Jainism

Jainism, also known as Jain Dharma, is a religion that many people in the world don’t know about but is practiced by about 9 million people worldwide. With the roots of the religion coming from pre-historic India, Jainism is a dharmic religion. There is not an exact definition for the word dharma, it has several different meanings. It is used in most of the philosophies or religions originating in India, like Hinduism and Buddhism. Jainism is a very strict and intricate religion and its followers are big believers in peace and non violence.

Jains believed that the first person to receive the philosophy of Jainism was a person by the name of Lord Rishabha. Lord Rishabha was the first Tirthankar of the Jain religion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Rishabha). Tirthankar stands for “fordmaker” meaning that he is “the founder of a "Tirth" which is a community of Jains which acts as a "ford" across the "river of human misery".” (http://en.wikipeda.org/wiki/Tirthankar). A Tirthankar is a person who refrains from asceticism, or refraining from worldly pleasures, reaches enlightenment or perfect knowledge. After accomplishing enlightenment, his mission is to shows way to enlightenment to others. Once the Tirthankar has reached that enlightenment his knowledge is pure and perfect, and is the same as all the other Tirthankars’. Their knowledge does not contradict each other since it is perfect. Near the end of their life a Tirthankar reaches liberation, ending the cycle of birth and death. In Jainism, there is no beginning and no end to life and death; it is like a bike wheel. In the present cycle of time there are 24 Tirthankars. The next Tirthankar will be born in about 81,500 years. Each of the Tirthankars was a man except for the 19th which was a woman and each are identified as an animal, object, or another symbol. They are not looked at like a God since Jains do not believe in God, since he was the creator of the universe and they do not believe in creation (http://en.wikipeda.org/wiki/Tirthankar).

Jainism is divided into two divisions. The divisions are named Digambar (meaning sky-clad, naked) and Svetembar (meaning white-robed). Digambars believe that a person should give up all their possessions including clothes. They wear no clothes and carry only a peacock feather to brush away insects from their walking path so they do not harm them. (Wilkinson, 47). A few other characteristics of Digambaras are they beg and eat food only once a day, maintain a vow of nudity, women cannot attain salvation in this life, but rebirth can change their status in the next life through the karmic effects of austere living, and believe genuine canon of works lost, and follow varied writings. (Facts on File, 4.14). Svetembars are opposite to Digambars, they are given three pieces of cloth to wear, a begging bowl, and a wool whisk. They beg for their food and travel the countryside eight months of the year. Women can become Svetembara nuns. (Wilkinson,47). A few characteristics of Svetembaras are they wear plain white robes, nudity is optional, novice monks or nuns receives a whisk of yarn to remove insects from his/her way, decorate images with clothing of ornaments, and some wear a cloth over their mouth to prevent insects being swallowed. (Facts on File, 4.14)

Jains have several different beliefs that they follow, most having to do with peace and non violence. The beliefs they follow are called ahimsa, asceticism, karma, samsara, and the jiva. By definition ahimsa is a religious concept which advocates non violence and a respect for all life. All kinds of life including animal, and most plant life are considered precious and must not be harmed. To do harm to anything like, “agriculture, violence, animal sacrifice, drinking liquor, eating honey, potatoes or certain fruits, and eating at night, is forbidden.” Some Jains go even as far as wearing a cloth over their mouth to circumvent inhaling forms of life that are in the air. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa). Another belief is asceticism, or refraining from participating in worldly pleasures and becoming a monk. Monks are required to take the Five Great Vows and live a life of wandering between temples and meditating. (Wilkinson, 47). Karma is a something that Jains also believe in. Karma is everything someone has done and is doing in the current moment. Those deeds that the person performs will then lead to events that happen currently and in the future. Jains also believe that karma is in a form of matter, as clay particles. They do not believe in good or bad karma but try to avoid all kinds of karma. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma). Samsara is the cycle of life and death is endless. It is idea of going from one life to another. There is no beginning to anything and no end; it is a stream of existence. It is the continual process of birth