Bauddhkalin Bharat - Book Summary

This Jain text, titled "Bauddhkalin Bharat" (India during the Buddhist Period) by Janardan Bhatt, published by Sahitya Ratnamala Karyalay, is a comprehensive historical overview of India from the time of Buddha's birth up to the rise of the Gupta Empire. It covers the political, social, and economic systems of that era.

Here's a summary of its key aspects based on the provided table of contents and initial pages:

Overall Scope and Structure:

The book is divided into two main parts:
- Part One: Covers the period from the rise of Buddhism to the end of the Maurya Empire.
- Part Two: Covers the period from the end of the Maurya Empire to the rise of the Gupta Empire.
Each part is further divided into chapters detailing the political, social, religious, economic, literary, and artistic aspects of the respective periods.
The author aims to present a holistic picture of the era, not just focusing on rulers and wars, but also on the civilization, literature, and art.
The text emphasizes its reliance on historical sources, with due credit given to authors and their works.

Key Themes and Content:

Historical Sources (Chapter 1): The book begins by outlining the diverse sources used to reconstruct this period's history, including:
- Pali, Prakrit, and Sanskrit Texts: Jataka tales, ancient Buddhist scriptures (Tripitaka), Jain scriptures, Kautilya's Arthashastra, Patanjali's Mahabhashya, Puranic genealogies, Deepavamsa, Mahavamsa, Mudrarakshasa, and Rajatarangini.
- Foreign Accounts: Writings of Greek historians (Megasthenes, Arrian) and Chinese travelers (Faxian, Xuanzang).
- Epigraphy and Numismatics: Inscriptions (especially Ashoka's edicts) and coins.
- Archaeological Remains: Ruins of ancient Buddhist sites and sculptures.
The India of Buddha's Time (Chapter 2):
- Political Landscape: Describes India divided into 16 Mahajanapadas (major kingdoms), highlighting their respective territories and capitals. It also discusses the prevalence of republican states (Gana-rajyas) alongside monarchies.
- Social Conditions: Details the four-varna system, the rising social tensions between Brahmins and Kshatriyas, and the existence of "lower castes" or "outcastes" with discriminatory practices. It notes the Buddha's efforts to abolish caste distinctions.
- Religious Conditions: Critiques the prevailing religious practices of animal sacrifice, elaborate rituals, and asceticism (Hatha Yoga), highlighting the societal dissatisfaction and the search for new spiritual paths. It also touches upon the philosophical ideas of the Upanishads.
Jainism (Chapter 3):
- Provides an overview of the ancient history of Jainism, its establishment, its twenty-four Tirthankaras (with emphasis on Parshvanath and Mahavira).
- Details the life of Mahavira, his teachings, and the schism into Shvetambara and Digambara sects.
- Discusses the position of Jainism after the Christian era.
Gautama Buddha's Life and Teachings (Chapters 4 & 5):
- Biography: Covers Buddha's birth, marriage, renunciation (Mahabhinishkraman), ascetic practices, enlightenment (Buddha-pada), first sermon, formation of the Sangha, travels, miracles (like taming the Nalagiri elephant), death (Nirvana), and the distribution of his relics.
- Teachings (Dhamma): Explains the Four Noble Truths (Arya Satya Chatustaya), the Middle Path (Madhyam Path), the concepts of Anitya (impermanence), Dukkha (suffering), and Anatman (no-self). It elaborates on the importance of self-control (Atma-nirodha) and self-improvement (Atma-onnati), Karma and rebirth, the path to Nirvana, the rejection of a creator God (an-Ishwar-vad), the cultivation of virtues like Maitri (compassion), and the abolition of caste distinctions.
The Buddhist Sangha (Chapter 6):
- Details the establishment and functioning of the monastic order (Sangha).
- Explains the process of admission, the monastic code of conduct (Vinaya), and the administrative structure of the Sangha, highlighting its democratic principles, majority rule, and the roles of various officials.
Political History (Chapter 7 - First Part):
- Shunga Dynasty: Details the founding of the Shunga dynasty by Pushyamitra Shunga after overthrowing the Mauryas, their conflicts with Yavanas (Greeks) and Kharavela, Pushyamitra's alleged persecution of Buddhists, and the dynasty's eventual decline.
- Kanva Dynasty: Briefly covers the Kanva dynasty that succeeded the Shungas.
- Andhra Dynasty: Discusses the early mentions of the Andhra people and their rise to power.
- Foreign Dynasties: Provides an extensive account of the Indo-Greeks (Yavanas), Sakas (Scythians), Pahlavas (Parthians), and Kushanas, detailing their origins, invasions, kingdoms, notable rulers (like Menander, Rudradaman, Kanishka), and their eventual integration into Indian society or decline.
- Maurya Empire (Particularly Chandragupta and Ashoka):
  - Chandragupta Maurya: Covers his rise to power, his alliance with Chanakya, his conflict with Seleucus Nicator, the extent of his empire, his administration (including detailed descriptions of the army, city governance, espionage, and various departments from Arthashastra), his court life, and his supposed abdication for Jainism.
  - Ashoka: Details his reign, the Kalinga War and its impact on his conversion to Buddhism, his extensive travels to Buddhist holy sites, his patronage of Buddhism, his edicts promoting Dhamma (righteousness), his social welfare policies (hospitals for humans and animals, public amenities), his missionary efforts abroad, and his eventual successors leading to the empire's decline.
Republican States of the Buddhist Period (Chapter 8):
- Discusses the existence and characteristics of various republican or tribal states (Gana-rajyas) that flourished during Buddha's time and persisted even into the post-Maurya period, citing evidence from Buddhist texts, Greek accounts, and Kautilya's Arthashastra.
- Highlights the administrative systems of these republics, drawing parallels with modern parliamentary practices.
Maurya Administration (Chapter 9):
- Provides a detailed breakdown of the administrative machinery of the Maurya Empire, drawing heavily from Kautilya's Arthashastra and Ashoka's edicts. This includes the organization of the army, city administration (municipal bodies), provincial governance, espionage system, departments for agriculture, irrigation, trade, taxation, mines, textiles, alcohol, animal husbandry, census, treasury, and foreign affairs, as well as the judicial system.
Political Thought of the Buddhist Period (Chapter 10):
- Explores the contemporary political theories, including the concept of monarchy (necessity of a king, "Matsya Nyaya" - the law of the strong devouring the weak) and republicanism (Gana-rajya).
- Discusses the social contract theory of kingship and the checks on royal power through various institutions.
Social Conditions (Chapter 11):
- Revisits the caste system, the social hierarchy, inter-caste relations, and marriage practices, drawing from both Buddhist and Brahmanical texts.
- Compares the social descriptions found in Buddhist literature, Megasthenes's accounts, and Brahmanical law books (Sutras).
Economic Conditions (Chapter 12):
- Details the economic life in villages and cities, the state of trade and commerce, trade routes (land and sea), the role of guilds (Shrenis) and partnerships, the prevalent currency system, and the importance of maritime trade with foreign lands.
Literature of the Buddhist Period (Chapter 13):
- Discusses the languages and scripts used during this period, focusing on the development of Pali and Prakrit literature and the gradual rise of Sanskrit in literature and inscriptions.
- Provides a detailed overview of the Pali Canon (Tripitaka: Sutta, Vinaya, Abhidhamma Pitakas) and the significant Sanskrit works of the era, including Kautilya's Arthashastra, Kalidasa's works, and the Epics.
Art and Architecture of the Buddhist Period (Chapter 14):
- Explores the evolution of Indian art and architecture from the time of Ashoka onwards, emphasizing the influence of foreign (Persian and Greek) styles on early Buddhist art, particularly in Gandhara.
- Discusses the characteristic features of Gandhara art (Greco-Buddhist style) and indigenous Mathura art, the creation of Buddha and Bodhisattva images, and the significant archaeological sites like Sanchi, Bharhut, Amravati, and Bodh Gaya.

Part Two:

Political History (Chapters 1-8 of Part Two): Continues the political narrative from the fall of the Maurya Empire, detailing the rise and fall of various dynasties (Shungas, Kanvas, Andhras, Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Pahlavas, Kushanas), their conflicts, administrative structures, and key rulers like Samudragupta.
Republican States (Chapter 2 of Part Two): Discusses the resurgence of republican states after the Maurya decline.
Religious Conditions (Chapter 3 of Part Two): Traces the development of Buddhism, the emergence of Mahayana Buddhism, its influences, and the parallel revival and growth of Brahmanism (Puranic religion).
Social and Economic Conditions (Chapters 4-5 of Part Two): Briefly touches upon the social and economic conditions of this later period.
Literary and Artistic Conditions (Chapters 6-7 of Part Two): Discusses the literary output and artistic developments, including the continued use of Sanskrit and the evolution of art styles.
Decline of Buddhism and Rise of Puranic Religion (Chapter 8 of Part Two): Analyzes the factors contributing to the decline of Buddhism in India and the ascendancy of Puranic Hinduism.

Appendices:

Includes a timeline of major events during the Buddhist period.
Discusses the possible dates of Buddha's Nirvana.
Details the famous ancient universities of Taxila and Nalanda.
Provides a bibliography of relevant English, Sanskrit, and Hindi works.

In essence, "Bauddhkalin Bharat" is a scholarly endeavor to provide a comprehensive and historically grounded account of a crucial millennium in Indian history, highlighting the interplay of religion, politics, society, and culture that shaped ancient India. The book's detailed chapter breakdown and extensive referencing indicate a thorough research effort.