Jainism
Jainism was an important protestant religious movement in ancient time of Indian history. According to Jainism 24 Tirthankaras preached Jainism. According to Jainism those who preached the path(way) and ghat of liberation of human life were called Tirthankaras. According to Jainism, the first Tirthankara was "Rishabha". After this the names of 22 Tirthankaras are not important in history. "Parshwanath" was the 23th Tirthankara. "Parshvanath" was the real originator of Jainism. Parshwanath preached the four principles of non-violence, truth-telling, non-stealing, and non attachment to wealth. These four principles are called "chaturyam" in Jainism. Mahavira was the last Tirthankara of Jainism. Mahavira popularized Jainism among the public. Mahavira preached five policies. Added the new policy "Brahmacharya" to the earlier four policy of Parsvnath. These five policies were collectively called "Pancha Mahavrata".
Jains did not believe in conventional Vedic "Yagya". Was believed in karma ( Work results of man life) and reincarnation. The basic premise of Jainism is Soul and Matter. According to Jains, just as there is a soul in living things, there is also a soul in non-living things. Jains believed that all things in the universe has life. Killing animals was a great sin in Jainism.
Q1. Jain tradition founded by Rishabha and he is the first Tirthankaras of Jainism
Q2. Name was the 23rd Tirthankaras Parshwanath.
Q3. Father name was of Parshwanath Ashvasena, king of Banaras.
Q4. Mahavira was the last and 24th Tirthankaras of Jainism
Jain religion symbol
Each Jain Tirthankara used one symbol. The symbols did not match each other. The symbols were mostly of living creatures. The names and symbols of Tirthankaras are discussed in the table below.
According to Jainism 24 Tirthankaras preached Jainism.
According to Jain tradition there were 24 Tirthankaras. Their name and Jain religion symbol.
SIRIOL NO | NAME OF TIRTHANKARAS | JAIN SYMBOL |
---|---|---|
1 | Rishabha | Bull |
2 | Ajitnath | Elephant |
3 | Sambharnath | Hores |
4 | Abhiaandam | Monkey |
5 | Sumatinath | Curlew |
6 | Padmaprabhu | Red Lotus |
7 | Suparswanath | Swastik |
8 | Chandraji Prabhu | Moon |
9 | Suvidhinath | Crocodile |
10 | Shitalnath | Srivatsa |
11 | Shreganath | Rhinoceros |
12 | Vasupujya | Buffalo |
13 | Vimalnath | Bora |
14 | Anantnath | Falcon |
15 | Dharmanath | Vajra |
16 | Shantinath | Deer |
17 | Kuntunath | He-Goat |
18 | Arnath | Fish |
19 | Mallinath | Waterpot |
20 | Muniswasth | Tortoise |
21 | Neminath | Blue Lotus |
22 | Arishtanemi | Conch Shell |
23 | Parshwanath | Serpent |
24 | Mahavira | Lion |
Life of Vardhman Mahavira
Q5. Mahavira was born to the year about in 540 B.C by historians assume.
Q6. He was born in Kundagram of Vaisali. (Present time Kundagram hav Basar village in Muzaffarpur of Bihar)
Q7. His father name was Siddhartha. Siddhartha was King of Jnatrika clan.
Q8. His mother name wasTrishla.
Q9. Yashoda was wife of Mahavira
Q10. One daughter have of Mahavira. The little daughter name was Priyadarsena.
Q11. When Mahavira father was death then left the house for monk at 30 year old.
Q12. At the age of 72, Mahavira was death at Pava, near Patna, in 468 B.C (He attained death by starved)
Jains believed that if the "Panchmahavrata" and "Triratna" were observed, the liberation of the living being would be possible. The path to liberation in Jainism is very difficult. Liberation is achieved through severe austerities, self-sacrifice etc. Only monks can attain liberation. Householders cannot get complete liberation. Because householder cannot renunciation completely. So the restrictions of householders in Jainism are somewhat less complicated.
Jain religious initiated disciples was abide by to the principle of non-violence. The disciples did not kill living beings. According to Jainism, Killing creatures created by nature was a great sin. An ant or small insects was did not killed by Jain disciple here. Even throwing stones on the water was not allowed here. Because the Jains believed that water and stone has life. According to Jainism, When water and rock collide, injury will occur of water and rock. It was impossible for the people associated with agriculture to adopt this religion as the killing of small insects was prohibited. Because to do agriculture, small insects, earthworms and other insects have to be killed. Jainism was mostly adopted by the trading people. Because no living being had to be killed by business.
Early Jainism spread over the Gangetic Plain region. Mahavira preached his religion in the region of Magadha, Kosala, Videha, Anga etc. (Excluding the area of "Raarh" of Bengal.) Jainism flourished during the reign of King Chandra Gupta of Magadha. Led by Bhadrabahu, many Jains disciple migrated to South India. (Due to famine). Digambara, a branch of Jainism, was formed under the leadership of Bhadrabahu. The followers of Digambara was in favor of boycotting everything. They don't wear clothes. Some religious people of Jains remained in North India. The group that arose under the leadership of Sthulbhadra in North India was called Shwetambar. Followers of Shwetambar in Jain disciple wear white clothes in body. Shwetambara and Digambara was difference only in wear clothing. but the main principles of religion of Jaina were the same in both communities.