30 Jainism Facts : Jainism Beliefs And Teachings

30 Jainism Facts: Jainism Beliefs And Teachings

Jainism is an ancient religion which is largely practiced in India.
Jain's follow vegetarianism, yoga, meditation, and are also concerned about the environment.

Jainism has been always praised from time to time for its practices and beliefs and the principle of Ahimsa.

 Indian Leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was greatly influenced by Jainism, said:

No religion in the World has explained the principle of Ahiṃsa so deeply and systematically as is discussed with its applicability in every human life in Jainism. As and when the benevolent principle of Ahiṃsa or non-violence will be ascribed for practice by the people of the world to achieve their end of life in this world and beyond, Jainism is sure to have the uppermost status and Mahavira is sure to be respected as the greatest authority on Ahiṃsa ~ Mahatma Gandhi

#1

monks Amitjain80 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Followers of Jainism are called "Jains" which is derived from the Sanskrit word Jina (victor). This implies the path of victory in crossing over life's cycle of rebirths through an ethical and spiritual life.

#2

Jain's believe that Jainism is eternal dharma with no end or beginning. The Tirthankaras(spiritual leaders) guide humanity in every cycle of the Jain cosmology.

#3 

The motto of Jainism is Parasparopagraho Jivanam which means the function of souls is to help one another.

#4

The most common and basic prayer in Jainism is Namokara mantra.

#5

Jain people lead a predominantly vegetarian lifestyle that avoids harm to animals and their life cycles. Jain monks and nuns do not eat any root vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and garlic because they believe 

• Tiny organisms are injured when the plant is pulled up 
• Bulb ability to sprout is seen as a characteristic of a higher living being.

#6

Devout Jains take five main vows: 

• Ahiṃsa (non-violence), 

• Satya (truth), 

• Asteya (not stealing),

• Brahmacharya (celibacy or chastity), 

• Aparigraha(non-attachment).

#7

There are nearly four-five million Jain followers across the world with most Jains residing in India.

#8

Aayush18 [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Jain's Major Jain festivals include Paryushana and Daslakshana, Mahavir Jayanti, and Diwali. The most important annual holy events for Jains is Paryushana. Paryushana means "abiding and coming together". 

It is a time when the Jains take on vows of study and fasting. It is usually celebrated in August or September in Hindi calendar Bhadrapad Month's Shukla Paksha. It lasts 8 days for Swetambara and 10 days for Digambara sect of Jains. Jains increase their level of spiritual intensity. 

They do fasting and prayers, meditation during this period.

#9

Jain people believe meditation is concerned more with stopping karmic attachments and activity and not as a means to transformational insights or self-realization in other Indian religions.

#10

Etiennekd [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Common

Rishabhdev (First Tirthankara), believed to have lived over a million years ago, is considered the traditional founder of Jainism.

The word Tirthankara means the one who is the founder of a tirtha(Pilgrim) and guides humanity to the path of liberation from the cycle of re-births and deaths, the saṃsara.

#11

 Jain flag

The five colors of the Jain flag represent the Panca-Paramesṭhi (five great virtuous entities) and the five vows, small as well as great. 

• Arihantas: enlightened beings 
• Siddhas: liberated souls
• Acharyas: spiritual leaders
• Upadhyay's: spiritual teachers
• Sadhus and Sadhvis: spiritual practitioners 

Four stages and curve represents the abode. 

#12

ASethi [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The tallest Jain statue in the world is Statue of Ahimsa near Nashik in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The statue depicts the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha. 

The statue is 108 feet tall( 121 feet including the base or support on which a statue) This statue record name in the Guinness world record for the tallest Jain Idol.

#13

Jain Pilgrim sites are divided into the following categories: 

• Siddhakshetra – The site where One becomes Arihant or a place where Tirthankara attained Moksha. 
• Atishayakshetra – The locations where divine events have occurred. 
• Puranakshetra – The places associated with the lives of great men. 
• Gyanakshetra – The holy Places associated with famous acharyas, or centers of learning

#14

A Jain temple is called Derasar or Basadi.

Jain temples are built with various architectural designs but there are mainly two types of Jain temples:

Shikar-bandhi - The Jain temple with a dome.

Ghar Jain temple - The Jain house temple without a dome.

#15

The scriptures of Jain are called Agamas. These are believed to have been verbally transmitted by the oral tradition from one generation to the next.

#16

According to Jainism, purification of soul and liberation can be achieved through the path of three jewels: Their flag also symbolizes three jewels with the three dots in their flag. 

• Samyak darsana (Correct View) –Having Faith in basic tenets of Jainism and accepting the self-evident truth of soul (jiva).
• Samyak jnana (Correct Knowledge) – To have Knowledge of the tattvas without any doubt. 
• Samyak Charitra (Correct Conduct) – To have behavior that is consistent with the Five vows.

According to Jain texts, the liberated pure soul (Siddha) goes up to the summit of the universe (Siddhashila) and dwells therein eternal bliss. The purpose of every soul is to attain God-consciousness and become a pure liberated soul that resides in Siddhashila.

#17

According to Jainism, There is no creator of the universe. It was never created, nor will it ever cease to exist. It is independent and self-sufficient. It does not require a creator nor any superior power to govern it, nor a judge nor destroyer.

#18

In Jainism, perfect souls with the body are called Arihant (victors) and perfect souls without the body are called Siddhas (liberated souls).

#19

Fgndgndgnr [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Akshaya Tritiya Festival: It commemorates the first Tirthankara's Rishabhdev ending his one- year asceticism by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands.

#20

According to the Jain texts, the universe is divided into three parts,

• Upper - Urdhva Loka - realms of the gods or heavens.
• Middle - Madhya Loka - realms of the humans, animals, and plants 
• Lower - Adho Loka - realms of the hellish beings or the infernal regions 

As with the realms of existences, Kala (time) is without beginning and eternal. The cosmic wheel of time, called Kalachakra, rotates ceaselessly.

#21

There are 4 stages of soul. The soul is reborn in various realms of existence depending on their karmas. The four stages are: 

• Deva (demi-gods),
• Manuṣya (humans), 
• Naraki (hell beings) and 
• Tiryanca (animals, plants, and micro-organisms)

#22

Jain Miniature Painting [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

According to Jain cosmology, 24 Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers who teach the right path to humanity)have appeared on earth. Mahavira was the last Tirthankara of the present time cycle. He was born in the early part of the 6th century BC into a royal Kshatriya family in present-day Bihar, India

#23

The Jain community is divided into two major denominations,

• Digambara - Monks of the Digambara (sky-clad) tradition do not wear clothes. Female nuns/monks of the Digambara sect wear unstitched plain white sarees. They are referred to as Aryikas. 

• Svetambara - Svetambara (white-clad) monastics, on the other hand, wear seamless white clothes.

#24

Photo Dharma from Penang, Malaysia [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Pavapuri-Jal Mandir Last spiritual teacher Of Jains, Lord Mahavira attained nirvana at Pavapuri. He was cremated in the village. The place of his cremation became a pilgrimage center.

A large number of pilgrims started coming to take the soil which was considered as sacred ashes of Lord Mahavira This, in turn, created a huge pit which got filled up with water and became a tank. 

To Show respect for the place of his cremation, a temple was built within the tank.

#25

Jains fast on different occasions throughout the year, particularly during festivals. This practice is called upavasa, tapasya or vrata. 

A vow to fast till death is called sallekhana. It is rarely practiced in the modern age but was followed by Jain monks and nuns in the past. 

They believed this reduces negative karma that affects a soul's future rebirths.

#26

The hand with a wheel on the palm is a symbol of Ahiṃsa in Jainism. The word in the middle is ahiṃsa(non-violence). 
You may check the Jain symbol and its meaning here 

The wheel represents the Dharmachakra and stands for the resolve to halt the saṃsara (transmigration) through the relentless pursuit of  Jainism Teachings - truth and non-violence.

#27

In Jainism, OM is considered a concise form of reference to the panca-paramesthi (The Supreme five as symbolized in flag also), by their initials a+a+a+u+m (o3m). aaaum ~"om" Arihant, Asharira, Acharya, Upajjhaya, Muni.

#28

Lord Mahavir birth is celebrated as Mahavir Jayanti and his Nirvana is observed by Jains as Diwali. 

The Hindu festival of Diwali is also celebrated on the same date. Much like Hindus, Jain temples, homes, offices, and shops are decorated with lights and Diyas also.  The light is a symbol of divine knowledge or removal of ignorance.

#29

The Jain new year starts right after Diwali.

#30

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as a mark to remember how Muni Vishnu Kumar saved seven hundred Jain monks from inhuman torture and trouble. Jains also make sweet porridge(kheer) this day.

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