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Jainism: Teerthankar

It is the religion having no beginning or ending.

The word "Jain" derives from the Sanskrit word jina (conqueror). A human being who has
conquered all inner passions like attachment, desire, anger, pride, greed, etc. is called
Jina.

There is no creator/ destroyer God according to Jainism

According to Jains, over time, Jain teachings are gradually forgotten.

Then, a rare individual is born who at some point in his life renounces the world to
conquer the sasra, the cycle of death and rebirth, on his own.

After understanding the true nature of the Self or soul, the Trthakara attains Kevala
Gyana (omniscience) and refounds Jainism.

Thus, a Teerthankar is an individual who destroys attachment with all the earthly things
and relations, he frees himself absolutely from ignorance, he repays all his previous and
this birth's dues of karmas, he detaches himself from all the good and bad, he attains
absolute knowledge about present, past, and future, and becomes an omniscient in the
process. He becomes a Sidha and frees himself from the cycle of birth and re-birth.

Tirthankaras are just ordinary man, born as human, but through their intense practice of
kindness, equanimity and meditation, he attains the state of a Tirthankara.

Teerthankaras guide the other souls to save them from the cycles of repeated earth
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God Mahavira: 24th Teerthankar

Mahavira was the twenty-fourth and last Jain Tirthankara (Teaching God).
Mahavira was born into a royal family in what is now Bihar, India, in 599 BC.
Mahavira's childhood name was Vardhamna (the one who grows), because of
the increased prosperity in the kingdom at the time of his birth.
He was called Mahavira (the great hero) because of the acts of bravery he
performed during his childhood
At the age of thirty, Mahavira abandoned the comforts of royal life and left his
home and family to live an ascetic life in the pursuit of spiritual awakening. He
underwent severe penances and meditated under the Ashoka tree.
After twelve years of rigorous penance, at the age of 43, Mahavira achieved
the state of Kevala Gyana (omniscience)
Jains believe Mahavira attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and
death) at the age of seventy-two and his soul is now resting in Siddhashila,
abode of liberated souls.

Main Teachings
Non attachment (Aparigraha)

Non-injury (Ahimsa)

The principle of ahimsa (non-injury) is the most

necessary.

fundamental and well-known aspect of Jainism.

The everyday implementation of the principle of non-

Jains believe in avoiding harm to others through

thoughts (mana)

speech (vachana)

actions (kya)

While ownership of objects is allowed, non-attachment to

possessions is taught.

violence is more comprehensive than in other religions.

Jainism emphasizes taking no more of something than is

He who has passions causes injury to himself by

himself.

For internal possessions, Jainism identifies four key

passions of the mind (kashaya)

"killing any living being out of passions is injury and

abstaining from such act is ahimsa (non-injury)

Anger

Pride (ego)

Deceitfulness

Greed

The remaining ten internal possessions are:

Wrong belief

3 sex-passions

6 defects (laughter, like, dislike, sorrow, fear,

disgust)

Main teachings 2

Non-absolutism (Anekantavada)

For Jains, non-absolutism means maintaining openmindedness.

This includes the recognition of all perspectives and a

humble respect for differences in beliefs.

Anekntavda is more formally stated by observing that

objects are infinite in their qualities and modes of
existence, so they cannot be completely grasped in all
aspects and manifestations by finite human perception.

Only Kevalis (omniscient beings) can comprehend

objects in all aspects and manifestations; others are only
capable of partial knowledge.

Accordingly, no single, specific human view can claim to

represent absolute truth

5 vows
Non-injury
Ahimsa

Truth
Satya

Not stealing
Asteya

Chastity/ Celibacy
Brahmacharya

Non Possessiveness
Aparigraha

It involves minimizing intentional and unintentional harm to other living creatures by actions, speech
or thoughts.

This vow is to always speak the truth.

Given that nonviolence has priority, other principles yield to it whenever they conflict: in a situation
where speaking truth could lead to violence, silence may be observed.

Jains should not take anything that is not willingly offered.

It means chastity for laymen and celibacy for Jain monks and nuns.
This requires the exercise of control over the senses to control indulgence in sexual activity.

This includes non-materialism and non-attachment to objects, places and people.

Jain monks and nuns completely renounce property and social relations.

Philosophy

According to Jainism, there are six simple substances in existence:

Soul: All living beings are really soul, intrinsically perfect and immortal.
Matter: a non-intelligent substance consisting of an infinity of particles or atoms which are eternal.
It possess sensible qualities, namely, taste, smell, color and, in certain forms, touch and sound.
Time: It is said to be the cause of continuity and succession.
Space: It is the space occupied by the universe, and the portion beyond the universe.
Dharma & Adharma: They are substances said to be helpful in the motion and stationary states of things, respectively, the
former enabling them to move from place to place and the latter to come to rest from the condition of motion.

Philosophy
Jain philosophy is based on seven fundamentals which are known as tattva, which attempt to explain the nature of karmas
and provide solutions for the ultimate goal of liberation of the soul (moksha):
Soul
Jiva
Non Living entity
Ajiva
Influx
Asrava
Bondage
Bandha
Stoppage
Savara
gradual dissociation
Nirjara
Liberation
Moksha

It is characterized by consciousness. All living beings are really soul, intrinsically perfect and
immortal.
It consist of matter, space and time
It represents the inflow of auspicious and evil karmic matter into the soul
It represents mutual intermingling of the soul and karmas. The karma masks the jiva and
restricts it from reaching its true potential of perfect knowledge and perception.
It is obstruction of the inflow of karmic matter into the soul
It is the separation or falling off of part of karmic matter from the soul
It represents complete annihilation of all karmic matter (bound with any particular soul)

Soul Transition

Jain Vegetarianism
For Jains, lacto-vegetarianism is mandatory.

Food that contains even the smallest particles of the bodies of dead animals or eggs is
unacceptable.

One shouldn't consume the: wine, flesh, butter and honey.

Jains go out of their way so as not to hurt even small insects and other tiny animals,
because they believe that harm caused by carelessness is as reprehensible as harm
caused by deliberate action.

Hence they take great pains to make sure that no minuscule animals are injured by the
preparation of their meals and in the process of eating and drinking.

Jains make considerable efforts not to injure plants in everyday life as far as possible.
Strict Jains dont eat root vegetables such as potatoes, onions, roots and tubers, because such root vegetables are considered
ananthkay, which means one body, but containing countless lives.

A regular vegetable such as cabbage has number of leaves and lives as could be counted by a layman. However, a root
vegetable such as potato, though from the looks of it is one particle, is said to contain multiple lives (ekindriya) in it.

Also, consumption of most root vegetables involves uprooting and killing the entire plant, whereas consumption of most
terrestrial vegetables doesn't kill the plant (it lives on after plucking the vegetables or it was seasonally supposed to wither
away anyway).

Jain texts declare that one shouldn't cook or eat at night.

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Sects of Jainism
Two groups in Jainism:
The Digambaras (the sky-clad)
The Shvetambaras (the white clad)
This division probably occurred around 300 B.C. over two issues: the nature of Mahavira and monastic nudity
Though they both believe in the same doctrines that are important to Jainism, their practices are different
Digambaras
Live completely naked - indifference towards earthly emotions like shame
Have no worldly possessions even begging bowls
Shvetambaras
Wear simple white clothing
Have few possessions like begging bowl, brush to wipe insects away from their path

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Practices:1

Meditation
Developed a type of meditation called smyika - one state of being
Achieve control over Mana (Mind), Vachana (Speech) & Kaya (Actions)
Achieve a feeling of perfect calmness and understand the
unchanging truth of the self
Control of thoughts as they affect the actions, behavior and goals
Pratikraman: Introspection and seeking forgiveness
Fasting
Believe fasting purifies both body and mind, also done as a penance
Jains fast throughout the year, particularly during festivals
This takes on various forms and may be practiced based on one's ability

Some examples include: eating only one or two meals per day, drinking only water all day, not eating after sunset, not
eating processed foods, eating food without sugar/oil/salt
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Practices 2
Prayers
In Jainism, the purpose of prayer is to break the barriers of worldly attachments and desires and to assist in the
liberation of the soul. Jains do not pray for any favors, material goods or rewards.
The Namokar Mantra is the fundamental prayer of Jainism and may be recited at any time. In this mantra, Jains worship
the qualities (gunas) of the spiritually supreme, including those who have already attained salvation, in order to adopt
similar behavior.
Festivals
Paryushana is the most important annual event for Jains, and is usually celebrated in August or September
It is the festival of forgiveness.

Khamat Khamna to others, which means, "If I have offended you in any way, knowingly or unknowingly, in thought,
word or action, then I seek your forgiveness.

Mahavir Jayanti is also an important festival, celebrating birth of God Mahavir.

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Comparison - Jainism and Hinduism

Similarities
Both have accepted the theories of Karma, Rebirth and Moksha
Both believe in the transmigration of souls
Both support asceticism - self-discipline
Differences
God
Jainism - Dont believe in existence of God, Universe is self-maintaining
Hinduism - God created the universe
Moksha
Jainism - Liberation from the cycle of birth and death, Soul resides in Siddhashila Place where there is infinite
knowledge, space and perfection. Soul enjoys eternal and supreme bliss
Hindusim - Liberation from the cycle of birth and death, Soul gets absorbed into the God
Jainism does not support Vedic animal sacrifices

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Comparison - Jainism and Buddhism

Similarities

Differences

Both denied the authority of the Vedas and the necessity of

Moksha

performing animal sacrifices and rituals

Buddhism - Can be attained while living in the

world

Both have accepted the theories of Karma rebirth and

Jainism - Can be attained only after death

Moksha
Both taught in the language of the common people i.e.

Soul - Buddhism does not believe in the existence of soul

Prakrit and not in Sanskrit which was the language of the

whereas Jainism believes the existence of soul in every living

priests

being

Both of them admitted disciples from all the castes and

from both sexes
Ahimsa is the prominent principle of both the religions
Both Buddhism and Jainism put stress on right conduct and

Buddhism does not believe that severe penances are

required to attain Moksha, Jainism does
Buddhism spread to countries outside India, Jainism did not
spread outside India

right knowledge and not on religious ceremonial and ritual

as the way to obtain salvation
Both, the religions came as a sort of reform of Hindu
religion

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Jai Jinendra
By:
Naiya Atul Mehta
IIM Bangalore

Submitted to:
Prof. Ramnath
Narayanaswamy

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