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.

JainismFounding of JainismMahaviraLife of MahaviraAsceticismLife of MahaviraCore BeliefsCore BeliefsTwo “Statuses” in JainismJain MonksScriptures and SectsJain SectsJain FestivalsJainism Today