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Mahavira & Jainism

 

By Mr D. M. Jain

 

Jainism is an ancient religious and philosophical tradition of India. Jains are the sixth large religious community of India. There are more than three million Indian Jains. As a wealthy religious community, Jains have had a powerful influence on the life and the history of the Indian subcontinent. There are also communities of Jains in East Africa (mainly Kenya), Europe (mainly England), and the United States and Canada. The Jain religion takes its name from the Jina (meaning victor or conqueror), a title given to 24 great teachers called Tirthankaras (ford-makers). These teachers demonstrated and taught the Jain path of purity and peace which leads to the highest spiritual liberation. Jainism may have begun in the Indus Valley civilization around 3000 B.C. Little is known about the first 22 teachers. The last two, Parsva (about 877-777 B.C.) and Mahavira (about 599-527 B.C.), lived and taught in northeastern India. They gained considerable followings. Mahavira ("Great Hero"), the last of these great teachers, lived at the same time as the Buddha.

Like Buddha, Mahavira rejected the two Hindu notions of the social system of caste (divisions in the Hindu social systems) and the rituals of sacrifice. He was a prince, but left his home at the age of 30 to become an ascetic (a religious person who practices self-denial). He plucked out his hair, discarded his clothes, and wandered for 121/2 years, fasting and practicing severe penances in his search for truth. At the age of 42 he attend enlightment (a state of divine experience, or understanding ultimate truth). For the next 30 years he traveled across northern India, teaching an austerely ascetic path to purity and peace. The Kalpa Sutra, a Jain book that records the lives of the teachers, records that he died at Pava (modern Bihar) at the age of 72. He left more than 500,000 followers, including 50,000 monks and nuns. Sects and teaching. Two major sects, or groups, developed within Jainism after the death of Mahavira. The Digambara (atmosphere - clad, or naked) and the Svetambara (white-clad) split about 360 B.C. A severe famine caused one group of Jain ascetics to migrate south. When this naked southern Jains returned north, the northern monks had begun to wear a piece of cloth over their genitals. A dispute followed, and the division was fixed by A.D. 79 or 82. Today most Jains in southern India follow the Digambara sects, while most on the north follow Svetambara sects.

Jain Belief : Jains believe that all human beings, animals, insects, plants, and even earth, stones, fire, water and air have living souls (jiva). Jains believe that the soul in its pure state is omniscient (all-knowing). Through contact with matter (ajiva) in this world, the soul becomes polluted and weighed down. Jains think of karma as fine "atomic particles" which cling to the soul (see Karma). Deeds of Violence, greed, selfishness, dishonesty, sexual misconduct, and covetousness obscure the soul. Acts of gentleness and penance lighten and liberate it. Monks and nuns represent the ideal of Jainism. Monks own no property except a broom, simple robes, bowels and food, and walking sticks. They may not live in buildings except for brief period, and they must beg for all that food. They perform severe penances to "burn out" the karmic matter weighing down the soul. They believe this lightens and frees the soul, so that it can rise to a state of perfect peace and purity.

The Three Jewels : To attain the above state, Jains must pursue the "three jewels" of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. At the heart of Right Conduct for all Jains lie five vows. These are ahimsa, non-violence or non-injury; Satya, speaking the truth; asteya, not taking anything which have not been given; brahmacharya, chastity; and aparigraha, nonpossession or detachment from people, places, and things. Other members of the Jain community are the laity (people who are not monks or nuns). They assist the monks and nuns to live out their vows perfectly.

Religious Vows : Jains can undertake business and other activities, while attempting to fulfill their religious vows as best they can. Jains in the community. Jains vow not to kill any living creature. Monks and nuns carry brooms to sweep all surfaces to avoid cursing insects accidentally. The vow of ahimsa, or non-violence, has always been important to Jains. They keep to a vegetarian diet, and only do work which avoids any form of killing. Ahimsa for Jains requires positive acts of kindness, compassion and charity. In India Jains use their wealth to set up and run hospitals and clinics for both humans and animals. They also establish schools and colleges, rest houses and almshouses for peoples of all castes and creeds.

Temples and Festivals : Wealthy Jains have made major contribution to education and to art in India. Jain temples are among some of the most beautiful in India. These temples are often the focus of pilgrimages, particularly in the states or Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madya Pradesh, and Karnataka in western India. Festivals. The greatest Jain Festival, paryusana, takes place over an 8-10 days period about the end of August or the beginning of September. It is a time of fasting, repentance, and universal goodwill. On the last day, Samvatsari, Jains visit friends and relatives, to seek forgiveness for any harm or injury committed during the previous year. The other important modern festival for Jains is Mahavira Jayanti, which falls in March or April and is marked by meetings and processions celebrating Mahavira's birthday. Fasting until death. Jains have an unusual attitude to death. A devout Jain who feels ready for death takes the vow of sallekhana. Supervised by monks and nuns, he or she meets a death through the controlled process of fasting.

 

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
R21012