Major Religious and Philosophical Movements of Asia

Ashoka was a Hindu by birth but he followed Hinduism till Kalinga War only. After Kalinga War, he transformed from Hindu to Buddhist.  He embraced Buddha's teachings of love and non-violence and denounced the war as state policy. He decided to conquer the hearts of his subjects.

Buddhism arose in northeastern India sometime between the late 6th century and the early 4th century BCE. At that time, there was major discontent  with Brahmanic (Hindu high-caste) sacrifice and ritual. Buddhism is a religion that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings of the Buddha.

Zoroastrianism is an ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran. The descendants of Zoroastrian Iran (Persia) immigrants are known as Parsis. Zoroastrianism was the state religion of three Persian dynasties, until the Muslim conquest of Persia in 7th century AD. Zoroaster is regarded as the founder of the religion. Many Parsis escaped Muslim persecution in Iran by emigrating to India. 

Confucius (551-479 BC) was a contemporary of Mahavir and Gautam Buddha. He was a Chinese philosopher and teacher whose ethical and political theories have deep impact even in modern China. He interlinked the morality of government and personal life. He emphasized that morality should begin at personal level and it will lead to honesty in public sphere. He was a champion of family values like respecting elders, parents etc which will automatically translate into respecting rules and laws.  

Suddodhana was the father of Gautama Buddha. He was the leader of Shakya tribe. 

Kapilavastu was an ancient city on the Indian subcontinent which was the capital of Shakya. It is the place where Buddha was raised and lived until the age of 29. Buddha, whose original name was Siddhartha Gautama, was the founder of Buddhism and was born in Lumbini into the Shakya clan.

Yashodhara was the wife of Gautama Buddha. Yasodhara was the daughter of King Suppabuddha and Pamita, sister of King Suddhodana. Her father was Koliya and mother came from Shakya family. Yashodhara married her cousin, the Shakya prince Siddhartha, at the age of 16 years. Later she followed Buddhism and became Bhikkhuni.

Buddha, whose original name was Siddhartha Gautama, was the founder of Buddhism. He was born to Suddhodana and Mahamaya in Lumbini in the Shakya clan and thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C. He obtained his enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, gave his first sermon in Sarnath, and died in Kushinagar.

Buddha, whose original name was Siddhartha Gautama, was the founder of Buddhism. He was born to Suddhodana and Mahamaya in Lumbini in the Shakya clan and thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C. Manahmaya's sister Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī was the foster mother of Buddha.

Buddha, whose original name was Siddhartha Gautama, was the founder of Buddhism. He was born in Lumbini into the Shakya clan and thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C. Kanthaka was the horse who accompanied Siddhartha in all important expeditions. He was the horse pulling the chariot when Channa, the charioteer was explaining the four sights of an elderly man, a sick person, a dead person and an ascetic to Siddhartha.

Trishala was the mother of Mahavira and the most recent of the Tirthankaras of Jainisma. Trishala, like the mother of the Buddha, was a member of the Kshatriya caste. According to Jain tradition, Trishala lived some 2,500 years ago and, like the mothers of all 24 Tirthankaras, had a series of 14 auspicious dreams during pregnancy that revealed her son’s exalted status.

The Parsees came to India from the Pars or Fars province of Iran. Therefore, they are known as Parsees. It is mostly believed that they first came to Gujarat in the eighth century CE.

The
Parsees came to India from the Pars or Fars province of Iran.
Therefore, they are known as Parsees. It is mostly believed that they
first came to Gujarat in the eighth century CE.

Zarathushtra or Zoroaster was the founder of Parse religion. 'Ahur Mazda' is the name of their God. The elements of fire and water are very important in their religion. The sacred fire burns in the temples which are known as Agyaris. At the core of Parsee thinking are three main
principles of conduct, namely, good thoughts, good words and good deeds.

Bahubali was also called as Gomateshwara. He is a well-known figure in Jainism. He was the son of Adinath, the son of Tirthankara. The statue of Gomateswara at Sravanabelagola in Karnataka is dedicated to him.

Zarathushtra
or Zoroaster was the founder of Parse religion. 'Ahur Mazda' is the
name of their God. The elements of fire and water are very important in
their religion. The sacred fire burns in the temples which are known as
Agyaris.

The religious movements of Buddhism and Jainism were led by Prince Siddhartha and Prince Vardhman later on known as Buddha and Mahavira Swami respectively. Both were Kshatriya Princes. They both started a new religious ideology which doesn't believe in the varna system and other superstitions. Buddha belonged to Sakya clan in Lumbini. Mahavira Swami's father Siddhartha was the chief of Kshatriya clan.

Bimbisara, the king of Magadha, was a contemporary of both Mahavira and the Buddha and is known to have been a patron or supporter of both.

The term Tirthankara is associated with Jainism. These are the spiritual teachers of Jainism. According to Jainism, an individual who got victory over the cycle of death and rebirth is known as Tirthankara. In Jainism, there are 24 Tirthankara. First was Rishabhanat and last (24th) was Mahavira Swami.

True.

Zoroaster taught that the great object of religion, state or society is the cultivation of morality. The highest religious conception is purity of thought, word and deed. 

He asserted that Ahura Mazda has seven qualities:
(1) light; 
(2) good mind; 
(3) right; 
(4) dominion; 
(5) piety; 
(6) well-being; and 
(7) immortality.

Ahura Mazda in Persian means the Lord of Light.

Zoroaster of Persia is the founder of Zoroastrianism. Zoroaster was pained to find his people worshipping primitive deities. He revolted against it and proclaimed to the world that there is one god, Ahura Mazda (the Lord of Light).

The holy book of Zoroastrians is Zend Avesta. It is a collection of sacred literature of different epochs, containing religious hymns, invocations, prayers, confessions, laws, myths and sacred reminiscences.

Rig Veda makes a clear reference to Rishabha and Arsishtanami , the Jaina tirthankaras. Rishabha , the first tirthankar of Jainism , is known to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is mentioned in the Bhagavat Purana and the Rig Veda and Arishtanemi also called Neminatha the 22nd of the 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism a traditional religion of India.While the last two Tirthanakaras may be considered historical personages. Arishtanemi is a legendary figure. Said to have lived 84,000 years before the coming of the next Tirthankara.

Zoroastrianism ceased to exist in its place of origin, as in the wake of the Muslim conquest of Persia (Iran), many of the Zoroastrian families fled to different countries, including India between the eighth century and tenth century CE. With their dwindling numbers and in the face of coercive measures adopted by the Arabs to push through their new faith, as well as the incidents of destruction of fire temples and killing of priests, Zoroastrianism went into a decline.

Vardhaman Mahavira was born in 540 BC in Kundagrama near Vaishali, capital of Videha. He had an aristocratic Kshatriya background, his father Siddhartha being the Chief of Jnatri clan and mother Trishala the sister of the Videha king. 

Tirthankara, in Jainism, is a saviour who has succeeded in crossing over life’s stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow. According to Jain belief, each cosmic age produces its own group of 24 Tirthankaras. The first tirthankara in this present time cycle was Rishabhanatha. He attained moksha on Mount Kailas in the Himalayas,

Lord Mahavir was the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara in Jainism. At the age of 30, he left his family and royal household, gave up his worldly possessions, including clothing and become a monk.

King Siddhartha was the father of Lord Mahavira.Lord Mahavira was born Prince Vardhamana to king Siddhartha and Queen Trishala of the Ikshvaku dynasty. King Siddhartha was the chief of the Jnatrika clan, an indigenuous oligarchical tribe.

Mahavira was born in 540 B.C in a village called Kundgrama near Vaishali in Bihar. Mahavira was the 24th and last Tirthankar and it was he who made Jainism a separate religion.

Tirthankara, in Jainism, is a saviour who has succeeded in crossing over life’s stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow. According to Jain belief, each cosmic age produces its own group of 24 Tirthankaras. The first tirthankara in this present time cycle was Rishabhanatha. The 23$^{rd}$ tirthankara was Parswanath. He was the first Tirthankara for whom there is historical evidence.

Lord Mahavira belonged to the Jnatrika tribe. His father was the chief of the Jnatrika clan, an indigenous oligarchical tribe.

The Ajivikas were an ancient sect of Indian ascetics who believed in fatalism, karma, and liberation. Makkhali Gosala was the founder of Ajivika sect. It was a popular sect during the reign of Bindusara, the Mauryan Emperor. King Bindusara and his wife both were the followers of this sect. It is also mentioned in the edicts of Ashoka.

The Avesta (the sacred text of Zoroastrianism) shares significant linguistic and thematic similarities with the Vedas of ancient India, as both originate from common Indo-Iranian roots.

Bimbisara (1) and Pradyota (4) are historically noted for their friendly relations with both Mahavira and the Buddha, often hosting them or providing support.