History jainism after mahavira biography

Historically, there is little doubt that Jainism existed before Mahavira. The Bhagavatha Purana acknowledges Rishabhadeva as the founder of Jainism. Neminathaaccording to the Treshath-shalaka-purush -purana, was a cousin of Lord Krishna, who negotiated his marriage with Rajulmati, daughter of Ugrasena, ruler of Dwarika, but Neminatha, taking compassion on the animals which were to be slaughtered for the marriage feast, left the marriage procession suddenly and renounced the world and proceeded to the mount Girnara, where he attained salvation.

Parsvanatha, the 23rd Thirthankara, lived some years before Mahavira. Many of the relics, recovered from the excavations at Mohenjodaro and Harappa, are related to Jaina tradition. The nude images in the standing posture closely resemble the Jaina images. Kayotsarga is generally supposed to belong to the Jaina tradition.

History jainism after mahavira biography: Tradition states that the first Mauryan

There are some idols even in Padmasana pose. A few others, found at Mohenjo-daro, have hoods of serpents. Kalinga Modern Orissa was home to many Jains in the past. Rishabha, the first Tirthankar, was revered and worshipped, and was revered as 'Kalinga Jin'. It was destroyed by Mahapadma Nanda when he conquered Kalinga and he brought the idol of Rishabhnath to his capital in Magadh.

History jainism after mahavira biography: Tradition states that their first

However, in the 1st century BC Emperor Kharvela conquered Magadha and brought Rishabhnath's idol back and installed it in Udaygiri, near his capital, Shishupalgarh. The Khandagiri and Udaygiri caves near Bhubaneswar are the only surviving stone monuments dedicated to Jainism in Orissa. Disciples of Mahavira: Mahavira had eleven disciples called ganadharasall of whom were Brahmin converts to Jainism.

All of them established monastic lineages, but only two-Indrabhuti Gautama and Sudharman, disciples who survived Mahavira-served as the historical Jaina monastic community's points of origin. These Agam Sutras were passed down orally to future generations. Over time, many Agam Sutras have been lost, and destroyed. About one thousand years later the Agam Sutras were recorded on Tadpatris leafy paper that was used in those days to preserve records for future reference.

Pancha Mahavratas of Jainism Jainism has laid down several vows for actual observance and among them, the twelve Vratas or vows are considered very significant both from religious and social point of view. Vrata or vow is a religious rule of behavior observed with determination for a particular or indefinite period and it reveals inclination or disposition towards doing good or virtuous acts or deeds.

The five main vows or vratas, of Jainas are Ahimsa: to be free from injury, Satya: to be free from falsehood, Asteya: to be free from theft, Aparigraha: to be free from worldly attachment. Brahmacharya: to be free from unchastity, Four doctrines were advocated by Parsvanath and the fifth, Bhranmacharya, was added by Mahavira. Anuvratas: Laymen, on the other hand, cannot strictly observe the vows and are thus permitted to practice them to the extent that their circumstances allow.

When the same vratas or vows are partially observed, they are referred to as 'Anuvratas,' which are small or partial vows. Seven Supplementary Vows: There are seven Silavratas or supplementary vows in addition to the five main vows or vratas: Digvrata: Taking a lifelong vow to limit his worldly activity to fixed points in all directions. I accepted no invitation to a meal.

The Buddha tried ascetic methods found in Jainism, abandoned that path and taught the Middle Way instead. And how is the Nigantha restrained with the fourfold restraint? There is the case where the Nigantha is obstructed by all waters, conjoined with all waters, cleansed with all waters, suffused with all waters. This is how the Nigantha is restrained with the fourfold restraint.

When the Nigantha — a knotless one — is restrained with such a fourfold restraint, he is said to be a Knotless One Niganthaa son of Nata Nataputtawith his self perfected, his self controlled, his self established. Similarly, he found the Jain theory of karma and rebirths incompatible and inflexible with his own ideas for these. Buddhism, in contrast, emphasized sangha or monasteries.

According to Akira Hirakawa, the monasteries were easier targets for destruction and elimination, and Buddhism almost vanished from the Indian subcontinent after the Muslim invasions. In contrast, the roaming mendicants and the Jain tradition survived during this period of religious violence and turmoil. Neminatha, the 22nd tirthankara for example is a cousin of Krishna in Jain Puranas and other texts.

According to Paul Dundasthese histories jainism after mahavira biography were aimed at the Hindu lay householder community, were means to inculcate piety and subvert the actual religious teachings offered by their Jain neighbors. According to a publication by von Glasenapp, around the 8th century CE, Adi Shankara brought forward the doctrine of Advaitaand either converted Jain temples to Hindu ones or completely destroyed them.

This, states von Glasenapp, contributed to a decline of "Jaina church", particularly in South India. Under these influences, Jain kings became Shaivite. Sambandar converted the contemporary Pandya king to Shaivism. According to a Shaivite legend, an alleged massacre of 8, Digambara Jain monks happened in the 7th century. This was claimed for the first time in an 11th-century Tamil language text by Nambiyandar Nambi on Sambandar.

Subsequently, the king allegedly ordered the impalement of 8, Jains. This event is not mentioned in texts of Sambandar, nor any other Hindu or Jain texts for four centuries. Scholars question whether this story is a fiction created in the 11th century, or reflects an actual massacre. Nilakanta Sastri falsely states that the story is "little more than an unpleasant legend and cannot be treated as history".

According to legend, they destroyed various temples belonging to Jains and adapted them to their use. It was the state religion of Telugu and Kannada speaking territories like Wodeyar of Mysore and Ummatur —Nayaks of Keladi — Inthey stamped the lingam symbol in the main temple complex of Jains in Halebidu. It holds that correct knowledge is based on perception pratyaksainference anumana and testimony sabda or the word of scriptures.

History jainism after mahavira biography: After Mahavira.

However, it is envisioned as a material substance subtle matter that can bind to the soul, travel with the soul in bound form between rebirths, and affect the suffering and happiness experienced by the jiva in the lokas. Soul jiva is accepted as a truth, as in Hinduism but not Buddhism. The cycle of rebirths has a definite beginning and end in Jainism.

As in Buddhism and Hinduism, both time and the universe are eternal, but the universe is transient. Their interaction explains life, living, death and rebirth in Jain philosophy. In this part of the universe, it explains, there are six periods of time within two eons araand in the first eon the universe generates, and in the next it degenerates.