The Word Sramana, Nirgrantha, Jina and their meaning in Jainism

 

Sramana. Nirgrantha, Jina and their meaning

Sramana is a Jain concept whose meaning is ‘seeker’. The word ‘sram’ means hard work. Sramana is a community of ascetics who renounced the worldly life and practiced rigorous austere religious steps to reduce the burden of Karma from their soul. The shramana believed in the act of deed rather than the rituals. The belief is that this world (sansara) is full of sufferings. To reduce suffering in day-to-day life, one needs to practice non-violence (ahimsa), non-possessiveness (aparigraha), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (achaurya) and chastity (brahmacharya). Sramana believes that the aim of human life should be to uplift the soul from material bindings or attachment and make a better life. Sramana labours, toils, exerts himself for higher religious knowledge.

The term Nirgrantha used in Jainism means “life free from all bindings” or “life without knot”. During the time of Mahavira, the Jain ascetics and the Jain community were known as Nirgrantha community and the religion followed by them as Nirgrantha religion. Thie term Nirgrantha was mentioned in different Jain and Buddhist texts.

The word Jina means conqueror. The Jain ascetics who provide models for their followers are known as Jina. The most well-known Jina was Mahavira, who is considered as reformer of the Jain religion. The word Jain comes from the word Jina, the conqueror, the followers of which constitute the Jain community and the religion practiced is known as Jainism. The Jains believe that one can clean his soul from the bindings of karma by practicing the vows and austerities in their daily life.