Jainism
Orange indicate a glossary word
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Name: Derived from the Sanskrit word jina (the victorious or “conquerer”) applied to the great
teachers of Jainism
Origin (see timeline in the Resources section)
A.
Date: 6th century BCE
B.
Location: India
C.
Roots: Hinduism (hence, many beliefs/practices similar)
Adherents (see statistics in the Resources section)
A.
Number: 3.7 million
B.
Location: India
Key Figure / Founder: Mahavira (599-527 BC [some date his death as late as 467 BC])
A.
Name: The founder, Nataputta Vardhamana, was called Mahavira (“great hero”) by his
followers
B.
Nature
1.
A man (though an extraordinary man)
2.
Orthodox Jainism teaches that Mahavira was the last in a line of 24 founders called
Tirthankaras (“cross builders”—built a bridge between Nirvana and this life)
C.
Life
1.
Early life described similarly to the Buddha’s
a)
Hence, some think the beliefs were taken from Buddhism, others claim
Buddhist’s borrowed it from the Jains
b)
Mahavira born to parents of Kshatriya caste (his father being a minor
ruler), he lived in luxury, married and had a daughter but was unhappy
2.
He joined a group of ascetics after his parents died and the business affairs of the
family were given to older brother
3.
He left the group of ascetics, believing a more extreme form of asceticism was
necessary for the soul to find release (he sought the coldest places in the winter,
the hottest in summer, was always naked, allowed dogs to bite him; one legend
claims he did not resist when a fire was being built beneath him)
4.
He also believed that non-injury to life (ahimsa) was necessary for release (during
the dry season he swept the road so as not to harm an insect, during rainy season
wouldn’t walk on roads, strained his water, though he begged for food he refused to
eat raw food [so he wouldn’t be the direct cause of death])
5.
After 12 years of asceticism he achieved release (moksha) from the endless cycle
of birth, death and rebirth (His followers therefore knew him as Jiva [“conqueror”])
6.
After moksha he lived another 30 years and died at 72
Sacred Text: Agamas (“precepts”) or Siddhantas (“treatises”)
A.
Said to be the actual sermons given by Mahavira to his followers
B.
Different sects differ as to which are authoritative/genuine
C.
Not all have been translated into English
Core Beliefs
A.
Rationality
1.
The Wisdom of the Jug
2.
The elephant and the blind men
B.
Worldview
1.
Time: Cyclical
2.
Reality
a)
God (does not exist)
(1)
There is no Supreme Being (there is no creator god)
Jainism- 2
(2)
b)
c)
VII.
Multiple gods are acknowledged though not relied upon (since the
gods are on a different plane than humans, worship and prayer are
useless)
Universe
(1)
The world is eternal
(2)
The world is dualistic: It is composed of two substances: soul
(jiva) and matter (ajiva)
(a)
Soul is life (valuable and eternal)
(b)
Matter is lifeless (evil and material)
Humanity
(1)
Reincarnation (samsara/karma) is affirmed (as in all other Indian
religions)
(a)
All are bound to life due to their acquired karma
(b)
Karma is acquired by any activity
(c)
Mahavira therefore recommended doing as little as
possible to escape karma and attain release
(2)
Individuals are souls that are encased in matter
(a)
Matter attaches to the soul because of past actions
(karma)
(b)
So long as in matter, the soul can never find release
(c)
The goal is therefore to liberate the soul from matter (if the
flesh is evil then asceticism is the solution)
(3)
Two groups
(d)
The majority: Cannot afford to leave all and become an
ascetic (they therefore seek to follow the first three of the
five vows of Jainism)
(e)
The minority: Monks (the ideal; they take five vows to
guide their lives)
Core Practices
A.
Worship (corporate worship/rituals are not emphasized)
1.
In temples: Though gods are not necessary in Jainism, 40,000 temples exist in
India for worship of the 24 Tirthankaras
2.
In homes: The names of historical saints (Jinas) are recited, idols are bathed and
offered perfumes and flowers
3.
Worship also consists of observance of vows and meditation
B.
Ritual
1.
Monks: The five vows (ahimsa, honesty, not to steal, renounce sexual pleasures,
renounce all attachments)
a)
Vow 1: To not injure life (ahimsa)
(1)
Jains are vegetarians, avoid leather products (since involve killing),
paths are swept, water is strained
(2)
Many occupations are excluded since life is harmed: Farmers
(worms and insects killed in tilling and testimony), butchers,
soldiers, etc.
(a)
Jainism is therefore almost exclusively an urban religion
(b)
Jains are largely involved in commercial professions
(though stressing asceticism and poverty, ironically their
concern for non-harm and reputation for honesty has
made them one of the wealthiest classes in India)
b)
Vow 2: To always speak the truth (though in their search for truth they
claim it is relative rather than absolute—cf. The story of the blind man and
the elephant [traditionally taken as Jain in origin])
c)
Vow 3: To refrain from taking what is not given to them (this, and the
foregoing, contribute to their reputation for honesty)
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d)
C.
VIII.
Vow 4: To renounce sexual pleasures
(1)
Since flesh is evil and sex is the greatest pleasure of the flesh
(2)
Mahavira went further, renouncing women in general as “the
greatest temptation in the world”
e)
Vow 5: To renounce all attachments (to other persons and things—which
keep individuals bound to life) (Mahavira refused to stay in any one place
longer than a day for this reason)
2.
Laypersons: The first three of The Five Vows (ahimsa, honesty, not to steal)
3.
Additional rituals
a)
Fasting at each full moon
b)
Making pilgrimages to various holy sites
Festivals (see Holy Days in the Resources section)
1.
Paijusana
f)
Time: August/September (the end of the Jain year)
g)
Duration: 8 days
h)
Described
(1)
The most popular festival
(2)
All Jains fast and attend special worship and are encouraged to
live as a Jain monk (for at least one day)
(a)
They live in a monastery, meditate, and fast
(b)
At the conclusion Jains engage in acts of penance and
seek forgiveness
(c)
The festival concludes with adherents carrying an image of
a Tirthankara through their village and by almsgiving to the
poor
2.
Divali
a)
Time: November
b)
Described: Jainism has appropriated this holiday from Hinduism, but
instead of worshipping Kali (a Hindu goddess), they celebrate Mahavira’s
liberation
c)
How: Lighting lamps
3.
Additional festivals
a)
Festivals are associated with the five major events of each Tirthankara:
Entering the womb, birth, renunciation, attainment of great knowledge,
release
b)
Mahavira’s birthday is celebrated during early April
Forms
A.
The Sky Clad (Digambara)
1.
Background: In 80 BC, two sects (the “white clad” and the “sky clad”) divided over
the true meaning of Jainism
4.
Location: Primarily in southern India
5.
Described: The more conservative
a)
Monks travel nearly nude (some—the holiest—totally)
b)
Women refused entrance into monasteries and temples (they even claim
Mahavira never married)
B.
The White Clad (Svetambara)
1.
Adherents: The more popular of the two main forms
2.
Location: Primarily in northern India
3.
Described: Interpret Jain teachings more liberally
a)
They reject Mahavira’s teachings regarding nudity—their monks wear a
white garment (hence the name)
b)
Women are allowed in the religion and monasteries (and may even find
release)
4.
Sect: In 1473 AD a sect broke off of “the white clad”—the Sthanakavasi
Jainism- 4
a)
b)
II.
IX.
They oppose idols and temples
They accept only 33 Agamas as authoritative (other sects accept as many
as 84)
Related Religions (See other religions in the ‘Religions of India’ Topic)
A.
Buddhism
1.
How similar
a)
Both are reform movements of Hinduism
b)
Both reject the authority of the Vedas and the caste system
c)
Both stress salvation by self-effort
d)
Both affirm the doctrine of karma/samsara
2.
How different
a)
Buddhism: The Middle Way
b)
Jainism: Extreme asceticism
B.
Hinduism : Although Jainism (since an offshoot of Hinduism) has been heavily influenced by
Hindu thought, Jainism has also influenced Hinduism—Hinduism has incorporated
Jainism’s emphasis on ahimsa and asceticism
Structure
A.
Goal: Release
B.
Problem: Karma/matter keeps one in samsara
C.
Solution: Extreme asceticism gives release