At the end of the Vedic period, the authority of the Brahmins was challenged by individuals seeking new spiritual answers. What was the result of this challenge?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER:
Students should recognize that Jainism and Buddhism arose as alternatives to Vedic religion and the authority of the Brahmin priests. Students should briefly describe Jainist and Buddhist fundamentals. Central to both religions was an alternative path to salvation through individual inquiry into the nature of the self and the universe. Jainism emphasized the holiness of all living beings but was too extreme a discipline to become widely practiced. Jains practiced nudity and nonviolence and believed in fasting until death. Far more important was Buddhism, which rejected Jainist asceticism and chose a more popular "Middle Path" of moderation. Buddhism also rejected the emphasis of other religions on gods and focused on the individual. It became popular because of its emphasis on minimizing desire and on the search for spiritual truth and because it offered individuals the possibility of escape from the eternal cycle of reincarnation. By focusing on the individual, followers of these alternative religions were able to release themselves from India's rigid class system.