The yogasastra and its voluminous autocommentary, the svopajnavrtti, is the most comprehensive treatise on svetambara jainism. Svetambara believes that they have the original jain scriptures. Fundamental beliefs of jainism the soul is bounded by karma from the beginning of time the principles governing the successions of life cycles birth, life, and death is karma. The jain swastika appears in all temples and holy books, and during ceremonies, a swastika is created using rice. The jainism has its own scriptures called agamas or srutas, which are directly derived from the tirthankaras.
In india there are 6 widely known religions and many minor religions which are not even known to most people. Jainworld is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of jain tradition of wisdom, compassion, equality, brotherhood, universal wellbeing and spirituality. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira. These are further divided into different subsects and traditions. May 18, 2006 this point is proved by what is said in the following quotes from oldest hindu holy books that jainism existed before vedas were composed. Each of these sects is also divided into subgroups. The religion states that the tirthankara taught in a divine preaching hall called samavasarana, which were heard by the gods, the ascetics and laypersons. Full text of yoga sastra of hemacandra a 12 century hand book of svetambara jainism olle quarnstrom university of harvard 60.
The svetambaras believe that they have the original jain scriptures. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. Full text of yoga sastra of hemacandra a 12 century hand. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. The monks and nuns memorize these writings as they are not allowed to possess books under the principle of nonpossessiveness. The word digambara means skyclad, refers to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing nor wearing any clothes. Scripture is the synonym of the holy text, which consists of religious dogmas, and assertions of an authentic authority apta purusa. What is the source of authority in the jain religion. Jainism and hinduism have many similar characteristic features, including the concepts of samsara, karma and moksha.
Agamas are texts of jainism based on the discourses of the tirthankara. Although this symbol was misused by the nazis of germany in the last century, the original jain symbol signifies peace and wellbeing. The svetambara or white clad and the digambara or sky clad. The holy texts frequently feature in religious ceremonies. In accordance with their practice of nonviolence, the monks also use a peacockfeather duster to clear their path of insects to. For the svetambara sect, as for all jains, the jinas are the ultimate source of teaching. However, they also accept that their collection is also incomplete. Notes on modern jainism, with special reference to the svetambara, digambara and sthanakavasi sects sinclair stevenson on.
Sep 02, 2003 the indian religion of jainism, whose central tenet involves nonviolence to all creatures, is one of the worlds oldest and leastunderstood faiths. Remember that this is the oldest religion on earth, therefore none of it is just wrong. The doctrine of jainism has minor similarities with the nyayavaisheshika and samkhya school. Digambaras reject the authority of the agamas compiled at valabhi. Mahaviras disciples compiled his words into texts or sutras, and memorized them to pass on to future generations. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. Jains are recognised by their symbol which is the swastika.
The texts, transmitted orally by jain monks, are believed to have been largely lost by about the 1st century ce when the remaining were first written down in the svetambara tradition. As a consequence they emit the divine sound divyadhvani which is the ultimate source. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism mahaviras disciples compiled his. Written in the twelfth century by the polymath hemacandra, it was instrumental in the survival and growth of jainism in india as well as in the spreading of sanskrit culture within jaina circles. Vardhamana was the younger son of siddhartha a nobleman who belonged to the kshatriya race, called in sanskrit jnati or jnata, in prakrit naya, and, according to. Digambara holds the opinion that original texts of jainism were lost ago. There are two main sects in jainism svetambara and digambara. The jain holy books are called jinvani and has everything about jainism in it.
Despite, both have different views when it comes to scriptures, liberation, dress, the birth of mahavira etc. Even what the scientists are finding now was written in these books years ago. In jainism it has special significance, as on this day in 527 bce according to svetambara tradition that mahavira gave his last teachings and attained ultimate liberation. What is the difference between svetambara and digambara in jainism. Ultimate goal of life is eternal release from karma. Some historians believe there was no clear division until the 5th century. But the digambara ascetic is allowed only two possessions viz. Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore. Agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism.
Tattvartha sutra is the probably the most authoritative text in jainism, accepted by bothsvetambara and digambara. Preface i would like to extend my sincere gratitude to michael witzel, wales professor of sanskrit at harvard university and esteemed editor of the harvard oriental series, for kindly approving the indian publication of the yoga sastra of hemacandra, a twelfth century handbook on svetambara jainism. These texts are collectively known as agams, the sacred books of the jain religion. Svetambara definition of svetambara by merriamwebster.
Jain literature comprises jain agamas and subsequent commentaries on them by various jain ascetics. Agama is a sanskrit word which signifies the coming of a body of doctrine by means of. The knowledge of shrutajnana, may be of things which are contained in the angas limbs or sacred jain books or of things outside the angas. As a consequence they emit the divine sound divyadhvani which is the ultimate. The patrons of the works were mainly svetambara jains, who considered the commissioning of illustrated books. Digambaras and svetambaras do not recognise the same body of scriptures as. All sects agree that teaching was first transmitted orally, however, the two main sects of jainism, svetambara and digambara disagree on which scriptures are authoritative, or most important. The svetambaras believe that the collection of 32 or 45, the number is disputed agamas holy scriptures are the first and foremost of all holy texts. Jainism is an indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twentyfour spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. The most prominent among the classical orders today are the kharatara founded 1024 ce, the tapa gaccha founded 1228 ce and the tristutik gaccha. Jains pay homage to them as holy objects in themselves.
The jain literature which was compiled by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. Jainism emphasizes that the suffering of rebirth can be brought to an end, and that achieving moksha, or the liberation from that cycle of rebirth, is the best reason to practice jainism. The jain literature includes both religious texts and books on generally secular topics such as sciences. Texts are not ritualized, but religious books do have a ritual role. The religion states that the tirthankara taught in a divine preaching hall called. Dundas looks at jainism in its social and doctrinal context, explaining its history, sects, scriptures and ritual, and describing how the jains have, over 2500 years, defined themselves as a unique religious community. The kalpa sutra mentions some of the lineages in ancient times. Jainism is one of the three major religions to emerge from india.
Jains venerate the sacred writings as a whole or as single items in various ways. Broadly, jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, digambara and svetambara. The svetambara monastic orders are branches of the vrahada order, which was founded in 937 ce. The discourse delivered samavasarana divine preaching hall is called shrut jnana. Jain libraries, including the svetambara collections at patan, gujarat and. This page provides information about important jain texts. Scripture is the synonym of the holy text, which consists of religious dogmas, and. May 22, 2019 jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. The fact that the digambara and the svetambara traditions agree on. Find here a list of selected books on the various aspects of jainism, jain history, jaina philosophy, practices, values and beliefs, thirthankaras, life and teachings of mahavira and jaina tradition. It is generally believed that the jain sangha divided into two major sects, digambar and svetambar, about 200 years after mahaviras nirvana.
The oldest canonical books of jainism, apart from some mythological additions and evident exaggerations, contain the following important notes on the life of their last prophet. The indian religion of jainism, whose central tenet involves. Most religions have sets of holy writings that lay out key principles and offer guidance and examples to believers, and jainism is no exception. Jainism considers souls as pluralistic each in a karmasamsara cycle, and does not subscribe to advaitastyle not two nondualism of hinduism, or advayastyle nondualism of buddhism. Jain literature is primarily divided between digambara literature and svetambara literature. The jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it has many books complied by many followers. Svetambara definition is a major jain sect whose members clothe themselves and their sacred images in white and in contrast to the digambaras assert that women can attain salvation. Sanskrit verse from shivpuran lord rishabhdev jineshwar first tirthankar the omniscient and the all pervasive incarnated himself on the magnificent kailas ashtapad mountain. The surviving versions of the agamas taught by mahavira are some of svetambara jainism s foundation texts, but their authenticity is disputed in digambara jainism. The jainism has its own scriptures called agamas or srutas, which are. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma. The jain literature which was complied by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. The indian religion of jainism, whose central tenet involves nonviolence to all creatures, is one of the worlds oldest and leastunderstood faiths.
A handbook on the three jewels of jainism the yogasastra of. These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion. The sermons of the tirthankaras are called arthagamas and the sutras written over them are named sutragamas. What is called as hinduism or sanatana dharma, islam, christianity, sikhism, buddhism, jainism are the known. Temples sometimes house scriptures in the shape of books, symbols or quotations inscribed on the walls. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. The existing svetambara texts are based on the vallabhi council texts. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that. While you likely know a little about hinduism and buddhism, each having over a billion followers, you. Jaina canon, the sacred texts of jainism, a religion of india, whose authenticity is disputed between sects. Jainism became prominent religion in india at the time of mahavira, who was born in about 599 b. However, they differ over the precise nature and meaning of these concepts. The svetambara ascetic is allowed to have fourteen possessions including loincloth, shouldercloth, etc. Difference between svetambara and digambara in jainism.
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