CHAPTER FIVE: JAINISM
Chapter Outline and Unit Summaries
I. Introduction: Sixth Century B.C.E. Protest Against Hinduism
A. Jainism and Buddhism Reject Vedic Literature as Inspired Scripture
and Religious Implications of Caste System
B. Jainism is Probably Earlier than Buddhism
II. The Life of Mahavira
A. The Founders of Jainism
1. Orthodox Jainism Sees Multiple Founders
a. The Tirthankaras: Twenty-four Figures Identified
with Founding of Jainism
b. The Tirthankaras are “Crossing Builders” Who
Forge Ideal Bridge Between this Life and Nirvana
2. Nataputta Vardhamana, Know to Followers as Mahavira
(“great hero”)
a. Considered the Twenty-fourth Tirthankara by
Orthodox Jainism
b. Considered the Founder by his Followers
B. The Life of Mahavira (circa 599-527 B.C.E.)
1. Contemporary of Siddhartha Gautame, Confucious, Lao-tzu,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and School of Isaiah chapters 40-66
2. Details of Life and Teaching
a. Surrounded by Legend, Difficult to Identify Pure
Details from Buddhist-Influenced Details
b. Mahavira Born into Wealthy Family of a Ruler
(Kshatriya) Caste in North India
c. Dissatisfied with Wealth, Joins Ascetics
d. Dissatisfied with Ascetics’ Moderation, Advocates
More Extreme Asceticism and Doctrine of Ahimsa
(non-injury to life) to Find Release of Soul from
Life (moksha)
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(1) Avoided Killing Anything, Even Insects
(2) Sought Detachment through Extreme
Privations
e. Known to Followers as Conqueror (Jina) for
Conquering Forces of Life and Escaping Cycle of
Birth, Death, Rebirth
III. The Teachings of Jainism
A. The Problem of Perpetual Reincarnation at Core of Jainism
1. People Trapped in Cycle of Births Because of Karma of
Previous Lives
2. Negative Karma Minimized by Avoiding Activity
B. Jainism’s Dualism
1. Universe Composed of Matter (ajiva) and Soul (jiva)
2. Souls Enmeshed in Evil Matter / Flesh are Trapped in Cycles
of Lives
a. Women Considered Too Fleshly for Liberation
b. Mahavira Consider Women Great Religious Danger
3. The Liberation of the Soul Requires Tormenting the Flesh to
Release the Soul
4. Only the Individual Can Accomplish the Release of His / Her
Soul from the Flesh
a. The gods Might Exist but No Use to Individual
b. Prayer, Worship, Ritual, Sacrifice are Useless
c. Only Some Individuals Have the Ability to
Undertake Severe Asceticism (Monks)
d. Jain Monks Take Five Vows
(1) Non-injury to Life (ahimsa), Implying
Avoidance of Leather, Farming, Walking on
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Insects, and thus Necessitating
Vegetarianism and Urban Living
(2) Always Speak the Truth
(3) Take Only What is Given
(4) Renounce Sexual Pleasure
(5) Renounce All Attachments, Including
Family and All Possessions
e. Jain Laypersons Follow Only First Three Vows,
With All the Risks for Soul this Entails
5. Jain Scriptures Called Agamas (“precepts”) or Siddhantas
(“treatises”)
a. The Agamas: Sermons Preached by Mahavira
b. Jain Sects Disagree on Number of Genuine Agamas
IV. Jain Sects
A. Two Main Jain Sects Emerge by 80 C.E.
1. The Svetambara (“the white clad”) Sect in Northern India
a. Most Popular Jain Sect
b. Liberal in Reading of Agamas
c. Allow Monks to Wear White, Reject Necessity of
Nudity
d. Allow Women in the Religion, Monasteries, and
Teach Women can Find Release
2. The Digambara (“the sky clad”) Sect in Southern India
a. Conservative in Reading of Agamas
b. Require Near Nudity for Monks
c. Women Have no Chance of Achieving Release, are
Great Danger to Religious Purity of Men
B. The Sthanakavasi Arises in 1473 C.E.
1. Splinter Group from the Svetambara Sect
2. Rejects Temples and Idols
3. Accepts Only Thirty-three Agamas as Authentic, as Opposed
to the Eighty-four Accepted by Other Two Sects
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V. Jain Festivals
A. Festivals Celebrate Events in the Life of Each Tirthankaras
B. Paijusana
1. Most Popular Festival
2. Held at End of Jain Year (August-September)
3. Eight Day Festival in Which all Jain Laity are Encouraged to
Live as Monks for At Least One Twenty-four Hour Period
4. Ends with Processions and Almsgiving to Poor
C. Divali
1. Jainism’s Appropriation of Hindu Holy Day for Worship of
goddess Kali
2. Jains Light Lamps to Remember Release of Mahavira
VI. Jainism Today
A. Minority Religion
1. Over 40,000 Temples in India to Venerate Tirthankaras
2. Minority in India Because Doctrines of Ahimsa and
Emphasis on Asceticism Appropriated by Mainstream
Hinduism
3. Estimated 3.7 Million Jains Worldwide
a. Practice Rituals in Home
b. Practice Individual Meditation
B. Jain Occupations
1. Doctrine of Ahimsa Leads Jains to Refuse Careers as
Soldiers, Butchers, Leather Workers, Exterminators, Farmers
2. Jains Tend to Work in Commercial Professions, Respected
for Honesty in Business
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Key Names, Concepts, and Terms
Mahavira jiva and ajiva
Moksha Svetambara
Agamas/Siddantas Digambara
Tithankaras ahimsai
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