Jaina Culture

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 14

CHAPTER 1
ANTIQUITY AND HISTORY
Culture is that complex which includes knowledge, belief art, morals, rules, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. In other words, culture is the sum total of man's learned behaviour. The culture of the individual is mainly dependent on the culture of the society to which that individual belongs. Thus, the acquisition of culture is predominantly a social phenomenon. The application of a particular culture may be social as well as individual.
There are individual differences in a group or class or society. Similarly, we find social differences in the world. Some of these differences are purely non-cultural, whereas
some differences are definitely cultural. A number of causes, individual as well as social, may be attributed to these cultural differences.
Indian Culture :
Indian culture is remarkable for its peculiarities. It consists of two main trends Śramanic and Brahmanic. The Vedic, Aryan or Hindu (in a restricted sense) traditions come under the Brahmanic trend. The Śramanic trend covers the Jaina, Buddhist and similar other ascetic traditions. The Brahmanic schools accept the authority of the Vedas and Vedic literature. The Jainas and Buddhists have their own canons and canonical literature and accept their authority.
Jaina Culture :
Jainism is one of the oldest religions of the world. It is an independent and most ancient religion of India. It is