The world of jainism this is the best book on jainism. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. An introduction, is a thoroughly researched overview of the jain tradition, a religion and set of philosophical constructs that have influenced indian thought for over 2500 years. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. Acaranga sutra, jain sutras part i, sacred books of the east, vol. A comprehensive ebook on the mythology, cosmology, divinities and thinthankaras of jainism or jain dharma. The religious scriptures are not followed word to word. The jain literature includes both religious texts and books on generally secular topics such as sciences, history. Everyone knows gandhi but many dont know driving force behind gandhis ahimsa. Texts had to be memorized by the monks because they were not allowed to have any religious book and were not allowed to write. This channel is dedicated to educating people about jainism. However, the subject matter of the purvas are referenced by other jain scriptures and literature. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred.
Kalpasutra jainism kalpasutra is a jain ancient text containing the biographies of the last two jain tirthankaras,parshvanath and mahavira. The fourteen purvas, translated as ancient or prior knowledge, are a large body of jain. The jinas are considered more respectable than the gods. Jainism is a religion and philosophy native to india founded in about the 6th century bc by the sage mahavira. This succinct, completely engaging overview of jainism, the historical contexts of jain intellectual thought, and the relationship of. The drastivad consists of fourteen purva texts, also known as purvas or purva agams. Before mahaviras time, oral tradition prevailed where the guru passed on his knowledge to his disciple through word of mouth. However, the subject matter of the purvas has been referenced by other jain scriptures and literature. Among angagams, purvas were the oldest sacred texts. Holy days, festivals and rituals fasting is the very imporatant part of the jains tradition. The discourse delivered samavasarana divine preaching hall is called shrut jnana and comprises eleven angas and fourteen purvas. Scripture is the synonym of the holy text, which consists of religious dogmas, and assertions of an authentic authority apta purusa.
Hindus as well as hindus who are living in the west, an introduction to the faith. Digambara jains tend to use it to refer to their canon while svetambara jains usually use agama for their holy scriptures. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. Unlike christianity or islam, it is a not a religion that is governed by the book. The book presents jainism in a way that is authentic and engaging to specialists and nonspecialists alike.
My brothers and sisters of america, there is not the least shadow of hope that india can ever be christianised. Jainism considers souls as pluralistic each in a karmasamsara cycle, and does not subscribe to advaitastyle not two nondualism of hinduism, or advayastyle nondualism of buddhism. Digambara adhyatma texts are based on the purvas while the. This is a complete e book of on the indian sect of the jainas, by johann georg buhler. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. In the book, a reader in the anthropology of religion. Aug 29, 2008 what is kalpa sutra and why do jains read it. The myth is that these scriptures are lost, if a person was to have the purvas then they would be known as a srutakevali, which means that they have a superior status over others. Religion and culture of the jains by jyoti prasad jain 1983, bharatiya jnanpith will provide an orderly and. There was also knowledge from the tradition of prelord mahavir, that is from lord parshvanaths tradition and even from before that.
A liberated soul in jainism is one who has gone beyond sa. The jain literature which was complied by ganadharas and srutkevlis is known as agam literature. The puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. The holy book of jainism is known as the kalpa sutra or sutras. However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa.
Well, whatever sri gautam swami, the gandhar or the prime student of lord mahavir got from thee, he compiled it into 12 parts called as dwadas twelve angas. The word jain is taken from the word jina, which means getting victory over thy self and the peripheral world. Adinath or rishabhdev andneminath are two other tirthankaras briefly mentioned in the text, with adinath depicted in some of the illustrations. There are two different kinds of literature called agam, which is the sacred texts of jainism. Shah jain study center of north carolina raleigh 401 farmstead drive, cary nc 275115631 9194690956 and fax.
Jains are very caring over the environment, they wear masks over their faces to prevent inhaling of any small insects and they carry. 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. This playlist contains pravachans lectures on how and why the future is predestined and why are you incapable of changing it. It contains detailed life histories with illustrations.
The jain agams consisted of 1 14 purvas, 2 12 angpravishthaagams and 3 angbahyaagams 34 for shwetambar murtipujak, 21 for shwetambar sthanakvasi and 14 for digambar. After two hundred years of vain efforts and of spending millions of dollars with the prestige of the conqueror and backed by british bayonets, christianity is not supported by the converts themselves. The religion of jainism with hinduism and buddhism is an integral part of indian culture. All jain sects believe that knowledge of the purvas drastivad were gradually lost starting two hundred years after lord mahavirs nirvan death. Traditionally ascribed to bhadrabahu, which would place it in the 4th century bce, it was probably put in writing 980 or 993 years after the nirvana of mahavira. Many scriptures have been lost both sects disagree on whether they exist or not, but they do agree that the texts called the purvas are lost. Jains are very caring over the environment, they wear masks over their faces to prevent inhaling of. 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. Ultimate goal of life is eternal release from karma. Its purpose is to give an over view with as few technical terms as possible and without too much detail. While the majority of pilgrimage places in india are sacred to the followers of hinduism, there are numerous holy sites of other religions such as jainism, buddhism and islam. Excellent book on jainism 12 years ago thursday, january 6, 2011. Jainism is revealed in every cyclic period of the universe, and this constitutes the prehistoric time of jainism.
Michael tobias has described nonviolanceahimsa in great details. These scriptures or agams are based on the discourses of the tirthankaras. About jainism jainism is an independent and most ancient religion of india. In india, they share this feature with the buddhists. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. The purvas form a type of scripture, which jains believe predates the surviving holy texts. These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion. Instead they have a body of holy writings or scriptures. Jainism has no specific holy book but an amalgamation of scriptures called agams. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. The oldest jain literature is in shauraseni and ardhamagadhi prakrit agamas, agamatulya, siddhanta texts, etc. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma.
This book had all the knowledge a person should know about the universe. Recording the teachings of the 24th jina mahaviras closest followers, the purvas were lost centuries before the scriptures were first written down. The indian religion of jainism, whose central tenet involves nonviolence to all creatures, is one of the worlds oldest and leastunderstood faiths. Jain philosophy 2 28 jain agam literature the jainsite. All contain the teachings of mahavira and are called the agamas. Scripture is the synonym of the holy text, which consists of religious dogmas. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but. The holy books in hinduism are there only for guidance.
However, the holy books in hinduism are the basis on which we have evolved our culture and way of. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The reason is very simple, this book consists of a biography of lord mahavira in detail, and the lives of the other prophets tirthankaras. Jainism is an ancient religion from india that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live a life of harmlessness and renunciation.
The religion of jainism has many components that are said to be very similar with certain parts of hinduism as well as buddhism. All jain sects believe that knowledge of the purvas drastivad were gradually lost starting about one hundred fifty years after lord mahavirs nirvan death. 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. The drastivad consists of fourteen purva texts, also known as purvas or purvaagams. There was also knowledge from the tradition of prelord mahavir, that is from lord.
There are six highly recommended books that together form an excellent literary introduction to jainism and the jain way of thinking. The jain literature, which was compiled by ganadharas and srutkevlis, is known as agam literature. The persons having the knowledge of purvas were given an exalted status of shrutakevali or scripturally omniscient persons. Believe themselves to be closed and the environment rejects the possibility that my have ear was ever married and assumes he was celibate himself. Recording the teachings of the 24th jina mahaviras closest followers. This page provides information about important jain texts. Both sects agree that a group of texts called the purvas were lost in the famine. Unlike most common monotheistic religions, jainism does not have one holy book that characterizes their faith. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira. Sep 03, 2007 jainism is an ancient religion from india that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live a life of harmlessness and renunciation. Fundamental beliefs of jainism the soul is bounded by karma from the beginning of time the principles governing the successions of life cycles birth, life, and death is karma.
According to tradition, they were lost nearly 200 years after the final liberation of mahavira, early in the fourth century bce. Agamas are texts of jainism based on the discourses of the tirthankara. Jan 06, 2011 well, whatever sri gautam swami, the gandhar or the prime student of lord mahavir got from thee, he compiled it into 12 parts called as dwadas twelve angas. Instead they have a collection of holy writings and scriptures. Sep 11, 2009 represent a series of beginningless, endless and fixed truths, a tradition without any origin, human or divine, which in this world age has been channelled through sudharman, the last of mahavira.
The jainism has its own scriptures called agamas or srutas, which are directly derived from the tirthankaras. Jainism religion bhagwan mahavir jain symbol belief. This book is written by a westerner who is a practicing hindu, to give non. The jains have 5 great vows by which they try to live their lives.
The jain scripture the fourteen purvas are said to have been. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of. The jain religion is most popular in india where it was first found. Hindus are in a similar position, even though they have the vedas, which can be considered the ultimate source of teaching. Jain agamas wikipedia copying an expert from wikipedia below for your reference agamas are texts of jainism based on the discourses of the tirthankara. Jainism is one of the most ancient religions that originated in eastern india and it was founded around the 6th century. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that characterises their faith. The jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but it has many books complied by many followers. In this guide, paul dundas goes beyond recent accounts of jainism which have concentrated on doctrine, to give instead a strong sense of jainism as a living and dynamic faith. The jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or koran, but.