Jainism

 Life of Mahavira

Born in 540 BC at Kundagrama near Vaisali. Siddhartha was his father: Trisala his mother, Yasoda his wife and Jameli was the daughter. Attained Kaivalya at Jrimbhikagrama in eastern India at the age of 42. Died at the age of 72 in 468 BC at Pavapuri near Rajagriha. He was called Jina or Jitendriya, Nirgrantha and Mahavira.

Way to Nirvana

(Three Ratnas)
Right faith (Samyak vishwas),Right knowledge (Samyak jnan), Right conduct (Samyak karma)

The Principles of Jainism as Preached by Mahavira

Rejected the authority of the Vedas and the Vedic rituals.
Did not believe in the existence of God.
Believed in karma and the transmigration of soul.
Laid great emphasis on equality.

Five Main Teachings

(i) Non-injury (ahimsa)
(ii) Non-lying (saryai)
(iii) Non-stealing (asateya)
(iv) Non-possession (aparigraha)
(v) Observe continence (Bralmmcharya).
(The first four principles are of Parsavanath and the fifth Bramacharya was included by Mahavira).

Sacred Literature

The sacred literature of the Svetambaras is written in a form of Prakrit called Ardhamagadhi, and may be classified as follows:
The twelve Angas
(b) The twelve Upangas
(c) The ten Parikarnas
(d) The six Chhedasutras
(e) The four Mulasutras.

Jaina Philosophy

Syadvada: All our judgements are necessarily relative, conditional and limited. According ‘ to Syadvada (the theory of may be) seven modes of predication (saptabhangi) are possible. Absolute affirmation and absolute negation both are wrong. All judgements are conditional.
Anekantavada: The Jaina metaphysics is a realistic and relativistic pluralism. It is called Anekantavada or the doctrine of the ‘manyness of reality’. Matter (Pudgala) and Spirit (Jiva) are regarded as separate and independent realities.

Spread of Jainism

Jainism received patronage from the kings of the time, including Chandragupta Maurya. In the south, royal dynasties such as the Gangas, Kadambas. Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas patronized Jainism. In.Gujarat, patronage came from wealthy merchants. The concrete expression of Jainism’s religious zeal is seen all over the country in works of art and architecture. The 57-foot high statue of Gomateshvara at Sravanabelagola in Mysore, erected in 983 or 984 AD is a marvel of its kind. The temples at Mount Abu and those at Palithana in Gujarat and Moodabidri and Karkala in the south make a rich contribution to the Indian heritage.

Jaina Councils

By the end of fourth century BC, there was a serious famine in the Ganges valley leading to a great exodus of many Jaina monks to the Deccan and South India (Sravana Belgola) along with Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya.
They returned to the Gangetic valley after 12 years. The leader of the group, which stayed back at Magadha was Sthulabahu. The changes that took place in the code of conduct of the followers of Sthulabahu led to the division of the Jainas into Digambaras (sky-clad or naked) and Svetambaras (white-clad).

First Council was held at Pataliputra by Sthulabahu in the beginning of the third century
BC and resulted in the compilation of 12 Angas to replace the lost 14 Purvas.
 

Second Council was held at Valabhi in the 5th century AD under the leadership of
Devaradhi Kshamasramana and resulted in final compilation of 12 Angas and 12 Upangas.