Beyond hinduism, yoga also has roots in buddhist, jain, and sufi traditions. Jain literature is classified into two major categories. Oct 23, 2015 professor andrea diemlane narrates this film, partially based on an excerpt from michael tobias moving book, life force, which provides a glimpse into jain. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. The faith is named for the jinas, spiritual conquerors who have achieved liberation and perfection. The year falls into two distinct parts the rainy season and the rest of the year. Worlds religionschapter 5jainism flashcards quizlet. The book corrects misperceptions that have characterized jain ethics as extreme, and discusses how jainism is being practiced globally, including in the us heartland. However, the subject matter of the purvas has been referenced by other jain scriptures and literature.
Mar 17, 2015 jainism is an indian religion that emphasizes complete nonviolence and asceticism. Female monastics of the digambara sect wear unstitched plain white sarees and are referred to as aryikas. The religious rebel was strong in india at that time 62 different religious came up but the two main religions to have its origin in india during this era are jainism and buddhism. He has inspired countless people by his selfless service to the jain community. Jain scripture rejects both the hindu vedas and nonjain writings as. Rituals and festivals jainism has a very rich life of rituals and festivals. Of the two major divisions of jainism, the digambaras believe all their original scriptures going back to the time of mahavira, their founder in the present era. Although indian religions are connected through the history of india, they constitute a wide range of religious communities, and are not confined.
The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. The world of jainism this is the best book on jainism. Popular jainism books meet your next favorite book. The arhant heritage jainism shraman culture is confirmed by the writings in srimad bhagwad, padmapuran, vishnupuran, skandapuran and shivpuran, naradpuran, manusmriti and other religious book. Jain literature comprises jain agamas and subsequent commentaries on them by various jain.
Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. Whiterobed, or whiteclad one of the two principal sects. Ranakpur is a village located in the lush green valley of aravalli mountain ranges in pali district of rajasthan, in western india. Bibliography jainism religion yale forum on religion. He showed tremendous interest in spirituality at an early age. It is home to one of the biggest and most important jain temple complexes of india, covering an area of nearly 48,000 square feet area, and has 29 halls, 80 domes and supported by 1444 marble pillars, each of them intricately and artistically carved, yet no two of. The dilwara jain temples in mount abu, rajasthans only hill station, were built by the chalukyas between the 11th and th centuries ad. As many as ten days in a given month are observed for the fasts by the pious jains though others may observe a lesser number. Each of these sects is also divided into subgroups. He has also tried to depict differences between jainism and baudhdhism, where applicable. A jain temple or derasar is the place of worship for jains, the followers of jainism.
He explains the concepts of jainism using real life experiences and motivates the listeners to follow in our daily life. Brief regarding pachkhan pachakhan literally means vow or oath. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that. Important days in the jain calendar are called parvan, and on these days religious observances, such as structured periods of fasting and festivals, take place. Although both sects include nuns, only the shvetambaras, who are more liberal, believe women can attain kevala. The jain religious calendar has its own characteristics. The rituals should imprint the religious principles onto the peoples minds forever. The jain literature, which is not classified as agam sutras, is known as non agam literature. They have mastered the jain scriptures, as well as several languages and a knowledge of various religions. Jainism, indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through disciplined nonviolence ahimsa, literally noninjury to all living creatures overview. This is yet another stunning book from meenakshi jain, coming after her 20 tourdeforce, rama and ayodhya.
Two slightly different varieties of prakrit were used by the digambaras and the. Jainism this religion has twentyfour tirthankaras, all of them belonged to the royal family. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. Apr 25, 2017 countries with the largest jain populations 1. Indian religions as a percentage of world population hinduism 15% buddhism 7. Two papers outlining how the jaina view of reality helps to make decisions that will result in increased peacefulness, happiness and love for ourselves, as well as for other living beings. Sadhus who have acquired special knowledge of jain scriptures and philosophy, and teach the scriptures to others, are known as upadhyayas. Digambars follow two main text and four anuyogs written by great acharyas scholars from 100 to ad as the basis for their religious philosophy and practices. Jainism traditionally known as jain dharma, is an ancient indian religion. India, the country where jainism was founded, continues to have the largest population of jains in the world. Saman suttam is the religious text created in 1974 by a committee consisting of representatives of each of the major sects of jainism to reconcile the teachings of the sects. Jainism is a religion of india, considered sometimes by scholars as only a sect of hinduism, but the jains themselves will not.
It was associated with the vedas, the earliest sacred texts of hinduism, and with the. However, there is one scripture that both sects believe to be holy. Home temple, atoms, indian gods, did you know, reference book, facts, pure products, benefit. They are an architectural marvel in marble, with intricate carvings and detail covering the ceilings, doorways, pillars, and panels. Religion in india is characterised by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. By birth, im jainand trying to be jain by actand i appreciate many historical perspective on jainism. Beyond hinduism, yoga also has roots in buddhist, jain.
At the heart of daily jain religious observance is the veneration of the image of the jina, the conceptual basis of which is the panindian ideal of the yogic ascetic. Jainism has two major ancient subtraditions, digambaras and svetambaras, with different. The successful template of manufacturing atrocities, hyping them, and then using the resulting public opinion to further an evangelical agenda may appear new, but it is one that was honed more than two centuries ago. Both sects have certain important doctrinal differences. However, they differ on their biographical accounts of mahavira, accept different texts as. This book provides an orderly and clear exposition of jainism as a philosophy and way of life, jain history, and the jains as a people. It is important to remember that these are not simply empty shows but they have a significant meaning for the benefit of the participant as well as viewers. The religious significance of the rainy season is underlined by the amount of discussion in jain sacred writings devoted to this fourmonth period. Jaina canon, the sacred texts of jainism, a religion of india, whose. Jains trace their history through twentyfour tirthankara and revere rishabhanatha as the first tirthankara in the present timecycle. In case it is not feasible, please use the following print audio pachkhans. This is in a fully referenced, comprehensively indexed, questionanswer format with many examples helps to readily grasp even difficult concepts.
Even though the two sects have different composition dates and slightly different versions, this text contains the. The siddhas and arhatas represent two types of divinities. Followers of jainism are called jains, and there are about 4 million worldwide. What is the source of authority in the jain religion. Beyond hinduism, yoga also has roots in buddhist, jain, and. The indian subcontinent is the birthplace of four of the worlds major religions. Along with hinduism and buddhism, jainism is one of the three most ancient indian religious traditions still in existence and an integral part of south asian religious belief and practice. Also, as mentioned in the book, jainism is scientific religion covering physics, math and other subjects. Pratikraman is the combination of two words, pra meaning return and atikraman meaning violation. It is important to understand the latter two to understand the conditions under which jains have survived and maintained and practiced their religion.
All jain sects believe that knowledge of the purvas drastivad were gradually lost starting two hundred years after lord mahavirs nirvan death. The serious jain layman fast, more or less completely, and undertake other religious practices on many auspicious days throughout the year. The jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran. In these books there are lucid descriptions on the birth of jainism. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or. International journal of hindu studies a valuable addition to the literature on jainism as a living faith. There is no doubt that the wealth of new data and ideas offered in this exquisite book provides the deepest insights yet into the contemporary religious world of jain laity. Jul 15, 2011 there is no doubt that the wealth of new data and ideas offered in this exquisite book provides the deepest insights yet into the contemporary religious world of jain laity. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. Jainism emerged in 6thcentury bce india, the same time buddhism was developing. Perhaps of least interest to general readers, of all the scriptures treated in this volume, are those of the jain faith, simply because they are so monastic in character. Svetambara leaders organised two councils at mathura and valabhi in 4thcentury ce.
Chandrakantbhai was born and raised in a religious family in ahmedabad, india. They hold that two texts preserve parts of the purvas or original teachings of the. The jain tradition believes that their religion is eternal, and the teachings of their first. Agam literature consists of many texts, which are the sacred books of the jain religion. The principal jain festivals can generally be connected with the five major events in the life of each tirthankara. Jainism is an indian religion that emphasizes complete nonviolence and asceticism. Jain books, jain literature, jain shastras in english. Both sects agree that a group of texts called the purvas were lost in the famine. The book presents jainism in a way that is authentic and engaging to specialists and nonspecialists alike. The digambar jain sect also believes that the remaining eleven angagams were gradually lost.
Michael tobias has described nonviolanceahimsa in great details. Here each of the souls, after freeing the karmic material becomes svambhu and is transformed into divinity. Indian religions, sometimes also termed dharmic religions or indic religions, are the religions that originated in the indian subcontinent. Monks of the digambara skyclad tradition do not wear clothes. Concise but accurate introduction to the key principles of jainism.
The two largest jain sects are shvetambaras, those whose garment is white, and digambaras, those whose garment is the sky. Pachakhan is ritual to help to follow strict discipline in eating in jainism. Jainism introduction yale forum on religion and ecology. Jain scholars were supportive of akbar and jain texts praise his religious tolerance. The 1,444 carved pillars of ranakpur jain temple no two of. Jain story book jaina education series 202 28 april 2005. Bulletin of the school of oriental and african studies jains in the world is a significant and welcome.
Sep 14, 2009 worship in the temple, although mostly individual, does have the social benefit of binding the jain community together, but this isnt a religious benefit, merely a sideeffect. May 18, 2006 the arhant heritage jainism shraman culture is confirmed by the writings in srimad bhagwad, padmapuran, vishnupuran, skandapuran and shivpuran, naradpuran, manusmriti and other religious book. Worship in the temple, although mostly individual, does have the social benefit of binding the jain community together, but this isnt a religious benefit, merely a sideeffect. However, it is suspected that both religious texts have been skewed over time. Both main jain sects agree that jain hymns have a mythological beginning, stemming from when the king of the gods first praised the qualities of the jinas. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and secular jain buildings generally reflect the prevailing style of the place and time they were built jain temple architecture is generally close to hindu temple architecture, and in ancient times buddhist architecture. It will serve for some time as a paradigmatic monograph for future empirical studies of jain religious life.
As jain householders, we are supposed to observe the twelve minor vows to minimize the violence towards other living beings which in turn minimizes the damage to our own souls. After a gap of about nearly two thousand years following composition of tattvartha sutra by acharya umasvati this was the first text to be recognized by all jain sects. Jainism, indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through disciplined nonviolence ahimsa, literally noninjury to all living creatures. In this time period two major sects, namely digambar and swetambar, were already. Mar 22, 2001 this book is a must for scholars of south asian religions and will provide scholars of hindu traditions fine grounding both in a central dialectic of jain thought and in contemporary jain praxis. These religions are also all classified as eastern religions. Even though the two sects have different composition dates and slightly different versions, this text contains the main doctrines of the jain faith. What inspired the book, singleton said, was the desire to relook. The two groups agree on the foundational jain principles of karma and nonviolence. In addition to parents passing along the religion to their children, monks travel around the country educating the population about the ancient teachings and philosophy of the religion. Books on jainism and jain philosophy hindu website. Svetambara whiteclad monastics, on the other hand, wear seamless white clothes.