Mahamastak Abhisheka
¤ Origin of Jain Religion
As a religion, Jainism originated around 5th - 6th
century b.c. Its founder Mahavira was born in 540 b.c., in a suburb of
Vaishali called Kundagrama. Vardhamana, popularly known as Mahavira or
the Great Hero, preached his religious doctrine around the same time
as Buddha (founder of Buddhism). Though both rejected the Hindu caste
hierarchies and challenged the sanctity of the Vedas, their paths
veered in different directions. Buddha chose the Middle Path, a
balance between luxury and asceticism whereas Mahavira was a staunch
believer of an extreme form of asceticism. This might be cited as one
of the reasons why Buddhism has a far greater number of adherents than
Jainism did in India. In a country with a population of over a
billion, about 3 million people practise Jainism.
¤ Jain Philosophy--The Doctrine of Extreme Form of
Self-conquest
The term Jaina is derived from jina, which means conqueror. Though
accepted as the founder of this religion, Mahavira is regarded as the
24th and the last Tirthankara (fordmaker).
According to the belief of the Jains, all the 24 fordmakers were
successful in acquiring perfect wisdom (kaivalya) by conquering their
desires, thus enabling themselves to sever their bonds with the
material world. The bottom line in the Jain philosophy is that there
is no personal god or even a single impersonal Absolute. The stress is
on the quest of the individual who is regarded as an independent jiva
(soul) towards attainment of self-perfection through the tri-ratna
(three jewels) of Jainism – right faith, right knowledge and
right conduct.
¤ Jainism Follows The Path Ahimsa- Non Violence
Jainism caught the popular fancy after Mahatma Gandhi adopted the
all-important credo of ahimsa, or non-violence, a notion central to
the doctrine of the Jains, as the best weapon to combat British
domination. Adhering to its philosophy of extreme asceticism, Jains
take the motto of Ahimsa paramo dharmaha (non-violence is the supreme
religion) very seriously. In India there is always a chance that you
might spot a Jain monk with a fine cloth covering his mouth and nose
in order to avoid any involuntary killing of germs. Sometimes he might
carry a small broom in his hand in order to remove any small creature
out of his way because he fears he might unknowingly tread on it. All
devout Jains follow a strictly vegetarian diet.
The Jains have constructed many magnificent and ornate temples in
India.
¤ The Principle Sects of Jainism
Shwetambara (white clad) and the Digambara (sky clad). Though their
ultimate goal remains the same, a hair’s breadth of difference
divides the two sects. The Digambaras believe in emulating the life of
Mahavira to the last detail, going to the extent of shedding their
clothes in order to follow the doctrine of non-violence completely. On
the other hand, the Shvetambaras are moderates and are generally clad
in white clothes. Deliverance for women could be a possibility in this
religious order.
¤ The Festivity
The festival of Deep Diwali is celebrated 10 days after Diwali, the
Hindu festival of lights. Great significance is attached to this
occasion because it commemorates the liberation of Mahavira from the
never-ending cycle of birth and rebirth. An array of lamps is lit in
all the Jain religious shrines to compensate for the darkness caused
by the passing away of the ‘light of the world’. Mount
Girnar at Junagadh is worth a visit at this time for a glimpse of the
spectacular display of lamps.
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