Jainism

Vardhamana Mahavira, Jainism and Jain Councils:

Important points on Jainism and Vardhamana Mahavira:

1. Rishabha, the first Tirthankaras, was the founder of Jainism.

2. There were 24 Tirthankaras.

3. The 24th and the last Tirthankaras was Vardhamana Mahavira. He was born at Kundagram near Vaishali of Bihar in 599 BC.

4. Mahavira was born to King Siddharth and Queen Trishala who was sister of a Lichchhavi prince Chetaka of Vaisali whose daughter was wedded to Bimbisara of Magadha.

5. Mahavira belonged to the Jnatrika Kshatriya clan.

6. Mahavira was married to Yashoda and had a daughter named Priyadarsena.

7. At the age of 30 he left his home in pursuit of spiritual awakening (Diksha).

8. In the 13th year of his asceticism he attained enlightenment/supreme knowledge i.e. Kaivalya on the bank of river Rijupalika.

9. Mahavira gave his first sermon at Vipulachala mountain at Rajgriha. His first sermon is called Divya Dhwani.

10. He died at Pava near Patna in 527 BC.

11. The two main sects of Jainism was Shwetambar and Digambar.

12. Religious book of Jainism is Agam in Pali language.

13. The Kalpa Sutra is a Jain text containing the biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras, mainly Parshvanath and Mahavira.

14. Parsavanath was the 23rd Tirthankara.

15. First disciple of Mahavira was Jamali.

Five main beliefs of Jainism:

Ahimsa - Non-injury to living beings.

Satya - To speak the truth.

Asteya - Not to steal

Aparigraha - Non-possession of property.

Brahmacharya - Abstain from sex-indulgence

Jainism Literature:

Jain literature are written in Prakrit.

The Jain literature contains - (1) The 12 Angas (2) The 12 Upangas (3) The 10 Prakirna (4) The 6 Chhedsutras (5) The 4 Mulasutras

Jain Councils:

First Council - First Jain Council was held at Patliputra under the chairmanship of Sthulabhadra in 300 B.C. It resulted in the compilation of 12 Angas replacing the lost 14 Purvas.

Second Council - Second Jain Council was held at Vallabhi under the chairmainship of Devardhi in 521 A.D. It resulted in the final compilation of 12 Angas and 12 Upangas.

24 Tirthankaras and their symbols:

1. Lord Rishabha (Adinath)	Bull or Ox (Bell)
2. Lord Ajitnath	Elephant (Haathi)
3. Lord Sambhavnath	Horse (Ghoda)
4. Lord Abhinandannath	Monkey (Bandar)
5. Lord Sumatinath	Curlew or Red Goose (Kronch Pakshi)

6. Lord Padmaprabhu           Lotus (Kamal)
7. Lord Suparshvanath          Swas-tika
8. Lord Chandraprabhu        Moon (Chandrama)
9. Lord Pushpadanta              Croc-odile (Magar Macch)
10. Lord Sheetalnath               Kalpa-vriksha or ficus religiosa
11. Lord Shreyansnath            Rhino-ceros (Genda)
12. Lord Vasupujya                 female buffalo (Bhaisa)
13. Lord Vimalnath                Shukar
14. Lord Anantnath               Falcon ( Baaj)
15. Lord Dharmanath            Vajra (Thunderbolt)
16. Lord Shantinath               Deer (Hiran)
17. Lord Kunthunath             He-Goat (Bakra)
18. Lord Arahnath                  Fish (Machali)
19. Lord Mallinath                 Jar (Kalash)
20. Lord Munisuvrata            Tortoise (Kachua)
21. Lord Naminath                  Blue Water Lily or Blue Lotus (Hara Kamal)
22. Lord Neminath                  Conch (Shankh)
23. Lord Parshvanath             Snake (Naag)
24. Lord Mahavira                  Lion (Sih)