Jainism | Important Facts

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Origin of Jainism

Jainism is an ancient religion that is rooted in the philosophy that teaches the way to liberation and a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through disciplined nonviolence to all living creatures. The essence of Jainism is concern for the welfare of every being in the universe and for the health of the universe itself.

Jainism came into prominence in 6^th century B.C., when Lord Mahavira propagated the religion.
There were 24 great teachers, the last of whom was Lord Mahavira.
- These twenty-four teachers were called Tirthankaras-people who had attained all knowledge (Moksha) while living and preached it to the people.
- The first Tirthankara was Rishabnatha.

The word ‘Jain’ is derived from jina or jaina which means the ‘Conqueror’.

Cause of Origin of Jainism

Hinduism had become rigid and orthodox with complex rituals and the dominance of Brahmanas.
Varna system divided the society into 4 classes based on birth, where the two higher classes enjoy several privileges.
Kshatriyas’ reaction against the domination of the Brahmanas.
Spread of new agricultural economy in north-eastern India due to the use of iron tools.

Tenets of Jainism

Mahavira rejected Vedic principles.
He did not believe in God’s existence. According to him, the universe is a product of the natural phenomenon of cause and effect.
He believed in Karma and transmigration of the soul. The body dies but the soul does not.
One will be punished or rewarded as per one’s karma.
Advocated a life of austerity and non-violence.

Stressed on equality but did not reject the caste system, unlike Buddhism. But he also said that man may be ‘good’ or ‘bad’ as per his actions and not birth.
Asceticism was taken to a great length. Starvation, nudity, and self-mortification were expounded.
It did not condemn the varna system but attempted to mitigate the evils of the varna order and the ritualistic Vedic religion.
- According to Mahavira, a person is born in higher or lower varna as the consequence of the sins or the virtues in the previous birth. Thus, Jainism believes in the transmigration of the soul and the theory of Karma.
Anekantavada: Emphasises that the ultimate truth and reality is complex, and has multiple-aspects i.e theory of plurality.
- It refers to the simultaneous acceptance of multiple, diverse, even contradictory viewpoints.
Syadvada: All judgments are conditional, holding good only in certain conditions, circumstances, or senses.
- Syadavada literally means the ‘method of examining different probabilities’.

The basic difference between them is that Anekantavada is the knowledge of all differing but opposite attributes whereas Syadavada is a process of the relative description of a particular attribute of an object or an event.
It mainly aims at the attainment of liberation, for which no ritual is required.
- It can be attained through three principles called Three Jewels or Triratna i.e.
  - Right Faith (Samyakdarshana)
  - Right Knowledge (Samyakjnana)
  - Right Action (Samyakcharita)
Five Doctrines of Jainism
- Ahimsa: Non-injury to a living being
- Satya: Do not speak a lie
- Asteya: Do not steal
- Aparigraha: Do not acquire property
- Brahmacharya: Observe continence

Vardhamana Mahavira

Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24^th Tirthankara, was born in 540 B.C. in a village called Kundagrama near Vaishali.
He belonged to the Jnatrika clan and was connected to the royal family of Magadha.

His father Siddharta was the head of the Jnathrika Kshatriya clan and his mother Trishala was a sister of Chetaka, the king of Vaishali.
At the age of 30 years, he renounced his home and become an ascetic.
He practised austerity for 12 years and attained the highest spiritual knowledge called Kaivalya (i.e conquered misery and happiness) at the age of 42 years.
He delivered his first sermon at Pava.
A symbol was associated with every Tirthankara and Mahavira’s symbol was a lion.
His missions took him Koshala, Magadha, Mithila, Champa etc
He passed away at the age of 72 in 468 B.C. at the Pavapuri in Bihar.

Sects/ School

Around 300 B.C. In Magadha there was a severe famine of 12 years, due to which Bhadrabahu went to Karnataka along with his disciples. But some followers stayed in Magadha with Sthulbhadra. On the return of Bhadrabahu, he had deep differences with the sages of Magadha, as a result of which Jainism got divided into two sects named Svetambara and Digambara. Sthulabhadra’s disciples Shvetambara (called those who wear white clothes) and Bhadrabahu’s disciples Digambar (called those who remain naked).

Digambara

Monks of this sect believe in complete nudity. Male monks do not wear clothes while female monks wear unstitched plain white sarees.
Follow all five vows (Satya, Ahimsa, Asteya, Aparigraha and Brahmacharya).
Believe women cannot achieve liberation.

Bhadrabahu was an exponent of this sect.

Major Sub-Sects of Digambara

Mula Sangh
Bisapantha
Terapantha
Taranpantha or Samaiyapantha

Minor Sub-Sets of Digambara

Gumanapantha
Totapantha

Svetambara

Monks wear white clothes.
Follow only 4 vows (except brahmacharya).

Believe women can achieve liberation.
Sthulabhadra was an exponent of this sect.

Major Sub-Sects of Svetambara

Murtipujaka
Sthanakvasi
Terapanthi

Spread of Jainism

Mahavira organized an order of his followers that admitted both men and women.
Jainism did not very clearly mark itself out from Hinduism, therefore it spread gradually into West and South India where Brahmanical order was weak.
Chandragupta Maurya was converted to Jainism by Bhadrabahu and he performed Sallekhana Vrata (annihilation of soul or starving oneself to death) at Chandragiri at Sravanabclagola.
Kharavela, the greatest ruler of the Chedi dynasty that ruled Kalinga, convened a Jain Council at Kmaragiri in 161 B.C. for uniting Swetambars and Digambars but his attempt failed.
Siddiraja and Kmarapala – rulers of Gujarat patronized Swetambar Jains.
The Rashtrakutas were the last great patrons of Jainism. Amoghavarsha, the greatest of Rastrakutas wrote the famous ‘Ratnamalika’ and ‘Kavirajamarga’. These two texts of Jainism are written in Canarasi (Kannada in Prakrit form). Jainism soon lost patronage due to its adherence to non-violence and very soon it got assimilated by Brahmanism which dealt a final blow to its identity.

Jain Council

First Jain Council
- Held at Patliputra in 3^rd Century B.C. and was presided by Sthulbhadra.
Second Jain Council
- Held at Vallabhi in 512 A.D. and was presided by Devardhi Kshmasramana.
- Final Compilations of 12 Angas and 12 Upangas.

Royal patrons of Jainism

South India

Kadamba dynasty
Ganga dynasty
Amoghavarsha
Kumarapala (Chalukya dynasty)

North India

Bimbisara
Ajatasatru
Chandragupta Maurya
Bindusara
Harshavardhana
Ama
Bindusara
Kharavela

Jain Architecture

Jain architecture cannot be accredited with a style of its own, it was almost an offshoot of Hindu and Buddhist styles.

Types of Jain Architecture:
- Layana/Gumphas (Caves)
  - Ellora Caves (Cave No. 30-35)- Maharashtra
  - Mangi Tungi Cave- Maharashtra
  - Gajapantha Cave- Maharashtra
  - Udayagiri-Khandagiri Caves- Odisha
  - Hathi-gumpha Cave- Odisha
  - Sittanavasal Cave- Tamil Nadu
- Statues
  - Gometeshwara/Bahubali Statue- Shravanabelagola, Karnataka
  - Statue of Ahimsa (Rishabnatha)- Mangi-Tungi hills, Maharashtra
- Jianalaya (Temple)
  - Dilwara Temple- Mount Abu, Rajasthan
  - Girnar and Palitana Temple- Gujarat
  - Muktagiri Temple- Maharashtra

Manastambha: It is found on the front side of the temple, having religious importance with an ornamental pillar structure carrying the image of Tirthankar on top and on all four cardinal directions.

Basadis: Jain monastic establishment or temples in Karnataka.

Jain Literature/Texts

Jain literature is classified into two major categories:

Agam or Canonical Literature (Agam Sutras)
- Agam literature consists of many texts, which are the sacred books of the Jain religion.
- They are written in the Ardha-magadhi, a form of Prakrit language.
Non‑agam Literature
- Non-agam literature consists of commentary and explanation of Agam literature, and independent works, compiled by ascetics and scholars.
- They are written in many languages such as Prakrit, Sanskrit, Apabhramsa, Old Marathi, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannad, Tamil, German, and English.

Contribution of Jainism

Attempts to reform the evils of varna order.
Growth of Prakrit and Kannada.
Contributed to architecture and literature immensely.

Development of local languages (Prakrit):
a) Mahavira taught in Ardhamagahi (modern Bihari or Magadhi language).
b) All Jain scriptures were written in Prakrit.
c) Badrabahu wrote Kalpasutras for Digambars in Prakrit.
d) Canarasi (Kannada) and Sauraseni (Marathi) were developed.
First to develop Cave temple architecture
Cave temples were built at Kandagiri and Kumaragiri in Kalinga, Indragiri and Chandragiri at Sravanabelagola, and Badami in Kamatak.
Development of Temples (Jain temples are also called Basadi)
a) Dilwara Temple in Mt. Abu, Rajasthan were built by Bhima I of the Solanki dynasty.
Jains were first to develop Indian sculpture.
b) The statue of Bahubali a.k.a Gomateswar at Sravanbelagola is the tallest statue in India. It is monolithic and most perfect. It was installed by Chamudaraya, Minister of Kadamba dynasty (in South Kamataka).
c) Ghatikas were the Jain Centres of Learning.

How is Jainism different from Buddhism?

Jainism recognised the existence of god while Buddhism did not.
Jainism does not condemn the varna system while Buddhism does.
Jainism believed in the transmigration of soul i.e. reincarnation while Buddhism does not.
Buddhism prescribes a middle path while Jainism advocates its followers to live the life of complete austerity.

Relevance of Jain Ideology in Today’s World

The Jain theory of Anekantavada translated into practical terms in social context would mean three principles:
- Absence of dogmatism or fanaticism
- Honouring the freedom of others
- Peaceful coexistence and cooperation

Anekantavada highlights the spirit of intellectual and social tolerance in the world.

The principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) gains prominence in today’s nuclear world to attain long-lasting peace in society.
- The concept of Ahimsa can also help to counter growing violence and terrorism.
The principle of Aparigraha (non-possession) can help to control consumerist habits as there is a great increase in greed and possessive tendencies.
- Global warming also can be healed with this thought by doing away with unwanted luxuries, which produce carbon emissions.

Other Facts about Jainism

The doctrine of Jaina is older than the Buddhist doctrine
Buddha and Mahavira were contemporaries
The word ‘Jaina’ has meaning. It means the follower of ‘Jina,’ which means ‘Victor’ (Someone who has attained infinite knowledge and who teaches others how to attain moksha.)
The other name to ‘Jina’ is ‘Tirthankara,’ which means ford builder.
There is a Jaina conception of time which is divided into six stages called Kalas.
The 22nd Tirthankara Neminatha is said to have belonged to the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
The 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanath lived in Benaras
All Tirthankaras are supposed to have taught the same doctrine.
A Jina is said to possess ‘Avadhijnana,’ (Superhuman cognition or psychic power.)
Jaina doctrine insists that:
- Reality is Anekanta (Manifold)
- Sat (Being) has three aspects – Substance (Dravya), Quality (Guna), and Mode (Paryaya.)
- Jaina Doctrine of Anekantavada mentions the manifold nature of reality.

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