The holy texts frequently feature in religious ceremonies. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira. Jainism and hinduism have many similar characteristic features, including the concepts of samsara, karma and moksha. Notes on modern jainism, with special reference to the. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents.
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. The jainism has its own scriptures called agamas or srutas, which are directly derived from the tirthankaras. Written in the twelfth century by the polymath hemacandra, it was instrumental in the survival and growth of jainism in india as well as in the spreading of sanskrit culture within jaina circles. The svetambara ascetic is allowed to have fourteen possessions including loincloth, shouldercloth, etc. A handbook on the three jewels of jainism the yogasastra of. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras.
Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. The religion states that the tirthankara taught in a divine preaching hall called. What is the difference between svetambara and digambara in jainism. While you likely know a little about hinduism and buddhism, each having over a billion followers, you. However, they differ over the precise nature and meaning of these concepts. Remember that this is the oldest religion on earth, therefore none of it is just wrong. The monks and nuns memorize these writings as they are not allowed to possess books under the principle of nonpossessiveness.
Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. In accordance with their practice of nonviolence, the monks also use a peacockfeather duster to clear their path of insects to. Some historians believe there was no clear division until the 5th century. The indian religion of jainism, whose central tenet involves nonviolence to all creatures, is one of the worlds oldest and leastunderstood faiths. Jainism became prominent religion in india at the time of mahavira, who was born in about 599 b. Although this symbol was misused by the nazis of germany in the last century, the original jain symbol signifies peace and wellbeing. Mahaviras disciples compiled his words into texts or sutras, and memorized them to pass on to future generations. The jain literature which was compiled by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. Vardhamana was the younger son of siddhartha a nobleman who belonged to the kshatriya race, called in sanskrit jnati or jnata, in prakrit naya, and, according to. The jain swastika appears in all temples and holy books, and during ceremonies, a swastika is created using rice. There are two main sects in jainism svetambara and digambara. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion. Jain literature is primarily divided between digambara literature and svetambara literature.
For the svetambara sect, as for all jains, the jinas are the ultimate source of teaching. Notes on modern jainism, with special reference to the svetambara, digambara and sthanakavasi sects sinclair stevenson on. Digambaras reject the authority of the agamas compiled at valabhi. Jaina canon, the sacred texts of jainism, a religion of india, whose authenticity is disputed between sects. The existing svetambara texts are based on the vallabhi council texts. Jainworld is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of jain tradition of wisdom, compassion, equality, brotherhood, universal wellbeing and spirituality. May 22, 2019 jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible.
These are further divided into different subsects and traditions. Ultimate goal of life is eternal release from karma. The religion states that the tirthankara taught in a divine preaching hall called samavasarana, which were heard by the gods, the ascetics and laypersons. What is called as hinduism or sanatana dharma, islam, christianity, sikhism, buddhism, jainism are the known. A liberated soul in jainism is one who has gone beyond sa. As a consequence they emit the divine sound divyadhvani which is the ultimate source. Each of these sects is also divided into subgroups. Tattvartha sutra is the probably the most authoritative text in jainism, accepted by bothsvetambara and digambara. Jain libraries, including the svetambara collections at patan, gujarat and. Most religions have sets of holy writings that lay out key principles and offer guidance and examples to believers, and jainism is no exception. Jains are recognised by their symbol which is the swastika. The jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it has many books complied by many followers. Scripture is the synonym of the holy text, which consists of religious dogmas, and. On divali parents will often give sweets to their children, and lamps are lit all over india.
Full text of yoga sastra of hemacandra a 12 century hand book of svetambara jainism olle quarnstrom university of harvard 60. What is the source of authority in the jain religion. Digambara holds the opinion that original texts of jainism were lost ago. The fact that the digambara and the svetambara traditions agree on. Svetambara definition is a major jain sect whose members clothe themselves and their sacred images in white and in contrast to the digambaras assert that women can attain salvation. Svetambara believes that they have the original jain scriptures. The patrons of the works were mainly svetambara jains, who considered the commissioning of illustrated books. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma. Temples sometimes house scriptures in the shape of books, symbols or quotations inscribed on the walls. These texts are collectively known as agams, the sacred books of the jain religion. However, they also accept that their collection is also incomplete. Jainism is an indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twentyfour spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. The indian religion of jainism, whose central tenet involves. The jain literature which was complied by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature.
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 jain holy books are called jinvani and has everything about jainism in it. The word digambara means skyclad, refers to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing nor wearing any clothes. The discourse delivered samavasarana divine preaching hall is called shrut jnana. The texts, transmitted orally by jain monks, are believed to have been largely lost by about the 1st century ce when the remaining were first written down in the svetambara tradition.
The knowledge of shrutajnana, may be of things which are contained in the angas limbs or sacred jain books or of things outside the angas. Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. Jainism considers souls as pluralistic each in a karmasamsara cycle, and does not subscribe to advaitastyle not two nondualism of hinduism, or advayastyle nondualism of buddhism. Despite, both have different views when it comes to scriptures, liberation, dress, the birth of mahavira etc. Even what the scientists are finding now was written in these books years ago. Difference between svetambara and digambara in jainism. The svetambaras believe that they have the original jain scriptures. Holy books and writings of jainism the texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism. 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. Jainism emphasizes that the suffering of rebirth can be brought to an end, and that achieving moksha, or the liberation from that cycle of rebirth, is the best reason to practice jainism.
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. 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. Digambaras and svetambaras do not recognise the same body of scriptures as. The jainism has its own scriptures called agamas or srutas, which are.
Full text of yoga sastra of hemacandra a 12 century hand. The oldest canonical books of jainism, apart from some mythological additions and evident exaggerations, contain the following important notes on the life of their last prophet. Svetambara definition of svetambara by merriamwebster. The surviving versions of the agamas taught by mahavira are some of svetambara jainism s foundation texts, but their authenticity is disputed in digambara jainism. Agamas are texts of jainism based on the discourses of the tirthankara. Preface i would like to extend my sincere gratitude to michael witzel, wales professor of sanskrit at harvard university and esteemed editor of the harvard oriental series, for kindly approving the indian publication of the yoga sastra of hemacandra, a twelfth century handbook on svetambara jainism.
The doctrine of jainism has minor similarities with the nyayavaisheshika and samkhya school. Jainism is one of the three major religions to emerge from india. The most prominent among the classical orders today are the kharatara founded 1024 ce, the tapa gaccha founded 1228 ce and the tristutik gaccha. Agama is a sanskrit word which signifies the coming of a body of doctrine by means of. In india there are 6 widely known religions and many minor religions which are not even known to most people. May 18, 2006 this point is proved by what is said in the following quotes from oldest hindu holy books that jainism existed before vedas were composed. Jains venerate the sacred writings as a whole or as single items in various ways. The kalpa sutra mentions some of the lineages in ancient times. Jain literature comprises jain agamas and subsequent commentaries on them by various jain ascetics. In jainism it has special significance, as on this day in 527 bce according to svetambara tradition that mahavira gave his last teachings and attained ultimate liberation. Jains pay homage to them as holy objects in themselves. Agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism. Broadly, jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, digambara and svetambara.
The jain literature includes both religious texts and books on generally secular topics such as sciences. Sanskrit verse from shivpuran lord rishabhdev jineshwar first tirthankar the omniscient and the all pervasive incarnated himself on the magnificent kailas ashtapad mountain. The svetambara or white clad and the digambara or sky clad. This page provides information about important jain texts. The yogasastra and its voluminous autocommentary, the svopajnavrtti, is the most comprehensive treatise on svetambara jainism. Texts are not ritualized, but religious books do have a ritual role. Sep 02, 2003 the indian religion of jainism, whose central tenet involves nonviolence to all creatures, is one of the worlds oldest and leastunderstood faiths. It is generally believed that the jain sangha divided into two major sects, digambar and svetambar, about 200 years after mahaviras nirvana. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that. The sermons of the tirthankaras are called arthagamas and the sutras written over them are named sutragamas. Dundas looks at jainism in its social and doctrinal context, explaining its history, sects, scriptures and ritual, and describing how the jains have, over 2500 years, defined themselves as a unique religious community. As a consequence they emit the divine sound divyadhvani which is the ultimate. But the digambara ascetic is allowed only two possessions viz. 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.
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