protestant religious movement of the sixth century BC in India . Or, the background to the rise of Buddhism and Jainism.
Causes of the protestant religious movement of the sixth century BC in India .
What are the reasons for the protestant religious movement of the sixth century BC in India .
Or, discuss the background to the rise of Buddhism and Jainism.
Or, how reasonable do you think the economic reasons along with other reasons behind the protestant religious movement in the sixth century BC?
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The causes of the protestant religious movement of the sixth century BC.
Or, discuss the background to the rise of Buddhism and Jainism.
The sixth century BC is known as a turning point in the history of political and religious evolution of India. At this time, on the one hand, political experiments centered on Magadha , and on the other hand, protest movements against Brahmanism began in the religious field.
By the end of the Vedic period, Brahmanical religion became a complex activity. In place of simple religious beliefs, outward religious behavior increased. In addition to this, the absolute predominance of the Brahmin class was established in the religious sphere. Naturally, the general public resents religious practices. They are looking for a simple religion. The protestant religious movement developed on the basis of the simple religious thought that was incarnated in the Upanishads.
Two streams of protestant religious movements are observed - (1) Atheistic and (2) Monotheistic. In the first clause all Vedic gods and goddesses are denied. The second school supports monotheistic thought and considers devotion as the only path to attaining God. Thus arose the four religious sects - Buddhism, Jainism, Shaivism and Vaishnavism. The Shaivite and Vaishnava sects are formed around the Vedic deities Shiva and Vishnu. Hence they are known as reformists. But the Buddhist and Jain communities emerged as protestant religious movements.
Dr.A.L. Basam said about the origin of the protestant religious movement –
“A proper history emerged in India during this period through intellectual and spiritual agitation. ''
Historian Dr. R. S. Sharma attributes some religious factors to the origin of protestant religious movements. However, historians have cited a variety of factors as the cause of the protest movement in the sixth century BC. For example –
Social Factors –
The sixth century BC saw a change in the social environment. During this period the second urbanization began in North East India. Prior to this, the first urbanization occurred in the Harappan region in northwestern India. But iron played an important role in the second urbanization.
The second urbanization was concentrated in the Ganga valley. The major cities of this period were – Rajagriha, Varanasi, Kosambi, Sravasti, Champa – etc. Each city was located on the banks of the river Ganga. Prof. H. Kulke feels – Buddhism was a reflection of the new Ganga-centric civilization.
[This new Gangetic civilization found its spiritual expression in a reform movement, which was a reaction to the Brahmin-kshatriya alliance of the Later Vedic Age.]
By the end of the Vedic period, the social order had become rigid. The social prestige and status of Brahmins increased greatly. Kshatriyas were also ranked below Brahmins. The prestige of the Vaishyas declined to a great extent. Caste system was also used in criminal justice. The condition of Shudras was very inferior. This strict caste system and dominance of Brahminism upset the common people. This situation was conducive to the emergence of religious movements.
Religious Cause: Buddha's Revolutionary Ideology -
One of the reasons for the protestant religious movement was religious bigotry, superstition and the strong influence of Brahminism. On the other hand, the new religious ideals of Gautama Buddha, generosity, simplicity, unostentatious religious system - etc. attracted common people. Buddha was aware of financial inequality and class conflict in society. He was disaffected with the social prestige of the Brahmin class; On the other hand he was more sympathetic to the Vaishya and Shudra classes associated with the production of social wealth. In this situation, he searches for a way that can free people from this misery. The religious movement he started for this purpose was on the one hand against the ritualistic Brahmanical religion and on the other hand against the extreme doctrines of enjoyment, happiness and austerity. Common people freely believe in this ideology because the way shown by him is acceptable to all.
Political Reasons -
Kshatriyas were rulers and protectors. But in course of time they realized that the Brahmin community was a hindrance to the Kshatriyas attaining the highest status. So in course of time they also became antagonistic to Brahmins and they became enthusiastic about alternative doctrines. Buddhism became very popular under the patronage of the then royalty namely - Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka etc. and spread to the Indian subcontinent as well as to various countries in South-West Asia.
Philosophical factors –
The propagation of the new doctrines of the Upanishads made common people aware of the teachings of the Upanishads and at the same time became aware of the indolence of the prevailing Brahmanical religion. They became enthusiastic about the development of new spiritual consciousness. In fact, during the sixth century BC, Brahmanical religion had moved away from the original ideals of Sanatan Hinduism. Instead of spiritual understanding, religion became a system of rituals. But with the advent of new philosophical thought, correct interpretation of the Upanishads - etc., people realized the true nature of religion and turned away from Brahmanism.
Economic reasons –
Historians Dr. Romila Thapar and Dr. Ramsaran Sharma opined that protest movements arose due to recent economic fluctuations. Dr. D. N. Jhan thinks that surplus wealth in the hands of farmers is the reason for the religious protest movement.
According to Dr. RS Sharma, ‘Shresthi’ merchants gave more importance to Buddhism than to Brahmanism. As a result, the popularity of Buddhism increased.
Economic transformation took place in northern and eastern India in the sixth century BC. This economic change was particularly conducive to the emergence of protestant religious movements. During this period the agrarian economy flourished in the North-Eastern Gangetic Plain. The great expansion of agriculture and trade led to the emergence of new elite communities. Despite possessing great wealth, they had no social status. Naturally they were attracted to Buddhism.
Historian Romila Thapar thinks The Buddha had greater success among the cities of the monarchical kingdom.
On the other hand, according to Dr. Bratindranath Mukhopadhyay, there was economic inequality in the society. Although one class has a lot of wealth in its hands, the condition of the common people has not changed.
Historians Dr. Romila Thapar and Dr. Ramsaran Sharma, while discussing the economic rationale of the protest movement, opined that the prevailing economic conditions in India paved the way for the protest movement.
Conclusion –
According to Smith, a major reason for the rise of Buddhism and Jainism in North and North-East India, as well as the protestant religious movements, was that the rulers of these regions were not really Aryans. They belonged to the Mongolian ethnic group and could not accept Vedic religion wholeheartedly. It was for this reason that protest movements began in the relatively Aryan-free North and North-Eastern India, in the Ganges Valley and Bihar region.
However, the emergence of protestant religious movements in India in the sixth century BC was no accident. It is not reasonable to call this movement merely religious. The protestant religious movement was the epitome of a massive social revolution and a movement arising from a material and mental background created an evolution in national life in India.
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