Shramana tradition

• Shramana means “seeker, one who performs acts of austerity, ascetic”.
• Shramana is a wandering monk in certain austere traditions of ancient India, including Jainism, Buddhism, and ajvika religion.
• The Shramana tradition gave rise to Jainism and Buddhism. The Shramanas adopted a path that is alternate to the Vedic rituals to achieve salvation, while renouncing domestic life.
• The Shramana tradition was responsible for the related concepts of saṃsāra (the cycle of birth and death) and moksha (liberation from that cycle).
• The Shramanas typically engaged three types of activities like austerities, meditation, and associated theories.
• Śramaṇas held a view of samsara as full of suffering (Dukka). They practiced Ahimsa and rigorous ascetism. They believed in Karma and Moksa and viewed rebirth as undesirable.