JAINISM

Vardhaman Mahavira 

Vardhaman Mahavira is regarded as the founder of Jainism. He was born in 599 BC in Vaishali in Bihar. He was the 24^th or the last Trithankara of Jainism. 

The early life of Mahavira is veiled in obscurity, and nothing much is known except that he married a princess named Yashoda and for sometime lived a life of a pious householder, but forsook the world at the age of thirty. He roamed as a naked ascetic in several eastern countries and practiced severe penance for twelve years. In the thirteenth year of his penance  he settled in the northern bank of the river Rijupalika, near Jrimbhikagrama, a little known locality in eastern India and attained highest spiritual knowledge called Mahavira, and became the head of a sect called ‘Nirgranthas’ (free from fetters), later called Jainas. Mahavira preached in Prakrit language.

For the next thirty years he wandered about as a religious teacher and died in Pava in south Bihar at the age of 72 in 528 BC. The exact date of his living is disputed.

The Jaina Believes 

The Jainas believe that Mahavira was not the founder of the religion called Jainism, but he was the last of the long succession of the Trithankars, a prophet like. The 23^rd Trithankar named Parsva, seemed to have been a historical figure, as we find his mention as a prince in Varanasi. He enjoined on his disciple the four great vows of non-injury, truthfulness, abstention from stealing and non attachment. To these Mahavira added the fifth, the vow of Brahmacharya, or continence.

There is no place in Jainism for a supreme creative spirit or God. Also the doctrine of non-injury is given a wide extension by attributing souls not only to birds and beasts but also to plants, metals and water.

Mahavira’s Teachings 

He also emphasised the need of discarding all external things, including garments, if complete freedom from bond is to be attained. By following the three-fold path of Right Belief, Right Conduct  and Right Knowledge, souls will be released from trans-migration and reach the pure and blissful abode, which is the goal of Jaina aspiration. Right conduct means observance of 5 great vows – do not commit violence (ahimsa), do not speak a lie (satya vachna), do not steal (asteya), do not indulge in sexual acts (brahmacharya) and do not acquire property (apgraha). Householders were expected to observe milder form of these practices compared to the monks.

Jainism believed that the main goal of human life is the purification of soul and attainment of nirvana, which means freedom from birth and death. This can be achieved not through rituals and sacrifices but by pursuance of triratna (three fold path) and  panchamahavrata.

The most distinguishing form of Jainism was the concept of anekantavada meaning truth can be viewed from different angles. Another important feature of Jainism was its emphasis on extreme penance, austerity and strict non-violence. Perhaps emphasis on strict discipline was one of the reasons why it could not attract the masses in large number.

The original doctrine taught by Mahavira was contained in fourteen old texts called Purvas. In 5^th century AD a final collection of the scriptures was made and was written. The complete canon included not only the Angas, but sundry other treatises called Upanga, Mula, Sutra, etc.

Like Buddhism, Jainism also could not remain united for very long and later divided into two sects – Digambara (who remain naked) and Svetambara (who wear white clothes).