Jainism offers a quiet, overwhelmingly serious way of life, a cultural insistence on compassion, a society of ethics that has dramatically changed the world and will continue to effect change. Rajchandra kalpasutra, acharangacomplete translation searchable texts. Part 1 topics include shree simandhar bhagwan, saat tattva sambandhi bhul, lakshan ane lakshanabash, panchma gunustanvarti shravak ni 11 pratimao, sukh shu che, panch bhavo, char abhav, panch pandavo, bhavna batrisi. According to the jaina tradition, the king chandragupta maurya has supported jainism. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma. Mar 22, 2001 it will serve for some time as a paradigmatic monograph for future empirical studies of jain religious life. Jainism shares similarities with hinduism and buddhism, due in large part to the historical and cultural context in which it arose.
Sramana, meaning seeker, was a tradition that began around 800600 bce. This book explains some basic jain values, beliefs, and practices through its narrative tradition, the primary means through which jains themselves learn about. These are further divided into different subsects and traditions. The oldest canonical books of jainism, apart from some mythological additions and evident exaggerations, contain the following important notes on the life of their last prophet. So he could be called a reformer of the jain religion or rejunevator of the faith which was already. It is also an excellent resource for students of jainism young and old. Jainism is based on an ancient indian religious philosophy called sramana. Jainism and the new spirituality is valuable reading on spiritual values, world religions, the multifaith movement, peace, ecology and social justice. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents.
In 300 words jainism is the philosophy and religion of jainas the followers of religion preached and practised by the thirthankaras, the last of whom was lord mahavir. Chief among these is ardha magadhi, which due to its extensive use has also come to be identified as the definitive form of prakrit. Its philosophy is grounded in the doctrine of the yajurveda but it was systematized by vardhamana also known as mahavira who substituted the authority of the vedas with logic and experience and also reinterpreted most of the key ideas available in indian. The primary reason for the rise of these religions was the religious unrest at that time in the country. The vratya tradition in atharva veda 15th chapter there is a description of vratyas who are said to be unversed in vedic tradition and ritual and belonging to licchavi, natha and malla clans. List of books and articles about jainism online research library. This page provides information about important jain texts. In the sixth century bc, india witnessed the rise of two new religions jainism and buddhism. Guseva, the russian scholar in her ethnological monograph jainism states.
Traditionsbeliefs like some of the other world religions,jainism is a religion of selfhelp. All sects agree that teaching was first transmitted orally, however, the two main sects of jainism, svetambara and digambara disagree on which scriptures are authoritative, or most important. Jainism is a tradition which dates back thousands of years, which is unbelievably rich and profound, and which has certain unmistakable signs of identity. One the religious, historical, and cultural contexts of jain narratives. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism mahaviras disciples compiled his. Jains do not believe in a god or gods in the way that many other religions do, but they do believe in divine or at least perfect beings who are worthy of devotion. Rather, there are many religious texts the most wellknown of which are the agams that include transcriptions of the oral history provided to us by tirthankars and jain teachers, as well as scholarly commentary on the interpretation of the religion.
Lord mahavir, popularly regarded as the founder of jainism, was the last of the tirthankars who flourished from 599 to 527 b. Bc as protests against the overdeveloped ritualism of hinduism, particularly its sacrificial cults, and the authority of the veda. The faith is named for the jinas, spiritual conquerors who have achieved liberation and perfection. Jainism, ajivika, and buddhism arose in the 6th cent. There is evidence to show that so far back as the first century b. Scholars have established mahaviras historical dates as 497 to 425 bce. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that characterises their faith. Vardhamana was the younger son of siddhartha a nobleman who belonged to the kshatriya race, called in sanskrit jnati or jnata, in prakrit naya, and, according to. Jaina tradition teaches that a succession of 24 tirthankaras saints originated the. One among them the socalled vital question of money which is above all things the most coveted commodity but i, as a jainist, in the name of my countrymen and of my country, would offer you as the medium of the most perfect exchange between us, henceforth and forever, the indestructible, the unchangeable, the universal currency of good. The books of jainism were written in the popular vernacular dialects as opposed to sanskrit which was the classical standard of brahmanism, and therefore encompass a number of related dialects.
Historical dictionaries of religions, philosophies, and. The jain religion was born in india in the 6th century b. Jainism stresses spiritual independence and equality of all life with particular emphasis on nonviolence. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. Jainism traditionally known as jain dharma, is an ancient indian religion. Jain theism concept of god in jainism harvard university. The jain literature which was complied by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. Among these dharma traditions is jainism or jaina dharma, which has. Jainism, along with buddhism and charvaka, is considered part of the heterodox systems also referred to as heresies of indian philosophy. Jainism introduction yale forum on religion and ecology. Bulletin of the school of oriental and african studies jains in the world is a significant and welcome ethnography of contemporary jains in western india by the most prominent scholar of jainism in north america. Jainism emerged in 6thcentury bce india, the same time buddhism was developing. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira.
According to jain tradition, lord rishabh was the first interpreter of ahinsa nonviolence. Jainism is related to an extinct indian religious tradition named ajivika. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. Instead they have a body of holy writings or scriptures. Jainism differs from many religions in that there is no one scripture or holy book that is central to our faith. Jains believe that their tradition does not have a historical founder. Jainism, therefore, says that the monastic life is essential for salvation. Jains have significantly influenced the religious, ethical, political and economic spheres in india for over two millennia. At the council, the svetambara adopted the texts they had preserved as.
As with most religious traditions, jainism has scriptures that contain its fundamental. Apr 24, 2007 within sikhism, the holy book is called the sri guru granth sahib. In fact, the householders are supposed to evolve to the monkhood in the later stages of life as was the case with the hinduism in the vedic era. Ancient indian history evolution of jainism tutorialspoint. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. These teachers are also called makers of the ford sanskrit, t i rtha. Exactly when jain texts began to be illustrated is uncertain.
In the modern era, according to flugel, new jain religious. According to jain texts, the 22nd tirthankara neminatha lived about 85,000. It is considered to be much more than a book, it is deemed to be the living guru of the sikhs. Guru is a sanskrit word for teacher, and within sikhism it is the title given to the 10 spiritual leaders of sikhism dating from 1469 ad to 1708 ad as well as the sri guru granth. Buddhism, in contrast, emphasized sangha or monasteries. Mar 17, 2015 jain practices what are jain religious practices. Holy book and place of worship of sikhism,jainism, buddhism. Hindus are in a similar position, even though they have the vedas, which can be considered the ultimate source of teaching. Contrary to what some might think, it is not in any sense a poor relation of buddhism, nor is a strange, atheistic and ascetic sect within hinduism. Jainism is an indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twentyfour spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. The word canon for the jain holy writings is increasingly felt to be. Ultimate goal of life is eternal release from karma. There is no doubt that jainism prevailed even before vardhamana or parsvanatha.
The legendary accounts of mahaviras life preserved by the jain scriptures. Jainism lays heavy emphasis on nonviolence ahimsa and the believers of this religion, whether a monk or a householder, follow a very strict, well disciplined life. Ancient indian literature contains indications of the deep. A living tradition t he founding of the mira and ajay shingal center for dharma studies in 2015 has established a permanent home at the gtu for the academic study of several major religious traditions that originated in ancient india.
Jainism is a south asian religious tradition which takes its name from those sanskrit, jaina. According to akira hirakawa, the monasteries were easier targets for destruction and elimination, and buddhism almost vanished from the indian subcontinent after the muslim invasions. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. Jainism had a tradition of itinerant mendicants with less emphasis on a monastery style living for monks. Many of its historic temples were built near the buddhist and hindu temples in. The tirthas of jainism are spread all over india and have been divided into two classes. Jain books, jain literature, jain shastras in english.
The folios are encased in wooden covers that are often decorated with religious or historical themes. Furthermore, the earliest buddhist texts discuss jainism in some detail, suggesting that. Illuminated manuscripts and jain art victoria and albert. Those places where the tirthankaras and other holy persons have attained nirvana are called siddhakshetra. List of books and articles about jainism online research. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. He had accepted jaina religion and abdicated the throne and died as a jaina bhikshu in the southern part of india. Jainism is an ecologically responsible way of life which is nonviolent in thought, action, and deed. Mar 17, 2015 jainism is an indian religion that emphasizes complete nonviolence and asceticism.
Along with hinduism and buddhism, jainism is one of the three most ancient indian religious traditions still in existence and an. Jaina tradition ascribes the origin of the system to rsabhadeva who lived many millennia back. There are no gods or god who will help humans on the road to liberation. Jainism, indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through. Samantabhadra chhah dhala of daulatram atmasiddhi of shri. Jains continue to sustain the ancient shraman or ascetic tradition. In india, they share this feature with the buddhists. English, jain who follow the teachings and example of authoritative teachers called jina conqueror. Broadly, jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, digambara and svetambara.