Jainism

Back to History 8 India Lecture Notes Jainism

Jainism, a small but important religion in ancient and modern India, is "atheistic in nature, the existence of god being irrelevant to belief. For Jains, everything in the universe has a soul. Hence, they practice an austere form of non-violence and vegetarianism. Some Jains even refuse to wear clothes because the fibers were taken from plants" (Manual 141). Although the idea seems outrageous to ravenous Americans, the belief in this respect for all living objects is widely excepted in India. "Jainism has an unbroken tradition in India especially among the merchant communities of Western India. It has continued with vitality until today... Both Buddhism and Jainism were characterized by a rejection of Brahmin civilization with its caste divisions and its sacrificial cult and Indo-European hierarchy of male gods. They represent a transition form magical thought of the Vedas to a new kind of rationality" (Manual 141).

Even though Jains believe that their teaching are universal and have no true founder, modern Jainism can be traced back to the teachings of Mahavira, a follower of Buddha. "Like those of the Buddha, Mahavira’s doctrines were formulated as a reaction to and rejection of the Brahmanism then taking shape." Jainism reject the idea of a creator God that is above all others. Information From: [[1]]

A main symbol of Jainism is an outstretched hand meaning "Stop." It is giving people a chance to stop and think about their actions before they carry through with them. In the palm of the hand, is the symbol of a wheel. This wheel represents the cycle of death and rebirth that both Hindus, Bhuddists, and Jains believe in.

[[[2]]] - to see a picture of the symbol

Jainism has played a crucial part in India, especially during the time of the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka, The grandson of the original founder of the Empire, was a Jain who lead his Army to fight in a huge battle against the Kingdom of Kalinga. After the battle, he realized that "he killed a hundred thousand people, deported 100,000 more and left 100,000 more homeless, injured dispossessed that Ashoka became convinced that war was wrong. Then he turned to the idea of ahimsa, non-violence. ‘From now on,’ he said, ‘I will try to conquer by right conduct alone" (Manual 141). After his sudden change of heart, Ashoka then "had his edicts inscribed, often using the ancient Hindu cosmic pillars which already existed at sacred sites. These archaic symbols were transformed into pillars of morality, explaining what the doctrine of dharma, right conduct actually meant. Remarkably, it was not based on the sanction of religious authority. It was a secular ideal of the dignity of human beings, and of the humanistic possibilities of civic morality based on the Buddhist eight-fold path of right thinking and the Jain belief in non-violence" (Manual 141). These pillars were monumental in his influence and some still stand today. Later in life, Ashoka fasted until his death, the most honorable way to die in Jainism.

Stuart Randall