List of books and articles about jainism online research. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. Swadhyaaya of jain scriptures, precious religious books and magazines almost everyday at home brought. The discourse delivered samavasarana divine preaching hall is called shrut jnana. These discourses are termed as srutu jnana jinvani and comprises eleven angas and fourteen purvas. This book answers questions what is the cosmos universe. However, by the fourth or fifth centuries ce large numbers had moved further west.
Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. Feb 02, 2016 the jain agamas highlight lord mahaviras teachings to his disciples and constitute the sacred text that is central to the practice of the tradition. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. Jainism is a religion and philosophy native to india founded in. Schisms in jainism are recorded from the earliest times. The jain tradition believes that their religion is eternal, and the teachings of their first. Jainism for young persons 1985 e 24 kapashi, vinod jain samaj europe publications in search of the ultimate 1984 e 56 kapashi, vinod j. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma. In jainism, godliness is said to be the inherent quality of every soul. The story of mahavira both mahavira and the buddha belonged to the vedic indian tradition. Its the symbol of spreading religious light, also found on the samavasarana gates. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. Jainisms core belief is ahimsa, or noninjury to all living things.
Nonviolence is the supreme religion ahimsa parmo dharma. A glance at its contents will reveal the fact that glasenapp has covered almost all the salient features of jainism. In india, they share this feature with the buddhists. The jain literature includes both religious texts and books on generally. Lord mahavir was the twentyfourth and the last tirthankara of the jain religion. Antiquity of jainism professor mahavir saran jain lord mahavira is not the founder of jainism. It was founded as a reaction against the vedic religion, which required animal sacrifices. Sanskrit verse from shivpuran lord rishabhdev jineshwar first tirthankar the omniscient and the all pervasive incarnated himself on the magnificent kailas ashtapad mountain. Apart from buddhism, perhaps jainism is the only religion that does not invoke the fear of god as a reason for moral behavior.
The wheel on the palm is the jain vow of ahimsa or nonviolence. That is why jainism stresses pure thinking and moral behavior. Jains do not have a traditional place for god or gods, but do for the omniscient fordmakers. This quality, however, is subdued by the souls association with karmic matter. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it has many books complied by many followers. The institute of jainology has begun publishing a learn jainism series to support the material on the learn jainism website. Introduction to jainism, theory of karma, the six dravyas and more. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that characterises their faith. Agama is a sanskrit word which signifies the coming of a body of doctrine by means of transmission through a lineage of authoritative teachers. Both mahavira and the buddha belonged to the vedic indian tradition. Translated from the prakrit by hermann jacobi, 1884 from. 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.
Jaina tradition teaches that a succession of 24 tirthankaras saints originated the religion. 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. Jainism is a religion and philosophy native to india founded in about the 6th century bc by the sage mahavira. Mar 20, 2017 the book shows how buddhism and jainism share the basic concepts of karma, rebirth, and liberation with hinduism while giving them their own hue, and how they differ from the hindu tradition in their understanding of the role of the vedas, the caste system, and ritualism in religious life. While these two divisions of jainism are in broad agreement about the main teachings and practices of the. 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. The move west focused on the city of mathura at a similar period and this was a holy city of jainism until about 1,000 ce. In jainism, samavasarana or samosharana refuge to all is the divine preaching hall of the. The theme of samavasaranas has been popular in jain art. Illuminated manuscripts and jain art victoria and albert. 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 explores their history and relates how the vedic period in the history of hinduism drew to a close around the sixth century bce and how its gradual etiolation gave rise to a number of religious movements. In jainism, samavasarana or samosharana refuge to all is the divine preaching hall of the tirthankara. The discourse delivered samavasarana divine preaching hall is called shrut jnana and comprises eleven angas and fourteen purvas. In jainism, samavasarana or samosharana is the divine preaching hall of the tirthankara. This volume focuses on buddhism and jainism, two religions which, together with hinduism, constitute the three pillars of indic religious tradition in its classical formulation. Written by pandit shree gopaldasji baraiya principles of jainism translated by bhrumchari hemchand jain. Jain scriptures, religious texts, holy books, jain thoughts, daily life, knowledge from hearing etc. 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. According to jainism, gods can be categorized into tirthankaras, arihants or ordinary kevalins and siddhas.
Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore. Instead they have a body of holy writings or scriptures. It is generally represented by a tree with twelve branches. To the digambara meru temple in old delhi, for example, or to the veerayatan ashram on the outskirts of rajgir run by jaina nuns, or to the rockcut twentyfour. Unlike most common monotheistic religions, jainism does not have one holy book that characterizes their faith. Explanation of jainism will be given to every citizen of the world in their local languages by books and by social media. Exactly when jain texts began to be illustrated is uncertain. The discourse delivered in a samavasarana is called shrut jnana and comprises eleven angas and fourteen purvas. The past glories of india have been and still are a favourite subject in books and films. Arihants, also known as kevalins, are gods supreme souls in embodied states who ultimately become siddhas, or liberated souls, at the time of. Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being. The books are for children between the ages of around five to eleven. Jainism s core belief is ahimsa, or noninjury to all living things. Jainism has no belief in a creator god, though there are a number of lesser deities for various aspects of life.
The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. It is a place where all have an opportunity to acquire wisdom. Jainism and hinduism have many similar characteristic features, including the concepts of samsara, karma and moksha. The divine pavilion is built by heavenly beings after the tirthankara attain omniscience. Jain books, jain literature, jain shastras in english. Lord mahavir, popularly regarded as the founder of jainism, was the last of the tirthankars who flourished from 599 to 527 b.
Part 1 topics include shree simandhar bhagwan, saat tattva sambandhi bhul, lakshan ane lakshanabash, panchma gunustanvarti shravak ni 11 pratimao, sukh shu che, panch bhavo, char abhav, panch pandavo, bhavna batrisi. A concise and accurate introduction to the key principles of jainism. The most momentous event, which occurred about 80 a. These texts are collectively known as agams, the sacred books of the jain religion. Ultimate goal of life is eternal release from karma. Lord mahavir and jain religion colorado state university. Painting of samavasarana by jitu patel, oshwal centre, potters bar. Dundas work in portraying the jains will have lasting value. Mahavira is depicted in the centre of a samavasarana, where gods, men and animals come. Jainism considers the devis and devas to be celestial beings who dwell in heavens owing to meritorious deeds in their past lives. They are believed to have been verbally transmitted by the oral tradition from one generation to the next, much like the ancient buddhist and hindu 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. These are said to be based on the discourse of the tirthankara, delivered in a samavasarana divine.
He was the first of twentyfour teachers in the present halfcycle of time in jain cosmology, and called a ford maker because his teachings helped one across the sea of interminable rebirths and deaths. However, they differ in the precise nature and meaning of these concepts. The discourse is recorded by ganadharas chief disciples, and is composed of twelve angas departments. The history of jainism after lord mahavira is recorded in the jaina literature preserved in various indian languages. His fathers name was king asvasena and that of the mother was vamadevi. Among these five vows, nonviolence ahimsa is the cardinal principle of jainism and hence it is known as the cornerstone of jainism. Tirthankara parswanatha is undoubtedly a historic personage who flourished 250 years earlier than mahavira 850 b. Jainism is transtheistic, and jains trace their spiritual ideas and history through a succession of twentyfour leaders or tirthankaras, with the first being rishabhanatha, who according to jain. 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. According to jain texts, there would be four wide roads with four huge columns, manasthamba literally, pride pillar, one in each side. Jainism rejects the idea of a creator deity responsible for the. Tirthankaras are not attributed absolute godhood under jainism. Rishabhanatha also abhadeva, rishabhadeva, or abha is the first tirthankara ford maker of jainism. Followers of jainism are called jains, a word derived from the sanskrit word jina victor.
The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. The jains, a small religious group believing in an immortal soul, are indigenous to india, and affirm many of the ideas of their hindu counterparts, but are critical of other hindu doctrines. Instead they have a collection of holy writings and scriptures. The jain agamas highlight lord mahaviras teachings to his disciples and constitute the sacred text that is central to the practice of the tradition. Online shopping for jainism religion from a great selection at books store. The samavasarana seems to have replaced the original jain stupa as an object of worship. Samavasarana means something in jainism, prakrit, hinduism, sanskrit, the history of ancient india. The doctrine of jainism has minor similarities with nyayavaisheshika and samkhya school. Bc as protests against the overdeveloped ritualism of hinduism, particularly its sacrificial cults, and the authority of the veda.
Hindus are in a similar position, even though they have the vedas, which can be considered the ultimate source of teaching. So he could be called a reformer of the jain religion or rejunevator of the faith which was already and had a long tradition. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or english translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. In this book with its 350 illustrations spread over 280 pages, kurt titze enfolds a sequence of glories which have been kept alive to.
The split did not incur doctrinal or moral differences but only. 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. According to the scriptures every jain has to draw them with pure unbroken. These are said to be based on the discourse of the tirthankara, delivered in a samavasarana divine preaching hall. The jain literature which was complied by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. All swetambar jains believe that the proper meaning and the original intent of the. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. Shah jain study center of north carolina raleigh 401 farmstead drive, cary nc 275115631 9194690956 and fax. Jainism differs from many religions in that there is no one scripture or holy book that is central to our faith. 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. Agamas are texts of jainism based on the discourses of the tirthankara. 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.
This point is proved by what is said in the following quotes from oldest hindu holy books that jainism existed before vedas were composed. The discourse delivered in a samavasarana divine preaching hall is called. They were born into the warrior caste ksatriya, and lived in eastern india, in an area of the ganges valley including the modern state of bihar. The present book is one of the best and stimulating books ever written by scholars on jainism. The karmic theory in jainism operates endogenously. He reached an age of 100 years and height was 7 ells. These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion.