Religion and culture of the jains by jyoti prasad jain 1983, bharatiya jnanpith will provide an orderly and clear. Informations in holy books are, according to the followers, are truth and final for them. Mahaviras disciples compiled his words into texts or sutras, and memorized them to pass on to future generations. Also the religious books and scriptures were considered possessions and. The religious scripture of the jains are known as agama. The digambara sect of jainism however, believe that the original agamshave have been lost and the remaining are also corrupted. The jain literature includes both religious texts and books on generally. The most momentous event, which occurred about 80 a. Instead they have a body of holy writings or scriptures. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. Fundamental beliefs of jainism the soul is bounded by karma from the beginning of time the principles governing the successions of life cycles birth, life, and death is karma. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. The fourteen purvas, translated as ancient or prior knowledge, are a large body of jain scriptures.
This page provides information about important jain texts. The jain swastika appears in all temples and holy books, and during ceremonies, a swastika is created using rice. Instead they have a collection of holy writings and scriptures. All jain sects believe that knowledge of the purvas drastivad were gradually lost starting two hundred years after lord mahavirs nirvan death. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. The indian religion of jainism, whose central tenet involves nonviolence to all creatures, is one of the worlds oldest and leastunderstood faiths. The jain literature, which was compiled by ganadharas and srutkevlis, is known as agam literature. The teachings of the twenty four tirthankaras were first composed in fourteen purvas and later in twelve angpravishthaagams an ang being a limb by ganadhars themselves. The texts had to be memorised since jain monks and nuns were not allowed to possess religious books as part of their. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation etc. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. The holy book of jainism is known as the kalpa sutra or. Mahavira is said to have preached his first sermon at a congregation of brahmins engaged in performing a sacrifice and to have converted them to his path of nonviolence.
Cultural knowledge becomes individual, group and social law. Although this symbol was misused by the nazis of germany in the last century, the original jain symbol signifies peace and wellbeing. Introduction to jainism, theory of karma, the six dravyas and more. Digambara adhyatma texts are based on the purvas while the. Jainism in buddha period lord mahavir was the senior contemporary of gautama buddha, the founder of buddhism. There are six highly recommended books that together form an excellent literary introduction to jainism and the jain way of thinking. The split did not incur doctrinal or moral differences but only.
Jainism holy book best jainism books singh brothers. Svetambara whiteclad in sanskrit, the title of one of the two main divisions of jainism, in which both male and female mendicants wear white robes. Dundas looks at jainism in its social and doctrinal context, explaining its history, sects, scriptures and ritual, and describing how the jains have, over 2500 years, defined themselves as a unique religious community. Jain philosophy is the oldest indian philosophy that separates body matter from the soul consciousness completely. Dundas work in portraying the jains will have lasting value. The digambara sect however has a treasure trove of jain books translated and described by numerous saints and people. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism mahaviras disciples compiled his. Jun 05, 2008 why do people believe these books are holy when they are really books of cultral knowledge. Scripture is the synonym of the holy text, which consists of religious dogmas. Shah jain study center of north carolina raleigh 401 farmstead drive, cary nc 275115631 9194690956 and fax.
However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa. Jains are very caring over the environment, they wear masks over. The purvas or the ancient texts were already forgotten and lost after the famine. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. In buddhist books lord mahavir is always described as nigantha nataputta nirgrantha jnatrputra, i. Followers of jainism are called jains, a word derived from the sanskrit word jina victor referring to the path of victory in crossing over lifes stream of rebirths by destroying karma through an ethical and spiritual life. The holy book of jainism is known as the kalpa sutra or sutras.
Jains are recognised by their symbol which is the swastika. Jains do not have a traditional place for god or gods, but do for the omniscient fordmakers. Digambara jains tend to use it to refer to their canon while svetambara jains usually use agama for their holy scriptures. Scripture is the synonym of the holy text, which consists of religious dogmas, and assertions of an authentic authority apta purusa. The fourteen purvas, translated as ancient or prior knowledge, are a large body of jain scriptures that was preached by all tirthankaras omniscient teachers of jainism encompassing the entire gamut of knowledge available in this universe. Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore. Texts are not ritualized, but religious books do have a ritual role outside the. The text books which includes the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas. One of them is kalpa sutra asked in jainism what is the holy book of jainism. Both sects agree that a group of texts called the purvas were lost in the famine. There are two different kinds of literature called agam, which is the sacred texts of jainism.
They are believed to have been verbally transmitted by the oral. The jainism has its own scriptures called agamas or srutas, which are directly derived from the tirthankaras. This book had all the knowledge a person should know about the universe. All jain sects believe that knowledge of the purvas drastivad were gradually lost starting about one hundred fifty years after lord mahavirs nirvan death.
The myth is that these scriptures are lost, if a person was to have the purvas then they would be known as a srutakevali, which means that they have a superior status over others. Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf e. However, several other jain holy scriptures and literature have taken its reference from the subject matter of the purvas. It is one of the oldest living religions of india, purely indigenous in origin, and represents that current of ancient indian culture which was distinct from and independent of the brahmanical. The persons having the knowledge of purvas were given an exalted status of shrutakevali or scripturally omniscient persons. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. This book is the first comprehensive study of jainism to be published in the west.
May 18, 2006 this point is proved by what is said in the following quotes from oldest hindu holy books that jainism existed before vedas were composed. Jainworld is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of jain tradition of wisdom, compassion, equality, brotherhood, universal wellbeing and spirituality. The jain agams consisted of 1 14 purvas, 2 12 angpravishthaagams and 3 angbahyaagams 34 for shwetambar murtipujak, 21 for shwetambar sthanakvasi and 14 for digambar. Buy sacred books of jain religion and jain literature, jain holy books, best jainism books from singh brothers.
The history of jainism after lord mahavira is recorded in the jaina literature preserved in various indian languages. One of them is kalpa sutra asked in jainism what is holy book of jainism. Among angagams, purvas were the oldest sacred texts. Further, in the buddhist literature jainism is referred to as an ancient religion.
Agama is a sanskrit word which signifies the coming of a body of doctrine by means of transmission through a lineage of authoritative teachers. Sanskrit verse from shivpuran lord rishabhdev jineshwar first tirthankar the omniscient and the all pervasive incarnated himself on the magnificent kailas ashtapad mountain. Jainism holy books containing the teachings of mahavira. However, the subject matter of the purvas are referenced by other jain scriptures and literature. Apr 03, 20 the puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. The jain agamas highlight lord mahaviras teachings to his disciples and constitute the sacred text that is central to the practice of the tradition. Feb 02, 2016 the jain agamas highlight lord mahaviras teachings to his disciples and constitute the sacred text that is central to the practice of the tradition. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. The jains, a small religious group believing in an immortal soul, are indigenous to india, and affirm many of the ideas of their hindu counterparts, but are critical of other hindu doctrines. Hindus are in a similar position, even though they have the vedas, which can be considered the ultimate source of teaching. According to all jain denominations knowledge of the purvas drastivad began missing two hundred years after lord mahaviras nirvana death. Unlike most common monotheistic religions, jainism does not have one holy book that characterizes their faith. Find here a list of selected books on the various aspects of jainism, jain history, jaina philosophy, practices, values and beliefs, thirthankaras, life and teachings of mahavira and jaina tradition.
Recording the teachings of the 24th jina mahaviras closest followers. Holy books and writings of jainism the texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism. While these two divisions of jainism are in broad agreement about the main teachings and practices of the. The holy teachers are called the jina, and they are the epitome of teaching for all jains, especially the jina mahavira. The upanishads are also called as vedantas or the end of the vedas. In india, they share this feature with the buddhists. The following list of books incorporates a number of salient points of view, and they would be especially good for those not raised as jains. The jain scripture the fourteen purvas are said to have been.
These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion. However, the subject matter of the purvas has been referenced by other jain scriptures and literature. All jain sects believe that knowledge of the purvas drastivad were gradually lost. The suryaprajnaptisutra, a 4th or 3rd century bce astronomy text of svetambara jains. Unlike monotheistic traditions, the jains do not have a unique holy book that characterises their faith. The svetambaras believe that the collection of 32 or 45, the number is disputed agamas holy scriptures are the first and foremost of all holy texts. All sects agree that teaching was first transmitted orally, however, the two main sects of jainism, svetambara and digambara disagree on which scriptures are authoritative, or most important. Jainism is the religion professed by the jains, so called because they follow the system expounded and preached by the jina.