Religious Movements of Jainism (600 BC - 400 BC)

Religious Movements of Jainism (600 BC - 400 BC)

Various religious movements, viz. Buddhism, Jainism, etc. were born and grew up in the Post-Vedic Period known as the Period of Second Urbanisation or the Age of Buddha (6th Century BC to 4th Century BC).

Causes of Religious Movements

1. The Vedic philosophy had lost its original purity.

2. The Vedic religion had become very complex and had degenerated into superstitions, dogma, and rituals.

3. The supremacy of the Brahmans created unrest in the society, and the Kshatriyas reacted against the Brahmanical domination.

4. Introduction of a new agricultural economy in Eastern India.

5. The desire of Vaishyas to improve their social position, with the increase in their economic position due to the growth of trade.

Jainism

Early Mentions

• The Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavat Purana describe Rishabha as an incarnation of Narayana.

• The names of two Jain Tirthankaras — Rishabha and Arishtanemi — are found in the Rig Veda.

Historicity of Tirthankaras

• The historicity of the early 22 Tirthankaras is ambiguous.

• We have historical proof of only the last two — Parshwanath (23rd) and Mahavira (24th).

Parshwanath

• Prince of Benaras, abandoned the throne, lived as a hermit, died at Sammet-Shikar / Parshwanath (Parasanath) Hill, Giridih, Jharkhand.

• His four main teachings (Chaturthi) were:

  1. Ahimsa (non-injury)

  2. Satya (non-lying)

  3. Asteya (non-stealing)

  4. Aparigraha (non-possession)

Mahavira adopted all these and added Brahmacharya (Chastity) as the fifth.

24 Tirthankaras of Jainism

Life of Mahavira

• Born in 540 BC in Kundgram near Vaishali in Bihar.

• Father: Siddhartha (head of Jnathrika Kshatriya clan under Vajji of Vaishali)

• Mother: Trishala (sister of Chetaka, king of Vaishali)

• Related to Bimbisara, ruler of Magadha.

• Married Yashoda (daughter of Samarvira king); daughter Anonja Priyadarshini married Jamali, Mahavira's first disciple.

• At age 30, I renounced family life and became an ascetic.

• Accompanied by Makkhali Gosala, later founder of the Ajivika sect.

• Attained Kaivalya under a sal tree at Jambhikagrama on the bank of the river Rijupalika at age 42.

• Titles: Kevalin, Jina, Jitendriya, Nrigrantha, Arhant, Mahavira

• First sermon at Pava to 11 disciples (11 Gandharas)

• Founded the Jain Sangha at Pava

• Died at age 72 in 468 BC at Pavapuri, near Biharsharif in Bihar

• Only Gandhara to survive: Sudharma

Doctrines of Jainism

Triratna (Three Gems of Jainism)

The aim of existence is to attain through the triratna of

1. Samyak Shradha / Viswas (Right Faith) — Belief in Tirthankaras

2. Samyak Jnan (Right Knowledge) — Knowledge of the Jain creed

3. Samyak Karma / Acharana (Right Conduct) — Practice of 5 vows

Pancha Mahavaratas (Five Vows)

1. Ahimsa (non-injury)

2. Satya (non-lying)

3. Asteya (non-stealing)

4. Aparigraha (non-possession)

5. Brahmacharya (chastity)

(Note: First four by Parshwanath, fifth added by Mahavira)

Types of Knowledge

1. Mati jnana- Perception through the activity of the sense organs, including the mind

2. Shruta jnana- Knowledge revealed by scriptures

3. Avadhi Jnana- Clairvoyant perception

4. Manahparyaya jnana- Telepathic knowledge

5. Keval jnana- Temporal knowledge or Omniscience.

Syadvada

i.e. The Theory of Maybe/Perhaps

Main Concept:

• All our judgments are necessarily relative, conditional, and limited.

Key Principle:

• According to Syadvada, seven modes of prediction (Saptabhangi Nayavad) are possible.

Important Notes:

• Absolute affirmation and absolute negation are both wrong.

• All judgments are conditional.

Alternative Name:

• Syadvada is also known as Anekantvada, i.e., the theory of plurality or multi-sideness.

Principles Preached by Mahavira

1. Rejected authority of the Vedas and Vedic rituals

2. Did not believe in God

3. Believed in Karma and the transmigration of the soul

4. Emphasized equality

Jain Culture

Jain Literature

The sacred literature of the Svetambaras is written in a type of Prakrit called Ardhamagadhi Prakrit and may be classified as follows :

1. 12 Angas

2. 12 Upangas

3. 10 Parikamas

4. 6 Chhedasutras

5. 4 Mulasutras

6. 2 Sutra-Granthas

Note: 14 Purvas/Parvas — part of 12 Angas; oldest text of Mahavira's teachings.

Important Texts:

• Kalpasutra (Bhadrabahu)

• Bhadrabahu Charita

• Parishishta Parvan (an appendix of Trishash thishalaka Purush) Hemchandra.

Cause of Division

In 298 BC, there was a serious famine in Magadha (South Bihar), leading to a great exodus of many Jain monks to the Deccan and South India (Shravanbelgola) along with Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya.

• They returned after 12 years.

• The leader of the group that stayed back in Magadha was Sthulabhadra.

• Upon returning, Bhadrabahu’s followers insisted on complete nudity as essential to Mahavira’s teachings.

• Meanwhile, the monks in Magadha began wearing white clothes.

Resulting Sects

1. Shvetambaras (White-clad) — Led by Sthulabhadra

2. Digambaras (Sky-clad/naked) — Led by Bhadrabahu

Examples of Jain Architecture

1. Gumphas (Caves):

   • Hathigumpha, Baghagumpha etc.

   • Udaigiri and Khandagiri (Orissa) – Kharvela

2. Dilwara Temples (Mount Abu, Rajasthan):

   • Vimalavasahi Temple

   • Tejapala Temple

3. Temples in Gujarat:

   • Giranar

   • Palitana

4. Temples in Bihar:

   • Pavapuri Temple

   • Rajagriha Temple

5. Statue of Gomateshwar / Bahubali:

   • Shravanbelgola (Karnataka)

Royal Patrons of Jainism

I. North India:

• Nandas

• Bimbisar, Ajatshatru, Udayin (Harayank Dynasty)

• Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara, Samprati (Mauryan Dynasty – Magadha)

• Pradyota (Avanti)

• Udayan (Sindhu-Sauvira)

• Kharavela (Kalinga)

II. South India:

• Ganga Dynasty

• Kadamb Dynasty

• Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta Dynasty)

• Siddharaj Jai Singh & Kumarpala (Chaulukya/Solanki) – Last great patrons

Final Thoughts

Jainism emerged during the Second Urbanisation (6th–4th Century BC) as a response to the growing ritualism and social inequalities of Vedic society. Founded on the teachings of Parshwanath and Mahavira, it emphasized non-violence, self-discipline, and spiritual liberation through right faith, knowledge, and conduct.

The sect split into Shvetambaras and Digambaras after a famine in 298 BC, but core doctrines remained intact. Jainism gained strong royal patronage and made lasting contributions to Indian philosophy, ethics, architecture, and literature. Its doctrines of Anekantavada and Syadvada continue to influence Indian thought and culture.