Numerous religious sects arose in the mid-Gangatic plains in sixth-fifth centuries BC,and we hear as many as sixty –two of them.Many of these sects were based on regional customs and rituals practised by different peoples living in north –east India.of these sects ,Jainism and Buddhism were the most important , and they emerged as the most potent religious reform movements.
Many factors were working behind the rise of these religious sects around 600 BC ,among them economic aspect was most significant .

Agricultural surplus and the rise of new Religious sects

The real cause of the rise of these new religions lay in the spread of a new agricultural economy in Middle Gangetic basin. This area had an average annual rainfall between 114 and 140 cm .it was thickly forested around the sixth- fifth centuries BC .The large scale spread of agriculture in an area under a thick forest cover was possible on account of the greater use of Iron tools and implements for clearing the land as well as for various agricultural operations .Not surprisingly textual refrences to iron ploughshares are many ;and archeological evidence ,though comparatively weak ,is not altogether absent.More importantly ,the available evidence convincingly proves that iron tools and implements were used for clearing forest and bringing more and more land under plough.
The use of effective implements was accompanied by improved knowledge of cultivation and of a variety of crops .The agricultural economy based on the iron ploughshare required the use of Bullocks ,and could not flourish without animal husbandry .However the vedic practice of killing cattle indiscriminately in sacrifices hampered the progress of the new agriculture practice.If the new agrarian economy was to stabilize ,this killing had to be halted. New religious sects of 600 BC preached in the same direction.

Second urbanisation and rise of new Religious sects

Improved knowledge of cultivation and the use of effective implements enabled peasants to produce greater surpluses,which helped in the growth of Towns. Jain canonical writings mention different kinds of urban centres in the age of Mahavira.Trade was both the cause and effect of increasing urbanisation .The Jatakas ( the Buddhist birth stories) make numerous references to carvans with 500 or 1000 carts going from one place to another .One such group of 500 carts is mentioned as passing by street where Gautam Buddha was meditating ..
Rapid urbanisation and flourishing trade added to the importance of Vaishyas .In the Brahmanical society ,Vaishyas ranked third ,after Brahaman and Kshtriyas .Naturally they sought a religion that would improve their position , so besides the Kshtriyas ,the Vaishyas extended generous support to both Mahavira and Gautam Buddha. There were several reasons for it .First Jainism and Buddhism at the initial stage did not attach any importance to the existing Varna system ,second they preached the gospel of non – violence ,which would put an end to wars between different kingdoms and consequently promote trade and commerce .Third the Brahamnical law books ,called Dharmsutras ,decried lending money at an interest and condemned those who lived on interest .Therefore ,the Vaishyas ,who lent money because of the growing trade and commerce , were held low esteem and looked for better social status.

Inequality in society and rise of new Religious sects

The new forms of property based on the agricultural surplus and trade ,created social inequalities ,and caused misery and sufferings to the mass of ordinary people .Therefore common people yearned to return to the ascetic ideal .Both Jainism and Buddhism propounded simple ,puritan ,ascetic living .Hence the popularity of new religious sects was gradually increased around 600 BC.

Conclusion

The newly developed features of the social and economic life of the people at that period did not fit in with the Vedic ritualism and animal sacrifice. The conflict between the Vedic religion practices and aspirations of the rising social groups led to the search for new religious and philosophical ideas which would fit with the basic changes in the material life of the people .Thus in the Sixth century BC in the Ganagetic valley there emerged many new religious teachers who preached against vedic religion.