Jainism For All

  Jain philosophical discussion about time as a parameter often use two words: kaal and samay . Jain measurement of time starts with samay (a small unit of time) as the indivisible unit of kaal. Kaal usually means a period of time of certain length. In all the Jain Angas, one phrase is common “ Tenam kaalenam tenam samayenam ”. This means in that kaal and in that samay. Samay is conventional (empirical – vyavahar ) and the other is Kaal (transcendental – nischay/parmarth). Vyavahar kaal is that which help to produce changes in substance and which is known from modification (produced in substance), while parmarthika (nischay) kaal is understood from continuity ( Dravyasangraha gatha 21) . Describing real time, Mahavir said “ vattana lakhano kalo” (Uttaradhyan sutra , ch.28 ). The nature or essence of time is past, present and future. Time is the necessary condition of duration, change, motion, newness and oldness. Real time is that which assists the changes produced in...

  Jains believe that time is infinite, without any beginning or end. Time revolves round a wheel which rotates ceaselessly downwards and upwards. The first half is the progressive cycle or ascending order, called utsarpini . The second half is the descending cycle, called avasarpini . In the ascending arc or utsarpini kaal , humans progress in development, knowledge, age, strength, religious trends and happiness. In the descending arc or avasarpini kaal , they reduce in all aspects from best to worst. The two cycles joined together makes one rotation of the wheel of time, which is called a Kalpa . These kalpas repeat themselves without beginning or end. This is known as kaal chakra . Each avasarpini or utsarpini kaal is divided into six ara (era) as given below: Avasarpini Kaal 1.        Sushma-Sushma – happiness all the time 2.        Sushma - happiness 3.        Sushma-Dushma ...

    Paryusana is the most important festivals for the Jain followers and therefore called Mahaparva. Paryusana parva consists of eight days for Swetambar and ten days for Digambar tradition. Digambar community mention it as Das Lakshana Parva and starts the day when paryushan of Swetambar ends.   During rainy season, the roads are not suitable for travelling. Therefore, it has been decided by Lord Mahavir that instead of travelling, Jain monks and nuns should settle at one place for four months. During their stay, neighbouring people can interact with the monks/nuns and resolve their queries about God and the nature. The monsoon season or chaturmas consists of four months or 120 days starting from Purnima during end of ashara or beginning of shravana and terminates on the Shukla 12 th or 13 th i.e., two or three days before Kartik Purnima . During this season, no social functions such as marriage, threading ceremony etc. are performed. But a number of religiou...

  The 12th agam called Drishtivad is available with the Digambar Jain community. It contains the 14 Purvas which are the original theories preached by the tirthankars starting from Rishavdev till Parsvanath and Mahavir. These purvas were memorized by the disciples generation after generation which were finally written by Bhadrabahu and his ganadharas. The 14 Purvas are: 1.        Utpada Purva : It deals with living ( Jiva ), non-living ( Ajiva ) and its modes ( Paryay ). 2.        Agrayaniya Purva : It talks about 9 realities ( Navtattva ), 6 substances ( chat-dravya ) and others. 3.        Viryapravada Purva : It talks about energy or soul. 4.        Asti Nasti Pravada Purva : It talks about multiplicity of views (Anekantavad), Saptabhangi , and other similar philosophy. 5.        Jnan Pravada Purva : It talks about know...

  The teachings of Mahavir , the 24 th tirthankar was methodically compiled by his disciples or ganadharas into many texts. These texts are collectively known as Agams , the sacred book of the Jain religion. In contrast to other religion where they have one Bible or Quran, Mahavir’ s disciple Gautama and other ganad haras compiled his words into texts or sutras, divided into 12 Ang-agams. Agam   sutras have been written in the Ardha-magadhi Prakrit language. Out of twelve agams , eleven are available to the Swetambar sect. Only one agam called “ Drishtivada ” is available to the Digambar sect. Drishtivada contains all the 14 purvas which are the texts preached by the 24 tirthankars . Jain Swetambar community claims to have 45 Agam literatures. They are: A)       11 Angas – 1)        Acharanga sutra – It describes the conduct and behavior of ascetic life. 2)        Sutra...

  Jains celebrate five major events in the life of a tirthankar. They are called Kalyanak (auspicious events). 1.        Chyavana Kalyanak – This is the event when the tirthankar’s soul departs from the transient stage (after death from the last life on earth and before the next birth) and is conceived in the mother’s womb. 2.        Janma Kalyanak – An event when the tirthankar is born. 3.        Diksha Kalyanak – After giving up all the worldly possessions, the would be tirthankar obtains Diksha from a Guru and becomes a monk. 4.        Kevaljnan Kalyanak – After destroying the four ghati karmas , the monk attains kevaljnan or absolute knowledge. Four ghati karmas are Jnanavarniya karma, Darshanavarniya karma, Mohniya karma and Antaraya karma . 5.        Nirvana kalyanak – This happens when the soul is liberated f...