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Jainism
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Jainism by Prof. Josef Zubaty Ph. D.
1(Translated by Dr. Otakar Pertold) Dzainove or dsiniste (English Jains, Jainas) i e. worshippers of Jina or Jinas are followers of a special religion in India proper. Its origin is not quite certain. Sometimes the Jainas are considered as a Buddhistic sect,-Jainism arose at the time of the strug-tance and a similar eternal, imperishable, gle between Buddhism and Hinduism and living spiritual power. (By the parts of it leaned towards Brahmanism. Even in the this spiritual power life is given to the time of this origin there are many differ- parts of that lifeless substance). Jainas beences. Some people put it in the IX cen- lieve in the transmigration of souls: the tury B. C., others up to the VIII to IX soul takes after the death different shapes cent. A. D. If we compare, however, the e. g. of gods, of men in differrent classes, essence of the Jaina tradition with some of animals, even of plants, and can be other eg. Buddhistic reports, the following punished by temporary stay in one of the opinion which is recognised by Bühler and eighteen different hells. The salvation others is most probablely right. The Jaina (moksa) is the deliverance of the soul from religion did not spring up from Buddhism this transmigration. The man who is apbut from the same intellectual movement proaching his salvation after his death by as Buddhism and perhaps at the same time. means of his holy life is called Arhant, Therefore it has so many resemblances to The world is changing in two periods, Buddhism; however, it is more much which are mythically stated: after the closely associated with orthodox Brahmanism. The founder of Jainism is probably descent a slow decay of the world. In each period of development follows a period of Dznataputra (Jnataputra) or Nataputta, of these periods are born 24 men holy senior contemporary of Buddha. He is specially worshipped up to now as the ones, lords of the world, free from worldly last Jina under the name of Mahavira activity, omniscient. conquerors of the ("the great man"). His date is located by weaknesses, Jinas, who are showing the different sources between, 735 and 598 B. C. way through the ocean of darkness-TirHe preached his religion, in a similar man- thamkaras, and who are also designated as ner and probably in the same country as Buddhas In the present period of descent the first Jina was Vrsabha, who was 3,000 ft. long and lived 8.400,000 years; the others are more and more nearing to the human conditions; the last but one, Pars. vanatha, lived, ioo years, and the last Jina, Mahavira, 72 years. Jainas are wor shipping all Jinas of the previous, present and future periods, but especially the three above mentioned Jinas. Besides prayers
I At the very outest I may state that I am very much indebted to Dr. Otakar Pertold, Prof. of Sanskrit in the Prague University; for this article was translated from Czech Enyclopedia "Ottuv Slovnik Naucny) Pt. 8 pp. 325-326) at my request by him during stay in this city as Consul of Czechoslovkia. H. R. KAPADIA.
Buddha, and died in the 72nd year of his age in Páva (Behar).
to the belief of the Jainas an eternal, un The essences of the world are according
commenced and everlasting lifeless subs
