Jai Jinendra

Our motto to create this web site is to provide maximum information about Jainism and Jain Religious Places around the world.  

 

Jainism popularly known as Jain dharma, is an ancient Indian religion that prescribes the path of ahiṃsā (non-violence) towards all living beings. In Jainism, a human being who has conquered all inner passions and therefore possesses omniscience is called a Jina (conqueror). The path practiced and preached by Jinas is Jainism, and the followers of the path are called Jains. Jain Philosophy distinguishes the soul (consciousnesses) from the body (matter). We believe that all living beings are really soul; intrinsically perfect and immortal. Souls in transmigration (i.e., still liable to repeated births and deaths) are said to be embodied in the body as if in a prison. Non-injury (ahiṃsā) and self-control are said to be the means to liberation. The liberated souls free from transmigration (samsara) are worshipped as God. Jain texts reject the idea of a creator or destroyer God and postulate an eternal universe. Jain cosmology divides the worldly cycle of time into two parts (avasarpiṇī and utsarpiṇī). According to Jain belief, in every half-cycle of time, twenty-four Tirthankaras grace this part of the Universe to teach the unchanging doctrine of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. The word Tīrthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha, which means a fordable passage across a sea. The Tīrthankara show the 'fordable path' across the sea of interminable births and deaths. Lord Risabha Nath is said to be the first Tīrthankara of the present half-cycle (avasarpiṇī). Lord Mahavira (6th century BC) is revered as the last Tīrthankaras of avasarpiṇī. Jain texts explain that Jainism has always existed and will always exist. Jain votaries are required to observe five fundamental vows with Ahimsa (not to injure any living being) being the first and foremost. Parasparopagraho Jivanam ("The function of souls is to help one another.") is the motto of Jainism.

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Rohit Jain