JAINISM
Art and Culture
INTRODUCTION
- Founder: Vardhaman Mahavira
- 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism
- Born at Vaishali, capital of Vajji confederacy
- Father: Siddhartha, Kshatriya chief
- Renounced worldly life at the age of 30
- Attained Kaivalya after 12 years of penance
- Known as Jina (conqueror of passions)
- Followers known as Jains
- 23 Tirthankaras existed before Mahavira
BASIC PHILOSOPHY
- Rejects authority of Vedas
- Believes in existence of Soul (Atman)
- Soul is independent of body and mind
- Goal: Liberation of soul from cycle of birth and death
CAUSES FOR EMERGENCE
- Excessive ritualism in Vedic religion
- Rigid Varna system and caste oppression
- Use of Prakrit and Pali instead of Sanskrit
- Open to people of all castes
- Patronage by rulers like Chandragupta Maurya
- Spread to South India after migration led by Bhadrabahu
THREE JEWELS (TRIRATNA)
- Right Belief (Samyak Darshan)
- Right Knowledge (Samyak Jnana)
- Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra)
FIVE GREAT VOWS
- Ahimsa: Non-violence
- Satya: Truthfulness
- Asteya: Non-stealing
- Aparigraha: Non-possession
- Brahmacharya: Celibacy
TYPES OF VOWS
- Mahavrata: For monks and nuns
- Anuvrata: For householders
ASHTAMANGALA (EIGHT AUSPICIOUS SYMBOLS)
- Swastika
- Nandavarta
- Bhadrasana
- Shrivatsa
- Darpana
- Minayugala
- Vardhamanaka
- Kalasha
MAJOR SECTS OF JAINISM
- Digambara
- Svetambara
DIGAMBARA SECT
- Monks practice complete nudity
- Female ascetics called Aryikas
- Follow five vows strictly
- Women cannot attain Tirthankara status
- Malli Tirthankara considered male
- Bhadrabahu was major exponent
- Earliest text: Suttapahuda by Kundakunda
- Major sub-sects:
- Mula Sangha
- Kashta Sangha
- Terapanth
- Taranapanth (anti-idol worship)
SVETAMBARA SECT
- Monks wear white clothes
- Follow four vows (excluding Brahmacharya)
- Believe women can attain liberation
- Malli Tirthankara considered female
- Sthulabhadra was major exponent
- Believe in five eternal substances
- Major sub-sects:
- Sthanakavasi
- Murtipujaka
- Terapanth
POPULAR PRACTICES
- Sallekhana:
- Voluntary fasting unto death
- Supreme Court stayed Rajasthan HC ban in 2015
- Pratikraman:
- Confession and repentance ritual
JAIN LITERATURE
- Language: Ardha-Magadhi (Prakrit)
IMPORTANT TEXTS
- 14 Purvas (lost)
- 12 Angas (12th Anga lost)
- 12 Upangas
- 10 Prakirnas
- 6 Chedisutras
- 4 Mulasutras
- Niryuktis (verse commentaries)
- Churnis (prose commentaries)
IMPORTANT TEXTS
- Kalpasutra: Biography of Tirthankaras
- Acharanga Sutra: Rules of monastic life
JAIN COUNCILS
- First Council:
- 300 BC, Pataliputra
- President: Sthulabhadra
- Second Council:
- 512 AD, Vallabhi
- President: Devardhi Kshamashramana
SIMILARITIES WITH BUDDHISM
- Non-theistic religions
- Belief in Karma and rebirth
- Opposition to Vedas and Brahmanism
- Founded by Kshatriyas
- Emphasis on Ahimsa and moral life
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Subject: Art and Culture
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