• By the sixth century BC, religious worship in India became ritualistic and rigid, bound by caste rules.
• It forced many thinkers to give up worldly life and meditate in search of peace and enlightenmet.
• Such thinkers spread their teachings through the Upanishads and two new religons: Buddhism and Jainism popularized by Gautam Buddha and Lord Mahavira respectively.
• The Upnishads:
(i) With expansion of trade around 600 BC, people had less time for performance of rituals and focused on right belief.
(ii) Scholars criticized all rituals and focused on right belief.
(iii) Literally ‘Upnishad’ means approaching and sitting near the teacher.
(iv) It became an important elaboration of Vedas. Thus its illustrations and conclusions were called Vendata.
(v) The Upnishads stressed on the need to create a desire for knowledge to achieve Moksha.
(vi) The Upnishads focused on the fact the knowledge of Atman (self) should be acquired and related with Parmatman (ultimate reality).
(vii) This philosophy was given by scholars like Yajnavalkya, Maitreyi, Gargi, Aaitareya, etc.
• Message of Lord Mahavira:
(i) Lord Mahavira is usually regarded as the founder of Jainism.
(ii) He left his palace and meditated for many years.
(iii) He gained supreme knowledge in the thirteenth year.
(iv) He was able to control and conquer the indriyas (senses). He was thus called Jina and his disciples were called Jains.
• Mahavira Spreads his Religion:
(i) Mahavira travelled widely in the country preaching Jainism for thirty years.
(ii) He also received royal support.
(iii) King Bimbisara of Magadha, Pradyote ofo Avanti, helped him to spread the religion.
(iv) Some of his famous disciples were Ananda, Surdev, etc.

• Doctines of Jainism
(i) Mahavira gave five doctrines
(ii) These include not to injure life, not to speak lie, not to steal, not to possess property, and to vow chasity.
(iii) This could be achieved through righ faith, right knowledge and right action.
• The Jain Sangha and the Division in Jainism:
(i) At Pawanagar, Mahavira entered into a debate with Brahmanas and was able to impress them.
(ii) With their help he laid the foundation of the Jain Sangha.
(iii) The members of the Jain Sangha were divided into four categories: Bhikkus, Bhikkhunis, Shraveks and Shravikas. The first two were ascetics while the other two were householders.
(iv) The great igration of Jain under Bhdrbahu to south India divided the religion into two cults.
(v) The orthodox followers of Mahavira who hold Bhadrabahu in high esteem go completely nake. They are called Digambaras.
(vi) The other sect followers of Parsvanath wear white clothes. They are called Shvetambaras.