Jainism and Buddhism

Buddhism and Jainism are the two branches of the Shramana tradition that still exist today. Jainism has been largely confined to India, while Buddhism eventually all but died out in India, and has flourished in countries outside of India. However the two traditions share notable similarities.
JAINISM
Jaina tradition says that there were twenty-three Tirthankaras before Mahavira. Thus Mahavira was the twenty-fourth Tirthankara. The twenty-third Thirthankara Parsva or Parsva Nath was a historical figure. He left home at the age of thirty and became an ascetic.
Mahavira
The twenty-fourth Tirthankara, Mahavira was born in Kundagrama, suburb of Vaisali in 540 B.C. In the thirteenth year of his asceticism, at the age of forty-two, he attained the supreme knowledge. He was then known as Mahavira or Jina. After the attainment of supreme knowledge, Mahavira led the life of a wandering teacher. Mahavira preached in Champa, Vaisali, Rajagriha, Mithila and Sravasti. He also received royal patronage. * Main Teachings of Jainism: Mahavira accepted most of the doctrines laid down by Parsva. Mahavira did not preach any new religion. Parsva advocated four principles, namely, truth, non-violence, non-possession and not to receive anything which was not voluntarily given. Mahavira declared that man can get freedom from the cycle of birth and death by practicing the following principles, namely, Right belief, Right knowledge and Right action. He rejected the authority of Vedas, objected to Vedic rituals and the supremacy of Brahmins. * Impact of Jainism: The main doctrine of Jainism was non-violence or Ahimsa. When the Kshatriyas accepted the faith, they gradually lost their fighting spirit. They became docile and this had a bad impact on the political life. The rise of Jainism had great impact on the contemporary religious and social life. This religion preached the idea of