WHY WAS THE PERIOD BETWEEN 600 voBCE AND 300 BCE A PERIOD OF RELIGIOUS TERMOIL IN INDIA
Answers
600 BC to 200 BC saw the following events take place:
1. Rise of Jainism and Buddhism
2. Rise of Mahajanapadas
3. Two important dynasties i.e. Nandas and Mauryas
The political landscape was most unified under Ashoka, starting from Chandragupta Maurya's rise to power. The Nandas in Magadha and the other Mahajanapadas throughout the northern Plains of India were in continuous struggle for power and showed the political fragmentation of the period which was later ended to form one Maurya empire. Thus India saw the maximum political unity during this period which was at comparable levels to that of Mughal and British Empire of later eras.
But the more significant and distinguishing feature of this period is the cultural unity that was found in
1. the spread of Buddhism among the majority middle class of traders and merchants because of its inclusive nature and non- violence teachings, which led to rise of status of merchants and traders as an important community in the society.
2. the rise and prominence of Prakrit as the common language of the people through out the Northern Plains and Central India, which later led to the evolution of several contemporary languages like Marathi, Assamese
3. Political patronage to the architecture in the form of Viharas and Chaityas also promoted important trade routes through out Central India with adequate facilities along the routes.
Thus the cultural unity is an important development of this era, and maybe more significant achievement than the political unity seen in the later part of this period.
The period between 600BC and 200BC saw the end of later vedic period in the culmination of end of Brahminic dominance and emergence of new religions to signify cultural unity and emergence of new political system showing high level of political unity.
The janapadas came into formation of Mahajanapadas manifesting political unity. The first republic – Vaishali and the greatest empire of Magadha are among them. The political unity was so evident that even Alexander the great also could not dare to move forward after Ravi and returned back. Further, under Maurya dynasty, Emperor Ashoka flourished the empire and united almost whole Indian subcontinent.
The cultural unity in this period is evident through the rejection of orthodox Hindu practices by people and embracing the new religious setup of Buddhism and Jainism. The simple way of life with truth and non-violence , simple way of livelihood and nirvana and assimilation of truth in simple language of common people- prakrit and pali , brought high level of cultural unity in society.
Further , political patronage of these religions and establishment of chaityas, viharas, pillors, monasteries and Jain temples , proliferated the cultural unity through the length and breadth of the nation.
Hence the period saw a unique combination of unprecedented political and cultural unity in country, that is amazingly exemplary in Indian history.