JAINISM

Jain faith is founded on asceticism and the sacredness of all life. The principal tenet is ahimsa (non-violence).

Mahavira (Great Spirit)(c. 599-527 B.C.) was the founder of Jainism, a contemporary of Buddha. He was the twenty-fourth Tirthankara (saint), 'the ones who lead to the other shore'. The saints show how to achieve release from the cycle of endless rebirth by the complete purification of their minds and bodies. Death by starvation is meritorious and vegetarianism is a creed.
The tirthankaras are jinas (victors) and their followers, the Jains or the sons of victors. The first jina was Lord Rishabh (Adi Natha).

The universe is a complex living organizm of imperishable particles (too small to be seen), all of which have souls. The jain saints wear gauze masks over their mouths to safeguard the unseen living organisms in the environment. They carry brooms to sweep minute creatures from their paths as they walk.

The institutions set up the jinas were: monks, nuns, laity (male), and laity (female). These were the tirtha or centres of worship. The 22nd and 23rd tirthankaras were: Nemi and Parshva. Nemi was a contemporary of Krishna and Parshva lived in 700 B.C. in Varanasi.

The svetambaras (white-garmented) and digambaras (space-garmented) are two main sects among the jain monks. Alexander encountered the digambaras (326 B.C.) and called them gymnosophist (naked philosphers).

The major monuments of Jainism are:

• Jain temple, Jaisalmer
• Jain temples, Palitana, Gujarat
• Hoysaleshwar temple, Halebid
• Jain temple, Belur
• Gomateshwar monolith, Sravanabelagola, Karnataka (11th cent.)
• Jain temple, Ranakpur, Rajasthan (15th cent.)
• Bhaironath, Nakoda, Rajasthan
• Jain temple, Delwara, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan (12th cent.)
• Jain sanctuary cave, Badami (c. 600)
• Jain caves, Ellora (8th cent.)
• Jain temple dedicated to Parshvanatha (23rd tirthankara)(c. 950-970)
• Vimala Sha temple dedicated to Rishabhanatha (22nd tirthankara)(1032)

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