Mahajanapadas & Religious Movements

He attained enlightenment on the banks of the Niranjana (Falgu) river in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.

Nearchus, Onesicritus, and Aristobulus accompanied Alexander during his Indian expedition in 326 BCE.

Anekantavada emphasizes that reality is manifold and multifaceted, while Syadvada holds that all human judgments are conditional and relative.

Mahavira preached in Ardhamagadhi, the spoken dialect of the common people, in which early Jain Agamas were preserved.

The Second Council was held in Vallabhi (Gujarat) in the 6th century CE, producing the finalized written canonical texts (Angas and Upangas).

Abhaya Mudra (with the right hand held upright at shoulder height, palm facing outward) signifies peace and fearlessness.

The Third Council held around 250 BCE at Pataliputra under Ashoka expunged corrupt elements from the Sangha and finalized the Kathavatthu.

King Mahakosala of Kosala gave Kashi (yielding a large annual agrarian revenue of 100,000 coins) as dowry when his daughter married Bimbisara.

The Muhapatti is a small white cloth worn over the mouth by Svetambara monks and nuns to observe supreme Ahimsa.

Bhadrabahu led the southern migration to Shravanabelagola (accompanied by Chandragupta Maurya), giving rise to the Digambara sect.

Gautama Buddha's childhood name was Siddhartha, meaning 'he who achieves his goal'.

In Svetambara tradition, Mahavira married Princess Yashoda and had a daughter named Priyadarsana (Anojja).

Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, is represented in Jain iconography by the multi-headed serpent canopy.

At Pava, Chunda the metalworker served the Buddha a meal of Sukara-maddava, after which the Buddha proceeded to Kushinagar.

The core brick structure of the Great Stupa at Sanchi was founded by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.

The Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temples at Dilwara were built by ministers Vimal Shah and Tejapala/Vastupala under Solanki rulers.

King Kharavela of the Chedi/Mahameghavahana dynasty patronized the excavation of Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves for Jain monks.

Amoghavarsha I (Nrupatunga) was a dedicated disciple of Jain Acharya Jinasena and a renowned royal patron of literature.

Chanda Pradyota Mahasena ruled the kingdom of Avanti (capital Ujjayini) and was a major rival of King Udayana of Vatsa and King Bimbisara of Magadha.

Acharya Umasvati composed the 'Tattvartha Sutra', universally revered by both Digambaras and Svetambaras.

The Anguttara Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka contains the canonical list of the 16 Mahajanapadas existing during the time of the Buddha.

Kalashoka (Kakavarna) shifted the capital back permanently to Pataliputra and patronized the 2nd Buddhist Council at Vaishali in 383 BCE.

The 'Rajjugahaka' (literally 'rope-holder') measured agricultural plots using measuring ropes to calculate revenue dues.

The first sermon is commemorated as the 'Dhammacakkappavattana' (Setting the Wheel of the Law in Motion).

The Acharanga Sutra (the first of the 12 Angas) describes the strict code of conduct for Jain ascetics and contains firsthand accounts of Mahavira's austerities.

Pavarana was celebrated at the end of the rainy retreat where monks invited peers to point out any lapses committed during the retreat.

Sthulabhadra's followers accepted wearing white garments and were called Svetambaras ('white-clad'), whereas Digambaras ('sky-clad') remained naked.

Purana Kassapa advocated Akriyavada, denying that actions produce good or bad karma (merit or demerit).

Anicca (impermanence) is one of the Three Marks of Existence (Trilakshana: Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta).

The Great Chaitya of Karle (Lonavala, Maharashtra) is the largest rock-cut Buddhist prayer hall in South Asia, featuring intricate pillar capitals with mithuna couples.

Kashi (Varanasi), ruled by King Brahmadatta, was a prime commercial and textile weaving center before its eventual annexation by Kosala and then Magadha.

Upali was hailed as the master of monastic discipline and recited the Vinaya Pitaka at Rajagriha under Mahakassapa's presidency.

Birth is symbolized by Lotus/Bull, Renunciation by Horse, Enlightenment by Bodhi Tree, First Sermon by Wheel, and Death by Stupa.

Bhasa's 'Svapnavasavadattam' revolves around King Udayana of Kaushambi (Vatsa) and Vasavadatta, the princess of Avanti.

The Second Buddhist Council was held 100 years after Buddha's death at Vaishali, presided over by Sabakami (Sabbakami).

Sallekhana or Santhara is the voluntary relinquishment of food and water to embrace peaceful death when life's duties are completed.

Ajatashatru's minister Vassakara sowed mutual distrust among the Licchavi clans over three years, making Vaishali vulnerable to conquest.

Rajagriha ('abode of kings', modern Rajgir), surrounded by five hills, served as the earliest capital of Magadha.

Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha dedicated the rock-cut caves (Lomas Rishi, Sudama, Visvakarma caves) in Barabar hills to the Ajivika ascetics.

Kaushambi, situated on the Yamuna river near modern Prayagraj, was the prosperous capital of the Vatsa kingdom.

Trishala (Priyakarini) was the sister of Chetaka, the powerful head of the Licchavi republic of Vaishali.

The Dhammapada is the second book of the Khuddaka Nikaya within the Sutta Pitaka.

Parshvanatha was the 23rd Tirthankara who lived in Varanasi roughly 250 years before Mahavira and preached four ethical vows.

Mahavira attained Nirvana at Pavapuri near Rajgir in modern Nalanda district of Bihar.

Buddha advocated the Middle Path (Majjhima Patipada), rejecting severe physical mortification as well as excessive sensual indulgence.

King Bimbisara defeated King Brahmadatta of Anga and appointed his son Ajatashatru as viceroy at Champa, securing trade channels.

Chavundaraya, the military commander and minister of the Western Ganga dynasty, erected the Gommateshwara colossus atop Vindhyagiri hill.

Svetambaras hold that Mallinatha was a woman (Princess Malli) who attained omniscience, while Digambaras maintain all 24 Tirthankaras were male.