Jain Journal 1996 07

SR No.: 520123
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 58
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 4 MB

Page 49

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXI, No. 1. July 1996 orthopraxy and nomenclature. Two is, Jain outward expressions like family structure, attitude of adolescence, matter of marriage, svadhyāya which I term communis colloquia. Three is, Jain ethics, seen in their attitude towards animal rights and Jain dietary laws.
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In the first category, self-definition and nomenclature are unique features of Jain identity within the South Asian religious groups in North America. In the second category, Jain matter of marriage is established as solemnizing the sacredness of unity of the two individuals as a foundation not only of the family but also of the society. Svādhyāya is very much an ancient system found among the Jains, unlike the Hindu or the Buddhist practices. The third category shows unique features of Jain identity in contrast to South Asian or even Juedo Christian values and practices.
Ninian Smart in his work, The Religious Experiences of Mankind has dealt with aspects of religious externals, and notes that experiential dimension forms one of the important constituents. Features of AmericJain identity from this perspective suggests that the community has altered or adapted textual Indian Jainism to American environment, and thus, has implanted or newly developed certain new features through practices in its experiential dimension. Such features on close examination show textual Indian Jainism being altered in America in many fronts, and prominent among them are found in ascetic and lay relation; temples and rituals, and festivals. Each of these outward features demonstrate that Jains and their faith do have distinctive indicators which are often completely different in identifying Jainism and its followers from other major South Asian religions and their groups.
Presentation of Jainism and its characteristic features of identity as outlined in the study basing both on theoretical exercise and practical considerations conclusively show that Jains and Jainism in North America undoubtedly possess all the characteristics of a structured world religion, in spite of a small number of followers. Its strong and independent roots that began from the time of unrecorded historic India have come to the present, preserving individuality and distinctiveness, in contrast to other religious groups from South Asia. However, would this small community sustain its new environment on the new landscape, and survive as it has done all these millenniums in India? My study indicates that this religion which finds peace within will possibly enter into a new phase, and will maintain its identity without losing its core essence and energy.