The jain dharma existed even before the emergence of the vedas and the puranas which are said to be ancient. Swadhyaaya of jain scriptures, precious religious books and magazines almost. An introduction will therefore be of interest to anyone interested in the global religious history of humanity, and additionally to anyone striving to construct a morally responsible stance on how humans can learn to live together in all their religious differences. But the religious jains will do everything possible to prevent hurting any being. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. There are seven levels of heaven in jain cosmology. Thus, an embodied nonliberated soul is found in four realms of existence heavens, hells, humans and animal world in a neverending cycle of births and deaths also known as samsara. Jainism, ajivika, and buddhism arose in the 6th cent. A glance at its contents will reveal the fact that glasenapp has covered almost all the salient features of jainism. While many approaches to religion exclude nontheism by definition, some inclusive definitions of religion show how religious practice and belief do not depend on the presence. We take you on a journey through the many realms in the jain universe. Whether they have access to the textual material through which the jinas teaching came to be handed down or not, all jains are aware of the existence of their holy writings.
Jainism, indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment. Jainism is also a polytheistic religion and its goals are based on nonviolence and liberation the soul. Human moral actions form the basis of the transmigration of the soul. The srutkevlis wrote many texts sutras expanding the subject matter defined in the angagams. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation etc. Apr 03, 20 the puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. However, naraka differs from the hells of abrahamic religions as souls are not sent to naraka as the result of a divine judgment and punishment. Jainism believes that universe and all its substances or entities are eternal. Religious values and ideology in india jw is the long overdue book version of john e. According to jainism, the existence of abound and ever changing soul is a selfevident truth, an axiom which does not need to be proven. When the karma has run out, they will be reborn in lower parts of the universe. In 300 words jainism is the philosophy and religion of jainas the followers of religion preached and practised by the thirthankaras, the last of whom was lord mahavir. Jainism is a transtheistic religion, and jains trace their spiritual. The religious scriptures are not followed word to word.
If it goes out of existence the jiva can be released but will be retrapped in rebirth until enlightened. The following are the most sacred holy books in hinduism. Liberation is achieved by following a path of purification. Mar 17, 2015 jain beliefs jainism has historical roots in hinduism, but there are many differences between the two indian religions today. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. The upanishads are also called as vedantas or the end of the vedas. Ultimate goal of life is eternal release from karma. Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf e. Followers of jainism are called jains, a word derived from the sanskrit word jina victor who connotes the path of victory in crossing over lifes stream of rebirths by destroying the karma through an ethical and spiritual life. Angbahyaagams monks who had knowledge of a minimum of ten purvas were known as srutkevlis. 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. Jainism traditionally known as jain dharma, is an ancient indian religion.
These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion. Jainism has historical roots in hinduism, but there are many differences between the two indian religions today. The split did not incur doctrinal or moral differences but only. According to the hypothesis of the philosopher sarvepalli radhakrishnan, jainism was in existence before the vedas were composed. Sep 16, 2018 syadvada recommends the expression of anekanta by prefixing the epithet syad to every phrase or expression describing the permanent being. However, several other jain holy scriptures and literature have taken its reference from the subject matter of the purvas. There are numerous souls, but every one of them has three qualities. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b.
The soul is constrained to a cycle of rebirth, trapped within the temporal world, until it finally achieves liberation. Lord mahavir, popularly regarded as the founder of jainism, was the last of the tirthankars who flourished from 599 to 527 b. The present book is one of the best and stimulating books ever written by scholars on jainism. Karma is the basic principle within an overarching psychocosmology in jainism. Religion and culture of the jains by jyoti prasad jain 1983, bharatiya jnanpith will provide an orderly and clear. Jainism lays heavy emphasis on nonviolence ahimsa and the believers of this religion, whether a monk or a householder, follow a very strict, well disciplined life. Nothing that exists now was ever created, nor will it be destroyed. All the substances change or modify their forms continuously. Jain cosmology is the description of the shape and functioning of the universe loka and its. All souls who have achieved the natural state of infinite bliss, infinite knowledge kevala jnana, infinite power and infinite perception are regarded as god in jainism. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira. Jain philosophy is the oldest indian philosophy that separates body matter from the soul consciousness completely.
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. There are six highly recommended books that together form an excellent literary introduction to jainism and the jain way of thinking. Translated from the prakrit by hermann jacobi, 1884 from. Nontheistic religions are traditions of thought within a religious contextsome otherwise aligned with theism, others notin which nontheism informs religious beliefs or practices. Jain theism concept of god in jainism harvard university. However, the holy books in hinduism are the basis on which we have evolved our culture and way of living. The most momentous event, which occurred about 80 a. The unfortunate union of soul and matter propels the cycle of samsara. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents.
According to jainism, the existence of a bound and ever changing soul is a selfevident truth, an axiom which does not need to be proven. The legendary accounts of mahaviras life preserved by the jain scriptures. For jainism worship is a means to personal spiritual and karmic development, it is not actually worship for exultation or devotion to any particular entity. This bondage further results in a continuous cohabitation of the soul with the body. Jain texts describe the shape of the universe as similar to a man standing. Superhuman beings exist in realms of the universe above the earth. The two major branches digambara and svetambara of jainism stimulate selfcontrol or, shramana, selfreliance and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal. 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. Souls jiva exists as a reality, having a separate existence from the. Jiva is everywhere, filling and infused in every minuscule part of the entire loka realm of existence, according to jainism. Apr 21, 2015 jains believe that the universe and everything in it is eternal. 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. Bc as protests against the overdeveloped ritualism of hinduism, particularly its sacrificial cults, and the authority of the veda. The history of jainism after lord mahavira is recorded in the jaina literature preserved in various indian languages.
While you likely know a little about hinduism and buddhism, each having over a billion followers, you. Buddhism is centered upon the life and teachings of gautama buddha, whereas jainism is centered on the life and teachings of mahavira. Buddhism is a polytheistic religion and its main goal is to gain enlightenment. So he could be called a reformer of the jain religion or rejunevator of the faith which was already and had a long tradition. Tirthankaras are enlightened human teachers attributed with supernatural characteristics. Jain philosophy deals with reality, cosmology, epistemology study of knowledge and vitalism. Human moral actions form the basis of the transmigration of the soul jiva. Nov 18, 2019 jainism is an indian religion of dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness ahimsa towards every living being. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. One the religious, historical, and cultural contexts of jain narratives. In jainism, godliness is said to be the inherent quality of every soul.
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. This quality, however, is subdued by the souls association with karmic matter. Central to jian belief is the material and the spiritual realm. The soul is constrained to a cycle of rebirth, trapped within the temporal world sa. Many jains worship at temple everyday, while others do so much less frequently. This is conceptually similar to the six realms of rebirth represented by bhavachakra in buddhism. The jain literature which was complied by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. Jains believe that the universe and everything in it is eternal.
Buddhism vs jainism difference and comparison diffen. These superhuman beings godsdeities are also subject to karma and change. It is believed that both realities are eternal and that human beings can, and do, engage in both, which affects not only this life, but the next one as well. The top level, the realm of the jinas is reserved for liberated souls. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. In the upper world of the jain triple world, each of the 12 lowest realms or. These writings are the basis of their ritual and religious life and are venerated in various ways. Naraka is the realm of existence in jain cosmology characterized by great suffering. The holy books in hinduism are there only for guidance.
Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf. This book explains some basic jain values, beliefs, and practices through its. In fact, the householders are supposed to evolve to the monkhood in the later stages of life as was the case with the hinduism in the vedic era. A soul may therefore be born in a hell in one rebirth and in a heaven in the next it. Some jains believe that these beings can help people on earth who pray to them. The following list of books incorporates a number of salient points of view, and they would be especially good for those not raised as jains. Devayu or simply deva refers to heavenlycelestial realms or states of existence and represents one of the four divisions of ayu, or life determining karmas, which represents one of the eight types of prak. Jains worship in temples which contain images of the 24 tirthankaras. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. Introduction to jainism, theory of karma, the six dravyas and more. Jain religion is unique in that, during its existence of over 5000 years, it has. Universe runs own its own accord by its own cosmic laws. It attempts to explain the rationale of being and existence, the nature of the universe and its constituents, the nature of souls bondage with body and the means to achieve. Syadvada recommends the expression of anekanta by prefixing the epithet syad to every phrase or expression describing the permanent being.
Jainism holy books containing the teachings of mahavira. List of books and articles about jainism online research. Above the anutar vimans, at the apex of the universe is the realm of the. The soul has the potential to reach omniscience and eternal bliss, and end the cycles of rebirth and associated suffering, which is the goal of jain spirituality. Central religious concepts such as the soul, karma, the cycle of birth and spiritual. Antiquity of jainism professor mahavir saran jain lord mahavira is not the founder of jainism. Naraka is usually translated into english as hell or purgatory. 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. Jain texts such as acaranga sutra and tattvarthasutra state that one must. Its four arms symbolise the four realms of existence in which rebirth occurs according to jainism. Jain realm of wellbeing a conscious existence, because there is no single emic. However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa.
220 1022 1484 1206 591 1369 1270 1192 719 1489 1209 1040 944 672 817 235 796 9 972 80 1599 658 338 345 1379 1449 1236 116 307 505 1099