Jainism Some Essays

Author(s): A S Gopani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 72

Jainism and Buddhism
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emphatically and unambiguously and also said in the same breath that the Vedas were not divine revelations. These principal theories of theirs gave rise to subordinate ones such as the outright rejeotion of caste-system, acceptance of begging for alms and do fixed residence. They also accepted equal right to Emancipation of man and woman-both. Sanskrit which was the language of the elite did not find favour with them. All these characteristics of the Sramņaic Ideology were almost common to both, Jainism and Buddism.
Besides these, the words such as Arihanta, Tirthankara, śāstā, Jina, Buddha etc. etc. are similarly found in both. The protest against yajña, and the caste is met in Buddhism also as it is in Jainism. The individual's names such as Gautama, Sidbārtha etc. etc. distinguish both of them, equally. The concepts such as the Aśrava, Saṁvara, Mokşa, Nirvāņa, Punarjanma (Karmic influx, stoppage of Karmic influx, Emacipation, Extinction, Rebirth, respectively), religious rites, namely, uposatha and Pausadha (Full Fast), daily disciplinary exercises such as Pratikramana (withdrawal from sins and sipful activities), vows of Abimsā (Non-injury) etc. rules and regulations guiding the monks etc. expiatory directions, the greatness of the religious community (Sa mgha), its ruling head, and of the religion itself-all these features are identical in both. Despite these similarities, there is a basic difference between the Metaphysics and Philosophy of both as well as the Founders and followers of both of them. This is the reason why they both are called independent religions.
Tirthankara and Buddha
It is evident from the very names, that the adoration of virtues and not the personalities is important. Even though it is so, they both have got a series of Tirthařkaras and Buddhas. As the revered Mahāvira is the 24th Tirthankara, Gautama Buddha is the 25th Buddha. Though they both were human beings, through spiritual elevation brought about by hard austerities and penances, they achieved the status of the Non-attached and Omniscient Superhuman being who in his role of the Redeemer of the universe, rules and directs the universe and earning the appellation of the Revered (Bhagavān), is ultimately worshipped and adored as Tirthankara or Buddha. Both the systems have accepted it as a postulate that the attainment of the position of the Tirtharkara or Buddha is not the result of one birth only but it is the consummation of the spiritual potential brought out and developed through a series of existences. Both have got a separate class of Pratyekabuddhas who are also called Mūkakevalins. They enjoy the highest bliss through self-realization. What distinguishes the Pratyekabuddha from