Jainism: The Religion

1. Jainism: The Religion • Jainism is an ascetic religion of India that teaches the immortality and pilgrimage of the soul, denies the existence of a supreme being and emphasizes the art of non-violence.

2. JAINISM • Response to Hinduism and rejection of castes system • “Founder”—Mahavira or the last of 23 founders • Tirthankaras—“ford builders” or “crossing builders”

3. Tirthankaras—“ford builders” or “crossing builders”

4. Origins of Jainism • The exact place where Jainism started is not confirmed, but India is most commonly referred to as the place of origin. • Jainism, as a religion, was, at various times, found all over South Asia including Sri Lanka and what are now Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Afghanistan. • Jainism started out in the sixth century B.C as a protest against the overdeveloped rituals of Hinduism. The actual date is still questioned, but it is believed that it started no earlier than 850 B.C (7th-5th Century B.C).

5. Jainism • Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live lives of harmlessness and renunciation • The essence of Jainism is concern for the welfare of every being in the universe and for the health of the universe itself

6. History of Jainism • Jainism doesn't have a single founder • Religious truth has been revealed at different times by a tirthankara, which means a teacher who “shows the way”. • Other religions call such a person a 'prophet'. • As great omniscient teachers, tirthankaras accomplished moksha and then teach others how to achieve it.

7. The founders of Jainism 24 Tirthankaras(“ford maker”): great teachers • Going back countless thousands of years before recorded history • Mahavira(“great hero”) – the 24th and final Tirthankara – reformer of ancient Jainism • Nataputta Vardhamana • Lived 599 - 527 BCE in northeast India • 30 years as student (never married) • 12 years as ascetic renunciant • 30 years as spiritual teacher (tirthankara)

8. Tirthankaras appears in the world to teach the way to moksha, or liberation. not an incarnation of the God. great omniscient teachers who lived at various times in man's cultural history. accomplished the highest spiritual goal of existence Each new tirthankara preaches the same basic Jain philosophy 24 tirthankaras during this present age Svetambara Jains believe that tirthankaras can be men or women, but Digamber Jains believe that women can't be tirthankaras

9. Tirthankaras Parshva: four of the five Jain principles Mahavira Not the founder of Jainism world's most recent tirthankara (and will be the last one in this age). born as Vardhamana in north east India in 599 BCE a prince, the son of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala live the life of an ascetic, or a sadhana extremely long, arduous periods of fasting and meditation. attained Kevalnyan, enlightenment taught the path he had discovered to other seekers. Mahavira added the principle of chastity established a community of 14,000 monks and 36,000 nuns before he died.

10. Jainism: Tirthankaras In what Jains call the 'present age' there have been 24 tirthankaras - although there is little evidence for the existence of most of these. A tirthankara appears in the world to teach the way to moksha, or liberation. One such tirthankara was Mahavira (599-527BCE), regarded as the man who gave Jainism its present form

11. Jainism History Jainism: • founded by Mahavira in the sixth century BCE • contains elements of Hinduism and Buddhism • practice non-violence or non-injury

12. Mahavira

13. Mahavira ca. 599-527 BCE • Parallels Buddha’s life • Family wealth vs. poverty • Joined ascetics • Became far more extreme • Ahimsa yields true release • Ahimsa produces Jina (release from this life or conqueror over attachment, hence the name Jain)

14. Jainism: Early life of Mahavira Mahavira was originally born as Vardhamana in north east India He was a prince, thus a member of the kshatriya (warrior) caste When Prince Vardhamana turned 30, not long after the death of both his parents, he left the royal palace to live the life of an ascetic, (one who renounces all worldly pleasures and comforts)

15. BACKGROUND • At age 30, Mahavira renounced all his wealth, property, wife, family, pleasures • Fasted 2 days without water • Took off clothes except for a cloth around his shoulder • Tore out hair in 5 handfuls • Vowed to neglect his body and suffer all pain • Eventually gave up his cloth too (gave it to someone else who needed it)

16. “Neglecting his body,the venerable ascetic Mahavira meditated on his self,in blameless lodgings and wandering,in restraint, kindness, avoidance of sinful influence,chaste life, in patience, freedom from passion, contentment;practicing control, circumspectness, religious postures and acts;walking the path of nirvana and liberation,which is the fruit of good conduct.Living thus he with equanimity bore,endured, sustained, and suffered all calamitiesarising from divine powers, men, and animals,with undisturbed and unafflicted mind,careful of body, speech, and mind.” • (Acharanga Sutra)

17. Mahavira as an ascetic He spent twelve and a half years subjecting himself to extremely long, arduous periods of fasting and meditation- and he attained enlightenment (perfect absolute knowledge) Therefore was later called Mahavira (the name is from maha, great, and vira, hero) He had become a jina- spiritual conqueror

18. Mahavira as teacher From that day forward Mahavira taught the path he had discovered to other seekers After a final period of intensive fasting he attained nirvana (absolute bliss), and the Moksha (release from samsara) Mahavira added the principle of chastity to make the Five Jain principles (no violence, no lying, no stealing, no possessions)

19. PARSVA • 23rd Tirthankara • 9th C, BCE

20. MAHAVIRA AND PARSVA • Once Mahavira recognized as Tirthankara, probably inherited Parsva’s followers

21. Key Figures in Jainism Left: Mahavira picture Top: Mahavira statue Right: Mahavira on LionThrone Above: Rock image of 24 Tirthankaras

22. Key Figures of Jainism • Vardhamana Mahavira is the most important figure in Jainism as he was the last in line of the Tirthankaras. • He was born in 599 B.C. and died in 527 B.C. His birthplace was Kundalpur, India. • His life and teachings were dedicated to the art of ahimsa or non-violence, which is the central belief of Jainism. • He grew up in India where Hinduism was the dominant religion. He accepted the aspects of Hinduism, but felt that some changes needed to be made. • It was he who built up the Jain Church and laid such a firm foundation for it that it has existed almost unchanged for more than twenty-five centuries.

23. Jainism

24. Jainism • There are about 4 million Jains today, most of them “lay people” • Historians consider Jainism to have been founded by Mahavira (599-527 BCE) as a reaction to the conservative Brahminism of the 6th-century BCE • In general, they do NOT accept the Hindu Scriptures or rituals, but they do share a belief in the transmigration of souls • The most obvious characteristic of them is their devotion to the principle of ahimsa, or non-injury • monks wear a veil • even lay people forbidden to drink after sunset

25. Jainism (cont.) • Jains are followers of the Jinas, or “tirthankaras” (the ford-makers, who reveal the path to moksha) • They believe 24 tirthankaras appear in every half cycle • Mahavira is the 24th tirthankara in this cycle • A contemporary of Buddha, Mahavira renounced the world at the age of 30, and after 12 years as a wandering ascetic achieved enlightenment • He then converted 12 disciples who structure his teachings into the Jain Scriptures • He died in meditation and became a liberated soul

26. What is Jainism? • At least 2500+ years old • Followed by 3 - 4 million people mostly in India • Life affirming but world-denying • Seeks to release the soul from the round of rebirth, to liberate spirit from matter • Ahimsa – non-violence – is the hallmark of this spiritual discipline • No creator god • Spiritual life is primarily moral rather than ritualistic

27. What is Jainism? Living • Jains are followers of JINA, the conqueror of inner enemies. • These inner enemies (Kashay) are anger(Krodh), greed(lobh), ego(man) and deceit(maya). • These arise out of attachment(rag): leading to greed and pride and aversion(dvesh): leading to deceit and anger. • Jainism is a religion of self-help: with out any outside agency - even god coming to the rescue of the soul. The soul is its own destroyer or liberator.

28. Jainism: Key Beliefs • Ahimsa - The central Jain belief is an agreement to avoid physical violence and conduct that can be mentally and emotionally damaging to oneself or others. It also involves commitment to all life forms on earth and not engaging in practices which may bring harm. • Karma –the belief that for every action, there is a consequence. • Reincarnation –One’s soul that is reborn into different bodies over the course of many lives. • Proper Conduct - Jains are encouraged to make a vow to conduct themselves according to the following principles: 1) Non-violence (ahimsa) 2) Truthfulness 3) Non- Stealing 4) Celibacy 5) Non-possession

29. Jainism: Key Beliefs • Moksha - Results in the elimination of the effects of karma in one’s life (achieved through meditation) • Atomism - Jains believe that every living thing on the planet possesses a soul or “Jiva”. They also believe that people are bound to act more compassionately if they acknowledge that everything is composed of a spirit or soul. • No absolutes - No perspective of any person is wrong, despite the fact that different perspectives have different effects on the specific situation.

30. TEACHINGS OF JAINISM • Reincarnation—until one finally breaks the cycle • Karma is the glue that sticks you to life • Reduce involvement and one reduces karma • Dualism: Jiva=soul=good, pure, eternal Ajiva=matter=bad, impure, temporal • Asceticism cleanses the soul of the karma • Salvation comes from ones work at release • God, prayers, rituals, etc. aren’t necessary

31. Major Tenets Everything is eternal; there is no all-powerful “God” that has created the world. When a living being dies, it is reincarnated. All living beings have souls. The 3 gems. Reverence for the deities (Siddhas, Jinas, and the 24 Tirthankaras). Vegetarianism, or Fruitarianism. The great vows, the Mahavrats.

32. Jain Beliefs: Karma & Reincarnation • Karma: impurity of the soul that keeps the soul bound to the cycle of rebirth into matter • Karma is built-up through actions in this world: thoughts, words, deeds, attitudes • Reduce and eliminate karma so as to achieve moksha (nirvana)– release of the soul from the cycles of rebirth How are we to do this?…

33. Reincarnation • As soon as a person (or any living being) dies, his or her soul is immediately reborn in another life form. • If one’s spirituality is such that it should require punishment, a person may be required to spend time in one of seven hells. • Unlike most views of hell, each stage of hell becomes increasingly colder. One’s stay in hell is not eternal; once the punishment is sufficient, a person’s soul will be reborn into another life form. • If people can escape all karma (good and bad), they will be reborn as a Siddhas, or liberated souls, in the highest level of heaven, where they will be eternally happy and separate from the world.

34. Karma • Karma is the natural moral law of the universe, in which every good or bad action has a corresponding effect on the person doing that action. • According to Jainism there are 2 types of Karma . Ghati (destructive) and Aghati (non-destructive), each containing several sub-categories. • The goal of Jainism is to liberate one’s soul, to become a Jina (spiritual victor). To become a Jina, one must escape Karma by leading an ascetic and intrinsically pure life.

35. Jain Beliefs: Karma Karma is the mechanism that determines the quality of life The happiness during a being's present life is the result of the moral quality of the actions of the being in its previous life A soul can only achieve liberation by getting rid of all the karma attached to it

36. Jain Beliefs: Karma The Jain idea of karma is much more elaborate and mechanistic than that found in some other Indian religions Karma is a physical substance- think floating dust which sticks to the soul, or as types of atomic particle which are attracted to the soul as a result of our actions, words and thoughts

37. Jain Beliefs: Karma On their own, karma particles have no effect but when they stick to a soul they affect the life of that soul We attract karma particles when we do or think or say things, if we kill something, when we tell a lie, when we steal and so on The accumulation of karma causes us to have bad thoughts and actions, these bad actions attract more karma, and so on.

38. Avoiding and Removing Karma Karma can be avoided in two ways 1. By behaving well - so no karma is attracted 2. By having the right mental state - so that even if an action attracts karma, the correct mental attitude of the being means that karma either doesn't stick to that soul The karma that has built up on the soul can be removed by living life according to the Jain vows.

39. What is Jain Activity? Any activity of body, Speech or Mind that helps us 1. Develop disinterest in satisfying the desires of our five senses (control over passions) 2. Eliminate anger, ego, deceit, greed (Kashay) within our selves 3. Develop a vision to look for only good in others and completely ignore bad in others. -Acharya Haribhadrasuriji (700-770AD) in ‘Darshanshastra’

40. Key Practices and Rituals • Meditation (samayika) - the process of eliminating self-centered thinking and becoming united with the spirit that governs the universe • Mantras - the Five Homages (panka namaskarais) are recited on a daily basis, usually in the morning; another mantra called ahimsa vikas, helps Jains to pursue a life without violence. • Worship - takes place at stone temples or at wooden shrines near the house which resemble the temple itself. • Fasting - occurs at mostly festivals and holy days such as Paryushana and Mauna Agyaras

41. Meditations & Mantras • Meditation (samayika) is an integral part of Jainism. During meditation and worship, Jains often recite mantras or prayers. • The most fundamental of the Jain mantras is the Navkar Mantra.

42. The Navkar Mantra • Namo Arihantanum: I bow down to Arihanta • Namo Siddhanam: I bow down to Siddha • Namo Ayariyanam: I bow down to Acharya • Namo Uvajjhayanam: I bow down to Upadhyaya • Namo Loe Savva-sahunam: I bow down to Sadhu & Sadhvi. • Eso Panch Namokaro: These five bowing downs, • Savva-pavappanasano: Destroy all the sins, • Manglanach Savvesim: Amongst all that is auspicious, • Padhamam Havei Mangalam: This Navkar Mantra is the foremost.

43. Key Practices and Rituals • Small brooms are carried to sweep insects away from their path • Jain nuns and monks do not accept food that is not cooked by themselves, they do not physically touch people of the opposite sex, and they wear simple white clothes or even nothing at all. • A disciplined life is expected from all believers of Jainism, not only the monks or the nuns • Sacred Rituals - performed at the temple • These are some of the rituals: Puja Samayik Namokar Mantra

44. Birth • There are a few simple ritual that are performed after the birth of a child • Priyodhbhav Sanskar: ten days of cleansing, during which no rituals are performed, but mantras may be chanted by the priests and offerings received for the child at a temple. • Namkaranan Sanskar: the ritual of naming the child, performed on the 11th, 13th, or 29th after birth. The name for a boy is selected from the 1008 Jinasahasranam, and for girls chosen from the names of the woman in the Puranas.

45. Rites of Passage/Puberty Rites • The rites of passage/puberty rites (concerning the laity) that Jains practice are not strictly practices of Jainism. • Rather they are often the local Hindu customs. • These customs are acceptable as long as the do not violate the ethics of Jainism.

46. Baptism • The Jains do not practice baptism. However, they do have rules that must be followed when using water. • Water should be filtered before use to prevent harm to living creatures that may be in the water • Some stricter (more spiritual) Jains do not bathe and only use water as necessary

47. Marriage Rituals • Marriage is considered a social contract, not a religious practice. The wedding ceremony may be simple or very elaborate. • The rituals performed around the time of marriage vary from one community to another, but are numerous and may include some of the following:

48. Marriage Rituals • Pre-Wedding - • Vagdana: Parents declare intended marriage • Laghana Lekhan: marriage negotiation finalized • Sagai and Lagna Patrika Vachan: engagement ceremonies/rituals • Matruka and Kulkar Sthapan: gods and goddesses are invoked to bless the couple • Wedding Ceremony – • Ghudhchadi: groom’s ritual on the day before the wedding • Vara Ghoda: the groom’s procession to the wedding • Torana Vidhi: welcoming ceremony at the wedding • Paraspara Mukh Avalokana: bride and groom look at each other

49. Marriage Rituals • Hasta Melap: joining ceremony, priest’s words to the couple • Toran Pratishtha: the goddess Lakshmi is honored • Vedi Pratishtha: the gods of Kshetras are honored • Agni Sthapan: sacred fire ritual; offerings to the fire god • Abisheka: couple’s heads are anointed with water • Gotrachar: lineages of the couple are pronounced • Granthi Bandhan: ceremonial tying of the couple together • Agni Pradakshina: the couple circles the sacred fire four times while reciting a different mantra each time around • Kanyadaan: before the last stage of Agni Pradakshina, the father presents the bride to the groom

50. Marriage Rituals • Vakshepa: “Lord Adinath was married with this ceremony…” • Second Abisheka: priest wishes the couple well • Kar-mochan: couple are released, ceremony is ended • Post Wedding – • Ashirvada: the elders bless the couple • Reception: wedding feast • Sva Graha Aagamana: bride goes to her new home. • Jina Grahe Dhan Arpana: alms are given at a Jain temple in thankfulness to the gods