NIS But Imp : Social Life

2020-04-29 18:56:03

From 6th Century BC Socio Economic Classed Emerged

Very poor people were called dalidda. Kinship ties continued to be very important and eventually led to caste formation.
Importance of kinship can be seen from the Buddhist text which mention its renouncements as a major tenet.
Dharmashastra accepted certain types of inter-varna marriages ie man of higher varna and woman of lower it was called anuloma. Pratiloma unions were not approved. Their mention suggests such marriages happened and varnas were not strictly endogamous. ^e94d02
Gautama Dharmasutra explains how varna duties can be transgressed during the times of adversity.
Buddhist and Jain texts place Kshatriyas above Brahmanas
Gotra (clan affiliation) was an important basis of Brahmana identity
Jatis and Varnas were not the same, Jatis were flexible and could change whereas Varnas were fixed.
The process of upgradation of castes is known as sanskritisation.

were sudra sanyasins established by Nanda Vachcha -> Kisa Sankichcha.
3rd chief was Makkali Gosala :
- denied the theory of ‘karma’
- argued that man is subject to the laws of nature
believed that the thought and deed of an individual were predetermined (decided before birth).
The believed there was no special cause for the misery of human beings believing that all creatures had to face misery.
Sect was centered around the capital of Kosala, Sravasti.
Niyata (fate) was a central idea and human effort was of no consequence. Karma and transmigration existed but human effort had no role in it.
Meetings took place in sabhas suggesting they had a corporate organisation.
They practices severe ascetism and ahimsa.
Bhagvati sutra mentions that they were allowd to eat meat.
They did not practice discrimination on the basis of caste or class.
Buddhist texts such as Anguttara Nikaya denounce Gosala showing bitter rivalry.
Mahavamsa suggest that it had spread to Sri Lanka.

Believed in complete materialism
held that an individual’s body is formed of matter and finally would end in matter. Thus aim of life should be material pleasure.
aka Lokayata.
Purana Kassapa preached the doctrine of Akriya or non-action ie no action would lead to either merit of demerit.
Ajita Kesakambalin preached that everything ended with death and there is no further life after death.
- Per him there is nothing wrong in enjoying the pleasures of the world.
- No person possessed higher/supernatural power
- His teachings can be found in the Sandaka Sutta and Apannaka Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya and in the Samannaphala Sutta.
- Doctrines of this school were primarily drawn from his teachings.
- He wore a garment made of hair and lived an ascetic life. He did not wear any precious ornaments.
- His opponents have called him hedonistic (engaged in pursuit of pleasure) but no such evidence have been found of it.
Pakudha Kachchayna preached the doctrine of Asasvatavada.
- there are 7 elements that are immutable ie they do not contribute to pleasure or pain body ultimately dissolves into them.