Religion
History and Tradition
History and Tradition
Indian culture can be categorized into two broad groups-
1. Brahmana (Vedic) culture
2. Sramana culture
The philosophical schools of Mimansa, Vedanta, Nyaya and Vaisesika fall into the first category. The......More
Jain Religion- Nomenclature
Jain Religion: Nomenclature
In the Jain canonical texts (called Agamas), the adjective 'Arhat' is appended with Lord Rsabha. The religion propounded by the 'Arhat' is known as the 'Arhata Dharma'. This is the ancient......More
Organization of the Monastic Order
Organization of the Monastic Order
The Monastic Order of the Jains was governed by self- discipline. It was divided into nine ganas or sub divisions. Eleven ganadharas directed these sub-divisions. Seven subdivisions had a single head each.......More
Universe
Universe
Jainism has dealt elaborately with cosmology. According to it, the universe is composed of six substances:
1. Dharmastikaya (the medium of motion).
It enables jiva (soul) and pudgala (matter and energy) to move just as......More
The Existence of Pancastikaya
The Existence of Pancastikaya
Apart from Time, five of the above six substances are in the form of Astikaya. Here is an interesting event depicting the nature of these five Astikayas.
Once upon a time Lord Mahavira was staying at......More
Reality (Sat)
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Reality (Sat)
Reality, that is, everything that exists, is possessed of three characteristics viz., utpada (origination), vyaya (cessation) and dhrauvya (persistence). A reality is that which has all these qualities.
The question arises......More
God
God
The concept of God in Jainism is understood in a quite different way to most other religions. According to Jainism, God is not one, but rather an infinite number of Gods. Some say that Jainism is an atheist philosophy, because it does......More
Time-wheel
Time-wheel
The time-wheel is a symbol of the ascending and descending order of this universe. When the wheel of time moves in the descending direction, the geographical condition, human civilization and culture degenerate and when the wheel......More
Creation
Creation
Many questions have been raised about Creation: Who created this world? When and how did it take its shape? What is the basic substance that it is made of? How does it sustain its self when there is a constant process of change?......More
Three Spiritual Gems
Three Spiritual Gems
Jain philosophy is essentially a philosophy of emancipation. According to Jain philosophy, there are three factors leading to emancipation:
1. Right faith
2. Right knowledge
3. Right conduct
These......More
Nine Categories of Truth (Tattvas)
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Nine Categories of Truth (Tattvas)
All the philosophies of the world have different traditions and beliefs, and their own metaphysics - as does Jain philosophy, A category of Truth means a real entity. Principally they can be classified into......More
Atmavada (Doctrine of Soul)
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Atmavada (Doctrine of Soul)
The Jain philosophy believes in the existence of 'soul'. Consciousness is an eternal characteristic of the soul. There are two types of soul:
1. Mundane Soul
2. Liberated Soul
Mundane Soul......More
Karmavada
Karmavada
Subtle particles of matter, belonging to Karma-vargana capable of being transformed into different varieties according to the nature of activities, are called karma.
There are eight types of karma:
1. Janavaraniya karma......More
Doctrine of Lesya
Doctrine of Lesya
Lesya is a very subtle level of consciousness, which is in the form of radiations. It is categorized into 6 types - Krsna, Nila, Kapota, Tejas, Padma and Sukla.
Out of them, the first three lesyas are malevolent and......More
Doctrine of Gunasthana
Doctrine of Gunasthana
Fourteen stages of spiritual development of the jiva have been propounded based upon the purity of the soul attained through the gradual shedding of karma. These stages are called jivasthana or gunasthana. The fourteen......More
Jain Ethics
Jain Ethics
Non-violence
The first & foremost principle of Jain philosophy is non-violence (ahimsa), Non-violence means not to kill or hurt any living being with the body, speech or mind. This is possible only for those persons who......More
Jain Monastic Conduct
Jain Monastic Conduct
Lord Mahavira has prescribed religion for both lay followers as well as ascetics:
1. Agara Dharma- i.e., Religion or code of conduct for household.
2. Anagara Dharma - i.e., Religion or code of conduct......More
Code of Conduct for the Lay Follower
Code of Conduct for the Lay Follower
After having laid down a discipline for the ascetics, Mahavira laid down a code of conduct for householders too. He said that although householders cannot be free from their responsibilities concerning......More
Jain Logic
Jain Logic
Anekanta
We find the description of the Nayavada and Syadvada in the canonical literature (Agamas). The term 'syad' has been used to describe the Naya but the doctrine of 'Anekanta' evolved later on. The term......More
Jain Literature
Jain Literature
Scripture
The scriptures propounded by Parsva were available even up to the period of Tirthankara Mahavira. They are called 'Purvas'. However, no written teachings or records given by Rsabha (1st Tirthankara)......More
Salient Features of Jain Religion
Salient Features of Jain Religion
Universal Religion
One of the special qualities of the Jain religion is that it can be acknowledged as a 'universal religion'. Many creeds insist, "join my religion, come to my sect, only......More
Jain Mantra
Jain Mantra
There is a popular 'Mantra' which has been accepted by both divisions of Jains, Svetambara as well as Digambara. It is called "Namaskara Mahamantra":
Namo Arahamtanam
Namo Siddhanam
Namo......More
Jain Festivals (Parvas)
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Jain Festivals (Parvas)
In Indian culture, various festivals playa very significant role in the life of people. Indian people give great importance to these festivals, and celebrate them with great enthusiasm.
Festivals fall into three......More
