At the age of 72, Lord Mahavir died and became a Siddha (liberated soul); on the night of his salvation people celebrated the festival of lights (dewali) in his honour.
The objective of Jainism is to strive for liberation from the unending cycles of birth, death and re-birth, one who is liberated is a Siddha – a soul that has achieved its original state of infinite bliss and power. Rejecting belief in a creator god Jains seek release from endless reincarnation through a life of strict denial. As all activity accumulates karma, the force that perpetuates reincarnation, the only way to free one’s jiva, or soul, from the affliction of material existence is by reducing this activity through ascetic practice. The concern for life through ahimsa is extended to all creatures, even minute microbes that are not visible. The Jain ideal is a mendicant ascetic who takes extreme measures to avoid injuring all creatures. Monks and nuns are sometimes seen with muslin cloths over their mouths to keep out flying insects, and they are also known to use small brooms to gently sweep away living creatures in their path, so as to not accidentally crush them.
The sacred texts of the Jains are called Agamas, consisting of 60 texts that were divided into 3 groups of works Purva, Anga and Angabahya. The two main sects of Jains are divided into Digambara and Svetambara, both claiming that authority for the most ancient texts derives from Mahavir, that was in turn enunciating sacred truths passed onto him from Tirthankaras before him. Handed down orally in the monastic communities, the sacred literature was not written down until about 500 CE.
The main differences between these two traditions of Jainism are that Digambaras believe that humans engage in no bodily functions or worldly activity, preaching by divine sound.
Svetambaras see the Jina as engaging in normal bodily functions and activity whilst at the same time enjoying omniscient recognition. The Digambaras stress absolute nudity resulting in women unable to attain purity, as they are unable to live completely naked, they can only aspire to a Siddha by being re born as a man. Svetambaras emphasise optional nature of nudity, wearing a simple white robe being permitted, and enabling women to conquer purity.
Jainism stresses that each person is responsible for his or her own destiny. Man is born individually and dies the same, he alone can help himself by his own effort, and through right knowledge and right vision and right conduct he can attain ultimate state of emancipation.
Jains today living in the western world have needed to adapt to living in different conditions i.e. having to work and abide by another cultures rules, they have adapted to this as best they can. A Jain is not considered a true Jain if the Navka-Mantra is not remembered everyday.
Another form of worship is Samayika, a sitting of 48 minutes meditating, chanting a few verses and attaining state of self-control and feeling equality toward everyone. There is also Pratikramna, a longer sitting consisting of reviewing confessions and repentance of past and present action or thought. Eradicating bad thoughts from the mind.
The main Jain festival is known as Paryushana. A festival lasting eight days where Jains fast and take solemn vows, attending temples they go to worship the Tirthankaras.
It is thought today that there are as many as 30,000 Jains living in Britain, 10 million living in modern India and 7.5 million across the rest of the world.
As Jains do not believe that there is any godly creator the theory they have is traced back to two categories: jiva and ajiva. Consciousness is jiva and that which has no consciousness is ajiva. The 5 substances of ajiva are: dharma (the medium of motion), adharma (the medium of rest), akasha (space), pudgala (matter) and kala (time). Pudgala has form and consists of atoms, which can be seen, heard, smelt, tasted and/or touched. The jiva has no form but takes bodily form.
Ahimsa/non-violence – 1st and highest principal. No one should talk about killing or even think about killing any living beings.
Sanyam/penance – Meaning proper control of action, speech, thought. Acting with a balanced mind.
Tap/self-control –Self-control by way of fasting or meditating, study etc. Aimed at lifting the soul above the pleasures and pains of our life.
Navka Mantra
- Salutations to the victors – ARHATS, the Arhat is the living being of the highest goal in Jainism.
- Salutations to the SIDDHA, Siddhas are the liberated soul, free from the cycle of birth and death.
- Salutations to the head spiritual teachers called Acharyas.
- Salutations to the teachers.
- Salutations to the monks.
The writing in the centre of the palm is the word Ahimsa. The hand signifies friendly re-assurance.
Namaskar Mantra:
Namo Arithantanam – I bow to the arithantas – the ever-perfect spiritual victors.
Namo Siddhanam – I bow to the Siddhas – the liberated souls
Namo Ayraiyanam – I bow to the ayraiyanam – the leaders of the Jain order.
Namo Uvajjhayanam – I bow to the upadhyayas – the learned preceptors.
Namo Loe SavvaSahunam- I bow to all the saints and sages everywhere in the world.
Eso Panch Namukkaro – These five obeisances.
Savva Pavappanasano – Erase all sins.
Manglalananch Savvesim – Amongst all that is auspicious.
Padhamam Havai Mangalam – This is the foremost.
In the above prayer, Jains do not ask for any favours or material benefits from the Tirthankaras, monks or nuns. By saluting them, Jains receive the inspiration from the five benevolent for the right path of true happiness and total freedom from the misery of life.
Bibliography.
Books
Jainism The First Step author Vinod j. Kapashi
The Jain Declaration of Nature author Dr. L. M. Singhvi
The Jaina Path of Purification author Padmanabh S. Jaini
Websites
