Jainism in India || UPSC

Tirthankaras and Mahavir Swami: 

In Jainism, tirthankara is a saviour and spiritual leader of dharma. After the true understanding of the self, the tirthankar attains the Keval Jnana(gyan). He provides a bridge for other to follow the new teacher from sansar to moksha. Jainism postulates that time has no end or beginning. The wheel of time is divided into 2 halves, Utsarpini or ascending time cycle and the avasarpini, the descending time cycle. In each half of the cosmic cycle, exactly 24 tirthankaras grace this universe. The first in present cycle was Rishabnatha. History records existence of Mahavira (24th) and his predecessor Parshavanath. 5 auspicious events mark the life of each tirthankaras. Fourteen Purvas is the earliest holy book of Jainism.  During the famine, Bhadrabahu migrated to south and remained unclad forming Digamabaras. Whereas those stayed back covered their bodies and founded Swetambaras under Sthulabhadra.  Samadhi Maran, Sallekhana and Sanyasa Maran are the vows prescribed by Jain ethical code of conduct. 

Tirthankar	Symbol
Rishabdev( First Tirthankar)	Bull
Parshavnath (23rd Tirthankar)	Snake
Mahavir	Lion.

Mahavir Swami : 

Mahavir Swami | Image via Wikimedia Commons

Mahavir Swami was born into royal kshatriya family of King Siddharth and Queen Trishala, of the Ikshvahu dynasty at Kundagram, ancient town near Vaishali. Queen Trishala was a Licchavi princess and was related to Magadha Royal family. His first disciples were 11 brahmins called 11 Ganadharas. Gautam was their chief. They were responsible for remembering and verbally transmitting the teachings of Mahavira after his death , which came to be known as Gani Pidaga or Jain Agamas. He attained nirvana at Pawapuri in modern day Bihar. Mahavira taught the doctrine of multi-sided reality now known as Anekantavada or Anekantatva. According to Mahavira, truth and reality are complex and always have multiple aspects. Reality can be experienced but it is not possible to express it completely with language. Jamali, his son in law, was his first disciple. Makkhali Gosala, founder of Ajivika sect, was his disciple initially but left due to difference of opinion.

Jain Literature : 

Mainly consists of Jain Agamas and various commentaries on them by Jain monks. It is mainly divided between Digambara and Svetambara literature. Tattvartha Sutra is the only text authoritative in both Digambara and Svetambara sects. 

• Agamas : Texts of Jainism based on the discourses of Tirthankaras, delivered in a divine preaching hall. These discourses recorded by Ganadharas(chief disciples), is called Sruta Jnana,  and is composed of 12 Angas(departments; one is lost). It is generally represented by a tree with 12 branches. According to Jains, the canonical literature originated from the first tirthankara, Rishabdev. These also include 14 Purvas. Purvas are large body of Jain scripture that were preached by all Tirthankaras encompassing an entire gamut of knowledge. The persons having the knowledge of these purvas were given the status of Shrutakevali or scripturally omniscient persons. They were one step away from attaining enlightenment or Keval Jnana. Both the Jain Tradition, Digambaras and Svetambaras, hold that all 14 purvas have been lost. According to tradition, Purvas were part of Canonical literature and deposited in the 3rd section of Drstivada(12th and last canon). Eventually, whole of Drstivada disappeared. The earliest versions of the Agamas were written in Prakrit. Acharanga Sutra is first of the 12 Angas. The other  Angas are Sutrakritanga, Sthananga, Samavayanga, Bhagwati sutra, Jnatrdharmakathah, Upasakadasah, Antakrddaasah, Anuttaraupapatikadasah, Prasnavyakaranani, Vipakasruta and Drstivada(now extinct). 
• Digambara Literature: 2 main texts, 3 commentaries on the main texts and 4 Anuyogas(expositions) consisting of more than 20 texts are followed. Shatkhandagama - literally meaning Scripture in six parts, is the oldest Digambara sacred text. It has been given the status of Agama. Two acharya- Pushpadanta and Bhutabali wrote it. Some other texts were Kasay-pahud, Gommatsara etc.

Important Topics of Jainism : 

• Syadvada and Nayavada : According to Jainism, there are not merely the 2 possibilities of existence  and non-existence, but seven. This system of seven aspects of predication is known as Syadvada- the doctrine of maybe. In addition, Jainism had another seven fold system of predication known as  Nayavada, the theory of standpoints, or ways of approaching an object of observation or study. 
• Ambika devi  is the Yaksi/dedicated attendant deity of the 22nd Tirthanakar, Neminath. 
• Mangi Tungi Hills : twin peaks with a plateau in between in Nasik, Maharastra and considered sacred in Jainism. It enshrines images of Tirthanakras in several postures. It is described as Siddha Kshetra, meaning gateway to the state of enlightenment. There are numerous caves named after the  Tirthankaras. In 2016, The Statue of Ahimsa, 108 ft idol of  first Tirthankar Rishabdev was consecrated here.  It is the tallest Jain idol in the world. 
• Ethics of Jainism : Jain ethical Code prescribes two dharmas or code of conduct. One for those who want to become ascetic and other for the sravaka(households). Five fundamental vows are prescribed for both the votaries. These vows are observed by sravakas(households) partially and are termed as anuvrata(small vows). Ascetics observe these vows strictly. The five vows are ahimsa, satya, asteya(non stealing) , brahmacharya and aparigraha(non possession). Apart from the five main vows, a householder is expected to observe 7 supplementary vows and last Sallekhana/Santhara/Samadhi-marana vow. The seven supplementary vows include 3 Guna Vrata  and 4 Siksa vratas. 
• Pratikramana : is a ritual during which Jains repent for their sins or non meritorious activities committed unknowingly during their daily life through thought, speech or action. 
• Siddhachakra : is a popular yantra/mandala(mystical diagram) used for worship in Jainism. It is also known as Navapada in Svetambara Tradition and Navadevta in Digambar tradition. In Svetambar tradition, it is associated with the Namokar mantra. 
• Kalpasutra is a Jain text containing the biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras, especially Parshvanath and Mahavir Swami. Traditionally ascribed to Bhadrabahu, around 4th century BC. 
• Gunasthana :are the 14 stages of spiritual development and growth through a soul gradually passes before it attains moksha.
• Sects of Jainism :   Mainly divided into two major school of thoughts - Digambaras and Svetambaras. They are further divided into several sects and tradition. But the core philosophy and main principles of each sect remains the same. Some of the important monastic order of Digambarsa are Mula Sangh, Kashtha Sangh, Taran Panth, Bispanthi, Kanji Panth and Digambar Terepanth. Some of the sub sects of Svetambaras are Sthanakavasi and Murtipujaka. Yapaniya was Jain monastic order in Western Karnataka which is extinct now.