Religion concepts and historical development

Guatama & Mavira

Guatama and Mavira: Similarities and Differences

Mahavira is the name most frequently used to describe the Indian sage Vanhamana who is said to have established what we know today as the primary tenets of Jainism (Hopfe & Woodward, 2009). Mahavira was born into royalty, just as Guatama. His father was King Siddartha and his mother was Queen Trishala. Just as with Guatama's mother, Queen Trishala is said to have had dreams that foretold the coming of a great soul. Although Mahavira was born into a royal family, he is said to have had a virtuous nature. He too began to engage in meditation at an early age, and distance himself from worldly matters as his interest grew in Jainism. In his 30's, much like Guatama, Mahavira renounced his family and his kingdom in search of enlightenment. He spent several years as an ascetic. He is said to have achieved a state of arihant (or one worthy of worship) during these years.

With the same first name as the father of Mahavira, Siddhartha Guatama was reported to have been a spiritual leader whose foundational teachings were the precursor to Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, Guatama is considered the supreme Buddha or enlightened one (Hopfe & Woodward, 2009). Buddha's father was King Suddhodana, and his mother Queen Maha Maya died giving birth to him. Guatama reportedly was unfamiliar with the traditional religions of his people and set out on a religious quest, posited to be motivated by existentially-based concerns for the human condition (Hamilton, 2000). Guatama's enlightenment is said to have resulted from his discovery of the Middle way, away from the extremes of self occupancy, self indulgence, and self mortification into moderation (Hopfe & Woodward, 2009). The four passing sights indicate how Guatama became knowledgeable of those suffering in the world even though his parents tried to protect him from it. He is said to have taken his father's chariot and ridden four times through the city. He reportedly saw an old man suffering from the disease of leprosy, a man who had died, a beggar (an ascetic), and a shaven monk (Hopfe & Woodward, 2009). Because of his distress with what he had seen, Guatama is said to have ventured on his search to find an answer (religion). The four Noble Truths that were taught by Guatama were the truth of suffering, the truth of the origin of suffering, the truth of the cessation of suffering and the path that leads to the cessation of suffering (Hopfe & Woodward, 2009). What is said to keep humanity bound to the endless cycle of life is desire and a need to determine causation. King Asoka, the third monarch of the Mauryan dynasty, 3rd century B.C. was the first distinguished ruler of a unified India, and was considered one of the greatest political figures ever. He embraced the teachings of the Buddha, and subsequently transformed his polity from of focused on military conquest to one of victory by truth and righteousness (Dharmavijaya). His royal association with Buddhism helped with the propagation of the faith within his empire, as well as beyond. This was the precipitous of Buddhism becoming a world religion, which unlike so many traditional faiths, reportedly spread peacefully throughout Asia (Hopfa & Woodward, 2009).