Jainism- The Religion and It's scriptures

Jainism is not very popular in Bangladesh, but it has many followers in India. It is a contemporary religion of Buddhism. The word Jain is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Jin' which means to conquer.

Those who can conquer human desire, attachment, greed, anger, ego are called Jains and their religion is called Jainism . There are about 1 crore followers of Jainism in India who practice this religion. Moreover, many expatriates in Europe and America follow this religion.

Basic education and beliefs

Twenty-four Tirthankaras preached this doctrine. This religion developed from the teachings of Parswanath and Mahavira, so these twenty-four Tirthankaras and Mahavira are considered to be the promoters and founders of this religion. The basic teachings of this religion are-

• non-violence
• Having different views i.e. having many different views of many people - this is called polytheism
• Aparigraha- Not being possessive towards anyone, not taking anything more than one needs
• don't steal
• Practicing celibacy

Number 2 needs a detailed explanation . In this religion it is believed that people have different views on any matter, through discussion it is possible to arrive at the right decision. One's point of view leads to fragmented truths, not correct ideas.

We all know about Kanara elephant sightings. If you let many blind people see the elephant, they will say that the elephant is like a wall, the elephant is like a wall, the elephant is like a glass, etc. Elephants are like everything else, we don't apply this simple lesson in real life either.

Jain scriptures

The main scripture of Jains is called 'Agam' or, 'Agama'. It is not actually a book but a collection of books. Written in Ardha Magadhi Prakrit, this book contains the sermons of Tirthankara Mahavira. Sometimes this is called Agama Sutra .

These books are not complete books of life like Quran of Islam, they are philosophy books of Jainism. Below are the names of some books:

• Kalpa Sutra
• Tatvarta Sutra
• Umaswati
• schedule
• Gems etc

The Shwetambara Jains consider these to be the original books, but the Digambara Jains consider the originals to be lost . Let me share with you a quote of Mahavir-

Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.

It has similarities with Buddhism. Panchamahabrata is mentioned in this religion-

• non-violence
• the truth
• astey (not stealing)
• Brahmacharya (abstain from fornication)
• Aparigraha (non-attachment to worldly affairs)

Concept of God

Tirthankara Mahavira

Just as Buddhist philosophy does not accept the concept of God, it also does not accept the conventional concept of God. Every soul has the right ingredients for salvation (also in Hinduism) and becoming God. There is no recognition of the existence of a creator who created and destroys everything. All are simultaneously part of creation and creator.

Ratnatraya : Though there is no trisaran mantra this religion has Ratnatraya-

• Samyak Darshan
• Equivalent knowledge
• Same character

Nine basic ideals are practiced by people who believe in this doctrine –

• organism
• inanimate
• Ashrava (Combination of living and non-living things)
• Closed (prevents from knowing the truth in work life)
• Sambar (action can be suspended)
• Nirjara (avoidance of action through penance)
• Moksha (the freed soul who has attained purity by abstaining from action)
• sin
• Virtue
• Saadbad

The Sanskrit word 'Saad' means 'maybe'. This can be called a concept derived from polytheism-

• syād- asti (is)
• Saad-Nasti (No)
• Syad Asti-Nasti (Is and Is Not)
• Saad Asti Abkatvya (Has, past tense of description)
• Sad nasti abkatvya (no, past participle)
• Sayad Asti-Nasti Adverbs (Has, Has Not and Past Descriptives)
• (past description)

The sādvad shown above is a complex and multifaceted manifestation of truth, its denial is considered dogmatic heresy. This religion received some state patronage in the Mauryan Empire.