Buddhist & Jain Literature

Key Pointers

Buddhist literature:
- Tripitaka (Pali Canon): Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules), Sutta Pitaka (Buddha's discourses; includes Dhammapada), Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophy).
- Jataka tales: Stories of the Buddha's previous births (547 stories); depicted at Bharhut and Sanchi.
- Sri Lankan chronicles: Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa.
- Milindapanha: Dialogue between Nagasena and the Indo-Greek king Menander.
- Sanskrit Buddhist texts: Buddhacharita and Saundarananda (Ashvaghosha), Lalitavistara, Mahavastu, Divyavadana, Nagarjuna (Madhyamaka), Vasubandhu, Dignaga.
- Visuddhimagga (Buddhaghosha).
- Buddhist Councils: First (Rajagriha; Ajatashatru; Mahakassapa), Second (Vaishali; Kalashoka), Third (Pataliputra; Ashoka; Moggaliputta Tissa; Kathavatthu), Fourth (Kanishka, Kashmir/Kundalvana; Vasumitra; Ashvaghosha).
Jain literature:
- Agamas (Siddhanta): Composed in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit; 12 Angas, 12 Upangas, 10 Prakirnakas, 6 Chedasutras, 4 Mulasutras, etc. Shvetambaras accept them; Digambaras reject their authenticity.
- Jain Councils: First at Pataliputra (c. 300 BCE; Sthulabhadra); Second at Valabhi (5th–6th century CE; Devardhi Kshamashramana), where Agamas were compiled in writing.
- Important texts: Kalpa Sutra (Bhadrabahu), Acharanga Sutra, Tattvartha Sutra (Umaswati; accepted by both sects), Paumachariya (Vimalasuri; Jain Ramayana), Adipurana (Jinasena).
- Hemachandra (Trishashtishalakapurushacharita, Parishishtaparvan); court of Kumarapala (Chalukya of Gujarat).
- Apabhramsa and regional: Adikavi Pampa (Vikramarjuna Vijaya), Ranna and Ponna in Kannada; Silappadikaram (Ilango Adigal) in Tamil.

MCQs

Q1. The 'Milindapanha' records a dialogue between:
(a) Ashoka and Upagupta
(b) Menander and Nagasena
(c) Kanishka and Ashvaghosha
(d) Harsha and Xuanzang
Answer: (b).

Q2. The Jain Agamas were compiled in written form at the council of:
(a) Pataliputra
(b) Valabhi
(c) Vaishali
(d) Mathura
Answer: (b).

Q3. Which of the following is NOT a part of the Tripitaka?
(a) Vinaya Pitaka
(b) Sutta Pitaka
(c) Abhidhamma Pitaka
(d) Visuddhimagga
Answer: (d).