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Origin

- Indus River Valley

Civilization

- Foundation of the present

form of Jainism isestimated to be between

900 and 700 BCE

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Tirthankaras

- Appears in the world toguide people on their wayto moksha (liberation)

- A prophet

- Not an incarnation of agod

- An ordinary person

- Becomes a tirthankarathrough intense practicesof penance, equanimity,and meditation.

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Tirthankaras

- They are not the the founders of the religion.

- Tirthankaras teach the basic Jain philosophies.

- Each new tirthankara makes subtle differencesto the Jain philosophies make sure that they fittheir current age and culture.

- Svetambra Jains believe that women can betirthankaras and that one of the tirthankarasstarted out as a princess.

- However, Digambra Jains believe that womencannot be tirthankaras

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Tirthankaras

Adinatha, Ajita, Sambhava, Abhinandana, Sumati,

Padmaprabha, Suparshva, Chandraprabha,Suvidhi, Shital, Shreyansa, Vasupujya, Vimala,

Ananta, Dharma, Shanti, Kunthu, Ara, Malli, MuniSuvrata, Nami, Nemi, Parshva and Mahavira.

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Mahavira

- Most recenttirthankara

- Last tirthankara in this

age

- The man who gaveJainism its presentform

- Established thecurrent central tenetsof Jainism.

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Mahavira- Born in 599 BCE as prince Vardhamana, son of King

Siddhartha and Queen Trishala

- At the age of thirty, he left the royal palace to becomean ascetic (someone who renounces all worldlypleasures and comforts).

- After twelve and a half years of meditation and fasting,he reached Kevalnyan (enlightenment) and becameknown as Mahavira.

- Mahavira taught the path to enlightenment to others forthe rest of his life.

- He established a very large Jain community before hisdeath.

- However, Jainism started losing its influence with thegrowth of Hinduism.

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Beliefs

- Ahimsa (non-violence) is the the most

important part of Jainism.

- Jains try to live in such a way that their

soul doesnt accumulate karma and

to get rid of the karma it already has.

- Jains minimize karma by following a

disciplined life path.

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The Three Jewels

- Achieving liberation of the soul is

done by living by the Three Jewels of

Jainism:

1. Samyak Darshana (RightFaith/Perception)

2. Samyak Jnana (Right Knowledge)

3. Samyak Charitra (Richt Conduct)

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The Five Vows

- The Five Vows or abstinences must be followedto achieve the last of the Three Jewels, RightConduct.

1. Ahimsa (non-violence)

2. Satya (truthfulness)

3. Asteya (not stealing)

4. Aparigraha (non-acquisition

5. Brahmacarya (chaste living)

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Fasting

- Jains fast to purify their body and mind.

- Reminds Jains of the importance of asceticism

and renunciation.

- Not eating is insufficient, a Jain must stop

wanting to eat, otherwise the fast has no point.

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Pilgrimage

- There is no obligatory pilgrimage in the Jain religion.

- On a pilgrimage Jains live like a Jain monk or nuntaking on the lifestyle of an ascetic.

- They visit temples or other locations that are placesthat are associated with the lives of any tirthankara.

ShatrunjayaHill