Who is a Jain?

A Jain is a follower of Jina. A Jina is a victor or Conqueror.

The Jains are followers of certain ascetics who obtained omniscience and who preached a doctrine which promises a super mundane bliss of eternal salvation. Jainism originated centuries before Buddhism, but revived by MahaviraMahvira was the 24th and last Tirthankara, known as Vira or Viraprabhu, Sanmati, Ativira,and Gnatputra in many texts and Arugan or Arugadevan in Tamil texts. ....., the 24th TirthankarTirthankar of Jainism.

The religion is one of the oldest and actually has no evidence of its dates of origin. The Jain theology says that it is the oldest religion which has no beginning and no end.

Kevalya Gyana

Kevalya Gyana or Kevala Nana (in Prakrat) is "absolute knowledge", "Enlightenment" and "Omniscience". It is the highest form of knowledge that a soul can attain. A person who has attained Kevala Gyana is called a Kevalin. To get a status of a Jina, attaining Kevalagyana is required first.

   Jain Cosmology & Concept of Universe:

Mahapurana a great Jainism text, composed by Acharya Jinasena during the rule of Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha and completed by his pupil Gunabhadra says that

   "Some foolish men declare that Creator made the world. The doctrine that the world was created is ill-advised, and should be rejected. If god created the world, where was he before creation? If you say he was transcendent then, and needed no support, where is he now?"

   The Jain cosmology says that world is made up of 6 Dravyas or substances:

1. Jiva:All living substances.

   Ajiva: Ajiva includes all Nonliving substances.

2. Pudagala: This means matter
3. Dharma-Tattva: This means Principle of Motion
   
4. Adharma tattva: This means principle of Rest
5. Akasa : This means space
6. Kala : This means time.

  Samsāra

Samsāra, as per Jain faith is worldly life characterized by continuous rebirths and reincarnations in various realms of existence. The mundane existence is full of suffering and misery and hence is worth renunciation. Moksa is the only liberation from Samsāra.

Mahavratas

   
 

Ahimsa is the fundamental principle of Jainism. Most Jains are vegetarians and this practice shows their faith in the principle of Ahimsa. Apart from that there are 5 Mahavratas.

1. Non-violence (Ahimsa)
2. Truth (Satya)
3. Non-stealing (Asteya)
4. Chastity (Brahmacharya)
5. Non-possession/Non-attachment (Aparigraha)

   Tri Ratnas

Triratnas are

1. Samyak Gyan : means right knowledge
2. Samyak darshana : Means right view
3. Samyak Acharana: Means right conduct.

Jain Sects

Jain Samgha could not maintain its unity after 200 years of Mahavira's Parinirvana. It splitSub-division of a share of large denomination into shares of smaller denominations. Also means sub¬division of holdings. in Digambar sect and Shwetambar Sect during the Mauryan Era. The Digambar sect observed the tenets of religion strictly and the monks remained naked. Shwetambar sect were liberal and they wore white clothes.

   Jain Sangeeti

The conferences of Jainism are called Jain Sangeeti. The first jain Sangeeti was convened in 300 BC and this conference was headed by Sthoolbhadra.

The second Jain Sangeeti was called in 512 AD and was held in Vallabhi Gujarat. The chairman was Devardhi Kshammaramana.

   Jain Symbol

Jain Emblem or Jain Symbol was adopted in 1975, at the auspicious occasion of 2500th Nirvana anniversary of Lord Mahavira. This emblem is used in almost all of the Jain magazines, wedding invitation cards, Jain festival cards, and every magazine with links to events related to Jain society. Use of this emblem helps to create a culture showing dedication and trust for the religion and the values that are represented by the emblem. The pic shows the features of the Jain emblem.

 Royal Patrons of Jainism

AsokaAshokavardhana or Asoka was governor of Taxila and Ujjain during the reign of his father Bindusara. The Sri Lankan texts represent Asoka as "wading through .....'s Grandson Samprati

King Kharvela of Orissa: set up jain rock cut cave.

Gangs, Kadambs, Chalukyas, Rastrakutas had patronized Jainism.

King Amoghavarsha of Rastrakuta dynasty became a Jain Monk. He wrote Ratnamalika.

The Chalukyan period rock cut caves at badami and aihole have the figures of Jain TirthankarasTirthankaras.

Samatabhadra in Kanchi preached this religion.

The Dilwara Jain temples at Mount Abu were built by Chalukya Dynasty kings between 11 to 13^th century.