Sep 11, 2009 this is one of the most important differences between the two groups in jainism, and it means that jain texts have very different roles for the two groups of jains. Jainism emerged in 6thcentury bce india, the same time buddhism was developing. The origin of the two sects some writers say jainism split in the first century ce, but others say the division happened in the third century bce. The kalpa sutra is the holy book of the of jainism religion. 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. A jain templelibrary holds sacred books, individually wrapped and labelled. Hence, the jain religion does not have one sacred book like the bible or. The videvat are religious law books laying down codes of conduct and procedures for penance.
Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. Jaina canon, the sacred texts of jainism, a religion of india, whose. Many of these sects were based on regional customs and rituals practised by different people living in northeast india. The major division within jainism, between the digambaras and svetambaras, is likely to have started early in the common era and is over 1500 years old. This disagreement led to a split within islam into the two major sects. Differences there are several points of differences in regard to the fundamental principles of buddhism and. Holy kalpa sutra the kalpa sutra contains a biography of the founder of jainism, mahavira, as well as other founders of the religion, and a. While you likely know a little about hinduism and buddhism, each having over a billion followers, you. Each of these sects is also divided into subgroups. The definition of digambara is one who is naked or one who has the sky as his clothes.
When mahavira was spreading his message, there was already a community of jaina monks who were practicing the teachings of parsvanatha and the previous thirthankaras. The digambara sect believes that during this famine all the agamas were lost. This religion is consider to be a contemporary of buddhism. Jun 28, 2018 the majority of muslims chose abu bakr, one of muhammads companions, to lead them. In principle jain holy places are sacred for all the jains. Jains are strict vegetarians and live in a way that minimises their use of worlds resources. It looks there is a big exaggeration with the main stream bahais the followers of universal house of justice. The digambara sect believes that during this famine all the agamas. The two sects that formed within jainism were buddhism the religion that provided a middle ground between the extreme polytheism of hinduism and the extreme asceticism of jainism was. Today, with about 900 million followers, hinduism is. It is generally believed that the jain sangha became divided into two major sects, digambar and shvetambar, about 200 years aftermahavirs nirvana. Jainism dont have any specific holy book like the bhagavad geeta,the quran or the bible. The daily prayer book the parsis use everyday is khordeh avesta the smaller avesta. The tenets peculiar to the digambaras are firstly that perfect saints such as the tirtha.
The two largest jain sects are shvetambaras, those whose garment is white, and digambaras, those whose garment is the sky. The digambaras and svetambaras have different views on ascetic practices, gender and which jain texts can be considered canonical. Eventually, the jain religion was split up vertically into two distinct sections, the digambars and the newly formed shvetambar who were wearing white clothes. Indian religions, hinduism, jainism, sikhism, christianity.
The 2 sects have drifted away from each other and are active in different parts of india. Although the term was originally a classification for religious separated groups, it can now refer to any organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of rules and principles. The jainism has its own scriptures called agamas or srutas, which are directly derived from the tirthankaras. The many points of similarity between the two sects are explained by the indebtedness of both to a common source, namely the teachings and practices of ascetic. These texts are the holy scriptures of the jain religion. In both there are lot of holy books in which many are comman. The agam sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to war. Both sects agree that a group of texts called the purvas were lost in the famine. Both sects have certain important doctrinal differences. Along with these two practices, fasting and devotional worship are common rituals of jains. Ultimate goal of life is eternal release from karma. Jaina sutras, part ii sacred books of the east vol. This article provides an overview of the two major jain sects. Digambars follow two main texts shatkhand agam and kasay pahud and four anuyogs consisting of more than 20 texts written by great acharyas scholars from 100 to a.
But still however the following differences still exist. Mahaviras disciples memorised his words and their followers had to commit to memory what they were told and so on. Jainism was founded on the teaching of 24 tirthankaras liberated and enlightened persons of whom vardhamana mahavira was the last. Followers of jainism are called jains, and there are about 4 million worldwide. The whiteclad are quite sizeable in their monastic communities. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. These 12 parts are called as 12 angas sanskrit word for parts. Within these principal sects are several smaller traditions or subsects. Believe themselves to be closed and the environment rejects the possibility that my have ear was ever married and assumes he was celibate himself. Mahaviras disciples compiled his words into texts or sutras, and memorised them to pass on to future generations. The sky clad have reduced numbers of monks, due to the rigor of the order, and are made up mainly of householders. Numerous, religious sects, arose in the middle gangetic plains in thesecond half of the sixth century b. Jainism traditionally known as jain dharma, is an ancient indian religion. Buddhism and jainism comparison buddhism and jainism are the two great religion that emerged from india.
These two sects now recognise different canons of sacred texts. Eventually the teachings were written down but the various jain sects have disputed what makes up the scriptures or even that any have survived for centuries. Jainism is one of the three major religions to emerge from india. Jainism was developed through the centuries by several tirthankaras, or guiding teachers who teach people how to reach liberation or moksha. The teachings of the jinas were originally passed on through the spoken word. Jainism is an indian religion that emphasizes complete nonviolence and asceticism. They are generally agreed on all the fundamental principles of jainism. Digambars follow two main texts shatkhand agam and kasay pahud and four anuyogs consisting of more than 20 texts written by great acharyas scholars from 100 to 800 a. In this time period two major sects, namely digambar and swetambar, were already. Digambars are sky clad means without clothes while swetambars are white clothed always. Hence, they decided to document the jain literature as known to them. Jainism is an indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twentyfour spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. Main sects are digambaras stark naked and the swetambaras clothed in white.
Jainism has two major ancient subtraditions, digambaras and svetambaras. All jains agree on this, but the two main sects understand the divine sound in. The two main sects of jainism, the digambara spaceclad, or naked and the svetambara whiteclad, wearers of white cloth, have produced a vast body of secular and religious literature in the prakrit and sanskrit languages. In fact, significant knowledge was already lost and the rest was polluted with modifications and errors. We have certain scriptures which are considered as very sacred. Some jain sects employ a pujari also called upadhye for rituals, who may be a non jain a. In this book, all the 24 tirthankaras and their lives are written about. First tirthankara is rishabha mentioned in the yajurveda and mahavira is 24th tirthankara. In accordance with their practice of nonviolence, the monks also use a peacockfeather duster to. This disagreement led to a split within islam into the two major sects that remain divided today. The existing agam sutras are accepted as the authentic preaching of lord mahavir by the swetambar sects, but the digambar sect does not accept.
The most often cited book of the jains is the tattvartha sutra book of reality thought to date from the second millennium bce, but only recorded in written form in the 5th century ce by umasvati, and it is at that point that jainism splintered into the two main sects. The existing agam sutras are accepted as the authentic preaching of lord mahavir by the swetambar sects, but the digambar sect does not accept them as authentic. The jains ten comandments the most significant regions. Broadly, jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, digambara and svetambara.
According to the best available information, bhadrabahu, chief of the jain monks, foresaw a period of famine and led about 12,000 people, to southern india. Jain scriptures were written over a long period of time, but the most cited is the tattvartha sutra, or book of reality, written by the monkscholar, umasvati aka umasvami almost 1800 years ago. The svetambara canon consists principally of 45 works divided as follows. Digambara jainist sect britannica encyclopedia britannica. Mahavir is considered as the last tirthankar and also the founder of jainism. Jainism dharmic religions wiki fandom powered by wikia. On the contrary, some jain scholars believe that jainism had come into existence before buddhism. The bahai faith in small span of time has been divided into more than sects. Pratikraman is another ritual performed by jains either in the morning for the repentance of violence committed during the night or in the evening for the violence committed during the day. The jains have two major sects, digambara skyclad or naked and shvetambara whiteclad. They believe that by the time of dharasena, the twentythird teacher after gandhar gautama, knowledge of only one anga was there. Jainism was founded by vardhamana mahavira who was born in kundagrama bihar. Jainism religion bhagwan mahavir jain symbol belief. One of two major sects of jainism known for nudity and high value of celibacy only men are allowed to become ascetics.
But when it comes to the deep philosophy or the doctrine of jainism, there is almost no difference between these two major sects. While there are differences in practices, the core philosophy and main principles of each sect is same. List of world religions and founders, religious books, place. Jainism is a very small religion in india, with very few followers, but it has a massive influence larger than their side. The holy text of the zoroastrians is the avesta, composed in a language belonging to the early iranaian group of languages and resembling the language of the vedas. Jainism, indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through disciplined nonviolence ahimsa, literally noninjury to all living creatures. The jain dharma existed even before the emergence of the vedas and the puranas which are said to be ancient. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. Broadly, jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, digambara and. Indian religions, hinduism, jainism, sikhism, christianity, islam. In this country religiosity resides in some form, in the heart of the people.
Hinduism is the worlds oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. However, there religions developed different outlooks as regards the fundamental problems. In this time period two major sects, namely digambar and swetambar, were already in existence. One of the main areas of dispute that was instrumental in the split is that of holy writings. It has also explained the process of becoming a jina. The texts had to be memorised since jain monks and nuns were not allowed to possess religious books. According to some scholars, the split in jainism in digambars and shvetambars had its roots in the migration of jains from magadh to shravanbelagola in. There are a total of 24 tirthankars of which rishabh was the first and mahavir was the last. The majority of muslims chose abu bakr, one of muhammads companions, to lead them. This sect of jainism rejects the authority of the jain agama compiled by sthulabhadra.
There are two sects of jainism digambara and swetambara. 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. The religion has its roots in the indian subcontinent. Digambara skyclad is one of the two main sects of jainism. Whiterobed, or whiteclad one of the two principal sects. Digambara jains are more austere and go about nude or free.
Along with hinduism and buddhism, jainism is one of the three most ancient indian religious traditions still in existence and an. The jains have 5 great vows by which they try to live their lives. Shweetamber and digamber are the two divisions of jainism. It was created 32 years before buddhism, and some say its a sect in hinduism, but others consider it a separate religion. Religions in india buddhism, christianity, hinduism, islam. Jain philosophy provides a way of life for adherents. The faith is named for the jinas, spiritual conquerors who have achieved liberation and perfection.
Towards the end of the first century, the jain religion was divided into two sects namely the digambars and the newly formed shvetambars. These are further divided into different sub sects and traditions. Its principal tenets focus on nonviolence, nonattachment, and relative pluralism. How many people here practice the religion of jainism. In practice, some places are definitely of more importance to svetambaras than to digambaras and vice versa, and these are managed by institutions affiliated to one sect or the other. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourses of the tirthankaras. A sect is a subgroup of a religious, political, or philosophical belief system, usually an offshoot of a larger group. Digambars believe in remaining nude throughout their lives denouncing all the things in the world whilst svetambaras wear white robes. But the prevailing view todaythat of biihler, jacobi, hopkins, and othersis that jainism in its origin is independent of buddhism and, perhaps, is the more ancient of the two. This is one of the most important differences between the two groups in jainism, and it means that jain texts have very different roles for the two groups of jains.
Indrabhuti gautam swami chief disciple of lord mahavira compiled these scriptures which comprises of 12 parts. The digambaras also reject the shvetambara canon of religious texts and. The tenets peculiar to the digambaras are firstly that perfect. However, a smaller group argued that ali, muhammads soninlaw and cousin, should become the new head. There are two main sects of jains, svetambaras wearers of white cloths and digambaras the naked. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the agamas, and are the canonical literature the scriptures of svetambara jainism. Jains divided into two main groups, svetambaras and digambaras. Shvetambar and digambar are two sects of this religion. These two traditions or sects take their names from the appearance of their monks. Each of the three jain sects may celebrate slightly different festivals so not all jains will celebrate every holiday. 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. Our intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with karma.
Jainworld is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of jain tradition of wisdom, compassion, equality, brotherhood, universal wellbeing and spirituality. Scripture is the synonym of the holy text, which consists of religious dogmas, and assertions of an authentic authority apta purusa. Religions in india buddhism, christianity, hinduism. Two senses beindriya worms, leeches three senses treindriya ants, lice four senses chauindriya flies, bees five senses panchandriya animals, birds, human, heavenly, hellish etc. Digambaras and svetambaras disagree as to which books constitute jain. Jainism became prominent religion in india at the time of mahavira, who was born in about 599 b.
Although both sects include nuns, only the shvetambaras, who are more liberal, believe women can attain kevala. Founder as mentioned earlier, there are 24 tirthankaras who have founded jainism together. There are several stories about what actually happened, but the root causes included. Jainism is a religion with which most people in the west are not familiar. The monks from the south did not agree with this compilation, and the first split in jainism started. Jaina canon, the sacred texts of jainism, a religion of india, whose authenticity is disputed between sects.
Besides the sacred books of the digambaras, they also worship the fourteen sacred books. About the followers of each sect there is claim and counter claim. Several smaller subtraditions emerged in the 2nd millennium ce. 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. Jain holidays and festivals largely revolve around important events such as births and deaths in the lives of the thirthnkaras, or saints. This page provides information about important jain texts. The two sects agree on the basics of jainism, but disagree on. Terapanth is another reformist religious sect under svetambara jainism. Agams are the jain texts which are based on the discourse. It is interesting to note that the two nonidolatrous subsects, viz.