Jaina Community a Social Survey

SR No.: 007019
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Popular Book Depot Bombay
Publication Year: 1980
Total Pages: 484
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 277

Jaina Ethics and Miscellaneous Customs and Manners
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performed according to the strict rules laid down in the religious books. On the contrary, in many respects they resemble the corresponding Hindu ceremonies. The Jaina sacred books which prescribe these ceremonies are not very old. The Digambara's Adi-purāņa was written in the ninth century A. D.185 and Achāradinakara was written in Samvat year 1468. Thus as the ceremonies are prescribed sufficiently late, it is likely that the Jaina ceremonies might have been designed after the Hindu ceremonies. Whatever might be in theory, in practice at least the Jaina ceremonies look like the Hindu ceremonies.186 It is stated about the Deccan and Karnāțaka Jainas that of the sixteen sacraments, which are nearly the same as the sixteen Brāhmana sacraments, they perform threadgirding, marriage, puberty, and death, and that their rites do not differ from those performed by the Brahmins. 187 The same is said about the Gujarātha Jainas.188 Regarding the Dašā śrīmāli Jainas of Kathiawar, who form a bulk of the Jaina population, it has been remarked that many Jaina ceremonies are not perfo at all by them, and most of the ceremonies observed by them are in accordance with the Vedic rites.189 The domestic ceremonies, such as those of birth, marriage, death and so on, of the Jainas of Southern India resemble generally those of the Brāhmanas. 190 In spite of their revolt against Brahmanism, the Mysore Jainas observe many of the Brāhmana customs. 191 In respect of rules and customs, such as initiation, marriage and death, of the Jaina laity of Madhya Pradesh it is stated that there is comparatively little to distinguish the Jaina from the Hindus.192 . Thus it is clear that the Jaina ceremonies in general resemble the corresponding Hindu ceremonies in various parts of India.
In this connection it may be further noted that the Jaina ceremonies themselves are not practised in a uniform manner all over India. Though the Digambaras and the Svetambaras have different ceremonies, still neither the Digambars nor the Śvetāmbaras observe their own ceremonies in the same manner throughout India. There are obvious differences from province to province. As a rule the Jainas in South India wear a sacred thread. The sacred thread is worn by the Jainas in Mysore, 193 and in the Deccan194 after going through a detailed ceremony. In the south Arcot District in Tamilnadu though Jaina girls never wear a sacred thread, they are taught the threadwearing mantram,