Answered mar 2, 2018 author has 580 answers and 141. The most often cited book of the jains is the tattvartha sutra book of reality thought to date from the second millennium bce, but only recorded in written form in the 5th century ce by umasvati, and it is at that point that jainism splintered into the two main sects. In some sects particular scriptures are still limited to certain. The aim of existence is to attain through the triratna of. Indian language vocabulary is also wellexplained mostly sanskrit. Terapanth is another reformist religious sect under svetambara jainism. Sunni muslims emphasize the importance of religions role in forming public policy and generally put high stock in shariah, or islamic law based on the quran, and respected interpretations of that holy book.
In fact there are no fundamental doctrinal differences. The videvat are religious law books laying down codes of conduct and procedures for penance. Jain religion the true nature of a substance is a religion any activities of body, mind and speech. 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. Mahaviras disciples memorised his words and their followers had to commit to memory what they were told and so on. They are written in the ardhamagadhi, a form of prakrit language. Agam literature consists of many texts, which are the sacred books of the jain religion. The jains ten comandments the most significant regions. The kalpa sutra is the holy book of the of jainism religion. They are humans who achieve enlightenment via asceticism.
Medieval jainism from the jacket history of jainism has bee presented her in three parts. 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. Jainworld is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of jain tradition of wisdom, compassion, equality, brotherhood, universal wellbeing and spirituality. The one thing grossly lacking in this book is citation of scripture. One of two major sects of jainism known for nudity and high value of celibacy only men are allowed to become ascetics. These scriptures are known as jain agam or agam sutras. Although scriptural knowledge is very important, access to holy texts has frequently been restricted. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. A sect is a subgroup of a religious, political, or philosophical belief system, usually an offshoot of a larger group. Om is pronounced as omkara, aumkara, ek aumkara in all these religions. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism.
The holy text of the zoroastrians is the avesta, composed in a language belonging to the early iranaian group of languages and resembling the language of the vedas. Jaina canon religious texts britannica encyclopedia britannica. While there are differences in practices, the core philosophy and main principles of each sect is same. The digambara and svetambara sects interpret the notion of the divine sound differently. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b.
Jainism traditionally known as jain dharma, is an ancient indian religion. Literally, the monks of the digambaras are naked while those of the svetambaras wear white clothes. Believe themselves to be closed and the environment rejects the possibility that my have ear was ever married and assumes he was celibate himself. Ahimsa paramo dharmah noninjury is the highest religion. Jain holidays and festivals largely revolve around important events such as births and deaths in the lives of the thirthnkaras, or saints. Jainism is a transtheistic religion, and jains trace their. Each of these sects is also divided into subgroups.
All jain sects agree that this teaching was originally passed on orally, but over the. The digambara sect disputes the authenticity of the entire svetambara canon. There are 2 chulikasutras accepted by all swetamber sects. These sutras are collectively known as agams or agam sutras, the sacred books of the jain religion. This is one of the most important differences between the two groups in jainism, and it means that jain texts have very different roles for the two groups of jains. Jainism is regarded as an ethical system where nonviolence features as an important ethical value. The idea in buddhism and jainism that emphasizes nonharm and nonviolence is known as ahimsa. The great sects of swetambaras and digambaras are both divided into a number of schools, orders and smaller sects. In both there are lot of holy books in which many are comman. Traditionally, the original doctrine of jainism was contained in scriptures called.
Choose from 500 different sets of exam 2 religion world religions jainism flashcards on quizlet. 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. This is a time where jains make pilgirmages to sacred jainism. This is an effort to remind them that how close they are to each other. The major division within jainism, between the digambaras and svetambaras, is likely to have started early in the common era and is over 1500 years old.
Learn exam 2 religion world religions jainism with free interactive flashcards. Jaina canon, the sacred texts of jainism, a religion of india, whose authenticity is. This page provides information about important jain texts. The digambara sect believes that during this famine all the agamas were lost. Shah jain study center of north carolina raleigh 401 farmstead drive, cary nc 275115631. This is the second part in the series called the the jaina philosophy, originally composed by surendranath dasgupta in the early 20th century. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it has many books compiled by several gandharas and srutkevalis. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book, like the bible or the koran, but it has many books compiled by gandharas and srutkevalis during the 150 years after lord mahavirs nirvan death.
You may not know but the samaritans of the good samaritan fame, are actually jewish. Also the religious books and scriptures were considered possessions and attachments for. Digambara sect of jainism holds that most of these texts were lost and hence they have rewritten these texts. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it has many books complied by many followers.
As with most religious traditions, jainism has scriptures that contain its. The first part tries to prove through the archaeological and literary sources the historicity of tirthamkara, parsvanatha and mahavira, explaining their life and education besides religious. These texts are collectively known as agams, the sacred books of the jain religion. Normally mantras starts from om in these religions. After the end of famine, when the southern group came back to magadha, the changed practices led to the division of jainism into two sects. Jainism before and in the age of mahavira volume 2. What are the top ten religions and what is the holy book. These sects have been further sub divided into several other sub sects. The different jain sects accept different numbers of angbahya texts.
The svetambara canon consists principally of 45 works divided as follows. These two sects now recognise different canons of sacred texts. Some jain sects employ a pujari also called upadhye for rituals, who may be a. One of the main areas of dispute that was instrumental in the split is that of holy writings. Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore knowledge of the religion was never.
All four religions see om or omkaronkar as a sacred mantra chant. The daily prayer book the parsis use everyday is khordeh avesta the smaller avesta. As i recall, there may be a sentence or two of jain scripture in the entire book. They are still the majority sect within islam and in most muslimmajority countries. This page describes the philosophy of two sects of jainism. It is not a bible and there are many different holy texts in jainism. Jainism is an indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twentyfour. Eventually the teachings were written down but the various jain sects have disputed what makes up the scriptures or even that any have survived for centuries. Although the term was originally a classification for religious separated groups, it can now refer to any organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of rules and principles. Each of the three jain sects may celebrate slightly different festivals so not all jains will celebrate every holiday.
Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. The universe is not for man alone, but is a theater of evolution for all living beings. Jain texts such as acaranga sutra and tattvarthasutra state that one must. However, they regard mount grizim as the holy mountain where 1 of the last 2 communities lives and worships to this day. Indian religions, hinduism, jainism, sikhism, christianity. Buddhism 376 million followers tripitaka pali canon 5. These two traditions or sects take their names from the appearance of their monks.
The indian religion of jainism, whose central tenet involves nonviolence to all creatures, is one of the worlds oldest and leastunderstood faiths. The most famous of the mantras, broadly accepted in various sects of jainism. But the basic message and teachings remains the same. Tattvarthasutra post canonical is one text that is accepted by all the sects of jainism. Followers of jainism are called jains, a word derived from the sanskrit word jina victor referring to the path of victory in crossing over lifes stream of rebirths by destroying karma through an ethical and spiritual life. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that characterises their faith. Jaina canon, the sacred texts of jainism, a religion of india, whose authenticity is disputed between sects. The digambara and svetambara sects the digambara and svetambara sects it is worthwhile to see what the exact differences between the digambara and svetambara sects of jainism are.
The word canon for the jain holy writings is increasingly felt to be inadequate, for it implies an. Broadly, jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, digambara and svetambara. The teachings of the jinas were originally passed on through the spoken word. Uncut hair by the khalsa and the last name singh represent the symbolic characteristics of the lion.
Jainism is an indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twentyfour spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. This page describes the two sects of jainism shvetambara and digambara from the study of the philosophy of jainism. Jaina sutras, part ii sacred books of the east vol. These are further divided into different sub sects and traditions. Sutrakratang sutra suyagdang this agam describes nonviolence, jain.
Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. It is read in the eight day long festival called paryushan. The author does a very thorough job introducing the reader to jainism, its history, its sacred days, its customs and its sects. The causes of their origin and the differences between the two are quite diverse. The digambar jain sect maintains that after the famine, the entire jain. Two sects of jainism svetambara and digambara chapter i. Lord mahavirs preaching was methodically compiled by his followers into many texts.
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