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Jainism : Symbol of Emergence of New Era
Dr. Sangha Sena
The origin and development of Jainism (more precisely Jinism) and Buddhism reflect the emergence of a new era in the history of Indian perninsula. Both should a definite trend in the social development. It is also to be noted that both of them represent a culture which was distinctly opposed to and rival of the Brāhmaṇic culture as enshrined in the Vedic literature. This seems to be the significance of the mention of two cultures-Sramana and Brāhmaṇa-in earlier works and the inscriptions of Asoka. Both Jainism and Buddhism were the products of the former.
The majority of the historians hold that on earlier religious order, Nigantha or Nirgrantha by name was precursor of the Jaina religion, The Jaina orientation to it was probably given by Pärsvanātha and Vardhamana (the latter styled is Mahavira), the last two Tirtharkara-s or celebrated teachers. By far, the contribution of Vardhamāna seems to be the highest, who raised the religion to the height of one of the major religious orders of his days. He was born in or around 540 B. C. The name of his father was Siddhartha who was probably the chief of a clan known as ñāti or Jñāts. The clan was closely related with the brave licchavi-s of Vaishali. Vardhamana left his house-hold at the age of thirty. After hard and arduous penances for twelve years, he is reported to have attained kaivalya or liberation. Accordingly, he was styled Mahavira and was called Jaina or Arahanta by his worthy disciples. After the attainment of Kaivalya, he propagated his faith to the people in general in various parts of present day Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. He was accepted and recognised as Tirthankara. The impact of the teachings of this great son of India was so great that in course of time, the religion to which he gave new orientation, came to be known as Jaina after one of his epithets. He passed away in about 468 B. C. after attaining a full age of 72 years
The upholders of the faith of the Jinas, came to be known as Jainas. They were taught not to believe in God (as creator of this world). They adored and still continue to do so, the Tirthankaras. The Tirthankaras were those liberated souls who were once in bondage, but became, through their own efforts free, perfect, omniscient, ommipotent and all-blissful. The Jainas believe that every spirit (Jiva) that is in bondage at this point of time can follow the foot-steps of the Tirthankaras and attain, in due course, like them, perfect knowledge, power and joy. This spirit generated by an element of optimism causes absolute self-confidence in every true Jaina. The importance of personal efforts for the realization of absolute perfection is so great that he is never in the spell of any speculation, but is fully and truely endowed with a promise that he too can one day reach the exalted position of the liberated saints.
1. Cf. M. Winteroitz, The History of Indian Literature, Vol. II, p. 424 (Reprint Munshiram, Manoharlal,
Delhi). 2. The word 'Jina' etymologically means victor. It was used retrospectively to all the Tirthankaras,
because they were believed to have conquered all passions, (räga and dveşa) and had thereby attained liberation. The word 'Jaina' is a derivative of the word Jina' and hence means the religion of the Jainas.
जैन धर्म एवं आचार
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