Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Primer DJA
Philosophy/Religion (HCMII) by
Joseph Anbarasu
Sign
JAIN SYMBOL
Adopted 1937 Swastika: Four types of birth
into witch a sole can
reincarnate
Out side shape:
Jains description
Of the shape of the Stylized hand: Gesture of blessing
Universe. A person and
standing with feet protection
apart and arms
rested on both hips
JAIN SYMBOL
At least 2500+
years old
Look at the
Sithanavasal Caves,
where the saints of
Jains lived about
1500 years ago. It
is in Tamil Nadu.
The shrines were
probably enriched
by the rulers
Kalabhras, believed
to be the latter days
Muttaraiyas
Jainism
Paintings of Sithannavasal
and few other rocks found
in Tamil Nadu depicted
Ahimsa
About 20 percent of Tamils
and Kannadigas were
Jains in 6th and 7th
Centuries. No more today.
Naladiyars,
Silappathigaram and
Manimegali are
jainclassical works in
Tamil, telling about
Jainism in South India.
Today, Followed by 3 - 4
million people mostly in
North India
Jainism
24 Tirthankaras (“ford maker”):
great teachers engraved in a
rock in Tamil Nadu (Ginge)
Going back countless
thousands of years before
recorded history
Mahavira (“great hero”) – the
24th and final Tirthankara –
reformer of ancient Jainism
Nataputta Vardhamana
Lived 599 - 527 BCE in
northeast India
◦ 30 years as student (never married)
◦ 12 years as ascetic renunciant
◦ 30 years as spiritual teacher
(tirthankara)
Jain Beliefs:
Karma & Reincarnation
Ahimsa: non-violence to any and all life forms.
Intent to do no harm. Strict vegans (avoid all
meat and animal products, including milk, eggs,
fish and even avoid root vegetables).
Aparigraha: non-attachment
Anekantwad: non-hatred
Asceticism: to live a monastic life, detached
from this world and society – a life of poverty and
chastity
RESULT OF VEGETARIANISM
Make pilgrimages to
sacred sites (related to
the lives of the
Tirthankaras)
Attend temples
Revere the Tirthankaras
Observe holy days:
◦ Mahavir Jayanti (April;
commemorating the birth of
Mahavira)
◦ Paryushana Parva (Aug. –
Sept.; a festival of fasting
and forgiveness)
◦ Mahavir Nirvan (Diwali)
(Oct. – Nov.;
commemorates the
liberation [death] of
Mahavira)
Bhagwan Mahavir
Thank you
Jainworld.com: http://www.jainworld.com/
Jainism Literature Center (from Harvard
University’s “Pluralism Project”):
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/j
ainism/
Fundamentals of Jainism:
http://www.angelfire.com/co/jainism/
Jainism4u.com:
http://www.marwaris.com/jain4u.htm
Jainism Heritage Centres, “your guide to Jain
heritage centres across the globe”:
http://www.jainheritagecentres.com