☼ Sects of Buddhism. (1) Hinayana , (2) Mahayana (3) Vajrayana .
(1) Hinayana (i.e. the Lesser Vehicle):
(i) Its followers believed in the original teaching of Buddha.
(ii) They sought individual salvation through self-discipline and meditation,
(iii) They did not believe in idol-worship.
(iv) They favoured Pali language,
(v) It is known as 'Southern Buddhist Religion', because it prevailed in the South of India, e.g. Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Syam (Thailand), Java etc.
(vi) There were two subsects of Hinayana— (a) Vaibhasika and (b) Sautantrika.
(2) Mahayana (i.e. the Greater Vehicle):
(i) Its followers believed in the heavenliness of Buddha.
(ii) They sought the salvation of all through the grace and help of Buddha and Bodhisatva.
(iii) They believed in idol-worship.
(iv) They favorued Sanskrit language.
(v) It is known as 'Northern Buddhist Religion', because it prevailed in the North of India, e.g. China, Korea, Japan, etc.
(vi) There were two subsects of Mahayana— (a) Madhyamika/Shunyavada (founder-Nagarjuna) and (b) Yogachar/Vijnanavada (founder-Maitreyanath and his disciple Asanga).
(3) Vajrayana:
(i) Its followers believed that salvation could be best attained by acquiring the magical power, which they called Vajra.
(ii) The chief divinities of this new sect were the Taras.
(iii) It became popular in Eastern India, particularly Bengal and Bihar.
☼ Bodhisattvas:-
(i) Vajrapani: like Indra, he holds a thunderbolt, foe of sin and evil.
(ii) Avlokitesvara (the lord who looks down) also called Padmapani (the lotus bearer) kind-hearted.
(iii) Manjushri (Stimulator of understanding): He holds a book describing 10 paramitas (spiritual perfections).
(iv) Maitreya : The future Buddha.
(v) Kshitigriha : Guardian of purgatories.
(vi) Amitabha/Amitayusha : Buddha of heaven.
☼ Sacred Shrines
• (i) Lumbini, (ii) Bodh Gaya, (iii) Sarnath and (iv) Kusinagar are the four holy places where the four principal events of the Buddha's life, namely (i) Birth, (ii) Enlightenment, (iii) First Sermon and (iv) Death took place. To these four places are added another four places (v) Sravasti, (vi) Rajgriha, (vii) Vaishali and (viii) Vajrayana - these eight places have all along been considered as the eight holy places i.e. Ashtasthanas.
• Other centres of Buddhism in Ancient India were Amaravati and Nagarjunikonda in Andhra Pradesh; Nalanda in Bihar; Junagadh and Vallabhi in Gujarat; Sanchi and Bharhut in M.P. ; Ajanta-Ellora in Maharashtra; Dhaulagiri in Orissa; Kannauj, Kaushambi and Mathura in U.P; and Jagadala and Somapuri in West Bengal.
• Buddhist architecture developed in three forms : (i) Stupa— where relics of the Buddha or some prominent Buddhist monks are preserved (ii) Chaitya— are used as prayer hall (iii) Vihara— are used as residence.
☼ Buddhist Universities:-
• Nalanda is situated at Badagaon in Bihar and founded by Kumargupta I, the Gupta ruler.
• Odantpuri is situated at Biharsharif in Bihar and founded by Gopala, the Pala ruler.
• Vikramshila is situated at Bhagalpur in Bihar and founded by Dharmapala, the Pala ruler.
• Somapuri is situated at North Bengal and founded by Dharmapala, the Pala ruler.
• Jagadal is situated in Bengal and founded by Ramapala, the Pala ruler.
• Vallabhi is situated in Gujarat and founded by Bhattarka, the Maitrak ruler.
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