Jainism
Jainism is one of India’s three oldest religions, rooted in the middle of the first century B.C.E. Now it is an important religion in world. Jainism believes that nonviolence and the elimination of damage to the living things (including plants and animals) is the way for enlightenment.
Main teachings of jainism
Jains believe in rebirths like Hindus and Buddhists. Jains believe in birth, death, and recreation cycle. Jains think that harmful karma is due to harming living things. Jains must follow ahimsa (nonviolence) to prevent karma. Jains believe that plants, animals, and nonliving things (air and water), have souls. No damage to human beings, plants, animals, and the environment is a fundamental principle of Jainism . That is why Jains are strict vegetarians—so severe that the root plant is not permitted to eat because it will kill the whole plant by removing the root. However, they eat vegetables that grow above the soil, and these can be harvested. The Jain monks and religious even avoid swatting at mosquitoes.
Besides there main teachings of Jainism, it includes four additional promises, in addition, to nonviolence, that lead people of faith:
1 ) say the truth ( Ahimsa)
2)- never steal (- Acharya or Asteya)
3)- sexual control (with celibacy as the ideal)- ( Brahmacharya )
4)- not engage themselves in worldly affairs. (Aparigraha )
Many Jain People follow the main teachings of Jainism very seriously. Jainism has many same religious beliefs and practices with Hinduism and Buddhism. Jains believe in 24 Jinas or spiritual gurus who have attained enlightenment and have been liberated from the reincarnation cycle. Mahavira Vardhamana, regarded as the 24th and last Jina, was one of the most important Jina. At 30, he started to lose worldly possessions to live an ascetic’s life (one who practices self-denial of material things). Vardhamana obtained enlightenment after more than 12 years of intensive fasting and meditation and became a Mahavira (meaning Great Hero). Then he created a vast community of followers of Jain, which consisted of 14 000 monks and 36,000 nuns when he died.
Jainism beliefs and practices
There are many jainism beliefs and practices , which are given in the following.
1- Karma:
Karma is the life-setting mechanism. The happiness of the current life is the outcome of its deeds and moral character in the past. In Jainism, a soul can reach enlightenment after getting rid of the bad karma
2- Dharma
Jains think that the ultimate religion is nonviolence. Jains do it to make their jiva (soul) free from bad karma. Jain do this by a controlled way of life. It is a severe asceticism, sacrifice, moral training, or dharma (truth, teaching). Mahavira urged to develop the three gems:
- Good belief
- correct Knowledge
- Good behavior
3-Jainism god name
Mahavira as god
This makes it very hard to answer jainism god name straight forward ” Jain people believe in God or gods?” Jains do not believe there is A god or gods as so many other faiths do, but they believe in holy people (like Mahavira) deserving of worship. Some Jain believe all 24 Jain as “gods” and Jains people worship them as gods or God-like other faiths. They are respected Jains because they attained perfection and are no longer bound by the cycle of birth and death.
The Jina is the ideal condition of an individual soul’s existence, and they are regarded as the ideal to which Jains should seek. For Jains, the only ‘gods‘ is pure souls, omniscient and immortal. According to Jainism, because every creature can become such a perfect soul, we all can make such a ‘god.’
4– The Soul
Jian believe differently in soul from many other religions. The term Jain closest to the soul (Jiva) meaning an aware living creature. For the body and the soul of Jains, there are two main things: the body is an empty container, the conscious thing is the jiva (soul).
After each physical death, the jiva returns to another body to spend another life till enlightenment is achieved. When a jiva (i.e., in a body) is integrated, it exists all over the body and cannot be found in any particular part.
5– Jain nun- Women Status in Jainism
Jain nun
The Digambara Jain sect thinks that Jian nun or women cannot obtain enlightenment without being reborn. But the Svetambara sect does not agree with Digambara , they think Jain nun can acheieve enlightenment
Digambara Jains believe that nakedness is the main thing to obtain enlightenment. Mahavira himself remained naked whom life represents the road to enlightenment for Jains. It is an example of absolute nudity to follow by Digambaras. So, women cannot come publicly nude, they cannot gain direct liberation and are seen as citizens of the second class. The purpose of this prohibition on women’s nakedness is to safeguard men and women. If women walk naked, males would feel sexual desire, and the generated desire will prevent men’s development to enlightenment.
Fasting in Jainism:
In Jainism fasting is quite frequent. A Jain may fast at any time. Most Jains fast during the festivals year and holy days, especially during particular occasions.
According to Jainism, when a Jain fast he/ she should not only stop from eating, but also need to quit wanting to eat. Fasting is useless if you tend to desire food. Some Jain moons short month by month, following the Mahavira example, who has reportedly fasted for more than six months.
Jainism fasting to Death- Santhara
Santhara man in Jainism is fasting to death. In other words Santhara is a practice wherein a Jain avoids eating to prepare for death. The purpose is to clean the body and to erase all concepts of material things from the mind
Keila Devi Hirawat
In addition to giving up food and drink, the rejection of every liking and disliking so that they face death while only concentrating on spiritual. There is continuous discussion in India regarding the position of santhara (Jainism fasting to death) in the modern world. Keila Devi Hirawat, a 93-year-old, who was died after practicing the santhara. People who engage in santharas are honored by Jains, and their deaths are celebrated publicly.
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Main teachings of jainism jainism god name
