Studies in Jainism

Author(s): Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta
Publisher: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta

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Publisher's Note
Jainism is the earliest post-Vedic non-Brahminical religious faith which appeared in northern India in the first millennium B.C. It's earliest exponent was Rṣabha-the first Tirthankara. It was, however, finally codified by Vardhamāna or Mahāvira, the 24th Tirthankara, an elder contemporary of Gautama Buddha. Born in 599 B.C., Mahāvira is admittedly the founder of modern Jainism.
A Creator-God behind the vast universe around us has no place in Jaina theology. Nor does it accept that a religious faith can be impersonal 'apauruşeya' as accepted by the prevailing Vedic religion. The difference of Jainism with the Vedic religion is apparently sharp on many issues. A closer study of the two systems, however, reveals that they have much in common as well, and it would be a better appreciation of both to say that Jainism was a contemporary reformist religious movement. Such reform movements are a testimony to India's spiritual vitality-eclecticism and assimilation. The few articles printed in this small volume present the different aspects of Jainism.
We thank all those who have helped us in producing this book. We also thank Govind Charity Trust for helping us finance the publication.
August 1997