Introduction to Jainism
-----------------------

Jainism is one of the oldest religion of world.
It believes in a cyclical nature of universe. And thus a
universe without a beginning, without an end and without
a creator.

Rishabhdev, the first "Tirthankar" (Maker of the ford) of
this cycle of time, is mentioned in Rig Veda, the oldest
scripture in Hinduism believed to be at least 5000 years
old. The final of the 24 Tirthankars of this time cycle
was Lord Mahavir who lived between 599 and 527 B.C.

Ahimsa (Non-violence) is the underlying philosophy of
Jainism. The Ahimsa of Jainism is very comprehensive and
is concerned not only with Human beings but also every
living being. Whether it is animals, plants, insects or
microbes. Detailed description of types of living beings
and ways to minimise and avoid violence is given in
thousands of centuries old Jain scriptures.

The objective of Jainism is to strive for Moksha or
Liberation from the unending cycles of Birth, Death
and Re-birth. One who is liberated is called as Siddha.
A Siddha is a soul which has achieved it's original state
of infinite bliss and power etc. Every Jeev (living being)
has the potential of becoming a Siddha and therefore God.

Jainism doesn't believe in God as the creator of this
universe. God is a liberated soul (Siddha) who has attained
Moksha. A role model as well as a teacher. Every human
being and every living being has the potential to attain
Moksha and thus become God.

Philosophical principles of Anekantvad (Non-absolutism or
multi sidedness) and Syadvad (Relativity of truth) are
unique only to the Jain system of thought. Karma theory has
its roots in Jainism and is thoroughly described.

Jainism says that the future of a man is in his own hands.
All its rituals, religious practises and beliefs are
beneficial from a scientific perspective too. Ahimsa and
Vegetarianism are preached and practised very thoroughly
by Jainism.

3 responses total.

Interesting. I have always previously considered Jainism as a sort of
combination of Hindooism and Buddhism. I was not aware that they did not
believe in a creator god or that they held to the relativity of truth. What
are some of the jain scriptures? I am familiar with the Gita and Vedas but
do not recall any specific to the Jain religion. 

Jainism is not a combination of Hinduism and Buddhism, as it is a 
contemporary of Hinduism and predates Buddhism by far.

From the beginning of time, India has been blessed with two parallel 
streams of thought, the Vedic tradition and the Shraman tradition. The 
Vedic tradition later accommodated the Brahmanic Upanishadic tradition. 
Some would say that the Vedic tradition gave birth to the Brahmanic 
Upanishadic  tradition. Either way, that synthesis gave birth to the 
set of religious philosophies known as modern Hinduism.

The Shraman traditon on the other hand, championed by Bhagwan 
Rishabhdev, also known as Bhagwan Adinath, was preached by the 
omniscient Jinas, and came to be described as Jainism. Bhagwan Buddha, 
not satisfied with Hinduism, initially ordained himself as a Jain and 
practised the rigorous asceticism as practised by Bhagwan Mahavir, the 
last in the line of omniscient Jinas. 

He decided, after a while, that the path of rigorous penance was not 
for him, and founded his own Middle Path. His followers named this 
wonderful new philosophy as Buddhism.

So it is clear that Jainism was far more ancient than Buddhism, and 
very much a contemporary of Hinduism. The Rigved, considered by may to 
be the most ancient extant Indian text, is replete with references to 
Bhagwan Rishabhdev, as the great ascetic Rishabh. Almost all the Hindu 
Purans carry reverent references to Bhagwan Rishabhdev. The Brahmi 
script, possibly the oldest script in the world, was taught by Bhagwan 
Rishabhdev to his daughter Brahmi. Bhagwan Rishabhdev's son Bharat 
became a great King, and ruled the world. Our country is named Bhaarat 
after him.

Bhaarat was named after King Bharat Chakravarti, the eldest son of 
Bhagwan Rishabhdev. Bharat Chakravarty was a great Emperor. It is 
mentioned in the Jain scriptures, as well as Hindu scriptures, that 
that India was named Bhaarat after King Bharat, the son of Bhagwan 
Rishabh. Bhagwan Rishabhdev's parents, King Naabhiraay and Queen 
Marudevi are also mentioned.

I am presenting two quotations in Sanskrit from Hindu scriptures.

"Naabhirmarudevyaam Putramjanayat Rishabhnaamaanam Tasya Bharatah 
Putrashch Taavadagrajah Tasya Bharatasya Pitaa Rishabhah 
Hemaardredakshinam Varsh Mahad Bhaaratam Naam Shashaas."

Vaaraahpuraan, Adhyaay 74

Naabhi and Marudevi gave birth to a son named Rishabh whose son Bharat 
was a ruler who ruled the region lying south of the Himalay, so the 
ancients opine.

"Naabhe Putrashch Rishabhah Rishabhaad Bharato'obhavat. Tasya Naamma 
Twidam Varsh Bhaaratam Cheti Keertyate"

Shlok 57 of Skandhpuraan, Maaheshwarkhand, Kaumaarkhand, Adhyaay 37

Nabhi's son was Rishabh, and from Rishabh came Bharat. From him the 
name of Bhaarat became famed. (The meaning which is inferred from the 
Shlok, that from the son of Rishabh, this country came to be named as 
Bharat Varsh.)

I request the list members to look up the following Hindu scriptural
references as well.

Shlok  39 - 40 of Maarkandeypuraan , Adhyaay 40

Shlok 37 - 38 of Koormpuraan, Adhyaay 41

Shlok 10 - 11 of Agnipuraan, Adhyaay 10

Shlok 40 - 42 of Vayupuraan Poorvaardh, Adhyaay 33

Shlok 59 - 61 of Brahmaandpuraan Poorvaardh, Anushangpaad, Adhyaay 14

Shlok 19 - 23 of Lingpuraan, Adhyaay 47

Shlok 27 - 28 of Vishnupuraan, Dwiteeyaansh, Adhyaay 1

Shlok 57 of Skandhpuraan, Maaheshwarkhand, Kaumaarkhand, Adhyaay 37




MAHAVIR AND BUDDHA

Bhagwan Mahavir and Gautam Buddha lived in the same age and were
born in privileged royal families in the same vicinity. They both 
taught a system of religion that lay emphasis upon the dignity of man 
and both preached in the common man's language. Their concept of reality
stressed upon man's evolution to a higher plane, thus improving also 
the social solidarity between men of all creeds. They propounded the 
Shraman culture and established (or in Mahavir's case re established)
a philosophy that rejected the Vedic religion and established their own
following.

The approach of Bhagwan Mahavir and Gautam Buddha was not dissimilar,
as both sought to alleviate the suffering of souls bonded in the cycle 
of rebirths from time immemorial. In many Buddhist works in Pali, there 
is reference made to "Niganth Nataputta" , The Nirgranth son of King 
Nata, i.e. Bhagwan Mahavir Swami. There was much in common in their 
approach and both have left their indelible stamp on the heart of 
humanity.

Gautam Buddha experimented with various schools of thought before
settling for the "Madhya Marg" or the Middle Path. In contrast, Bhagwan
Mahavir was clear and unequivocal about the road to salvation. He took 
the path travelled by the Jain Tirthankars from Bhagwan Rishabhdev to 
Bhagwan Parshwanath. He simply presented the path in contemporary form.

Bhagwan Mahavir was preaching to his own disciples as well as the 
disciples of Bhagwan Parshwanath, who had preceded him by nearly 200 
years. Hence he had to accommodate effectively two different sets of 
followers. Of his short life span of seventy-two years, the first 
thirty were spent as a layman, the next twelve in incredibly rigourous 
penance and the last thirty years as a Tirthankar.

He influence spread southwards as well as westwards. Even today Jains 
are to be found fairly large numbers in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, 
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

After his Enlightenment, Gautam Buddha believed that he had discovered
something new for mankind. He used his royal bloodline to facilitate the
propogation of his new faith. He lived a full eighty years and his 
Middle Path was met with great enthusiasm wherever he went. Like 
Bhagwan Mahavir, Gautam Buddha also preached the Shraman ideology but 
his Middle Path, with its rejection of rigourous penance, travelled 
well and his religion spread far and wide. Unfortunately Buddhism which 
is omnipresent in the far East, has lost its roots in India, the land 
of its origin.

One reason that has been forwarded by scholars is that Buddhist 
clergymen distanced themselves from the lay community. This could have 
possibly resulted in the loss of followers. Also, Buddhist literature 
does not have many books written for laymen. So perhaps these factors 
along with lack of royal patronage in the later years, conspired to the 
lack of followers in India.

It is also likely that Buddhists were persecuted in India.

Jain clergy on the other hand, while maintaining their  strict monastic 
vows, have always lived closely with the laity. The Jain Sangh has more 
or less been very cohesive and the monks and nuns have always been an 
integral part of the Jain community. Jain literature has ample books 
meant for the laymen, such as "Ratnakarand Shravakachar", "Motti Sadhu 
Vandana", "MokshaMarg Prakashak", "Atmasiddhi" and of course 
the "Trishashthi Shalaka Purusham", inspirational tales
of the 63 great men in history. Also, for four months  during the 
monsoon the monks and nuns stay in one place and inculcate Jainism 
amongst the Shravaks (lay community) of the area. Even otherwise monks 
and nuns incorporate the preaching to and teaching of Shravaks, as an 
important part of their religious activity. Hence Jainism has continued 
to flourish in the land of its birth.

I hope that this note clarifies that Jainism is distinct from Hinduism 
and Buddhism.

The sacred books of the Jains are known as the Agams. I will write 
about them tomorrow, as this email is too lengty already. 


Yours in Ahinsa,

Manish Modi

HINDI GRANTH KARYALAY
http://www.hindibooks.8m.com
Hirabaug, C. P. Tank, Mumbai 400004, INDIA
Telephone: 00 91 22 3826739
Email: manish.modi@bol.net.in

Thanks for the explanation, Manishji.

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