Jainism
There was a time when it was believed that,Jainism was merely a branch of Buddhism. However, it was later on found by the scholars that, Jainism was a seperate religion by itself. The earlier identity between Buddhism and Jainism was due to the fact that,both religions put emphasis on the law of Karma and Ahimsa. Likewise, it was believed that, Mahavira was the founder of Jainism in the same way as Buddha was founder of Buddha.
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| Jain Symbol |
However, it is now recognised that, Mahavira was the 24th tirthankara or prophet of Jainism. The sacred books of Jaina tells us that, the real founder of Jainism was Rishaba, who was succeeded 23 tirthankaras.
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Parsvanath
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| Parshvanath |
Parsvanath was the 23rd tirthankara or prophet. He lived as house holder for thirty years, and then became an ascetic. He was a prince, who was very much loved by the people. He was married to Prabhavati, daughter of the king Naravarman. After deep meditation for 83 days, he attained highest knowledge called-'kevalam'. He had 1,64,000 men and 3,27,000 women as his followers. He died at the age of 100 years. His death took place about 250 years before the death of Mahavira.
Mahavira
Mahavira was the last tirthankara. He was born in the suburb of Vaisali. The name of his father was Siddharta, who was the head of the Kshatriya clan called-'Jantrikas'. Siddharta was married to princess Trishala, sister of Chetaka who was the ruler of Vaisali. The original name of Mahavira was Vardhamana.
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| Lord Mahavira |
According to Kalpasutra, the father of Vardhamana celebrated the occasion of birth of his son on a large scale. The custom taxes were released. The buying and selling prohibited, no police men was allowed to enter houses, big and small fines were removed, debts cancelled, measures and weights increased and all prisoners were set free.
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Vardhaman married Yashoda and a daughter was born to him. His parents died and with the permission of his elder brother, Vardhamana became an ascetic. For 12 long years, he wandered from place to place doing penance. He wandered naked and homeless. People struck him and mocked at him unconcerned.'
But, he continued his meditations. People set dogs on him, bet him with sticks and with their feet, threw stones on him. They disturbed him during his meditation by all sorts of torments. But, like a hero in the forefront of the battle, Mahavira withstood it all. Whether he was wounded or not, he never took medical aid. He never washed, did not bathe and never cleaned his teeth. In winter, he meditated in the shade, in the heat of summer, he sat in the scorching sun. He did not drink water for months. He hardly had any meal and pursued his meditations without craving.
In the thirteenth year he attained Nirvana under a 'sal' tree, near an old temple in the field belonging to a householder named- 'Samaga', on the bank of river 'Rijupalika' outside of the town. He became Arhata, a Jina and a Kevalin.
Teachings Of Mahavira
Mahavira did not believe in the existence of god. He did not believe that, god created and controlled the whole universe. It was all waste of time to recite mantras or perform sacrifice. The three essentials for good life were, right faith, right knowledge and right action. These things were called as 'three jewels' or ratnas.
Mahavira asked his followers to live a life of virtue and morality. Every kind of pain and injury was to be given to the body to realise the truth. Death by starvation was recommended. Even suicide was advocated. Marriages were forbidden and a life of celibacy was prescribed. The followers were asked to discard clothes and go about naked.
Mahavira put great stress on 'Ahimsa'. According to him, not only man and animals, but also plants, wind and fire had a soul. Pain and injury was felt by stones and plants, in the same way as felt by man and animals. It was desirable no injury should be done to animals, birds, plants etc.
The highest goal to be achieved was 'Kevalin'. Without any intention or knowledge, one was bound to commit sins and when sins were committed, re-birth became inevitable. A person could be released from the cycle of re-births only after attaining 'siddha sila'.
According to Mahavira, everybody should try to annihilate 'karma' by practising austerities and throwing out the influx of bad karma. The austerities prescribed by Mahavira were, fasting, gradual abstention from food, begging, giving-up delicious food, of mortification of flesh, study, humility, service etc.
Mahavira was connected with many royal families in one way or the other. The Licchavi prince 'Abhaya' respected Mahavira very much. As a matter of fact, Jainism became the state religion of the Licchavis. Abhayakumar, a son of king Bimbisara was also follower of Mahavira. Mahavira must have received help from the Mallas. It is stated that, Mahavira died in the palace of Shastipala of the Mallas.
According to Jain accounts, a terrible femine visited Magadh at the time of Chandragupta Maurya. A year after the monsoon failed, the result was that, all accumulated stores of grain were consumed. Half of the Jain community moved to South-India under the leadership of Bhadrabahu and settled in a place known as Sravana-Blegola.
King Chandragupta Maurya also accompanied them.Chhandragupta Maurya committed suicide by self-starvation. When the femine ended after 12 years, the emigrants came back to the north. The returing monks condemned those monks, who had stayed behind and called them as heretics. Differences began to increase between the two sections.
With a view to bring about a compromise, a Jain council was held at Pataliputra. But, monks who had come from south refused to participate in the council. The Jain council at Pataliputra established only a part of Jain canon called 'Siddhanta' from which the canon of Shwetambaras is derived. The view of returning monks was that, the original canon had been completely lost.
Jainism spread in all part of India, but after sometime it began to decline.
Jain Buildings
Like the Buddhists, the Jains built Bhikshu-Grihas or cave-dwellings for the residence of their monks. The best examples are at Udaygiri(tiger caves), at Ellora(Indra sabha), ruins at Parsvanath hill at Ranpur in Jodhpur, Khajurao in Bundelkhand, the Adinath temple at Chittor. In South-India there are several Jain shrines at Sravana Belgola at Mudabidri.
There are traces of several Jain temples having being converted into mosques.
Jain Literature
Both, Svetambara and Digambara called their sacred books-Agama Siddhanta. The Siddhanta comprises of 45-50 books. The Parvas contained the original doctrine in 14 texts, which Mahavira himself taught in Ardha-Magadhi-Prakrit to his disciples. The Jain monks wrote 'Niryuktis' or Commentaries.
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