The jain sangha is divided into two major sects, digambara and svetambara. For jainism worship is a means to personal spiritual and karmic development, it is not actually worship for exultation or devotion to any particular entity. This is in contrast to the practice followed by the parallel sect, the digambara skyclad, which does not admit history at your fingertips. They are humans who achieve enlightenment via asceticism. The buddha also known as sakyamuni or tathagata born in 563 bc on the vaishakha poornima day at lumbini near kapilavastu in nepal his father suddhodana was the saka ruler his mother mahamaya, of kosala dynastry died after 7 days of his birth. Knowledge of what is now in written form is essential to being a good jain. This oldest wisdom of mankind is being made available in all the languages for the benefit of humanity with movements like mission 24l. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. Digambara monks do not wear clothes because they believe clothes, like other possessions, increase dependency and desire for material things, and desire for anything ultimately leads to sorrow. Despite this jainism gradually spread into south and west india where the brahmanical religion was weak. These texts are collectively known as agams, the sacred books of the jain religion.
Lord mahavir, popularly regarded as the founder of jainism, was the last of the tirthankars who flourished from 599 to 527 b. Lord mahavirs preaching was orally complied by his disciples into many texts. It is a city so holy that not even priests can sleep there. In the sixth century bc, india witnessed the rise of two new religions jainism and buddhism. Jainism is an indian religion that emphasizes complete nonviolence and asceticism. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. 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. Followers of jainism are called jains, and there are about 4 million worldwide. The aim of existence is to attain through the triratna of. Start studying religious studies 101 mohammed jainism.
The religion states that the tirthankara taught in a divine preaching hall called. Jainism is an indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twentyfour. In order to spread the sects of jainism, mahavira organized an order of his followers which admitted both men and women. People in india are familiar with the common image of digambara mendicants walking barefoot with minimal possessions. The origin of the two sects some writers say jainism split in the first century ce, but others say the division happened in the third century bce. Broadly, jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, digambara and svetambara. Although scriptural knowledge is very important, access to holy texts has frequently been restricted. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Mahaviras disciples compiled his words into texts or sutras, and memorised them to pass on to future generations. Each of these sects is also divided into subgroups. Shah jain study center of north carolina raleigh 401 farmstead drive, cary nc 275115631 9194690956 and fax email. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. Mar 17, 2015 jainism is an indian religion that emphasizes complete nonviolence and asceticism.
These two sects now recognise different canons of sacred texts. Whiterobed, or whiteclad one of the two principal sects of jainism, a religion of india. Besides the sacred books of the digambaras, they also worship the fourteen sacred. Religious studies 101 mohammed jainism flashcards quizlet. The digambara sect is more austere, and is closer in its ways to the jains at the time of mahavira. The religious officials of jainism are nuns and monks who lead disciplined lives. List of books and articles about jainism online research. Therefore, they have renounced all material possessions. Svetambaras whiteclad, popular among laypeople and digambaras skyclad. Jainism has historical roots in hinduism, but there are many differences between the two indian religions today. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. In some sects particular scriptures are still limited to certain groups, such as male mendicants. Since jainism did not clearly mark itself out from the brahmanical religion it failed to attract the masses. This knowledge was orally transferred from acharyas gurus to the disciples over the course of about one thousand years.
Most books available on hinduism in bookshops in the west today are written by non. These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion. This is one of the most important differences between the two groups in jainism, and it means that jain texts have very different roles for the two groups of jains. Jainworld is a nonprofit taxexempt membership and donationsupported organization dedicated to jain tradition of wisdom, compassion, equality, brotherhood, universal wellbeing and spirituality. This is probably because it is easier to do these other faithbased actions rather than follow the strict rules of jainism. Sects of jainism, jainism in ancient india, ancient india. The differences in belief between the two sects are minor and relatively obscure. The primary reason for the rise of these religions was the religious unrest at that time in the country.
The split did not incur doctrinal or moral differences but only. These are further divided into different subsects and traditions. Other than rejecting or accepting different ancient jain texts, digambaras and svetambara. The major division within jainism, between the digambaras and svetambaras, is likely to have started early in the common era and is over 1500 years old. The present book is one of the best and stimulating books ever written by scholars on jainism. The various jain sects accept or reject to varying degrees the agams. On pilgrimages, jains often visit temples and locations connected to tirthankaras. These are further divided into different sub sects and traditions. The marathi jainism is basically originated from maharashtra and flourished here. The digambara sect believes that there were 26 agam. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras.
The digambar jain sect maintains that after the famine, the entire jain. They believe that if you have anything to your name, you cannot realise the highest. The most momentous event, which occurred about 80 a. Jainism is a religion and philosophy native to india founded in about the 6th century bc by the sage mahavira.
Jaina tradition teaches that a succession of 24 tirthankaras saints originated the religion. Jaina canon, the sacred texts of jainism, a religion of india, whose authenticity is disputed between sects. Find here a list of selected books on the various aspects of jainism, jain history, jaina philosophy, practices, values and beliefs, thirthankaras, life and teachings of mahavira and jaina tradition. It is read in the eight day long festival called paryushan. Jain beliefs fundamental beliefs of jainism the soul is bounded by karma from. Religion and culture of the jains by jyoti prasad jain 1983, bharatiya jnanpith will provide an orderly and clear. The following list of books incorporates a number of salient points of view, and they would be especially good for those not raised as jains. Digambara monks do not wear clothes because they believe clothes, like other possessions, increase dependency and desire for material things, and desire for anything ultimately leads to so. Jain literature comprises jain agamas and subsequent commentaries on them by various jain.
This is probably because it is easier to do these other faith. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourses of the tirthankaras. While the majority of pilgrimage places in india are sacred to the followers of hinduism, there are numerous holy sites of other religions such as jainism, buddhism and islam. This page provides information about important jain texts. Enjoyed the married life for years and had a son named rahula.
Most of them are very scholarly and recount the doctrines in a clinical manner, sometimes without any insight. Jain scripture sees it as a miracle that no one blames the great teacher mahavira for the inherent contradictions in his teachings. Appears in 6 books from 19521999 page 221 but apart from the posssibility of a relapse, it would be impossible to go through all the 14 stages one after the other because a direct transition from the first stage to the second is out of question and the llth stage is not directly passed before the 12th to the 14th. The oldest inscription in maharashtra is a 2ndcentury bc jain inscription in a cave near pale village in the pune district. 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. It is believed that both realities are eternal and that human beings can, and do, engage in both, which affects not only this life, but the next one as well. The existing agam sutras are accepted as the authentic preaching of lord mahavir by the swetambar sects, but the digambar sect does not accept.
Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Brought up by stepmother gautami married at 16 to yoshodhara. Many of these scholars are in fact hostile to the very subject. The faith is named for the jinas, spiritual conquerors who have achieved liberation and perfection. Jainism, ajivika, and buddhism arose in the 6th cent. Their holy book is called the analects they study this book and tells them what happened in the past. The tenets of jainism and facts about mahavira are important for ias exam as it makes significant part of indian ancient history and indian culture. The history of jainism after lord mahavira is recorded in the jaina literature preserved in various indian languages. Hence, they do not recognize the existing agamsutras which are recognized by the svetambara sects as their authentic scriptures. Tristutik gaccha was a murtipujaka svetambara jain religious grouping. As a result of these factors the jaina religion which was one and undivided up to the time of tirthankara mahavira and even up to the beginning of the christian era got divided first into the two major sects, viz.
Chapter 30 history of jain sects and scriptures the. The different jain sects accept different numbers of angbahya texts. A glance at its contents will reveal the fact that glasenapp has covered almost all the salient features of jainism. This is because most lay jains focus their daily life on temple worship and spiritual activities, rather than following the jain vows. In these books there are lucid descriptions on the birth of jainism. Within these principal sects are several smaller traditions or subsects. Jainism is an indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twentyfour spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore knowledge of the. To lay jains temple worship is more important compared nuns and monks. Jainism emerged in 6thcentury bce india, the same time buddhism was developing. Lay access to holy writings has usually been under the guidance of mendicants and often has not been direct and unmediated. Lord mahavirs preachings were orally compiled into many texts scriptures by his disciples. The digambara sect believes that during this famine all the agamas were lost.
These two traditions or sects take their names from the appearance of their monks. Lord mahavirs preaching was methodically compiled by his followers into many texts. Fundamental beliefs of jainism the soul is bounded by karma from the beginning of time the principles governing the successions of life cycles birth, life, and death is karma. Sep 11, 2009 this is one of the most important differences between the two groups in jainism, and it means that jain texts have very different roles for the two groups of jains. The tattvarthasutra contains the main doctrines of the jain faith, though the two main sects have slightly different versions and composition dates. Karma the mechanism create your own fate hermann kuhn. So he could be called a reformer of the jain religion or rejunevator of the faith which was already and had a long tradition. There are six highly recommended books that together form an excellent literary introduction to jainism and the jain way of thinking. A holy mountain that jains often visit is in shatrunjaya in gujarat. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it has many books complied by many followers. As a matter of fact, the standard of philosophy, which the arhat religion commands, is clearly manifested, albeit some changes, in the vedas, upanishads, mahabharat and the puranas.
History, society, philosophy and practice agustin paniker on. Digambara skyclad is one of the two main sects of jainism. While these two divisions of jainism are in broad agreement about the main teachings. Jainism is a religion and philosophy native to india founded in. Jains worship in temples which contain images of the 24 tirthankaras. Many jains worship at temple everyday, while others do so much less frequently. Also the religious books and scriptures were considered possessions and attachments. The kalpa sutra is the holy book of the of jainism religion. These scriptures are known as jain agam or agam sutras. Founded in northern india by mahavira, a prince who threw himself into asceticism. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. Worshipers look at its thousands of statues through mirrors in order no to insult the gods and goddesses with a direct gaze.
It was written in the jain prakrit and includes the navkar mantra. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. There are several stories about what actually happened, but the root causes included. While there are differences in practices, the core philosophy and main principles of each sect is same. The svetambaras believe that the collection of 32 or 45, the number is disputed agamas holy scriptures are the first and foremost of all holy texts. Central to jian belief is the material and the spiritual realm. Jainism vardhamana mahavira ancient indian history notes for upsc vardhana mahavira was the 24th tirthankara a great teacher and is said to have propounded jainism. Bc as protests against the overdeveloped ritualism of hinduism, particularly its sacrificial cults, and the authority of the veda. 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. Digambara means one who is naked or one who has the sky as his clothes. The monks and nuns of the shvetambara sect wear simple white garments. One of the main areas of dispute that was instrumental in the split is that of holy writings.
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