Jainism

ContentsSection Page
1 Basics of Jainism 3
2 Principle of Jainism 4
3 Philosophies of Jainism 5
4 Jain Beliefs 7
5 Daily life of a Jain 8
6 How does Jainism bring changes? 9
7 The Origin of Jainism 11
8 Lord Mahavira 17
9 Jainism & World Religions 19
10 Jainism in India: A Snapshot 21
11 Organization of Jainism 25
12 Bibliography 27

1. Basics of Jainism
►Jainism is a way of life and one of the oldest religions of the world.
►It believes in a cyclical nature of universe. It discourages superstition and blind faith and
encourages free and rational thinking.
►Jainism lays heavy emphasis on non-violence (ahimsa) and discipline.
►According to Jain philosophy, all Tirthankaras were born as human beings but they have attained a
state of perfection or enlightenment through meditation and self realization. They are the “Gods” of
Jains.
►Jains have always practiced non-violence, vegetarianism, meditation, yoga, and environmentalism.
►Jainism is often described as one of the most peaceful religion.
►The goal of Jainism: the spiritual progress of the individual through a succession of stages until he
is able to conquer and renounce dependence on the world and the self.

2. Principles of Jainism
Non-violence (Ahimsa)
 Not to cause harm to any living beings by thoughts, speech or body
 Non-violence towards all living creatures, in both thought and action
PrinciplesofJainism
Multiplicity of Views
(Anekäntväd)
 Strengthens autonomy of thoughts & speech, and non-
possessiveness.
Non-Possessiveness / Non-
Attachment (Aparigraha)
 A complete detachment from people, places, and material things
Truthfulness (Satya)  To speak the harmless truth only
Non-Stealing (Asteya /
Achaurya)
 Not to take anything that is not properly given

3. Philosophies of Jainism
►Jainism believes in Godhood but does not believe God to be the First Cause. God is not a Creator,
Preserver or Destroyer of the universe.
►“God” does not Punish or Reward
►Each person is responsible for improving life by one’s self-endeavor
►Each person is capable of achieving Godhood
►All Living Beings have Souls & are Equal
►All life is sacred
►Therefore, living in peace & harmony is essential
►Elimination of our Karmas is the Path to Liberation & Achievement of Godhood
►It requires multiple re-births
►Ultimate Goal of Life
►To be free from all karma
Equality

3. Philosophies of Jainism
Karma Theory
The principles governing the
successions of life cycles (birth, life,
and death) is Karma.
The Theory of Karma is founded on the simple law
of cause and effect. What we experience now is
the result of our own past action and our future is a
function of our own choice and making.
Explains the role that karmas play in our
lives, how we accumulate karmas, and
how we get rid of them.
Actions of mind, speech, and body bind us with karma and
our intentions and the passions determine the duration,
strength and the results of the bondage

4. Jain Beliefs
All souls are equal
Non-Violence
Multiplicity of views
Non-possessiveness
Karma
Three jewels:
Right Knowledge
Right Faith
Right Conduct

5. Daily life of a Jain
►Code of Conduct for Monks & Nuns (stricter)
►Code for Laymen and Laywomen
►Vegetarianism & Non-Violent Practices
►No Silk, Leather, Animal Products
►Simplicity of Lifestyle, Non-Materialism
►Meditation and Introspection
►Forgiveness is a Moral Doctrine
►Compassion, Charity & Community Service
►Preservation of the Environment
►Jainism is the World’s Only Religion Emphasizing the Environment

6. How does Jainism bring changes?
• Anger
• Arrogance
• Deception
• Greed
Control of
destructive
emotions (mental)
• Violence, Lies, Stealing,
Lust
• Unlimited
possessiveness
Abstain From
(physical)
• Vegetarian
• Family values
Jain Family
Characteristics

6. How does Jainism bring changes?
Multi Step Approach

7. The Origin of Jainism
571AD
Mohammed
Judaism
Christianity
Jainism
Hinduism
Islam
2600BC
Abraham
2200BC
Exodus from Egypt
30BC
Christ
Beginning-less / Endless
Beginning-less / Endless
557BC, Mahavir
483BC
Gautam Buddha
1940sAD Israel
Buddhism

►Jainism doesn't have a single founder. The truth
has been revealed at different times by a
tirthankara, which means a teacher who 'makes
a ford' i.e. shows the way. Other religions call
such a person a 'prophet'.
►As great omniscient teachers, Tirthankaras
accomplished the highest spiritual goal of
existence and then teach others how to achieve
it.
►In what Jains call the 'present age' there have
been 24 tirthankaras - although there is little
evidence for the existence of most of these.

Tirthankara: A tirthankara appears in the world to teach the way to moksha, or liberation.
►A trthankar is not an incarnation of the God. He is an ordinary soul that is born
as a human and attains the states of a Tirthankar as a result of intense
practices of penance, equanimity and meditation. As such, the Tirthankar is
not defined as an Avatar (god-incarnate) but is the ultimate pure developed
state of the soul.
►Tirthankaras were not founders of any religion, but great omniscient teachers
who lived at various times in man's cultural history. They accomplished the
highest spiritual goal of existence and then taught their contemporaries the
way to reach it by crossing over to the safe shores of spiritual purity.
►Each new tirthankara preaches the same basic Jain philosophy, but they give
the Jain way of life subtly different forms in order to suit the age and the
culture in which they teach.

►The followers of Jainism believe that its roots within India are even older than the Brahmanism (Hinduism)
which they believe came with the people ( the Aryans ) migrating from other parts of the world (near the
Caspian Sea ).
►The naked statues resembling the Jain monks amongst the remains of the Indus Valley Civilization, do
substantiate some of the claims.
►However, there is no conclusive evidence that most of the concepts in Hinduism came from outside India.
►In fact, even the Aryan invasion theory has not yet been proven .
►In those days, people from other parts of the world came to India in a gradual manner. India offered milder
climatic conditions and where, agriculture was better developed than several other places in the
neighbouring countries.
►Gradually, these people adopted the life style prevalent in India and that is how, it is a country made up of
different kinds of people.

►The first Tirthankar, Rishabhdev flourished prior to the Indus Valley Civilization and has been referred to as
Lord Vishnu in the Puraanas. This name is also mentioned in the Vedas.
►He was followed by 23 other Tirthankars who did not necessarily follow in a continuous manner, one after
another. Their names are:
►Adinatha,
►Ajita
►Sambhava
►Abhinandana,
►Sumati,
►Padmaprabha
►Suparshva
►Chandraprabha
►Suvidhi,.
►Shital,
►Shreyansa,
►Vasupujya,
►Vimala,
►Ananta,
►Dharma,
►Shanti,
►Kunthu,
►Ara.
►Malli,
►Muni
►Suvrata,
►Nami,
►Nemi,
►Parshva and
►Mahavira.

►The birth places of the 13th, 19 - 21, and 24th Tirthankaras were in Bihar ; and on the hills of Parasnath
(Shikharjee), 20 out of 24 Tirthankaras obtained nirvana. Lord Mahavira obtained nirvana at Pawapuri in
Bihar. :
►Magadha was the center of Jainism
in the written history of India.
Starting with Bimbisar, the kings of
the Nanda dynasty and the early
Maurya dynasty were believers of
Jainism, according to the Jain
literature.
►Lord Mahavira gave his first
sermon on the Vipula Peak at
Rajgir.

8. Lord Mahavira
►Lord Mahavir - 24th (and final) Tirthankara
►Born on March 30, 599 B.C. (about 2600 years ago) as a prince in Bihar, India.
►Lord Mahavira was given a name - Vardhamana, which means rising or growing, by his parents because the
family saw its prosperity after his birth. In the Pali Buddhist texts, he is referred to as the Niggantha
Nataputta.
►Vardhamana renounced the world at the age of 30,
became ascetic and then spiritually advanced
through the stages of Arhat to Kevalin or Jina
(conqueror of the self).
►After leaving home, for twelve years, he devoted
himself to self discipline and practised severest
penance and austerities.
► He preached for the next 30 years, i.e. until the age
of 72 when he obtained nirvana in the year 527 B.C

8. Lord Mahavira
►The ultimate objective of his teaching is how one can attain the total freedom from the cycle of birth, life, and
death, and achieve the permanent blissful state (known as liberation, nirvana, absolute freedom, or Moksha.)
►His philosophy has eight cardinal (law of trust) principles, three metaphysical (dravya, jiva and ajiva), and
five ethical. The objective is to elevate the quality of life.
►Five ethical principles that were preached by Mahavira: Ahimsa, Satya or truthfulness, Asteya or non-
stealing, Brahmacharya or chastity, Aparigraha or non-possession, non-attachment.
►Mahavira taught that pursuit of pleasure is an endless
game, so we should train our minds to curb individual
cravings and passions.
►Lord Mahavir envisioned men and women to be on equal
footing in the matters of spiritual advancement.
►Another fundamental teaching of Mahavira was
Anekantavada i.e., pluralism and multiplicity of
viewpoints

9. Jainism & World Religions
Jainism:
Cycle of Life
Western:
Linearity of Life
birth:
pure state
death
heaven
hell
enlightenment
cycle of
life/death
elimination of
karmic bondage
nirvana
Life Cycles

External god controls you
Religion/philosophy/science separate
Linear nature of life/death
As you sow so you reap on judgment
day
God is the soul within you
Karma determines your next life
Cyclic nature of life/death - nirvana
Religion and philosophy are intertwined
Eastern ReligionsWestern Religions
Different Core – Similar Outcome
9. Jainism & World Religions

10. Jainism in India: A Snapshot
Founded in Magadh by Mahavir Jain
Sixth largest population in India
4,451,753 population as per 2001 Census
Literacy rate 94.1 in 2011
Philosophy
► Ahimsa
► Karma
► Dharma
► Moksa
Major Figures
► The 24 Tirthankaras
► Rishabha
► Mahavira
► Ganadhara
Major Sects
► Digambara
► Svetambara
Texts
► Agama
► Kalpa Sutra
► Tattvartha Sutra

Palm – signifies assurance; to have faith and
change the path of righteousness.
Wheel of Dharma – 24 spokes represent the
24 Tirthankaras. The word inside the wheel is
ahimsa.
Digit of moon – (region of liberated souls)
Three dots – (Right Perception/Faith, Right Knowledge,
and Right Conduct)
Overall meaning – After removing all of their karmas,
living beings will reside in the world of liberated souls.
Jain Symbols

► Mahavir Jayanti – celebration of the birth of Lord Mahavir
► Paryushan Parva – festival of forgiveness
► Samvatsari Pratikraman – 3 hour prayer to ask for forgiveness
► Mahavir Nirvan – celebration at Diwali/New Year’s per the lunar calendar
Major Jain Religious Events
The idols of the 24 Tirthankaras are the same because they represent the quality and virtues of the Tirthankaras, not the physical body.
A unique symbol at the bottom of each idol differentiates them.
For example, Lord Mahavir's idol is recognized by the symbol of a lion.

► Jainas leave little or no imprint on the broader ecological system and hold an affinity for the
idealsof the environmentalmovement
► The path to reach the Siddha Locka entails great care in regard to how one lives in
relationshipto allotherlivingbeings thatsurround one in the earthlyrealm
► Thus, they avoidactivitiesassociated withviolenceand followa vegetariandiet
► Jainismcontainsconceptsthat can leadto the enhancementof core human-earth relations
► MajorTeachingincludes:
► Non-Possessiveness/Aparigraha
► Self-restraintisthesecondmostimportantJainprinciple.
► Minimizingconsumptionprovidesrespectforothers’lifeandenvironment.
► Reuse/RecycleProducts–Donotwastethegiftsofnature.
► Shareresources.
► NatureprovidesenoughforourNEED,butnotenoughforourGREED.
Environmentalism
Jainism & Ecology

11. Organization of Jainism
► The 2 sects of Jainism (Digambar and Svetambar) divided 200 years after Mahavira achieved enlightenment.
► Svetambaras believe the split occurred when the chief monk Acharya Bhadrabahu predicted a 12 year famine, and lead
12,000 Digambar followers to southern India.The followers who remained became the Svetambar sect.
Digambara (“sky clad male monks”)
► Givenup allbelongings
► Livealoneor in small
groupsin the forests
► TeachJainism
► Spend3 monthsduringrainy
seasonin one location(to
minimizekilling insectson the
ground from excessivewalking)
Svetambara (“white clad”)
► Wear whiterobes
► Liveincommunity
► Admitboth men and
women
► Some wear face masks
to protect minutelife
forms from harm

11. Organization of Jainism
Digambar
► Digmabars believed that women cannot
attain enlightenment in the same birth.
► Digambars also believe that Mahavir
was unmarried.
Svetambar
► Svetambars believe women may attain
enlightenment, and that Malinath (a Jina,
or Tirthankar) was in fact a woman.
► Svetambars belive that Mahavir married
a woman, and had a daughter.

12.bibliography :
www.wikipedia.com
http://encyclopediabrittannica.com/
http://www.linkedinslideshare.com/
Encyclopedia of world history
Britannica encyclopedia

Jainism

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