Jainism was formed as a result of various religions sprouting all over during the 6th century B. C.
It was just a matter of taking a stand when both the older religions and new versions of the older ones tried to control the state of religious affairs. For the older religions, the priests controlled the rituals and kept the authority of their religions to themselves as they were the only ones who knew the rituals, hence giving them the sole authority to perform.Although this arrangement has been approved by most of the people, there were still many people who felt that religion should be a personal relationship with the Higher Being and not just a bunch of rituals. Like Buddhism which was founded by a single person, Jainism was founded by a son of a king who became concerned with the state of his spiritual life and the people surrounding him.
Nataputta Vardhamana left his family and wealth, living a marginal life and complete self-deprivation.And like Buddha, he took extra care not to hurt any living thing whether big or small, being good and gracious to people. After doing this for a long time, he finally found awareness. By continuing to live a very rigorous life, he was able to gather his followers and join in his kind of life.
They were then known as “Jains” or Conquerors – people who conquered endless cycle of incarnations. On the other hand, Buddhism was formed more or less in the same way that Jainism was formed.A prince of the ruling clan in Nepal, Siddhartha Gautama abandoned his wealthy life and family in order to lead an ascetic life. However, he found out that an ascetic life was as unsatisfactory as that of a life in luxury.
According to the traditional account (first written down in the 3rd century BC) Gautama follows an ascetic life for six years before deciding that a middle path between mortification and indulgence of the body will provide the best hope of achieving enlightenment. He resolves to meditate, in moderate comfort, until he sees the light of truth.One evening he sits under a pipal tree at Buddh Gaya, a village in Bihar. By dawn he is literally buddha, an 'enlightened one'.
Like any other religious leader he begins to gather disciples. He becomes known to his followers as the Buddha. (historyworld). Buddhism spread out after the Buddha’s followers were able to establish communities in Northern India. Moreover, Buddhism spread out faster than the other religions because of the enthusiastic support from the king during the 3rd century.
While both Buddhism and Jainism were founded by individuals who wanted to build a new and different religion, Sikhism was formed as a result of the efforts of Sri Guru Nanak Dev, one of the first Gurus in Pakistan, who wanted to unify both the Hindus and the Mohammedans. Nanak believed that by unifying both the Hindus and the Mohammedans in believing the existence of one God who must be loved and to serve mankind as well. Sikhism, one of the youngest religions in the world, places emphasis on the love of God and this has become the very root of Sikhism.Furthermore, Sikhism also viewed work as a moral obligation.
When Nanak felt that he had to pass on a new message after him, he appointed his disciple to succeed him instead of his two sons. The main reason as to why Sikhism was formed is due to the existence of the caste system, religious factions and fanaticism in India. These factors plagued and tore Indian society to which Nanak, who respected all religions believed that there is only one God and by setting good examples to its followers and the public, Sikhs are able to demonstrate the existence of God within themselves.
