Jainism
The foundation of Jainism was by Rishabhanatha or Adinatha. Rishabha is belonged to Ikshvaku family of Ayodhya. His parents were Nabhiraja and Marudevi. He was the first Tirthankar who was born at this time when nobody know about the art and literature. He taught the art of cooking, writing, painting and sculpture for the first time.
Neminath was the 22nd Tirthankara who is mention in Kalpasutra. He was the son of the King Samudravijaya of Sauripura, a big town on the bank of Yamuna River. According to Trishasthisalakapurusacharita, he was a cousin of Krishna who negotiated his marriage with Rajamati, daughter of Ugrasena, ruler of Dwarika because the animals were slaughters on the marriage feast so he left the marriage procession and renounce the world. He proceeded to a garden Sahasambhavana situated on the mount of Raivataka where he attained salvation. According to Kalpasutra, he lived upto to the age of 1,000 years.
As a Jaina tradition, Vasudeva Krishna was a contemporary of Tirthankara Arishtanemi who preceded Parsvanath.
According to Jaina text, Acharangasutra, Uttaradhyanasutra, Kalpasutra and Bhagabhatisutra, there were 22 upholders of Jainism between Rishabhanath and Vardhaman and the holders were called Tirthankaras or Prophet. Bhadrabahu, a Jaina saint, in his work Kalpasutra mention that, Parsvanath a tirthankara was born at Varanasi or Benaras in a Kshatriya family and clan called Ikshaku. His father was Asvasena, king of Varanasi and mother was Prabhabhati, a daughter of king Prasenjit of Kanyakuliya. Parsvanath was retrieved his life after thirty years of of leading family and become an ascetic. Non-violence was his main leading teaching and with this, he teaches not to tell lie, not to commit theft, not to possess any property etc. then Parsvanath was the real founder of Jainism. All Tirthankaras were Kshatriyas; Munisuvrata and Nami belonged to Harivamsha and the remaining 22 to the Ikshwaku race.
Vardhamana Mahavira
He was the 24th Tirthankara. He was born in 540 B.C. in Kundagrama, suburb of Vaishali. His father was Siddhartha from Jnatrika clan and his mother was Trisala was a Lichchavi Princess. He was the second son of them. He birth on 13 days of rising moon in the month of Chaitra in the Vira nirvana Samrat calendar era. His birth celebrated as Mahavira Janma Kalyan. Trisala was the sister of Chetaka, king of Vaishali. Chetaka was closely related to Bimbisara, the ruler of Magadha. Chetaka married his daughter to Chellana to Bimbisara. Mahavira also related to Champa, Kausambi and Avanti ruler.
According to svetambara, before his birth, his mother seen a number of dreams like an elephant, a bull, a lion, the anointing of goddess Sri, a garland, the moon, the sun, a flag, a vase, a lotus lake, an ocean, a celestial abode, a heap of jewels and a flame. The Digambara describes the sixteen dreams.
According to Acharanga sutra, ‘his parents were lay devotee of Parsvanatha’. He was known by many names like Vardhamana, for love and hatred, Sramana for his indifferent to pleasure and pain and could stand fast or quick in danger and Nigantha for he was free from worldly bondage and out without clothly and Nattaputta for he belongs to Nata or Jnatrika clan. His born year are varied in many texts like, 497 B.C. historically and 599 B.C. traditionally but the birth place is same in Kundagrama, Vaishali.
Early life
He is known as Vir, Ativir, and Sanmati. He was a contemporary of Gautam Buddha, who preached Buddhism in Ancient India. The early life of Mahavir passed in luxury palace. He took education and training like a Kshatriya prince.
He taught Vedas, Uapanishada, ethics, military and royal administration. He question in birth and death and sorrow and suffering sorrow around him, then Siddharth got him married to Yashoda. He laid a life with his family upto 30 years. He blessed with a daughter named Annoja or Priyadarshana who was married to Jamali, a future disciple of Mahavira. His elder brother was Nandivardhana and elder sister was Sudarsana.
Renunciation
After the death of his parents, Vardhamana take renunciation with the permission of his elder brother Nandivardhana. After that he became an ascetic and wandering or traveling place to place for 12 years. He first leaved for Kumaragrama, next mahavir proceed to KoliagaSannivesa, Moraga sannivesa and then proceeded to Atthiyagrama. He stayed his first rainy season in Atthiyagrama. He did not stay more than a day in a village and more than 5 days in a town. He did not care himself by bath, food, wear and even clean his teeth for days together. According to Acharanga sutra, he was going naked in the street, peoples spitted on him and throw stones at him, they beat him with stick, and their feet. He did not seek any medical aid. He sometimes took shelter in traveler halls, in a garden of towns, cemetery and at the foot of a tree.
Then Vardhaman visited Nalanda and came contacted with an Ascetic named Gosala Makkhaliputta who became Mahavira disciple for 6 years. The followers of Gosala known as Tirthankaras. Gosala was one of the greatest critics of Mahavira. He compared Mahavira with a merchant who shows his waves and attracts a crowd to do business. After that he meditated under Ashok tree and discarded his clothes. He also lived in Rajagriha during the rainy season.
He stayed his first rainy season at Atthiyagrama, three rainy seasons in Champa and Prishtichampa, twelve in Vaishali and Vanijagrama, fourteen in Rajagriha and Nalanda, Six in Mithila, two in Bhadrika, one in Alabhika, one in Panitabhumi, one in Sravasti and the last one in the town of Papa in the king Hastipala’s office.
Attainment of Kaivalya
He searching the true knowledge of life then at last 12 year of his ascetic life, he attained perfect enlightenment or Kaivalya under a Sal tree on the bank of river Rijupalika near Trimbhikagrama at the age of 42. The details of the event is describe in the Jain Uttar purana and Harivamsa Purana texts. The Acharanga sutra described Mahavira as all seeing. He called as Kevalin or one who in possession of endless knowledge.
Disciple
After attain Kaivalya, his first disciples were eleven Brahmans who known as Gandhara. According to Gunabhadra, the eleven Gandhars were Indrabhuti, Vayubhuti, Agnibhuti, Sudharma, Maurya, Maunda, Putra, Maitreya, Akampana, Andhavela and Prabhasa. Gautam was their leader and appointed Sudharman his successor. According to Kalpasutra, he is known as Sramanas. He delivered his first sermon at Vipulachala near Rajagriha, the capital of Magadha. He also received royal patronage for his new religion from the rulers like, Pradyota of Avanti, king Bimbisara of Magadha and his son Ajatashatru. According to Jain tradition, he had 14,000 Muni and 36,000 Aryika or nuns and 1,59,000 Sravakas or male lay followers and 318,000 Sravikas or female lay followers.
He delivered 55 Prabachana and set of lectures in Uttaradhyana Sutra. He preached his religion for 3 decades.
Nirvana and Moksha
Mahavira’s Nirvana occurred in the town of Pawapuri at the age of 72 in 468 B.C. in present day Bihar. But the death year varied on many texts. According to Svetambara, 527 B.C. and 510 B.C. in Digambara and historically 425 B.C. but the place is same in Pawapuri. At the night of his Nirvana was observed by Jaina as Diwali. His disciple Gautama attained Omniscience the night that Mahavira achieved Nirvana from Shikharji. Mahavira died in the palace of king Shastipala of the Mallas. The Jain believes in previous birth. According to a Jain text, he was born as Marichi, a son of Chakravartin in his a previous life. Rebirth and realm of survival are fundamental teaching of Mahavira. According to Acharanga sutra, Mahavira believed that life existed in myriad or countless forms which included animals, plants, and insects, bodies of water, fire and wind. He said that, monks should avoid touching or disturbing any them and never swim, such action might injure other living beings.
He also taught about Nature cycle, and soul is reborn after death, human are reborn depending on their Karma or actions as a human. Nothing is permanent, everyone is dies and reborn based their action in life and previous life.
Mahavir iconography is north Indian site of Mathura. Many images of Mahavira have been dated to the 12th century and earlier. Jivantaswami, an image of Mahavira, represents Mahavira as a princely state.
According to John Cort, an American Indologist, the Mahavira temples in Osian, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is the oldest surviving Jain temple in western India, which was built in late 8th century A.D.
Five vows
Mahavira prescribed five principle such as Ahimsa or non violence or non- injury, Satya or truthfulness, Asteya or non-stealing, Brahmacharya or Chastity and Aparigraha or non-attachment. There are known as five Vows or Pancha mahavrata. The Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya and Aparigraha were submit by Parsvanath and called as Chaturyamadharma and Brahmacharya added by Mahavira Jaina and later called as Panchayamadharma.
Three Jewels of Jainism
According to Mahavira, every human being has two fold natures, worldly and spiritual. The worldly nature is unpreserved and spiritual nature is undying. Mahavira describes threefold path, Right faith or samyak darshan, right knowledge or samyak jnana and right conduct or samyak charitra. This threefold path is called ‘Three Jewels of Jainism’ or Jaina Triratna. He also taught about non-violence. He believed in theory of Karma or action, soul surrounded by karmas or action which was responsible for a person’s taking birth in good or bad condition.
He also give the five kind of knowledge, for who can attain enlightment and salvation like, Mati gyana, Sruti gyana, Avadhi gyana, mana prayaya gyana and Kaivalya gyana. The knowledge which was attained sensesw is called mati gyana. Sruti gyana for listening of sacred book and avadhi gyana of knowledge which for help people in past, present and future, mana pranaya gyana for examine one’s mind and heart, kaivalya gyana for misery and happiness which conquered by Mahavira.
Theory of Karma
Mahavira believed in karma or action. Pleasure, pain, happy all are possible for Karma or action in previous life. Mahavira advice to their disciple or followers to destroy all effect of their bad Karma or action of the previous life by practicing patronage like, self mortification, fasting, humility and shutting bad karma or action. Soul is surrounded by karma and possible to be a birth in good or bad condition or life in next life. The main aim of Mahavira teaching is attainment of Nirvana or Moksha or Salvation.
Royal patronages
The teaching of Mahavira Jain had received by many kings. According to Anguttara Nikaya, a famous Jain literature, Mahavira was greatly respected by Lichchavis Prince Abhaya. Jainism becomes the state religion of the Lichchavi. Bimbisara and Ajatashatru of Magadha also accepted Jainism. Besides the other ruler also accepted Jainism like, Pradyota of Avanti, Satanika of Sindhu, Dadhivana of Champa and Udayana of Kausambi, Mahapadma Nanda of Nanda dynasty, Chandragupta Maurya and Samprati, a grandson of Samrat Ashoka of Maurya dynasty, Siddharaja and Kumarapala of Gujarat also patronized Jainism. In medieval period, Jainism flourished in Rajaputana. Kharavela of Mahameghavahana dynasty, a ruler of kalinga in 1st century B.C. accepted Jainism. Kharavela constructed many number of caves for Jaina Monks in Udaygiri and Khandagiri hills in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
South Indian rulers also patronage Jainism like, Chalukya, Rashtrakuta, Kadamba and Ganga.
The great famine
The spread of Jainism and Mahavira teaching and his message were possible for only by a Jain Monk Bhadrabahu. He spread Jainism in South. Then Chandragupta Maurya also patronized Jainism and go with Bhadrabahu to Sravanavelagola in South India. The Emperor spent his last life as a Jaina Monk. On the other side the Jaina Monks stayed in Magadha under the leadership of a Monk named Sthulabhadra, who was the last Monk knew all the 14 Puruvas or old text and which was the original teaching of Mahavira were collected. He not allowed teaching the last four texts to his successors.
The Jaina Monks divided into two sects like Svetambara, who put white robes and Digambara, who were naked. The main dispute between the Digambara and Svetambar sects were due to the emphasis on the discipline and hard life. Mathura became the center of Jainism in the 1st century A.D. during the Kushan age.
Art and Architecture
Jainism developed in North and South India. Then the Jain temple, stone pillars and statues were constructed in different part of India. Many beautiful Jain images were found in Mathura, Bundelkhand, and Northern Madhya Pradesh. The Bhikshugrihas had constructed in many parts of India. The Hathigumpha in Udaygiri hills of Odisha, Indra sabha at Ellora, Lakkumali, Pulilana, Mont abu, Girnar, Parsvanath hill, Ranpur, and Bundelkhand are example dwelling residence of Jaina Monks.
The Shravanabelagola, Mudabidri and Guruvayankari in the south are also example of Jaina architecture. The great statue of Mahavira called Bahubali or Gomateswara at Sravanabelagola in Karnataka is the largest statue of Mahavira Jain, which was 57 feet high. The other Art also show about Jaina art like, The Adhai Din ka Jhopra at Ajmer and The Kutub near New Delhi. Thus the Jaina Art and Architecture stand in a special position in India.
Language and Literature
Mahavira taught his teaching so simple language. He used Ardha Magadhi language in teaching which was so popular in North. Many Jaina books are written in Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. The sacred books of Jaina, Agama siddhanta was consists nearly 50 books. The first twelve angas are most important parts of Jaina canon. The 14 puruvas which was perfected by the last two Theras called Simbhuta Vijaya and Bhadrabahu contain the 14 text the original text of Jainism. The Siddhanta of Svetambara consisted 12 Angas, 12 Upangas, 10 Painnas, seven Chheya suttas, 4 mula suttas, one Nandi sutta and one annogadara were written in both Prose and verse. The 12 angas or limbs merged from 14 puruvas in the first Buddhist council but it was not accepted by Digambara sect of Jainism. The Mula sutra deals with the basic doctrine of Jainism. Several Niyuktis were written the Jaina Monks and that was rearranged by two Jaina Monks Siddhasena and Samghadasa. The Jaina Philosophy enriched by the scholarly writing of Akalanka, Prujyapada, and Siddhasena.
The Jaina Kalpasutra written by Bhadrabahu, the entire book divided into three sections. The first section contains the Jaina Charitra or the biography of the 24 Tirthankaras. The main portion was the biography of Mahavira Jaina.
The second section contains a list of Schools or Ganas and their heads or Gandharas.
The third section contains Samachari or the rules for the Jaina Monks.
The whole Jaina literature written in Magadhi, Prakrit and Sanskrit literatures. The chief subject of Jaina literature contains Epic, Puranas, Novels and Drama. The Jaina poets had also enriched the Tamil literature. The Jivaka Chitamani, is a Jaina work and it perhaps the first Tamil poems. Jaina writers too enriched the Telugu literature. Another Jaina writer Hema Chandra, whose poem won the heart of the Chalukya king Jayasimha Siddharaja, who made Hema Chandra in his court annalyst. Another Tamil literature was Kural of Tiruvalluvar was also written by a Jaina.
Jaina Church
To spread the teaching of Jainism, Mahavira organized an order of his follower which admitted both men and women. All the monks were grouped into several Ganas or school and those were incharge of Gana, who was called Gandhara. The eleven Gandhar were head of school. At the time of end of the Nanda rules there were two head of the Jaina Church. They were Bhadrabahu and Sambhuta Vijaya. Then later was succeeded by Sthulavadra.
Jaina Councils
The Jaina council mention in Jaina Agamas or sacred texts. The first council was held at Pataliputra. At this time they gathered the sacred books and knowledge and put together the eleven Angas but could not gather the Ditthivada. The details about the council written in Hemachandra’s pari- Shishtaparvana.
The second council was held at Mathura under patronage of Skandila. The third Jaina council was held at Vallabhi under patronage of Nagarjuna to continue the transmission of sacred knowledge after famines.
The fourth council was held at again Vallabhi was convened by Svetambara Jaina monk at Vallabhi to rescue down to writing sacred texts that had so far been transmitted orally.
Decline of Jainism
The Jainism spread in all over India. Jaina temples were established in many parts of India. Many kings accepted the Jainism. But after that the Jainsim decline by many reasons.
Rise of Hinduism
From 8th century A.D. after rise of Hinduism by Ramanuja, Shankarcharya the Jainism was decline. The Brahmanical faith gained and Brahmans became openly hostile to Jainism. The Jaina temples were destroyed by the Brahmans under king Ajaypala of Punjab in second half of the 12th century A.D.
Lack of royal Patronage
Jainism flourished by the royal patronage by many king like Chandragupta Maurya, Ajatashatru, Mahapadma Nanda, Udayin, Kharavela. But in the Later period the Jainism not accepted by the Royal Kings and the Jainism decline itself.
Foreign Invasion
Another main cause was Jainism invasion by the Ala-ud-din Khalji, who conquered Gujrat in 1297 A.D. he destroyed the many temples of Jain.
Rise of Buddhism
The rise and spread of Buddhism also stood a great rival to Jainism in India. The principle of Buddhism is more simple, plain and intelligible comparison from Jainism. Then Buddhism was rised and acceptable in India after Jainism.
List of Jaina Tirthankaras and their symbols
Name symbol complexion
Rishabhanatha Bull Golden
Ajitanatha Elephant Golden
Sambharanatha Horse Golden
Abhinandananatha Monkey Golden
Sumatinatha Heron Golden
Padmaprabha Lotus Red
Suparshvanatha Swastika Golden
Chandraprabha Moon White
Pupadanta Crocodile White
Shitalanatha Kalpavriksha Golden
Shreyansanatha Rhinoceros Golden
Vasupujya Buffalo Ruddy
Vimalanatha Pig Golden
Anantanatha Porcupine Golden
Dharmanatha Vajra Golden
Shantinatha Deer Golden
Kunthunatha Goat Golden
Aranatha Fish Golden
Mallinatha Kalasha Blue
Munisuvrata Tortoise Black
Naminatha Blue Lotus Yellow
Neminatha Conch Black
Parshvanatha Snake Blue
Mahavira Lion Yellow
briefly narrate
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