Jains like Hindus & Buddhists believe in pure Ahimsa( non- violence). Jains wear a white mask to cover their mouth, so that they do not swallow any living creature like flies etc. ,even by accident, while they are talking.
Hinduism myth about how the world was created?
According to Hinduism God Brahama created the world and is know as shritirachiyta or The Creator..
According to Hindu and Vedic scriptures like Vedas and Gita, the Almighty, All Creator, Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Formless Power which is God, has created the Universe
Did lord mahavira and gautam buddha ever meet?
Not to anyones knowledge. The Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, lived from 563 - 483 BC and traveled through India and Nepal. Confucius lived from 551 BC - 479 BC in China. Their lives overlapped but they did not travel outside their respective cultures.
What is the jainism holy bible called?
Most of the eastern religions are not 'religions of the book', that is, there is no one book which has the same satus as Bible has for Christians. Most of the knowledge was passed on from generations through oral traditions.
With these points in mind, the sacred texts of Jainism are called Agams, (or Jinvani, literally meaning 'words of Jina (God)'). They are primarily composed of 46 texts. (However, there are debates regarding the authenticity of various texts among different sections and sub-sects of Jain culture). There are other sacred texts as well compiled at a later period, which are equally revered, like Tattvarthsutra, Samaysara, Kalpsutras, the Koshas, the Sharavakachars, certain Puaranas, Tamil and Kannada works, etc.
Why didn't Jainism spread around the world?
I think it's because Hinduism is one of the few religions that does not actively propagate itself. Hindu's haven't sent missionaries, or they're Hindu equivalents, to foreign nations to convert people.
What is the place of worship for Jainism?
The place of worship for Jainism is called the "Deresar." They are usually built of marble. There are two types of Dehresars: the Shikar-bandhi deresar and the Ghar derasar. The term "Shikar-bandhi" means "one with the dome" and a Ghar deresar means "home temple without a dome." A deresar of 100 years old, is referred to as tirtha. Some deresars have rules such as: wear clean clothes to worship, no eating, and do not enter if hurt.
What are Jains view on human evolution?
I forgot where I read this, but I read somewhere that Jainism supports neither Creationism nor Evolutionism. Rather, they believe that the human species and all other species have always been here in their present form.
The use of the term priest in regard to the leaders of Buddhism is misleading. Priest implies a person dedicated to a god and the advancement of that god's agenda. Buddhism has no god - each person is on their own to reach enlightenment. Fortunately there are teachers and leaders who pass on the thoughts and learnings of previous scholars to help Buddhists understand the course they should set for their lives to minimize pain and suffering and be more skillful in their interactions with others. The leaders of Buddhism could be called monks, lamas, rinpoches, nuns or teachers.
A framework for understanding and comparing Jainism?
Principles of Jainism as Preached by Tirthankaras
(1) This universe is eternal, with out beginning and end.
Explanation: - It is nothing but the sum-total of substances which have been existing always and will go on existing for ever. No substance is created and no substance is destroyed. Only there are modifications of substances. These modifications take birth and cease to be. An old one dies; and a new one is born. e.g., a human soul loses his boyhood, and acquires youth or old age. When old age is born, boyhood dies. Or a gold bangle is broken to be made into a ring.
(2) All the substances of this universe are primarily Living (Jivas) and non-living (Ajivas).
Explanation :- Broadly, life is that which has consciousness. All else is life-less, unconscious, non-living, non-soul.
(3) Non-living substances are of five kinds. They are - (1) Matter in forms of atoms and molecules - Pudgala (2) Space - Akash, (3) Time - Kala, (4) Medium of motion - Dharmastikaya (5) Medium of rest - Adharmastikaya.
Explanation: - Thus, in all, there are six kinds of substances of which this universe is composed.
(1) The conscious immaterial sub-stance is soul. There are infinite souls.
(2) Matter is material, possessed of touch, taste, smell and colour. Its atoms and molecules are numerable, innumerable, and infinite in number.
(3) Space is one grand infinite immaterial substance. It gives space to all other five substance.
(4) Time is an immaterial substance which is an auxiliary cause in bringing about modifications of and in all the substances. The number of time-units or instants or time-atoms (Kalanus) is innumerable. Each Time-atom occupies one point of space, thus the space of universe, which has innumerable spatial points, is covered entirely by time-atoms.
(5) The medium of motion is one immaterial substance. It is co-extensive with the universe and is an auxiliary cause for the motion of soul & matter.
(6) The medium of rest is one immaterial substance. It is co-extensive with the universe and is an auxiliary cause for the rest of souls and matter.
Only two substance soul and matter are the chief actors and perform mainly four actions, i. e, they occupy space change and are at motion or at rest. Every action must have two causes one principal, primary or root-cause, and the other the auxiliary cause. The primary and essential cause of a gold ring, is the gold of which it it made; but the auxiliary or secondary causes are several e. g. fire, the goldsmith's tools etc., etc. So the primary causes of these above 4 actions of soul & matter themselves, but the auxiliary causes are the above said four immaterial substance. Thus this universe is composed of six real, uncreated substance (Dravyas), and all the manifestations of this universe are due to modifications of soul and matter with the help of the other four substances.
(4) Jain philosophy deals with seven principles Tattvas. They are :- (i) Soul (Jiva),
(ii) non-soul (Ajiva); of this ordinary matter is an obvious example and Karmic matter, the finest form of fine, invisible matter, is of the utmost significance in life, (iii) inflow of Karmic matter into soul - (Asrava),
(iv) Bondage of soul by Karmic matter, or rather union with and assimilation of the new inflowing Karmic matter by the old Karmic matter with which the embodied soul is already in combination - (Bandha),
(v) checking of inflow, (Samvara),
(vi) shedding off of karmic matter already bound with the soul - (Nirjara)
(vii) Liberation, final and complete separation of all kinds of matter from the soul - (Moksha)
Explanation:- The two categories, soul and non-soul, include all the six substances (Dravyas). The embodied souls are in combination with matter. They are impure and transmigrating in many different mundane existences eternity. They have got a fine Karmic body - a body of meritorious and de-meritorious Karmic matter; in which every moment new Karmic molecules inflow and the old ones are cast off. Thus though these molecules inhere in the soul only for a limited time, yet they always keep the soul in an impure condition, until it gets to tally rid of that fine body by its practice of self-realization and self-concentration.
Inflow: - Coming in of Karmic molecules by activity of mind, body, and speech. Activity of a good kind attracts meritorious, while activity of a bad kind attracts de-meritorious Karmic matter.
Bondage: - The union of Karmic matter with soul. It lasts for a limited time according to the intensity of passions, presents at the time of inflow. During this time of union, the Karmic matter produces good or bad effects and having born its proper fruit falls off gradually; just as food and medicine once taken in, produces effect for some time, till their full matter has gone out of the body gradually.
Checking: - It is to prevent inflow of Karmic matter by control of mind, body and speech. Checking of wrong activity will not bring Karmic matter which would have come through that wrong activity. Desires of sense pleasures and passions of anger, pride, deceit and greed produce the evil results of injury (Hinsa); lie (Asatya), theft ( Steya), unchastity ( Abrahmacharya), and attachment (Parigrah); which which bring de- meritorious Karmic matter. Control of all these will check such matter from inflowing into the soul.
Shedding off: - Getting rid of the Karmic matter which is bound to the soul, before its maturing and falling off after fruition. This shedding is a kind of artificial and pre-mature fruition of Karma. It is achieved by means of desirelessness and penances producing Pure Self-realisation and concentration.
Liberation:- Total freedom of all Karmic matter. Thus the soul reaching a pure and blissful state of Grand Soul for ever remain pure and absorbed in its own true and perfect nature of all-knowledge, all-perception, infinite power, and infite bliss etc.
(5) Way to liberation is threefold path of right belif (Samyak- darshana), right Knowledge (Samyak- jnana), right conduct ( Samyak- charitra).
Explaination: These three are called three jewals (traya - ratna) of janism. These are two ways of looking at things; one real and the other practical. The latter is an auxiliary cause for the real. They are called Nischaya and Vyavahara nyyas or point of view. From the practical point of view, right belief of the above seven principles is practical right belief. From real point of view, right belief of one's own soul's true and real pure nature is real right belief. Knowledge of the above seven principles is practical right knowledge. Knowledge of the true, real purenture of one's own soul is real right knowledge. Due to observation of five vows of non-injury (Ahims), truthfulness (Satya), non-theft (Achourya), chastity (Brahmcharya) and non-attachment (Aprigrah) is practical right conduct. Realisation and concentration of one's own true, real and pure nature of soul by itself i.e. Self - absorption is real right conduct.
When perfect real, conduct with perfect knowledge and perfect pure belif accrues, the soul is liberated and the called Parmatma, God, Isvara, and Siddha.
(6) Practical right conduct is of two kinds; one for laymen and other for saints. The latter is the direct cause of liberation.
Explanation:- Saints follow in full the above said five vows of non injury etc. They therefore give up all their possessions, become simple like little children without cloths, eat once a day by going to the house of a pious-layman and pass their time in self-meditation in lonely places, reading pure scared books and preaching to the world the doctrines of the Jinas, the conquerors of Karmimic effects. They have control over their desire and passions.
Laymen follow the above said five vows partially only. They gradually improve their pursuit of vows, till they become saints. An ordinary layman of the lowest degree should follow the five vows in the following manner:
(1) He should not uselessly injure any living beings. Unless injury is due to wrong belief, as to animal sacrifice, flesh eating, hunting, cruel sports, fashion in leather, fur, plumage skins, bones, etc., etc. As means of livelihood, he can peruse the profession of a soldier, bankers, agriculture, trader, merchant, servant. Although he can avoid some injury (Himsa) incidental to the above occupations, yet he should be most careful to avoid it as much as possible in these, as also in cooking, walking, speaking, respiration and other essential acts of human life as an individual and as a member of society. He should not eat meat, honey or such thing as involve destruction of animal life, nor should not drink intoxicating liquors.
(2) He should speak truth, and not cheat others by false speech and action.
(3) He should not take what is not given. Only common things such as water etc. may take freely.
(4) He should be contented with is his own wife.
(5) He should put a limit to his property. He may have a desire of lacs, but it should be limited to some extent. Limitless ambition is greed. Gambling is also prohibited to a layman. He should drink pure water free from all taint of animal life and try to confine taking food between sunrise and sunset. There are elven stages for a layman to rise in their performance of these five vows. After passing them, the laymen become a saint.
(7) Real right conduct i,e., self-realization is required by saints and laymen by following their respective six essential daily duties.
Explanation:- The six essential daily duties for the saints are:
(i) Equanimity i.e. the condition of mind free from worldly love and hatred
(ii) Penitence for past faults
(iii) Intention not to commit faults in future
(iv) Praising the holy persons
(v) Bowing to the Holy Ones, and
(vi) Renunciation of bodily attachment.
The six essential duties of the laymen are:
(i) Worships of the Holy Ones- the conquerors of Karmas by their names and representations and by presents and by praising their spiritual qualities.The Idols of Arhats represents the feature of self- contemplation thus impressing on the worshiper's mind the pure nature of the self.
(ii) Services to the Preceptors and listening to their preaching.
(iii) Reading Holy Books.
(iv) Some minor vows for control of mind and senses such as - Today I shall refrain from going to theatre; I shall have only two meal during the day; shall not take sweet; shall not use scents, etc., etc. These are small self denial to strengthen self-control and to speed one on to the realization of self-absorption.
(v) Contemplation I.e. twice a day, morning and evening or only once, sitting in a lonely place and meditating upon the nature of Holy Ones, or one's own soul, thereby acquiring equanimity by renouncing attachment and hatered of worldly things for the time devoted to contemplation.
(vi) Charity- Practice charity of food, medicine, knowledge and fearlessness.
These six daily duties induce pure thought in saints and laymen and enable them to reach Self-absorption - a state where real right belief, right knowledge and right conduct are present in one interfused condition. It is the path of shedding off much karmic dirt and making the soul pure and free.
Namokar Mantra
Jainas recite the following incantation mantra in all their religious duties. It consists of 35 letters in Prakrit; its occult significance also is great if it is understood perfectly intelligently.
Namo Arhantanm - I salute the Worshipful, the conquerors of 4 soul-destructive karmas, viz, knowledge obscuring, conation obsxring, deluding and obstructive karmas and possessors of infinite knowledge, infinite conation, infinite bliss and infinite power, having a pure body and discoursing to the public the tenets and glory of true religion and eternal truth.
Namo Siddanam - I salute the perfect pure souls free from the body and all karmic dirt, enjoying true natural bliss and knowledge etc.
Namo Ayiriyanam - I salute the saints who are the leaders of the group of saints, following the three jewels path of Liberation.
Namo Uvajjhayanam - I salute the saints who are the teachers of scriptures to others for acquiring the path of the three jewels.
Namo Loye Savva Sahunam - I salute all the saints wherever found in the universe on the path of salvation.
This mantra is helpful in acquiring Pure thought activity.
What is the difference between Digambar and Shewatamber sects in Jainism?
One can point many differences between Shwetamber and Digamber sects in Jainism. However, there are certain noteworthy differences between the two based primarily on the ideologies:
1. The word Digamber literally means 'sky clad'. This is because Digamber monks do not wear clothes, and remain naked, in accordance with the principle of non-possession. The word Shwetamber literally means 'white clad'. Shwetamber monks wear white clothes, as they believe there is nothing in Jain scriptures against wearing clothes (while defining the nature of possession). However, both sects do agree that Mahavira (Last Tirthankara) himself was naked.
2. Liberation of Women: Since women are not allowed to leave their clothes, Digamberas belive (and also due to some other reasons), that women cannot achieve 'liberation' (from the cycle of life and death). Shwetamberas do not hold this view (since women are also 'white clad'), and they believe that nuns can also achieve liberation. In this context, I also want to point out that Shwetamberas, contrary to Digambers, believe that 19th Tirthankar, Mallinath was a female. This issue is usually highly debated among the two sects and I wish not to go to any further details.
3. Dispute regarding Agams: 'Agams' are the main (authoritative) texts in Jainism (as they contain the words of Mahavira). There is a dispute in the two sects as to how many and which of the 'agams' have survived and which have been lost with time. This is because, these texts were compiled at a much later period after the liberation of Mahavira, and it is difficult to keep the entire literature committed to memory.
4. Idols in temples: Digamber Jain Idols are usually shown in dhyan-mudra (meditation pose), with eyes focusing on top of nose. The idols depict the plain naked human form, in its true beauty without any external additions. If the statue is in padmasam (a certain sitting/meditating pose), the left palm is on the right palm. They typically represent meditating pose of Tirthankaras before liberation. However, Shwetamber idols have wide open 'chakshus' (eyes), looking at the outer world (and you). They usually have some ornaments (many a times some precious metals) over them (in contrast with the plain Digamber statues). In padmasan pose, the right palm is on the left palm.
It is also noteworthy that all sub-sects of Digamber sect are idol worshipers, while all sub-sects of Shwetamber sect are not idol-worshipers.
5. Life of Mahavira: Digamberas believe that Mahavira was celibate, but Shwetamberas belive that young Mahavira was married to princess Yashoda and had a daughter. The two sects also differ on the question of who the real mother of Mahavira was.
6. Origin of two Sects: It is of no doubt that both sects claim their sect to be the oldest and the authentic one and each have a story of the origin of other sect. However, there is no doubt that the division came out much after Mahavira was liberated, and in this context neither version of the story is very old.
7. Navkar Mantra: Navkar (or Namokar in Prakrit) Mantra is the prime Mantra of Jainism (composed of 9 lines). Digamberas (and also Sthanakavaasis, a sub-sect of Shwetamberas) believe that only five opening lines are the main part of the Mantra and other four are just a complement, describing the qualities of Mantra itself. Shwetamberas believe that all 9 lines constitute the main formal Mantra. There are also some other differences as well, regarding pronunciation of certain words in the Mantra, however they are more complicated.
Their are other differences as well, but they are minor and sometimes more complicated. I guess, points mentioned above suffice.
The name of Vardhman Mahavira's daughter was "PRIYADARSHANA"
What area of the world practices Jainism?
There is no country which follow Jainism as the religion of nation.
However, one may found people of Jain religion in every country on the Earth.
South India
In what countries is Jainism practiced today?
Apart from India, historians have found evidences of Jainism traditionally being practiced as far west as Middle East and north in Turkmenistan. The decline of Jainism came with Islamic conquests and conversions. At present the only followers left are Indians.
Why is Jainism rather unpopular?
Jainism requires a lot of self sacrifice and effort. However, it depends on which sect of Jainism you wish to follow. jainism itself preaches giving utmost care to all living beings and being the best you can be- considering your fellow beings. Though people may not intentionally make people sad or hurt other's feelings, it happens. We are normal human beings who cannot always restrain ourselves to the limitations of Jainism. People who can control themselves practise it, but are very few. If you care to research the principles or beliefs of Jainism you will notice the harsh things they tell the people who practise it to do. (No offense to Jainism or its followers)
Mahavira was the 24th and last was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.
What clothes do Jainism people wear?
there are not so special clothing for jainism but when you enter the temple you should not wear any leather clothing and those who touch the statues performe the abhishek have to wear special clothes provided by the temple authority
How do jainism and Buddhism differ?
Islam teaches us to believe in the oneness of Allah and not to associate any partner with Him. Islam also teaches to believe in all the prophets, angels and all the books given to these prophets.
What are the two sects of jainism?
Answer: Swetamber means even if you were cloth and still you can be enlightenment . Digmber means, only person without cloth can be enlighten. Both is wrong . In order get final knowledge you have to be without any attachment cold Digmber stage. If there is only one Mahavir how so many different belief. In reality Mahavir is name of our soul. It is all mythology because mother call Trishla( Mind, Speech and Body becomes one or pure ). All religions are mythology.
What do the jainism monks eat?
pure vegetarian.They even not eat after sunset they do not eat potato,onion.garlic,etc which grows from under the soil.They drink boil water because they believe that by boiling that the bacteria destroy but without boiling huge number of bacteria born and died
Jainism was founded by Vardhamana, or otherwise known as Mahavira, in 6th century BC. He founded Jainism in India. He apparently founded Jainism as a response to the Verdic Religion, which required animal sacrifices. Jainism main belief is non-injury to all living organisms, or ahimsa. There is not a main god that created everything, but there are minor gods for different parts of life.