Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India

Author(s): Pranabananda Jash
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

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Preface
The present volume is an embodiment of the history of some aspects of the Jainas with an introductory note on the emergence of the Parivrājaka sect in general and the Jaina Parivrājaka in particular. While tracing the reason(s) about the origin of the Parivrājaka sect, it has been shown that the period was of great turmoil in Indian religious life and thought. With the revolutionary changes in the social and economic systems, new trends of thought and belief appeared and clashed with the orthodox and conservative patterns of behaviour. Naturally, a large number of sects and schools representing various attitudes and approaches to the problem of life cropped up in this atmosphere of fermentation of ideas. Adequate attention is being placed for obtaining a viable outline on the history of contemporary religious schools and their respective views and tenets. It is a modest effort to view the social dimensions of groups organised around religious ideas of both the theists and the atheists and supporting a religious identity.
Chapter 2 introduces the tirthańkaras in the light of historical perspective. Teachings and tenets of the last two tirthařkaras, viz., Pārsvanātha and Mahävira, appear to be the pivotal principle of Jainism. The study also includes an analytical outlook about the Jaina organisation and reason(s) behind the great schism in the monastic order. Apart from the contours of the schisms and differences, the present chapter includes a general survey of their respective canonical texts.
Chapter 3 deals primarily with the Jaina Canonicat Texts bearing monastic rules and regulations. It makes an endeavour to sketch a comprehensive account relating to the disciplinary code of the Jaina monks to understand the real nature and the characteristic features of the Jaina monastic order. The sixfold monastic order, an index of different stages of spiritual upliftment, deals with proper clarity and analysis. The philosophical intricacies of the system deliberately