Rise of Buddhism and Jainism in 6th Century BCE

Vedic Brahmanism, by the sixth century BCE had made its influence so widely spread on Indian soil that people started realizing that the degeneration in Indian society was mainly because of the evils of Vedic Brahmanism. The emphasis on sacrifices, rituals and the dominance of Brahmanas had vitiated the original doctrines of Vedic Brahmanism. Society was largely guided by Brahmanism which was firmly established by now and priesthood had also become predominant. It was discrimination under varna hierarchy prevailing in the society then which prepared grounds for the rise of Buddhism and Jainism. Buddha and Mahavira tried to reform the society of its innumerable evil practices and evils. They did not want to start new or independent religions but drew their inspiration from the teachings as embodied in the Upanishads. They provided a rational approach to handle the problems that had crept in the Indian society as a result of the prevailing complexities. They did not approve the costly religious rituals and sacrifices involving killing of animals. The changing features of social and economic life, such as the growth of towns, expansion of the artisan class and the rapid development of trade and commerce also focused on the necessity to bring about changes in society and religion. The new ideas brought about by the reform movements challenged the established hierarchical social order, the religious rituals and sacrifices, and the supremacy of the Brahmanas. It was based on individual and spiritual upliftment of humans. It emphasized personal liberty and purity and claimed that every individual had the right to attain Nirvana. These new religious ideas emerged out of the prevailing socio-economic and religious conditions of the times.