The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. Jains believe their religion is eternal and hold that it was revealed in stages by a number of conquerors, of whom mahavira was the 24th. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. It was founded as a reaction against the vedic religion, which required animal sacrifices. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma. What science and religion tell us about the story of the universe and our place in it, eds. Jainworld is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of jain tradition of wisdom, compassion, equality, brotherhood, universal wellbeing and spirituality. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. In a conference held at vallabhi, gujarat, shvetambara books aagams were finally compiled and it was decided to write them down. The puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. Ncert texts are a must read for every upsc aspirant and are available for free download from ncert. List of world religions and founders, religious books. The motive and purpose of jain worship is very different from worship in many other religions in fact it would seem that jain principles make worship both unnecessary and futile.
Outside india, little is known of jainism, one of the oldest religions in. 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. The jain path of purification was, in addition to the previous work, one of the very first books of its kind to be authored by a jain for the education of those unfamiliar with the jain worldview and way of life. Translated from the prakrit by hermann jacobi, 1884 from. Jaina tradition teaches that a succession of 24 tirthankaras saints originated the religion. Jainism s core belief is ahimsa, or noninjury to all living things. Jainism is an ancient religion from india that teaches way to liberation by living the lives of harmlessness and renunciation. I pay homage to the arihants ones who have conquered their inner enemiesi pay homage to the siddhas liberated onesi pay homage to those acharyas who head the orderi pay homage to those upadhyays who teach the messagei pay homage to all sadhus monksseekersthese five acts of homage can wash away all sinof all that is auspiciousthis is the foremost.
For this reason the holy books are also called sruta as heard. The jain literature which was complied by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. 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. The holy book of jains the kalpa sutra is the holy book of the of jainism religion. 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. Appears in 6 books from 19521999 page 221 but apart from the posssibility of a relapse, it would be impossible to go through all the 14 stages one after the other because a direct transition from the first stage to the second is out of question and the llth stage is not directly passed before the 12th to the 14th.
Jainism is regarded as an independent religion of india. As a matter of fact, the standard of philosophy, which the arhat religion commands, is clearly manifested, albeit some changes, in the vedas, upanishads, mahabharat and the puranas. The first sacred books of the jaina are in prakrit or ardhamagdhi language. Bibliography jainism religion yale forum on religion. The present book is one of the best and stimulating books ever written by scholars on jainism. Matthews, mary evelyn tucker, and philip hefner, 283292. Shah jain study center of north carolina raleigh 401 farmstead drive, cary nc 275115631 9194690956 and fax email. Birthed jainism, buddhism and sikhism derived from name applied by foreigners to people living in indus river region. Jaina canon, the sacred texts of jainism, a religion of india, whose authenticity is disputed between sects. It explores their history and relates how the vedic period in the history of hinduism drew to a close around the sixth century bce and how its gradual etiolation gave rise to a number of religious movements.
Instead they have a body of holy writings or scriptures. Jain monks and nuns are now permitted to possess religious books, so the jain scriptures should no longer be in danger. These texts are collectively known as agams, the sacred books of the jain religion. They were given their written form in the 5th century at vallabhi, in gujarat. Universe runs own its own accord by its own cosmic laws. These are said to be based on the discourse of the tirthankara, delivered in a samavasarana divine. So he could be called a reformer of the jain religion or rejunevator of the faith which was already and had a long tradition. In india, they share this feature with the buddhists.
Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it has many books complied by many followers. In jainism, godliness is said to be the inherent quality of every soul. Jainism vardhamana mahavira ancient indian history notes for upsc vardhana mahavira was the 24th tirthankara a great teacher and is said to have propounded jainism. Hindus are in a similar position, even though they have the vedas, which can be considered the ultimate source of teaching. Many jains worship at temple everyday, while others do so much less frequently. The most momentous event, which occurred about 80 a. 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. They are humans who achieve enlightenment via asceticism. Books on hinduism, buddhism, jainism,and spiritualism. The tenets of jainism and facts about mahavira are important for ias exam as it makes significant part of indian ancient history and indian culture. Buy cheap jainism books online jainism book rentals. Online shopping for jainism other religions from a great selection at books store.
The first of these was rishabhanatha, who according to. Jainism is transtheistic, and jains trace their spiritual ideas and history through a succession of twentyfour leaders or tirthankaras. In this article, we will be dealing with the important points filtered out from ncert school text for standard 6 history. It is perhaps the most comprehensive and concise book of its kind, and few books on jainism are as.
Jains commonly use the words siddhanta and agama, which are panindian terms. Collection of complete texts by jain scholars from around the globe. Collectively these texts are called jain canonical or agam literature. These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion. Jainism worship the motive and purpose of jain worship is very different from worship in many other religions in fact it would seem that jain principles make worship both unnecessary and futile. The essence of jainism is concern for the welfare of every being in the universe and for the health of universe itself. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. There is a recorded history of jainism since about 30003500 bc. The kalpa sutra recalls the birth, life, and journey toward nirvana of. Because of their belief in the need to overcome attachment, it is a central tenet of each of jainism s denominations that women must be reincarnated as men or transmigrate into male bodies in order to experience spiritual liberation and get off the wheel of rebirth. History, society, philosophy and practice agustin paniker on. Also the religious books and scriptures were considered possessions and attachments for. The split did not incur doctrinal or moral differences but only.
The jaina agamas or scriptures are the works of the immediate disciples of mahavira. Jain beliefs fundamental beliefs of jainism the soul is bounded by karma from the beginning of time. Jainism rejects the idea of a creator deity responsible for the. Older children can read by themselves while younger children will enjoy listening to the books being read aloud. Jain holy books contain the preaching of tirthankaras. These fortyfive are shvetamabara moortipoojak sacred books. List of books and articles about jainism online research. Jains do not believe in a god or gods in the way that many other religions do, but they do believe in divine or at least perfect beings who are worthy of devotion. It is read in the eight day long festival called paryushan posted by chris, emily, and kelly at. Jainisms core belief is ahimsa, or noninjury to all living things. Almost every upsc topper has repeated the importance of reading ncert school texts. Jains are strict vegetarians and live in a way that minimises their use of worlds. Part 1 topics include shree simandhar bhagwan, saat tattva sambandhi bhul, lakshan ane lakshanabash, panchma gunustanvarti shravak ni 11 pratimao, sukh shu che, panch bhavo, char abhav, panch pandavo, bhavna batrisi. In these books there are lucid descriptions on the birth of jainism.
Antiquity of jainism professor mahavir saran jain lord mahavira is not the founder of jainism. Lord mahavir, popularly regarded as the founder of jainism, was the last of the tirthankars who flourished from 599 to 527 b. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira. 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. The word canon for the jain holy writings is increasingly felt to be inadequate, for it implies an unchanging body of texts sanctioned by a central authority. A glance at its contents will reveal the fact that glasenapp has covered almost all the salient features of jainism. The reason is very simple, this book consists of a biography of lord mahavira in detail, and the lives of the other prophets tirthankaras. World religions study guide midterm flashcards quizlet. 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.
Introduction to jainism, theory of karma, the six dravyas and more. The history of jainism after lord mahavira is recorded in the jaina literature preserved in various indian languages. The upanishads are also called as vedantas or the end of the vedas. The prophetic record of human destiny and evolution sacred wisdom 12 oct 2015. All swetambar jains believe that the proper meaning and the original intent of the.
Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that characterises their faith. The most popular category of hindu holy booksmostly utilized and revered by the masses or laitywould be the. 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. Plus two more books the nandisutra and the anuyoga dwar. The books are illustrated with colour photographs and pictures, and use simple language and ideas to help children understand. Rather, there are many religious texts the most wellknown of which are the agams that include transcriptions of the oral history provided to us by tirthankars and jain teachers, as well as scholarly commentary on the interpretation of the religion. Jains worship in temples which contain images of the 24 tirthankaras. All the substances change or modify their forms continuously. Bc as protests against the overdeveloped ritualism of hinduism, particularly its sacrificial cults, and the authority of the veda. Ultimate goal of life is eternal release from karma. Jains believe that jainism is an eternal dharma with the tirthankaras guiding every cycle of jain cosmology.
Jainism believes that universe and all its substances or entities are eternal. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. Jainism differs from many religions in that there is no one scripture or holy book that is central to our faith. Jainism, ajivika, and buddhism arose in the 6th cent.
The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. Mar 20, 2017 the book shows how buddhism and jainism share the basic concepts of karma, rebirth, and liberation with hinduism while giving them their own hue, and how they differ from the hindu tradition in their understanding of the role of the vedas, the caste system, and ritualism in religious life. In the following pages you will find exceptionally good books on hinduism, buddhism, jainism, sikhism, saivism, tantrism, yoga, upanishads.
Followers of jainism are called jains, a word derived from the sanskrit word jina, meaning victor. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. 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. However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa. Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore. Approximately how many adherents does the textbook claim jainism has. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. Selected brief writings covering topics of interest.
The progression is seen as one of decreasing sinfulness and increasing purity, which frees the individual from the bonds of karma merit and demerit and the cycle of rebirths. Jain books, jain literature, jain shastras in english. Jain theism concept of god in jainism harvard university. These are texts which help to build the fundamentals. This volume focuses on buddhism and jainism, two religions which, together with hinduism, constitute the three pillars of indic religious tradition in its classical formulation. The books are for children between the ages of around five to eleven. The main disciples of tirthankaras used to hear and memorise the divine preaching. Start studying world religions study guide midterm. This quality, however, is subdued by the souls association with karmic matter.