What is Jainism

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Umedchand and Kusumbaben Charitable Trust Ahmedabad

Page 7

contrasts with Vedic and Aryan extrovert attitudes of enjoying life even while developing an attitude of non-attachment to materialistic activities. Jainism and Buddhism belong to the Shramana Tradition. Both the Shramana and Vedic Traditions have existed side by side in India for thousands of years and have contributed to, and seriously influenced each other. (Ref: pg 1-2 and pg 151-154)
Q6. Who established Jainism?
A6. No one. Jains believe theirs is an eternal religious tradition. This view can be justified by stating that the fundamental doctrines of Jainism are natural to the human mind, emotions and reasoning which existed ever since man began to reason out the Universal phenomenon.
Q7. What is the meaning of "Tirthankars", and who are they?
A7. "Tirth" means a place for spiritual upliftment or a bank of a river. Kar" means one who makes. So the word means one who finds or establishes a "Tirth".
There are twenty-four "Tirthankars" whose names and symbols of identification are as follows:
NAMES
Rishabhadev or Adinath ........
Ajitnath.......
Sambhavnath ......
Abhinandan Swami Sumatinath.......
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. Padmaprabhu Suparshvanath.
7.
8. Chandraprabhu Pushpadantnath
9.
10. Sitalnath..........
11. Shreyansnath 12. Vasupujyanath
13. Vimalnath
14. Anantnath 15. Dharmanath 16. Shantinath.... 17. Kunthunath 18. Aranath....... 19. Mallinath
20. Munisuvratnath.
6
SYMBOLS
Bull
Elephant
Horse
Ape
Heron
Lotus
Swastika
Moon
Dolphin Tree
... Rhino
Buffalo
Hog
Falcon
Thunderbolt
Deer
Goat
Fish
Jar
Tortoise