Jainism Unit 2: Religions that originate in South Asia

Founding of Jainism • Founder is identified as Nataputta Vardhamana

• Known as “Mahavira” or “great hero” • Not much is known about his life

• Lived around the same time as the Buddha (599 to 527 BCE) • Similar background stories

• Began to follow a path of severe asceticism and practice of ahimsa (non-injury to life)

• Jains believe Mahavira was a “Tirthankara” or “crossing builder” • He was the last of 24 Tirhankaras throughout history

Mahavira

Life of Mahavira • He wanders from place to place practicing the

extreme asceticism he placed on himself • Examples

• Prevents attachment to material things and people • Examples

• Ahimsa (non-injury to life) • Examples

Asceticism

Life of Mahavira

• After 12 years, he achieved moksha • Became known as Jina or “conqueror” • Lives another 30 years and dies at the

age of 72.

Core Beliefs • Reincarnation • People are bound to the consequences of their actions

(karma) • “All living beings owe their present form of existence to

their own karma; timid, wicked, suffering latent misery, they err about (reincarnation), subject to birth, old age, and death.”

• Jain worldview is dualistic • World made up of 2 substances

• Soul (jiva) • Matter (ajiva)

• Soul vs. body

Core Beliefs • The goal of Jainism is to liberate the soul

from matter • Body is matter and evil • One must torment the body to help free

the soul from evil • This release (moksha) must be completed

entirely by the individual acting alone. • No need for priests or gods as they can’t

help the individual in this process

Two “Statuses” in Jainism • The majority group is the laity

• People who cannot afford to leave their homes and accept the rigors of the ascetic lifestyle of a Jain monk

• The minority group are the monks • Made up of people who can and do lead the life of an ascetic

monk • The monk is the ideal lifestyle according to Jain belief

• Jain monks must take 5 vows • A vow on non-injury (ahimsa)

• Examples • A vow to always tell the truth • A vow to refrain from taking anything that is not given to them • A vow of celibacy • A vow to renounce all attachments

Jain Monks

Scriptures and Sects • Scriptures

• Called Agamas (or “precepts”) – are thought to be the original sermons Mahavira gave to his disciples

• Sects • Svetambara (literally “white-clad”) – the more liberal

interpretation of Jain teachings • Mainly located in Northern India • Monks/followers can wear simple clothing (hence “white-clad”) • Allow women into their religion

• Women can also achieve release

• Digambara (literally “sky-clad”) – the more conservative interpretation of Jain teachings • Mainly located in southern India • Monks are to go totally or nearly nude (hence “sky-clad”) • Women have no chance of achieving release

Jain Sects

Jain Festivals • Paijusana

• For an eight day period, Jains fast and attend special worship ceremonies

• All Jains are encouraged to live like monks for at least a 24 hour period

• Perform acts of penance and give charity to the poor

• Divali • Borrowed from Hinduism but Jains don’t worship

the Hindu goddess Kali. • Instead they commemorate Mahavira’s moksha by

lighting lamps, fasting, and making pilgrimages

Jainism Today • Estimated to be 4 million Jains in the world, most

of whom live in urban areas in Western India • There are fewer than 6,000 Jain monks • Jains are vegetarians and will usually only eat in

restaurants that is completely vegetarian • There are over 40,000 temples built to honor the

24 Tirthankaras and Jains attend worship at these temples

• Worship includes many rituals at home including meditation, recitations, and observance of vows.