Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

RELIGIONS

JAINISM

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Origin : Pre-Historic and 8th-9th Century B. C. ’lace: India Founder : Adinatha Rishabhadeva (pre-historic) Parshva (8th-9th B.C.) Mahavira (6th C. B.C.) Global following 3,927,000(0.1%) Global spread (11 countries) Predominant Asia

Followers practise meditation, which at the end of the life, is followed by mortification of the flesh to attain perfection through non-violence. Survived a twelfth century resurgence of Hinduism because of the economic power of its followers and the conservation of its teachings - having soul-power. Simple, peace-loving tolerant religion. Jains, one of the most prosperous and urban communities in present times mainly in India.

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North Oceania Eurasia

stages of birth. The dots stand for the three jewels of Jainism. The half moon with dot symbolises moksha (liberation) ----------------------------- ------------------------------ /

America

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superior who decides disciplinary and doctrinal matters. * There are also communities of nuns who follow many of the practices. * The days and nights are divided into periods for requesting alms, eating, studying, meditating, teaching, mortifying the body and confessing faults. * Monashis are identified by their shaved heads. Monks are known as yatis or munis. * Members of the laity are encouraged to take twelve vows, but first they must profess their faith in the religion of the Tirthank- aras. * They must renounce all doubt and desire to belong to another religion, accept the reality of soul and karma and resolve not to associate with hypocrites. * The path to liberation passes through five stages of knowledge : Mad (right perception), Sruta (clear knowledge based on scripture), Avadhi (distant, supernatural knowledge), Manahparyaya (clear knowledge of the thought of others) and Kevala (omniscience, the highest form of knowledge). * The twelve vows to be taken by the laity are : 1. Never intentionally take life or destroy a jiva. 2. Never lie or exaggerate. 3. Never steal. 4. Never be unfaithful to one's spouse or think unchaste thoughts. 5. Limit oneself in the accumulation of wealth and give away all extra possessions.

c 599 B.C. c 527 B.C.

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Birth of Mahavira Death of Mahavira

LINEAGE He achieved moksha (liberation) at Pavapuri in Bihar. Mahavira was born at Vaishali into a Kshatriya family. Ma- havira's name at birth was Vardhamana. He married and begot a daughter. After his parents' death, he renounced the world, he tore out his hair by the roots and became a monk. For twelve and a half years he led an ascetic life in seclusion, meditation with nudity. He finally became a Jina (a victor over his own passions). He came to be known as Kevalin (Omniscient),/4r/zata (Vener- able) and Mahavira (Great Hero). The Jainas believe that Mahavira was not the founder of a new religious system but the last of a long succession of twenty- four Tirthankaras or "ford-makers across the stream of exis- tence". The twenty-third teacher, Parsva (8-9th century B.C.) the immediate predecessor of Mahavira, was a prince of Be- nares. At the age of thirty, he renounced all worldly pleasures and began a life of austerity. For over seventy years, Parsva wandered around, gathering disciples and teaching them to observe four vows: not to take life, not to lie, not to steal and non-attachment. Mahavira added a fifth vow, of Brahmacharya (continence), to the original four. SECTS Around 300 BC Jain monks began to quarrel, splitting into the Svetambara (white-clothed) and the Digambara (air-clothed) who took a vow of nudity. The Digambara's centre is in Karnataka. The Svetambaras are mostly found in the cities of western India. SCRIPTURES The Agama (canon) is the source of the system. The Angas, the Purvas and Prakima besides sacred writings containing interpretation of Jain philosophy. Navakara Mantra pays homage not to individuals but to five classes of paramesthins or evolved souls. The other important religious texts are Dwadashangas and Mulashashtras.

6. Limit chances of committing transgressions. 7. Limit the number of personal possessions. 8. Guard against unnecessary evils. 9. Observe periods of sinless meditation. 10. Observe special periods of limitation. 11. Spend some time living as a monastic. 12. Give alms to a monastic community.

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* The first five vows are similar to the monastic vows.

PHILOSOPHY

* Jains see the universe as eternal and uncreated and reject the concept of a supreme being as creator or creative spirit. * Time is eternal and formless. It is conceived as a wheel with 12 spokes called aras or ages. Six make an ascending cycle (utsarpini) when man progresses in knowledge, age, stature and happiness. At the height of this cycle men reach an enormous height and live to a tremendous age. In the descending cycle (avasarpini) everything is in a state of decline. The world is now declining. The process of decline will continue for 40,000 years

CODE OF CONDUCT Each Jain monastic community is governed by an acharya or