The essential doctrine of jainism centers around tattvas, loosely translated into english as basis substances, truths or realities, which are described in the tattvardtha sutra. Punya and papa are types of karmas and remaining tattvas explains relation between soul and karma. 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. It prescribes a path of noninjury ahimsa towards all living beings. 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. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will.
Jaina sutras, part ii sacred books of the east vol. The nine tattvas, or principles, are the single most important subject of jain philosophy. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. Religion and culture of the jains by jyoti prasad jain 1983, bharatiya jnanpith will provide an orderly and clear. The primary reason for the rise of these religions was the religious unrest at that time in the country. History, society, philosophy and practice agustin paniker on. Jainism is a religion and philosophy native to india founded in about the 6th century bc by the sage mahavira. List of books and articles about jainism online research. Jain texts such as acaranga sutra and tattvarthasutra state that one must.
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. According to digambara jains, there are seven tattvas, while svetambaras. The jain literature which was complied by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. According to digambara tradition, there are 7 tattvas and as they include punya and papa in asrava. It is perhaps the most comprehensive and concise book of its kind, and few books on jainism are as. Jain philosophy can be described in various ways, but the most acceptable tradition is to describe it in terms of the nav tattvas or nine fundamentals. Punya is acquired by meritorious or virtuous deeds. Jainism declares that a person with the right faith will have spiritual calmness prasanna, desire for liberation from the endless birthlifedeath cycles samvega, without any attachment or aversion to anything nirveda, kindness anukampa, and belief in the tattvas fundamental principles described just above astika. The jain path of purification was, in addition to the previous work, one of the very first books of its kind to be authored by a jain for the education of those unfamiliar with the jain worldview and way of life. Once we adopt jainism, we will see a positive transformation in our lifestyle. The doctrine of tattva is common to hinduism, jainism and buddhism and several schools of indian philosophy. They are unique to jain thought depicting the principles of motion and rest. It fact, it is the only objective that a person should have.
Asian humanities pressthe wonderful book that originally turned me on to jainism jainism in western garb as. Without the proper knowledge of this subject, a person can not progress spiritually. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get. It deals with the karma theory of jainism, which provides the basis for the path of liberation. First fortunate thing is that we are born as human being. Ncert texts are a must read for every upsc aspirant and are available for free download from ncert. In the sixth century bc, india witnessed the rise of two new religions jainism and buddhism.
In this article, we will be dealing with the important points filtered out from ncert school text for standard 6 history. The souls are substances and as such they are eternal. Jainism is a religion and philosophy native to india founded in. But in major jain texts like tattvarthasutra the number of tattvas is seven because both punya and papa are included in asrava or bandha. You will find online activities, pictures that you can use at home or in the classroom, places to visit, videos and much more to help with the teaching of jainism we have created a special section and an exciting resource box to make classes on jainism fun. In these books there are lucid descriptions on the birth of jainism. These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion. The universe is not for man alone, but is a theater of evolution for all living beings. Punya is the auspicious activities of the soul that leads to the accumulation of meritorious karmas. The texts had to be memorised since jain monks and nuns were not allowed to possess religious books as part of their vow of nonacquisition. The strength of jainism is that you listen to it once, and it will cause the positive change.
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. Jinas are human beings who have overcome all passions kasayas and have attained enlightenment or omniscience kevalajnana, who teach the truths they realized to others, and who attain liberation moksa from the cycle of rebirth samsara. Jul 16, 2009 the lay and mendicant communities of the jain, however, have maintained an unbroken presence in india for more than 2,500 years and have influenced its culture throughout this time. Therefore agam sutras were rarely documented and not widely. There are six highly recommended books that together form an excellent literary introduction to jainism and the jain way of thinking. Jaina tradition teaches that a succession of 24 tirthankaras saints originated the religion.
Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. Two jain sacred texts, the uttaradhyayana sutra and sutrakritanga. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Rather, there are many religious texts the most wellknown of which are the agams that include transcriptions of the oral history provided to us by tirthankars and jain teachers, as well as scholarly commentary on the interpretation of the religion. Bc as protests against the overdeveloped ritualism of hinduism, particularly its sacrificial cults, and the authority of the veda. 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. Second fortunate thing will be if we are exposed to the right religion. Hindus are in a similar position, even though they have the vedas, which can be considered the ultimate source of teaching. Worshipers look at its thousands of statues through mirrors in order no to insult the gods and goddesses with a direct gaze.
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. 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. Nav tattvas in jainism provides knowledge on those things which obstruct and facilitate ones journey to the path of liberation a state of supreme happiness. Instead they have a body of holy writings or scriptures. Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore. Almost every upsc topper has repeated the importance of reading ncert school texts. Jainism is a transtheistic religion, and jains trace their. The institute of jainology has begun publishing a learn jainism series to support the material on the learn jainism website.
A few centuries after mahavirs nirvana, the jain religious order sangha grew more and more complex. The books are for children between the ages of around five to eleven. Ahimsa paramo dharmah noninjury is the highest religion. The manifestation of punya brings material happiness and comforts such as wealth, fame and good health. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. The a to z of jainism covers the history of jainism that spans a period of more than 2,500 years. Jain theism concept of god in jainism harvard university. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism mahaviras disciples compiled his. Jainism, ajivika, and buddhism arose in the 6th cent. Shah jain study center of north carolina raleigh 401 farmstead drive, cary nc 275115631 9194690956 and fax. Jain is the term used for a person who has faith in the teachings of the jinas spiritual victors. On completion of meritorious karma, it leads a person to favourable conditions, pleasant experiences, good opportunities and auxiliary causes for spiritual development. One of their branches was firmly established in north india from the middle of the second century b. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that characterises their faith.
Jainism is not about changing the world, it is about changing our own selves. Jainism offers a quiet, overwhelmingly serious way of life, a cultural insistence on compassion, a society of ethics that has dramatically changed the world and will continue to effect change. Five great vows mahavratas six unviersal entitites substances or dravyas meaning of astra prakari puja. Jainism differs from many religions in that there is no one scripture or holy book that is central to our faith. While these two divisions of jainism are in broad agreement about the main teachings and practices of the. Antiquity of jainism professor mahavir saran jain lord mahavira is not the founder of jainism. Also the religious books and scriptures were considered possessions and attachments for ascetics. Followers of jainism are called jains, a word derived from the sanskrit word jina victor referring to the path of victory in crossing over lifes stream of rebirths by destroying karma through an ethical and spiritual life. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it. In jainism, it is the highest and the noblest objective that a soul should strive to achieve.
According to jainism, it cannot be created nor destroyed. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. Jainism declares that a person with the right faith will have spiritual calmness prasanna, desire for liberation from the endless birthlifedeath cycles samvega, without any attachment or aversion to anything nirveda, kindness anukampa, and belief in the tattvas. Since gautama buddha, founder of buddhism, belonged to the same region of magadha as mahavira the 24th tirthankar of jainism, and because both were contemporaries, it was assumed erroneously that jainism was contemporary of buddhism or was an off. Jainism in northern india jainism in northern india when by 300 b. In india, they share this feature with the buddhists. While the actual flow of matter into the soul is material influx dravya asrava. This page is best viewed in an uptodate web browser with style sheets css enabled.
The books are illustrated with colour photographs and. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Jain philosophy explains that seven tattva truths or fundamental principles constitute reality. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourses of the tirthankaras. The jiva is essentially an undivided base of consciousness and there is an infinity of them. If we have faith in jainism, it must be mirrored in the lifestyle.
Jain fundamentals jain rituals jain scriptures jain compassion. His practical path or practical dharma is a neat exposition of jainism, as a way of life. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. In 300 words jainism is the philosophy and religion of jainas the followers of religion preached and practised by the thirthankaras, the last of whom was lord mahavir. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. The learn jainism website can help you learn more about the ancient indian faith of jainism. The present book fundamentals of jainism is based on the practical path of the late c. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. It combines and changes its modes but its basic qualities remain the same. Illuminated manuscripts and jain art important sermons, canonical texts and commentaries were transmitted orally long before being committed to writing. It is a city so holy that not even priests can sleep there. Jain path of purification by padmanabh jaini university of california press, 1979 motilal banarsidass publishers, 1990 recommended 5 times guidelines of jainism by muni bhadrabahu vijay 1986 life force.
These are texts which help to build the fundamentals. Jainism is an ecologically responsible way of life which is nonviolent in thought, action, and deed. 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. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma. 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. We owe to him a number of books in english dealing with the householders dharma, the sannyasa dharma, etc. True to its arithmetical approach, in jain scriptures the activities. Dharmatattva medium of motion and adharmatattva medium of rest they are also known as dharmastikaya and adharmastikaya. Ultimate goal of life is eternal release from karma. Twelve bhavnas reflections or throughts twelve vows of layperson. Sep 14, 2009 this page is best viewed in an uptodate web browser with style sheets css enabled. 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. Exactly when jain texts began to be illustrated is uncertain.
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