Jainism is a philosophy of contemporary relevance, based on the overriding principle of reverence for life. All sects agree that teaching was first transmitted orally, however, the two main sects of jainism, svetambara and digambara disagree on which scriptures are authoritative, or most important. This festival celebrates the day of mahaviras birth. Holy book and place of worship of sikhism,jainism, buddhism. The true core texts of the yazidi religion that exist today are the hymns, known as qawls. The definition of digambara is one who is naked or one who has the sky as his clothes. It is the sacred book of islam explained as the religion of abraham. Many migrated to east africa and from there to britain, where the community is around 30,000. What is the holy book of buddhism and jainism answers. On this day, fasting, meditation, atonement, worship of the holy books, and holy recitation take place. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism.
Scripture is the synonym of the holy text, which consists of religious dogmas, and assertions of an authentic authority apta purusa. The jain community in india is centred in rajasthan and gujarat. The present book is one of the best and stimulating books ever written by scholars on jainism. The jain literature which was complied by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. The jains the library of religious beliefs and practices. This festival honors the 15th century reformer lonka.
Jainism is an indian religion that emphasizes complete nonviolence and asceticism. Jainism, indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through disciplined nonviolence ahimsa, literally noninjury to all living creatures overview. Today islam is the worlds fastest growing religion. The tradition presented in the materials below is one of the. The books of jainism were written in the popular vernacular dialects as opposed to sanskrit which was the classical standard of brahmanism, and therefore encompass a number of related dialects.
Instead they have a body of holy writings or scriptures. The arhant heritage jainism shraman culture is confirmed by the writings in srimad bhagwad, padmapuran, vishnupuran, skandapuran and shivpuran, naradpuran, manusmriti and other religious book. Religious texts are those sacred and central to the teachings of almost every given religion. Popular jainism books meet your next favorite book. The religion derives its name from the jina s conquerors, a title given to twentyfour great teachers tirthankara s or fordmakers. The holy book of the sikh religion is the guru granth sahib. Today what is needed for a man, is mental peace and a complete integration with his own personality as well as with his social environment. The jinas are considered more respectable than the gods. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourses of the tirthankaras. Instead they have a collection of holy writings and scriptures. Men are the only ones allowed to become digambara monks. Neither of these religions their religious philosophy around worship.
Today, of the 1,30,000 zoarstrians in the world, about 1,00,000 live in india. Agam literature consists of many texts, which are the sacred books of the jain religion. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that characterises their faith. The 10th guru, gobind singh, declared that he would have no living successor, and this collection of teachings would become the ultimate guru for the sikh. Today modern forms of these languages are used by jain religious teachers. Christianity is the worlds biggest religion, with about 2. Jainism traditionally known as jain dharma, is an ancient indian religion. This section lists some of the main holy days of the 8 largest faiths in the u.
The reason is very simple, this book consists of a biography of lord mahavira in detail, and the lives of the other prophets tirthankaras. It is based on the teachings of jesus christ who lived on the holy land 2000 years ago. Included are days for the christian, jewish, muslim, hindu, buddhist, sikh, bahai, and wiccan religions. Mar 17, 2015 jainism is an indian religion that emphasizes complete nonviolence and asceticism. Followers of jainism are called jains, a word derived from the sanskrit word jina, meaning victor.
Within sikhism, the holy book is called the sri guru granth sahib. Jainism religion bhagwan mahavir jain symbol belief. Background unlike most common monotheistic religions, jainism does not have one holy book that characterizes their faith. List of world religions and founders, religious books, place. The religion centres on the progress of ones soul towards a divine consciousness through selfreformation, wisdom and selfcontrol and pacifism towards all living. Teachings of jainism has an extensive effect on the indian population in terms of religion, culture, language, cuisine and so on. Most are locations where events in the jinas lives occurred. The world of conquerors volume 1 natubhai shah, dr natubhai shah. Jainism is a religion originally from india that teaches that all the events in the universe are selfcaused, random, fixed and are independent of previous events or external causes or god. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war.
Christians worship in churches and their spiritual leaders are called priests. On this day monks and nuns will be invited to give teachings to jains from jain writings. The faith is named for the jinas, spiritual conquerors who have achieved liberation and perfection. A glance at its contents will reveal the fact that glasenapp has covered almost all the salient features of jainism. The book was not only an authentic piece of work done in a historical perspective but also a popular one, hence it became unavailable for sale soon. Guru is a sanskrit word for teacher, and within sikhism it is the title given to the 10 spiritual leaders of sikhism dating from 1469 ad to 1708 ad as well as the sri guru granth. For example, all jains agree that the earlier texts the purvas. An introduction introduction to religion by jeffery d long isbn. Rasail alhikmah epistles of wisdom indian hinduism. Oct 21, 2014 world religions, their holy books and symbols world religions, their holy books and symbols we have only one sky, one earth, one water, one fire and one air.
It is considered to be much more than a book, it is deemed to be the living guru of the sikhs. Jain agamas wikipedia copying an expert from wikipedia below for your reference agamas are texts of jainism based on the discourses of the tirthankara. The religious scriptures are not followed word to word. This shows a time of thinking and ruefulness for a jain believer. Unlike christianity or islam, it is a not a religion that is governed by the book. Jainism, indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through. Knowledge of what is now in written form is essential to being a good jain. Learn the basics of jainism as well as the beliefs and practices of one of the oldest religious traditions of india. Jainism, indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through disciplined nonviolence ahimsa, literally noninjury to all living creatures.
Karma is an invisible force in hinduism, whereas in jainism it is a form of matter which can stick to the soul. S christianity, judaism, islam, hinduism, buddhism, sikhism, bahai faith and. This book is the first comprehensive study of jainism to be published in the west. For example, all three traditions share a notion of karma as the actions of individuals that determine their future births, yet each has attached unique connotations to the concept.
Bible is the holy book which consists of old and new testaments. The most enjoyable parts of the book were its discussions of jainist ethics and the nature of the life force. In hinduism, gods are worshiped in several ways and for several reasons such as knowledge, peace, wisdom, health, and it also believed to be ones duty to pray god as god is considered as our maker as we originated from them and we are staying in them and at last will. Bool chand was first published in 1948 by jaina cultural research society which has been merged into p. Followers of jainism are called jains, and there are about 4 million worldwide. In 642, when the last iranian empire was conquered by the arabs, most zoroastrians were forcibly converted to islam. A holy man reading the guru granth sahib, the holy book of sikhism. Jainism has a global impact too, and today we find large population of the jain community in united states, united kingdomn, canada, and east africa. It also explains some of the major holy days and celebrations of jainism. Religious seasonal days of celebration and holy days. Recent researches by some historians even show that jainism might have even. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it has. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. These texts are collectively known as aagam, the sacred books of the jain religion.
Along with hinduism and buddhism, jainism is one of the three most ancient indian religious traditions still in existence and an. Oct 18, 2010 there are two main branches of jainism. Holy days and festivals it has been said that in hinduism there is a festival for each day in a year,this may be an underestimate. Peoples beliefs with hinduism are pretty fragmented and there really isnt or wasnt the equivalent of the word religion in india at that time.
Jain scripture which the followers of this religion adhere even today. The jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina. It teaches that the universe is eternal and that every living being has a soul. Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore knowledge of the. Jainism you should read enough of the materials presented in this section concerning the tradition of jainism in order to understand how this tradition displays the characteristics or elements that make a tradition one that would be termed a religion. The sunnis are followers of the political successors of mohammed. Mahaviras disciples compiled his words into texts or sutras, and memorised them to pass on to future generations. The existing agam sutras are accepted as the authentic preaching of lord mahavir by the swetambar sects, but the digambar sect does not accept. Some religious jains will follow what mahavira did and fast for diwalis two days. I cant say for jainism, but for sikhism, you may want to check out rsikh.
Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Today there are some six million jains worldwide, and they represent less than 2% of indias population. Jain monks and nuns are now permitted to possess religious books, so the jain scriptures should no longer be in danger. Along with hinduism and buddhism, jainism is one of the three most ancient indian religious traditions still in existence and an integral part of south asian religious belief and practice. I was surprised to discover that jainism dates from the time of the buddha, and has such a large following today. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism mahaviras disciples compiled his. He possesses infinite knowledge, infinite vision, infinite power, and infinite bliss. These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion.
Whether mahavira founded the religion or guided an alreadyexisting belief system, his teachings shaped the forms of jainism we see today including the rejection of several hindu practices. Jainism originated in india thousands of years ago and is thought to have heavily influenced the two other main belief systems of the region at that time. Jainism is one of the three most ancient indian religious traditions still in. However, the holy books in hinduism are the basis on which we have evolved our culture and way of. Almost every school of religious thought and belief has its own central texts to guide its followers. A period of rising called an utsarpini in which human and natural conditions improve followed by a period of decline or avasarpini in which things gradually get worse, weaken and corrupt. The book also contains a list of monks from 527 bce to approximately 500 ad and the code of conduct for jainmonks. Jainism emerged in 6thcentury bce india, the same time buddhism was developing. This festival has 8 days of fasting, remorsefulness, and pujas. Hindus are in a similar position, even though they have the vedas, which can be considered the ultimate source of teaching. The primary holy book of the jewish faith is known as the torah, which comprises the books of genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers and deuteronomy. Jain texts such as acaranga sutra and tattvarthasutra state that one must.
Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book, but it has many books complied by many followers. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. As they hail from pars in southwest iran, the people who practice this religion are known as the parsis. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. In these books there are lucid descriptions on the birth of jainism. Considering the central importance of the jinas in jainism as the ultimate source of knowledge, teachings and behaviour it is not surprising that most holy places are closely associated with them. The holy books in hinduism are there only for guidance. Hinduism seems to be ever chasing and developing, or has had done so for a long time.
Today there are some 6 million jains worldwide, representing less than 2% of indias population. Jains will gather in temples to hear readings of the teachings of mahavira. Only scattered chapters of this agam are now available. Mahavira 599527 bc was considered the last in that category and he is also the founder of jainism. Jains trace their spiritual ideas and history through a succession of twentyfour leaders or tirthankaras, with the first being rishabhanatha, who according to jain tradition lived millions. Indian religions, hinduism, jainism, sikhism, christianity, islam.
Jainism is an ancient indian religion of obscure origins. The idea behind creating holy drops is to cherish religious. Mahavira, the 24th tirthankara who lived in the 6th century bc, taught that there is nothing so small and subtle as the atom nor any element so vast as space. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that. Unlike most common monotheistic religions, jainism does not have one holy book that characterizes their faith. The first verse summarizes the religion by saying that right knowledge, right faith, and right conduct collectively provide the only true path to liberation from samsara. They give money and supplies to the monasteries, allowing the monks and nuns to focus on religious rituals and practices. Jainism began in india and is one of the oldest religions of the world. The word jain is taken from the word jina, which means getting victory over thy self and the peripheral world.
But jainism is different than buddhism in its ascetic beliefs. However jainism does believe in god, not as a creator, but as a perfect being. The traditional dates of these events given in scriptures form the basis of the religious calendar and festivals. In india, they share this feature with the buddhists. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira. Spurious examples of socalled yazidi religious texts include the yazidi black book and the yazidi book of revelation, which were forged in the early 20th century. Lord mahavirs preaching was methodically compiled by his followers into many texts. Jainism simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This page lists some jain festivals and holy days, including the birthday of mahavira and paryushana, which started as a monastic day of reflection. Those that celebrate teachers and saints in the tradition and those that celebrate notable events from scripture. The holy book of jainism is known as the kalpa sutra or sutras. This sectarian division, still existent today, probably took time to assume formal shape.
The jainism has its own scriptures called agamas or srutas, which are directly derived from the tirthankaras. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or. Jainism is one of the most ancient religions that originated in eastern india and it was founded around the 6th century. Chief among these is ardha magadhi, which due to its extensive use has also come to be identified as the definitive form of prakrit. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. Jainism, hinduism, and buddhism share many key concepts derived from the sanskrit language and dialects that have enabled them to hone their religious debates. To celebrate diwali parents give candy to their children and all over india there are lamps lit. This religion, jainism, emphasizes on following the path of nonviolence.
When a person destroys all his karmas, he becomes a liberated soul. Jain philosophy is the oldest philosophy of india that distinguishes body matter from the soul consciousness completely. The holy book of buddhism is used to learn the way of the buddh. Images of mahavira are paraded through the streets with much pomp and ceremony. An introduction, is a thoroughly researched overview of the jain tradition, a religion and set of philosophical constructs that have influenced indian thought for over 2500 years. Diwali has a special significance in jainism because on this day mahavira achieved deliverance and gave his last teaching. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. In common with other faiths, hindu festivals mostly fall into two broad categories. As action, this translates into nonviolence and nonpossession. In jainism, the lay community, while it does not hold any leadership role, is vital to the jain religion. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. Most of the eastern religions are not religions of the book, that is, there is no one book which has the same satus as bible has for christians. Jains are very caring over the environment, they wear masks over their faces to prevent inhaling of any small insects and they carry.