Jainism

Jainism for UPSC
Jainism
• The word ‘Jain’ is derived from jina or jaina which

means the ‘Conqueror’.
• Jainism does not have a single founder, instead

believes that the truth comes to the world in difficult
and different times by a teacher who shows the
way or a Tirthankara.
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Jainism - Early Jain Literature
• Initially they were preserved as an Oral tradition, but later they were
collected and recorded.
• In olden times, Monks strictly followed the great five vows of Jainism
and even the religious scriptures were considered possessions and
therefore knowledge of the religion was never documented.
• Since it was difficult to memorise entire Jaina literature, therefore they

decided to compile them.
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• The sacred books of Jainas are known as Siddhanta or Agama
(Come down to us as tradition) and these earliest texts are in an
eastern dialect of Prakrit known as Ardh - Magadhi.
• These compilation are considered to be fluid and flexible as

according to changing times and the easiest of the Agamas are
considered to be as old as 5th or 6th century CE at council presided
over by Devarddhi Kshamashramana held in Vallabhi in Gujarat.
• Compilation such as Acharanga Sutra, Sutrakritanga and the

Kalpastura are regarded as Early texts.
• Lord Mahavira’s immediate disciples are known as Ganadharas, and all these
Gandharas possessed perfect knowledge (Keval-Gyan). They orally compiled the
direct preaching of Lord Mahavira into 12 main texts (sutras). These are called as
Angas and are the oldest religious scripture of Jaina Literature.
• Monks also wrote further wrote, expanding the subject matter defined in these Angas
which came to be known as Angbahyas (Meaning outside of Angas).
• Shvetambara canon includes 12 Angas, 12 Upanagas (commentary on these
Angas), 10 Prakirnas (Scriptures which describe independent or miscellaneous
subjects of Jain religion).
Jainism
Other Sutras
• 6 Cheda Sutras and 4 Mula sutras - subject matter described

for monks and nuns only and not for common people.
• Number of Individual texts such as Nandi Sutra and

Anuyogadvara.
Jainism
• Digamabars consider that original Angas had been lost for
centuries, and thus they have different canons (known as Siddhanta).
• The Tattvartha Sutra - contains the main doctrine of Jaina faith,

though the two main sects have slightly different versions and
composition dates.
Philosophy of Jainism
• Other than this non canonical Jaina texts are partly in dialects of Prakrit and partly in
Sanskrit. It also includes vast collection of lyrical poetry, hymns in different language such as
Prakrit, Sanskrity, Kannada and Apabhramsha.
• Some important non canonical works -

• Adi Purana - 9th century compilation, tells us about the life of 1st Tiranthakara -
Rishabnath.
• Harivamsha Purana - 8th century Jaina version of the stories of Krishna, Pandavas etc.
• Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana - 9th century compilation authored by Jinasena and
Gunabhadra which contain the life stories of Jaina saints, kings and heroes.
• Parishishtaparvan - 12th century compilation by Hemachandra gives details about
political History of Jaina teachers.
Concept of Samavasarana
• Jainas believe that each Jina reveals the same essential truths,
according to the need of the society and the era in which they are born.
• When he reaches omniscience, he can make the divya-dhvani (divine

sound), through which he transmits his teachings to all sentiment
beings (Samavasarana).
Concept of Samavasarana
• Digamabars consider that this tone is unarticulated sound, which

is monotone and can be compared to the sound of the ‘OM’.
• Whereas Shvetambars call it divine because all living beings

can hear it, It is considered to be a human language that takes
the form of Ardha Magadhi Prakrit.
Vardhaman Mahavira
• He is considered to be the 24th Tiranthakara or Jina . He came
to be known as Mahavira, other names - Jintendriya (One who
has conquered his inner desires) and Arihant (i). He possessed
Avadhijanana (super human insight and cognition)
• According to tradition, he was a contemporary of Buddha and

was born in 599 BCE at a place called Kundagrama near
Vaishali.
Vardhaman Mahavira
• He was the son of King Siddhartha (Chief of Jnatrika clan) and queen
Trishala.
• At the age of 30 he renounced his family in order to attain enlightenment

and at the age of 42, it is believed that on the banks of Rijupalika river,
outside the town of Jrimbhikagrama, in the fields of a householder named
Samaga, he attained Kevalajana.
• He passed away and became a siddha (fully liberated) at the age of 72 years
in 527 BCE at Pavapuri near Patna.
• A symbol was associated with every Tirthankara and Mahavira’s symbol

was a lion. His missions took him Koshala, Magadha, Mithila, Champa etc
Doctrines of Jainism
• Jaina doctrines are believed to be much older than Buddhism and

it is accepted that in each half cycle of time there are 24
Tirthankaras.
• Jaina conception of time is based on endless sequences of

progressive (utsarpinis) and regressive half cycles (avsarpinis)
in terms of degrees of happiness.
• These vast spans of time are further divided into 6 Kalas (stages).
Jainism
• Views on God -
• Jainism did not believe in God’s existence necessary for earths creation.
According to him, the universe is a product of the natural phenomenon of cause
and effect.
• Views on Karma and Soul -

• Jainism believed in Karma and transmigration of the soul. The body dies but the
soul does not.
• One will be punished or rewarded as per one’s karma.
• Views on Varna and Caste System -

• Stressed on equality but did not reject the caste system, unlike Buddhism. But he
also said that man may be ‘good’ or ‘bad’ as per his actions and not birth.
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• First Tirthankara - Rishabdeva (Symbol - bull).
• 23rd Tirthankara - Parsavnatha (symbol - Snake)
• Mahavara - 24th Tirthankara (symbol - Lion)
The core of the Jaina doctrine is expressed in the principle of -
1. Anektavada - Doctrine of manyfold nature of reality. (Non Absolutism)
2. Syadvada - Theory of conditioned predication.
3. Nayavada - Theory of partial standpoints
4. Tritatna - Three gems
5. Panch Mahavrata - Five great vows
6. Ahimsa - Doctrine of Non Violence
Three jewels of Jain Ethics called as Triratnas
• Right Faith - Samyag Darshana - seven Tattvas
• Right Knowledge - Samyag Jnana
• Right Conduct - Samyad Charitra - 5 Vows
Panch Manhavarata
• Non Violence (Ahimsa Parmo Dhrama) (Jainism prohibited the practice of war and even
agriculture for its followers) (Eventually Jainas, confined themselves to trade and
mercantile activities)
• Truth (Satya)
• Non Stealing (Asteya) -To take more than one’s need is also considered Theft in Jainism
• Celibacy/Chastity (Brahmcharaya added by Mahavira)
• Non Attachement/Non Possession (Aparigraha)
Panch Manhavarata
• These Panch Vratas are for the Jain monks and not for the all
people. The same vratas or vows when partially observed -
are termed as Anuvratas i.e small or partial vows.
• According to Jaina doctrine - Karma is the bane of the soul

and must be ended and the surest way of Annihilating
Karma is to practice penance.
Panch Manhavarata
For spreading their religion

• Jainas adopted Prakrit language of the common people to preach
their doctrines and discarded Sanskrit.
• Patronisation by big Kings like Kharavela, Chandragupta Maurya.

(During the last years of his life, he went with Badrabhau
(Digambaras) to Shrvanabelagola, Karnataka and dies there by
fasting , A process known as Sallekhana.
Jaina Councils
Council Year Place Outcome President
I 310 BCE Patliputra Led to division in Jainism - Sthulbhadra

Digambars and Shvetambars
II 453 or 466 CE Vallabhi Final Compilation of 12 Angas Deeridhiganj

and 12 Upanagas
Division between Jainism
Jainism has two major ancient sub traditions:
1. Digambaras [Sub-sects include Mula Sangh (original

community) and Terapanthi, Taranpathi and Bispanthi (these
three are modern
communities)]
2. Svetambaras (Sub-sects include Sthanakavasi and

Murtipujaka)
Different Schools of Jainism
Digamabara Shvetamabara
Clothing Means Sky Clad, They stress on practice of Means White Clad, According to them practice
nudity as an absolute pre-requisite. of complete nudity is not essential.
Female monks wear unstiched plain white
sarees and are called Aryikas.
Starting of According to Tradition, during the famous According to tradition, during the famous
Difference Magadha famine, they are the ones who Magadha famine, they had stayed back under
migrated to Karnataka under the leadership the leadership of Sthalabahu.
of Badrabahu and lived in the old traditional
way.
Views on On the point of liberation of women, They acknowledge the possibility of a women
Women Digambara tradition holds that a women attaining Jina-hood and maintain that women
lacks the body and rigid will necessary to are capable in the present lifetime of same
attain Moksha, i.e Liberation, hence she has spiritual accomplishments as men.
to be reborn as a man before such attainment
is possible.
After On attaining enlightenment, They believe that even omniscient

Enlightenment an omniscient is freed from requires food and other
the needs of ordinary requirements of ordinary existence.
existence such as hunger,
thirst, sleep, disease etc.
View on This tradition holds that They believe that Mahavira married
Marriage of Mahavira never married and Princess Yashoda at a fairly Young
Mahavira renounced the world while age and had a daughter, and it was
his parents were alive. only after parents death, that
Mahavira became ascetic.
Worship of Idols Regarding idols of Tirthankaras, Whereas, the Shvetambara tradition

Digamabara tradition represents the depicts the idols of Tirthankaras as
idols of Tirthankaras as nude, wearing lion cloth, decked with
unadorned and with downcast jewels and with glass eyes
eyes in the contemplative mood. inserted in marble.
Scripture They believe that original and They believe in the outcome of the
genuine texts were lost long ago, first council and thus in the validity
they also refuse to accept the of 12 Angas and Sutra
outcome of the first council under
Sthulabhadra and consequently the
9569093856 recasting of Angas ask@sarrthi.com

Terms used for They use the term Purana for They use therm Charita for
Hagiography Hagiography Hagiiography.
Mode of accepting They accept the food while standing The Shvetambara monks
food and with the help of knotted collect their food from
upturned palms and in one house different houses.
only where their Sankalpa is
fulfilled
Possessions and They renounce all possessions, They are allowed to have 14
Renouncement including clothes and is allowed possessions including lion
only 2 possessions - Rajoharana (A cloth, shoulder cloth etc.
small peacock feather broom for
brushing insects away) and a
Kamandalu (A wooden water pot for
Hygiene)
Important Points
● The earliest record of Digambara beliefs is contained in the Prakrit Suttapahuda
of Kundakunda.
● Svetambaras follow the preachings of Parshvanatha, i.e. they believe in only

four restraints (except Brahmacharya) to be followed to attain Kevalya.
● Svetambaras believe that the 23rd and 24th tirthankara did marry, unlike as
thought by Digambara sect.
● Svetambara tradition of Jainism indicates five eternal substances in existence:

Soul (Jiva), Matter (Pudgala), Space (Akasha), Motion (Dharma) and Rest
(Adharma), unlike Digambaras which added the sixth eternal substance as Time
(Kala).
Digamabara Sub Sects
● Bispantha - They support the Dharam gurus i.e religious authorities
known as Bhattarakas, the head of Jaina Mathas.
○ They worship the idols of Tirthankaras and idols of other dieties
in their temples.
○ They worship these idols with saffron, flowers, sweets, scented
incense sticks etc. They perform Aarti and even distribute
Prasad.
○ While worshipping they sit on the ground and do not stand.
● Terapantha - They arose a revolt against the domination and conduct

of the Bhattarakas.
○ They worship the idols of Tirthankaras but not other dieties in
their temples.
○ They worship the idols without any offerings but scared rice
called Aksata.
○ They do not perform Aarti, nor do they distribute any Prasad
○ While worshipping they stand and do not sit.
● Taranapantha or Samaiyapantha - Its followers worship Sarnaya (sacred

books) and not the idols. With main traits - Aversion to idol worship,
absence of outward religious practices and the ban on caste distinctions.
○ They strongly refute idolatry but have their own temples where
they worship sacred books.
○ They do not offer any article at the time of worship, they give more
importance to spiritual values and the study of sacred literature.
● Gumanapantha - They stress on the purity of conduct and self-discipline

and strict adherence to these percepts.
○ They strictly prohibit the lighting of candles or lamps in the Jaina

temple as they regard this a violation of the fundamental doctrine of
Jiana religion i.e non-Violence.
○ They only visit and view the image and do not make any offerings to
them.
● Totapantha - 16 and a half

○ They came into being as a result of differences between
the BisaPantha (i.e Twenty) and Terapantha (13), the
average of that comes out to be Totapantha, so they
partially follow the precepts of both of these schools.
Shvetamabars sub Sects
● Murtipujakas - They worship the idols and offer flowers, fruits etc, and
adorn them with rich clothes and jewelled ornaments. They stay in
temples or in the specially reserved buildings known as upasrayas.
● Stankavasi - They do not believe in idol worship and thus do not have
temples at all instead they have ‘Sthankas’ that is prayer halls, where
they carry on their religious fasts, festivals, practices etc. They do
not have belief in the places of pilgrimage. The word Dhundiya is
associated with them which means the searchers.
Shvetamabars sub Sects
● Terapanthis - They are non idolatrous and are very finely
organised under the complete direction of one Acharya, One code of
conduct and one line of thought.
○ They attach much importance to the practice of meditation.
○ They are considered as reformists as they emphasise on

simplicity in religion.
Important Terms
● Basadis - Jaina Monastic Establishments.
● Pudgala - Aggregate of atoms which have form, colour, taste and steel
and can be touched and felt.
● Gunasthanas - Stages of Purification.
● Maagadha - With reference to cultural History of India, the memorising

of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was their profession.
Popular Practices under Jainism
● Sallekhana
● It is a religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death by gradually
reducing the intake of food and liquids. It is not considered as a suicide
by Jain scholars because it is not an act of passion, nor does it deploy
poisons or weapons. It can be performed by both for Jain ascetics and
householders.
● In 2015, the Rajasthan High Court banned the practice, considering it
suicide. Later that year, the Supreme Court of India stayed the decision
of the Rajasthan High Court and lifted the ban on Sallekhana.
Popular Practices under Jainism
● Pratikraman
● It is a process during which Jains repent for their sins
during their daily life, and remind themselves not to
repeat them.
Jainism and Symbols - Ashtamangala
● Swastika - Symbol of peace and well being.
○ It represents the 4 categories of the world - Deva,

Manushya, Triyanch and Narakavasi.
● Shrivasta - It is said to be a mark on the chest of

Mahavira and other Tirthankaras which symbolises purity
of soul, compassion etc.
● Nandavarta - Complex form of Swastika with nine

angles of corners.
• Vardhamanaka - Earthen bowl used as a lamp, symbolic of

light (knowledge) banishing darkness (Ignorance).
• Bhadrasna - Holy seat representing the seat of Mahavira and

other venerated and liberated souls.
• Kalasha - Pot filled with holy water, represents purity and

wisdom to fill our minds.
• Meenu Yugala - It is a figure of fish couple considered

auspicious and signifying flow of divine life in the cosmic
ocean.
• Ahimsa symbol - Hand with a wheel on the palm..
• Darpana - Mirror (Darpana) signifies reflection of one’s true

self that is the soul.
Jainism
• Sravaks and Sravikas (lay people)
Caves demonstrating Jaina Religion
• Caves -
• Ellora Caves- Maharashtra
• Mangi Tungi Cave- Maharashtra
• Gajpantha Cave- Maharashtra
• Udayagiri-Khandagiri Caves- Odisha
• Hathi-gumpha Cave- Odisha
• Sittanavasal Cave- Tamil Nadu
THANK You

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Jainism for UPSC

• The word ‘Jain’ is derived from jina or jaina which

• Jainism does not have a single founder, instead

• Since it was difficult to memorise entire Jaina literature, therefore they

• These compilation are considered to be fluid and flexible as

• Compilation such as Acharanga Sutra, Sutrakritanga and the

• 6 Cheda Sutras and 4 Mula sutras - subject matter described

• Number of Individual texts such as Nandi Sutra and

• The Tattvartha Sutra - contains the main doctrine of Jaina faith,

• Some important non canonical works -

• When he reaches omniscience, he can make the divya-dhvani (divine

• Digamabars consider that this tone is unarticulated sound, which

• Whereas Shvetambars call it divine because all living beings

• According to tradition, he was a contemporary of Buddha and

• At the age of 30 he renounced his family in order to attain enlightenment

• A symbol was associated with every Tirthankara and Mahavira’s symbol

• Jaina doctrines are believed to be much older than Buddhism and

• Jaina conception of time is based on endless sequences of

• Views on Karma and Soul -

• Views on Varna and Caste System -

• First Tirthankara - Rishabdeva (Symbol - bull).

• 23rd Tirthankara - Parsavnatha (symbol - Snake)

• Mahavara - 24th Tirthankara (symbol - Lion)

1. Anektavada - Doctrine of manyfold nature of reality. (Non Absolutism)

2. Syadvada - Theory of conditioned predication.

3. Nayavada - Theory of partial standpoints

4. Tritatna - Three gems

5. Panch Mahavrata - Five great vows

6. Ahimsa - Doctrine of Non Violence

Three jewels of Jain Ethics called as Triratnas

• Right Faith - Samyag Darshana - seven Tattvas

• Right Knowledge - Samyag Jnana

• Right Conduct - Samyad Charitra - 5 Vows

• Celibacy/Chastity (Brahmcharaya added by Mahavira)

• Non Attachement/Non Possession (Aparigraha)

• According to Jaina doctrine - Karma is the bane of the soul

For spreading their religion

• Patronisation by big Kings like Kharavela, Chandragupta Maurya.

Council Year Place Outcome President

I 310 BCE Patliputra Led to division in Jainism - Sthulbhadra

II 453 or 466 CE Vallabhi Final Compilation of 12 Angas Deeridhiganj

Jainism has two major ancient sub traditions:

1. Digambaras [Sub-sects include Mula Sangh (original

2. Svetambaras (Sub-sects include Sthanakavasi and

After On attaining enlightenment, They believe that even omniscient

Worship of Idols Regarding idols of Tirthankaras, Whereas, the Shvetambara tradition

9569093856 recasting of Angas ask@sarrthi.com

● Svetambaras follow the preachings of Parshvanatha, i.e. they believe in only

● Svetambara tradition of Jainism indicates five eternal substances in existence:

● Terapantha - They arose a revolt against the domination and conduct

● Taranapantha or Samaiyapantha - Its followers worship Sarnaya (sacred

● Gumanapantha - They stress on the purity of conduct and self-discipline

○ They strictly prohibit the lighting of candles or lamps in the Jaina

● Totapantha - 16 and a half

○ They attach much importance to the practice of meditation.

○ They are considered as reformists as they emphasise on

● Basadis - Jaina Monastic Establishments.

● Gunasthanas - Stages of Purification.

● Maagadha - With reference to cultural History of India, the memorising

● Swastika - Symbol of peace and well being.

○ It represents the 4 categories of the world - Deva,

● Shrivasta - It is said to be a mark on the chest of

● Nandavarta - Complex form of Swastika with nine