INTRODUCTION #
The historical origin of Jainism is dated back to 5th-6th century BCE. The religion was contem- porary of Buddhism and was antithetical to the brahmanical traditions based on the Vedas. Though, it has few resemblance with the Sankhya Tradition of Hinduism. The Jain philosophy, based on prakrit language has non-violence amongs other as its Car- dinal principles.
The 24th Tirthankara, Mahavira, refuted the existence of God. He believed in the Karma transmi- gration of soul and Nirvana as the ultimate goal for human salvation. It’s the spread of Jainism, unlike Buddhism remained only in India, mainly amongs the Business class.
A Jain is a follower of Jina. A Jina is a victor or Conqueror. The Jains are followers of certain ascet- ics who obtained omniscience and who preached a doctrine, which promises a super mundane bliss of eternal salvation. Jainism originated centuries before Buddhism, but was revived by Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankar of Jainism. The religion is one of the oldest and actually has no evidence of its dates of origin. The Jain theology says that it is the oldest religion, which has no beginning and no end.
IMPORTANT TIRTHANKARAS #
A Tirthankara is a founder of a Tirtha. He achieves the enlightment and then shows the path to others. A Tirthankar achieves Moksha or liberation at the end of his human life. There are 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism. The first Tirthankara was Rishabhdev and Last 24th Tirthankara was Mahavira.
Meaning of Tirtha: A Tirtha is a religious pil- grim place. Most tirths in India of any religion are
based upon the banks of Rivers. A Tirtha in Sanskrit is derived of Tir, which is a bank of river. A Tirtha is a ford or a shallow coastal part of a water body which can be easily crossed. The idea of a Tirtha is to cross the river of human miseries.
20 out of the 24 Jain Tirthankara attained Nira- vana at Summet Shikhar or Shikharji located near Giridih, in Jharkhand, one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world.
Vasupujya attained nirvana at Champapuri in north Bengal, Neminatha on Mount Girnar in gujrat, and Mahavira, the last, at Pavapuri near Patna in Bihar.
Rishbhdev #
Rishbhdev is also known as Rishabh, Adinath, Adishwar or Kesariya Ji. He was born at Ayodhya in the Ikshwaku Kula or clan. In Hinduism, he is known to be an avatara or incarnation of Vishnu. The name of Rishabh’s parents has been mentioned in the Bhagvata Purana. His parents were King Nabhi Raja and Queen Marudevi. Two sons of Rishabhdeva are worth mention. One was King Bharata, a Chakravarti Samrata and another is Bahubali. Bharta was the king, after whose name India is called Bharat Varsha. Please note that in Hindu Mythology Bharata is mentioned as son of Dushyanta. However, some sources say that Bharata was eldest of a hundred sons of a saintly king by the name of Rishbhdev. The Jain theology calls Rishabh a Tirthankara and Bharat a King, whose younger brother was Bahubali. Bahubali was Bahu Bali, one with enormous strength in his arms.
The mythological stories relate that Bharat wanted to attack on the kingdom of Bahubali and
both brothers nearly readied for a war. The minister negotiated and it was decided that the two brother only contest personally through Jal Yuddha, Malla Yuddha and Drishti Yuddha. Bharata struck him first, but when it was Bahubali turn, he respected the elder brother and did not strike him and became a renunciant. Some years later, Bharta won the Meru parvata and hoisted a flag there. However, when he reached the zenith, he found many flags out there. Therefore, he felt insignificance and accepted renun- ciation. Bahubali is also known as Gomateshwara. There are 5 monolithic statues, all are present in Karnataka, out of which 57 feet at Shravanabelagola in Hassan District was created in 981 AD and his highest. The location of other statues are : Karkala in Udupi District, Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kan- nada District, Venur in Dakshina Kannada District, Gommatagiri in Mysore District.
The Sign of Rishbhdev is a Bull and achieved nirvana on the Kailasa Mountain of the Himalayas as per digambar canons and as per shwetambar canons he achieved nirvana on Ashtapad mount.
Parshvanath #
Parshva was the son of king Ashvasena and queen Vama of Varanasi. He renounced the world and became an ascetic when he was 30 years old. He achieved Nirvana on the Sammet Sikhar, now named Parshvanath after him. He has 108 names. He lived in Varanasi around 800 BC. Parashvanath is only Jain Tirthankar , always represented with the hood of a nâga shading his head. Two Yakshas viz. Yaksha Dharanendra and the Yakshi Padmavati are often shown flanking him.
Mahavira #
Mahavira was the 24th and last Tirthankara, known as Vira or Viraprabhu, Sanmati, Ativira,and Gnatputra in many texts and Arugan or Arugadevan in Tamil texts. He is known as Nigantha Nâtaputta in Buddhist Pali Canon. Historial dates assigned to Mahavira are 599-527 BC and he was born in to King Siddartha and Queen Trishala on the 13th day under the rising moon of Chaitra, which is celebrated as Mahavir Jayanti and falls in March or Early April.
His name was Vardhamana and he despite of being a prince, had exhibited a virtuous nature. He started engaging in meditation and immersed
himself in self-contemplation. At the age of 30, he renounced his kingdom and family, gave up his worldly possessions, and spent twelve years as an ascetic. During these twelve years he spent most of his time meditating. He attained the Kevalya Gyan (Omniscience) and devoted the rest of his life to preaching the eternal truth of spiritual freedom to people around India. At the age of 72 years and
4.5 months, he attained Nirvana in the area known as Pawapuri on the last day of the Indian and Jain calendars, Dipavali.
Mahavira was married to Yasoda. A daughter was born to Mahavira and Yasoda whose name was Anojja or Priyadarsana. Priyadarsana later married to a nobleman Jamali and became mother of a daughter Sesvati.
Now here it is a controversy. The digambar Jain tradition is of the view that Mahavira had never married. He lived a life of an ascetic even as a boy and his parents were alive when he became a monk.
CONCEPTS RELATED TO JAINISM #
Universal Truth or Kevalya Gyana #
Jain doctrine is established upon undying, uni- versal truths. As per the Jain Doctrine, during the first and two Aras, the truths lapse among the human beings and then reappear through the teachings of enlightened humans, whose who have reached the Kevalya Gyana. Kevalya Gyana or Kevala Nana (in Prakrat) is “absolute knowledge”, “Enlighten- ment” and “Omniscience”. It is the highest form of knowledge that a soul can attain. A person who has attained Kevala Gyana is called a Kevalin. To get a status of a Jina, attaining Kevala gyana is required first.
Jain Cosmology & Concept of Universe #
Mahapurana, a great Jainism text, composed by Acharya Jinasena during the rule of Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha and completed by his pupil Gunabhadra says that:
“Some foolish men declare that Creator made the world. The doctrine that the world was created is ill-advised, and should be rejected. If god created the world, where was he before creation? If you say he was transcendent then, and needed no support, where is he now?”
42 | Ancient and Medieval History
- The Jain cosmology says that world is made up of six Dravyas or substances:
- Jiva: All living substances.
- Ajiva: Ajiva includes all Nonliving sub- stances.
- Pudagala: This means matter.
- Dharma-Tattva: This means Principle of Motion.
- Adharma tattva: This means principle of Rest.
- Akasa: This means space.
- Kala: This means time.
Samsâra #
Samsâra, as per Jain faith is worldly life char- acterized by continuous rebirths and reincarnations in various realms of existence. The mundane existence is full of suffering and misery and hence is worth renun- ciation. Moksa is the only liberation from Samsâra.
Mahavratas #
Ahimsa is the fundamental Mahavrata of Jai- nism. Most Jains are vegetarians and this practice shows their faith in the principle of Ahimsa. Apart from that, there are 5 Mahavratas.
- Non-violence (Ahimsa).
- Truth (Satya).
- Non-stealing (Asteya).
- Chastity (Brahmacharya).
- Non-possession/Non-attachment (Aparigraha).
Tri Ratnas #
Tri ratnas are:
- Samyak Gyan : means right knowledge.
- Samyak darshana : Means right view.
- Samyak Acharana: Means right conduct.
Jain Sects #
Jain Samgha could not maintain its unity after
200 years of Mahavira’s Parinirvana. It split in Digambar sect and Shwetambar Sect during the Mauryan Era. The Digambar sect observed the tenets of religion strictly and the monks remained naked.
Shwetambar sect were liberal and they wore white clothes.
Jain Sangeeti #
The conferences of Jainism are called Jain San- geeti. The first jain Sangeeti was convened in 300 BC and this conference was headed by Sthulabhadra.
The second Jain Sangeeti was called in 512 AD and was held in Vallabhi Gujarat. The chairman was Devardhi Kshammaramana.
Jain Symbol #
Jain Emblem or Jain Symbol was adopted in 1975, at the auspicious occasion of 2500th Nirvana anniversary of Lord Mahavira. This emblem is used in almost all of the Jain magazines, wedding invita- tion cards, Jain festival cards, and every magazine with links to events related to Jain society. Use of this emblem helps to create a culture showing dedication and trust for the religion and the values that are represented by the emblem.
JAIN LITERATURE #
Jain Literature is called Jain Agamas. They are canonical texts of Jainism based on Mahavira’s teachings. There are in all 45 texts.
12 Angas: They are as follows #
- Âcâranga sûtra.
- Sûtrakrtanga.
- Sthânânga.
- Samavâyânga.
- Vyâkhyâprajñapti or Bhagavati sûtra.
- Jnâtrdhârmakathâh.
- Upâsakadasâh.
- Antakrddaasâh.
- Anuttaraupapâtikadasâh.
- Prasnavyâkaranani.
- Vipâkasruta.
- Drstivâda (This Anga had disappeared by the time second sangeeti was organized in 512 AD. The remaining Angas were written down in Ardhamagadhi (Jain Prakrit) Language.
- 12 Upanga Agams: Upanga Agamas are explanations to Angas.
- 6 Chedasutras: These are texts related to behavior of Monks and Nuns.
- 4 Mûlasûtras: These are texts which pro- vide a base in the earlier stages of the monkhood.
- 10 Prakîrnaka sûtras: These are texts on Independent or miscellaneous subjects.
- 2 Cûlikasûtras: These are texts which fur- ther enhance or decorate the meaning of Angas.
Notable Points #
- Shauraseni and Ardhamagadhi (Jain Prakrit) (Most ancient): Agamas and sutras.
- Sanskrit: Tatvartha Sutra of Uma Swati, Jain Puranas, Koshas, Shravakachar, Mathematics, and Nighantu.
- Apbhramsa: Most of the known Apabh- ramsha texts are of Jain origin, they include Kahas, rasas, and grammars.
- Tamil: Tirukural, Silappatikaram and Jivaka chintamani.
- Hindi: Ardha-kathanaka, Chhah-dhala, and Mokshamarga Prakashaka.
- Kannada: Vaddaradhane.
- Gujarati: Bharata-Bahubali Ras (it is consid- ered to be the first Gujarati Book).
Royal Patrons of Jainism #
- Asoka’s Grandson Samprati.
- King Kharvela of Orissa: set up jain rock cut cave.
- Gangas, Kadambs, Chalukyas, Rastrakutas had patronized Jainism.
- King Amoghavarsha of Rastrakuta dynasty became a Jain Monk. He wrote Ratnamalika.
- The Chalukyan period rock cut caves at badami and aihole have the figures of Jain Tirthankaras.
- Samatabhadra in Kanchi preached this reli- gion.
- The Dilwara Jain temples at Mount Abu were built by Chalukya Dynasty kings between 11th to 13th century.
Other Observations #
The Jain religion professes peace and non-vio- lence and this was the major reason that mercantile community was attracted towards this religion.
Chandragupta Maurya had abdicated his throne towards the end of his life and became an ascetic under the Jain saint Bhadrabahu. He migrated to Karnataka and spent his ending days at sallekhana at Shravanabelagola. Bhadrabahu Cave is the place where he is said to have died by fasting.
Bhadrabahu propagated Jainism in South India.
The metaphysical thoughts of Jainism are linked to Samkhya Philosophy.
There are five Jain caves at Ellora, which belong to the ninth and tenth centuries and they all belong to the Digambara sect.
Cave 32 at Ellora is called Indra Sabha and it is a Jain Cave.
Tiger cave at Udayagiri, and Sitta navasala Cave at Padukottai are Jain caves only.
Death through gradual starvation at the end of one’s natural life is called ‘Santhara’. Among Jains it is a means to attain salvation and not suicide. The Jains profess a vast difference between suicide and Santhara. Suicide is committed in a fit of anger or depression while the decision to observe Santhara is taken with a calm mind.
Neminath or Arishtnemi was a Jain Tirthankar who was considered to be a kinsman of Lord Krishna.
11 close disciples of Mahavira are called Ganadhara. The Jain Samgha was made up of 11 Ganadharas.
Virasena, Mahaviracharya, Hemachandra and Mahendra Suri were well known Jain Mathemati- cians.
4 Sankalpas viz. Satya, Ahimsa, Astey and Aparigraha were adopted and preached by Parshvanth.
It took 12 year of Mahavir to attain Kevalya Gyan after a rigorous Tapascharya.
Vardhaman rejected Vedic gods and Vedic Religion.
Tapascharya means as per jain “Kaya Klesh” the rigorous mortification, and it leads to salvation.
