First Steps to Jainism Part 1

SR No.: 001640
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari
Publisher: Sancheti Trust Jodhpur
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 300
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Education
File Size: 10 MB

Page 15

Groundwork
1. Jainism, as the name indicates, is the religion preached by the Jinas. The word religion means a creed or a set of beliefs. Literally the word Jina means a conqueror, but Jinas who prescribed the set of beliefs known as Jainism were no ordinary conquerors. In ordinary sense the word conqueror means "victory of territory by force". However, the Jinas were conquerors of their own selves. They were victors over their senses, and their passions and desires. Jinas achieved Godhood-became perfect beings blessed with perfect faith, perfect wisdom and eternal bliss. They became free from worldly miseries and bondage for all times to come.
2. The way of life(and set of beliefs) these Jinas prescribed was the same as they had practiced-the path of nonviolence, self control and penance-and thereby reached the stage of perfection. They preached the same religion for the benefit of tormented beings of the universe for their salvation from miseries-a panacea for which humanity has been and is clamouring and which every religion claims to provide in its own way.
3. The Jinas were also described as Jainas in ancient literature and, therefore, the religion may have been called Jainism. Again the followers of Jinas are known as the Jains. The religion practised by these Jains may have been given its name as Jainism.
4. In the present cycle of time (we shall know more about Jain division of time subsequently) there have been numerous Jinas out of which 24 became Tirthankars or prophets or enlightened beings as they created institutions for propagating right faith, right knowledge and right conduct for salvation of humanity. The first of these Jinas was Lord Rishabh also known as Adi Natha (the first Lord) who started the Jain tradition in the present time cycle. The last one of these prophets was Lord Mahaveera who lived about 2500 years ago and who is erroneously considered the originator of Jainism.