Jainism

By – Indo Pathshala

Contact Number – 9123206137

https://youtube.com/@indopathshala400

Origin of Jainism:

• Jainism is an ancient religion that originated in India and is based on the

teachings of Mahavira. It emphasizes non-violence and the spiritual
development of the individual.
• Jain Tirthankara Rishabha and Arishtanemi are also mentioned in Rig Veda
.
The word Jain is derived from Jina or Jaina - means the Conqueror.
All the Tirthankara were Kshatriyas by birth.
• The symbol hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes Ahimsa in Jainism.
There is a word ahimsa written in the middle of it.

Jain Population in India

• National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, and the Central Government has so far
notified six communities as minority communities namely Christians, Sikhs, Muslims,
Buddhists, Parsis and Jains.
• As per Census 2011
• India is home to 45 lakhs Jainism . The Jain population in India is estimated to be
around 4.5 million, or 0.4% of the total population. While Jains Population is just 0.4%
of Indian Population, its impact on Indian Economy remains high.

Factors behind the rise of Jainism

• The early Jainas abandoned Sanskrit, which was primarily used by the Brahmanas, in
favour of the common language, Prakrit, which was used to communicate their
doctrines.
• Jainism provided a respectable position for those from lower castes in society.
• The teachings of the Upanishads, which provided an alternative to the system of
sacrifices, were extremely philosophical in nature and thus not easily understood by
everyone.
• Women were granted equal position in Buddhism.
Tirthankaras

• There are 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism. The first Tirthankara was Rishabhdev and the
last one was Mahavira.

Name of Tirthankara Symbol Place of Nirvan

1. Lord Rishabha Ox Mount Ashtapada
2. Ajitanath Elephant Samet Shikhar
3. Sambhavanatha Horse Samet Shikhar
4.Abhinandananatha Monkey Samet Shikhar
5. Sumatinatha Goose Samet Shikhar
6. Padmaprabha Lotus Samet Shikhar
7. Suparshvanath Swastika Samet Shikhar
8. Chandraprabha Moon Samet Shikhar
9. Suvidhinath Crocodile Samet Shikhar
Swami or (Makara)
Puspadanta
10. Sheetalnath Wishing Tree Samet Shikhar
(Srivasta)
11. Shreyansanath Rhinoceros Samet Shikhar
12. Vasupujya Buffalo Champa Nagri
13. Vimalnatha Boar Samet Shikhar
14. Anantnatha Bear (Falcon) Samet Shikhar
15. Dharmanath Spike-headed Samet Shikhar
Club (Vajradanda)
16. Santinath Deer Samet Shikhar
17. Kunthunath He-Goat Samet Shikhar
18. Aranath Fish Samet Shikhar
19. Mallinath Waterpot Samet Shikhar
20. Munisuvrata Tortoise Samet Shikhar
21. Naminatha Blue-Lotus Samet Shikhar
22. Neminatha Conch Raivatgiri
23.Parshwanath Serpent Samet Shikhar
 24. Mahavira Lion Pavapuri

Vardhaman Mahavira (539-467 BC)

• Birth: Kundagrama near Vaishali.

• Vardhaman Mahavira Belongs to Jnatrika clan.
• Buddha and Mahavira were contemporaries.
• Parents: father Siddartha (head of the Jnatrika clan) and mother Trishala was the sister
of the Lichchhavi chief Chetaka,
o Wife -Yashoda& daughter - Anojja or Priyadarshana
• Kaivalya means highest spiritual knowledge
o Attained at the age of 42 under Sal tree at Jrimbhikagrama (River Rijupalika).

• First sermon: - Vipula Peak at Rajgir to his 11 disciples – known as Gandharas/

Gandharvas.
o First disciple: Indrabhuti Gautama (female)
• Death: 527 BCE at Pavapuri near Patna .

Jain Councils:

Philosophy and teachings of Jainism:

• Jainism recognised the existence of god but placed them lower than Jina (Mahavira).
• It did not condemn the varna system
• Mahavira believed that a person's previous birth's merits or misdeeds determine their
varna, either higher or lower.
• Thus, Jainism believes in transmigration of the soul and theory of Karma.
 1. Anekantavada
• The doctrine of anekantavada states that all entities have three
aspects: substance (dravya), quality (guna), and mode
(paryaya).

2. Syadvada
• All judgments are conditional, holding good only in certain
conditions, circumstances, or senses.
• Syadavada literally means the method of examining different probabilities.
• Seven modes of prediction (Saptabhangi Nayavada).

3. Pancha Mahavratas
• Ahimasa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Astheya (non-stealing), Brahamcharya
(chastity), and Aparigraha (non-possession).
• Mahavira added Brahmacharya

4. Three Jewels
• Right Faith (Samyakdarshana)
• Right Knowledge (Samyakjnana)
• Right Action (Samyakcharita)

5. Three Sources of Knowledge

• Pratyaksha: Direct Knowledge
• Anuman: Contemplation
• Sayings of Tirthankara

Sects of Jainism:

• Jain order has been divided into two major sects: Digambara and Svetambara.

Digambara • This sect embrace total nudity. While female monks wear unstitched
plain white sarees, male monks do not wear clothing.
• Adhere to the five vows of Brahmacharya, Aparigraha, Ahimsa, Asteya,
and Satya.
• Digambara School monasticism has stricter rules than other schools;
the Prakrit Suttapahuda of Kundakunda contains the earliest
documentation of Digambara beliefs.
• They also denied women the right to salvation.
• Bhadrabahu was one of this sect's representatives.
• Divided into the following sub-sects: Bisapantha , Terapantha
• Minor sub-sects - Gumanapantha , Totapantha
 Svetambara • Monks wear white clothes.
• Follow only 4 vows (except brahmacharya) - Satya, Ahimsa, Asteya,
Aparigraha
• Believe women can achieve liberation.
• They believe tirthankaras can be men or women.
• Svetambara tradition of Jainism indicates five eternal substances in
existence: Soul (jiva), Matter (pudgala), Space (akasha), motion
(Dharma) and rest (Adharma), unlike Digambaras which add the sixth
eternal substance as time (Kala).
• Sthulabhadra was an exponent of this sect.
• Divided into three main sub-sects- Murtipujaka , Sthanakvasi ,
Terapanthi

Ajivikas • The Ajivikas, also known as the "Followers of the way of life," were an
austere order that existed from the Buddha and Mahavira era until the
fourteenth century.
• Makkhali Gosala broke away from Mahavira to found the Ajivikas (also
known as "Niyati," or predeterminism).
• No human effort could have any effect against Niyati, and therefore
karma is a fallacy.

Important terms related to Jainism:

Terms Information

Asrav • Inflow of karmas to the soul that occurs at every second in life.

Shramana • Seeker, one who performs acts of austerity and ascetic.

Samvara • Stopping the influx of the material karmas into the soul
consciousness.

Nirjara • Shedding or removal of accumulated karmas from the Atma (soul),

essential for breaking free from samsara, the cycle of birth-death
and rebirth, by achieving moksha, liberation.
• It is one of the seven fundamental principles, or Tattva in Jain
philosophy.

Sallekhana • It is the religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death by gradually

reducing the intake of food and liquids, also called Santhara.

Kaivalya • Also known as Kevala Jnana, means omniscience in Jainism and is

roughly translated as complete understanding or supreme wisdom.

Pratikraman • It is a process during which Jains repent for their sins during their
Posadha daily life, and remind themselves not to repeat them.
• Fasting by a Jaina member on full Moon and new Moon day.
 Theravali • The second section of the Jaina Kalpasutra contains a list of schools.

Ajnanavada • The Jaina doctrine of agnosticism. The Jain texts mention 67 kinds
of Ajnanavada.

Mahavratas • Five principles observed by Jain monks.

Siddha • Fully liberated

Jiva • Soul

Gunasthana • Stage of purification

Basadis • Jaina monastic establishment

Guna • Quality

Royal Patrons of Jainism:

North Bimbisara, Ajatashatru, Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara,

India Harshavardhana, Kharavela, Udayan, Pradyota.

South Kadamba dynasty, Ganga dynasty, Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta dynasty),

India Kumarapala (Chalukya dynasty)

Important Jain Literature:

• The oldest Jain literature is in Shauraseni and the Jain Prakrit (the Jain Agamas, Agama-
Tulya, the Siddhanta texts, etc.).

• Traditionally, the original doctrine of Jainism was contained in scriptures called Purva.
There were fourteen Purva.

• Acharya Kundkund's Samayasara and Niyamasara explain Jain philosophy.

• Jain literature is mainly written in Prakrit language.

• There are two primary categories of Jain literature:

Agam Literature
• Many words make up Agam literature, which are the sacred scriptures of the Jain
religion. They are written in the Prakrit language Ardha-magadhi.
• These Agamas are further divided into: Angas, Mulasutra, Upangas, Prakirnaka Sutra,
Chedasutra & Ulikasutras.

Non-Agam Literature
 • Commentary and explanations of Agam literature, as well as separate works gathered
by ascetics and intellectuals, make up non-agam literature

• Bhadrabahu is credited with writing three of Jainism's sacred books, as well as the
Niryuktis, which are brief commentaries on the original 12 sacred books.

• The Bhadrabahu Samhita was utilized to have a better understanding of Jaina

jurisprudence.

Eight Symbols Under Jainism:

Swastika It signifies peace and well-being of the humans.

Nandyavarta It is a large swastika with nine end points.

Bhadrasana A throne which is said to be sanctified by the Jaina’s feet.

Shrivatsa A mark which manifested on the Jain’s chest and signified his pure soul.

Vardhamanaka A shallow dish used as a lamp which shows the increase in wealth, due
and merit.

Darpana The mirror which reflects the inner self.

Minayugala A couple of fish which signifies the conquest over sexual urges.

Kalasha A pot filled with pure water signifying water.

Jain Architecture:

• Manastambha: It is found in the front side of the temple, having religious importance
with an ornamental pillar structure carrying the image of Tirthankara on top and on all
four cardinal directions.
• Basadis: Jain monastic establishment or temples in Karnataka.
 Layana/Gumphas Ellora Caves (Cave No. 30-35)- Maharashtra
(Caves) Mangi Tungi Cave- Maharashtra
Gajpantha Cave- Maharashtra
Udayagiri-Khandagiri Caves- Odisha
Hathi-gumpha Cave- Odisha
Sittanavasal Cave- Tamil Nadu

Statues Gomateshwara/Bahubali Statue- Shravanabelagola,

Karnataka
Statue of Ahimsa (Rishabnatha)- Mangi-Tungi hills,
Maharashtra

Jainalaya (Temple) Dilwara Temple- Mount Abu, Rajasthan

Girnar and Palitana Temple- Gujarat
Muktagiri Temple- Maharashtra
Shatrunjaya Temple- Gujarat
Adinatha Temple - Madhyapradesh

MCQ

Q1 Who is the author of Kalpa Sutra? Bhadrabahu.

Q2 What is the sacred book of Jains known as? Agamas
Q3 Whom is Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is dedicated ? Lord Parshvanath, (23rd
Tirthankara
Q4 Which of the following Jain texts describes the number of religious movements?
Sutrakritanga
Q5 Who was the second Tirthankara of Jainism? Ajitnath

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