Jainism — The Religion of Non-Violence
6th century BC | Vardhamana Mahavira | UPSC GS Paper I
Hey there! Welcome to KnowledgeKnot! Don't forget to share this with your friends and revisit often. Your support motivates us to create more content in the future. Thanks for being awesome!
Why Did Jainism and Buddhism Rise?
Both Jainism and Buddhism emerged in the 6th century BC as protest movements against the Brahmin-dominated Vedic religion. Both rejected:
→ The authority and infallibility of the Vedas
→ Brahmin monopoly over religion and rituals
→ The caste system based on birth
→ Animal sacrifices (Yajnas)
→ Sanskrit (the language of elites) — both preached in local languages (Pali / Ardhamagadhi)
→ The context: new merchant class (Vaishyas) supported these religions because they opposed the Brahmin-Kshatriya alliance taxing trade; both Mahavira and Buddha were Kshatriyas
The 24 Tirthankaras
Jainism believes in 24 Tirthankaras (ford-makers / path-finders to liberation) who appear in each cosmic cycle.
→ 1st Tirthankara: Rishabhanatha (Adinath) — legendary figure; mentioned in Rigveda and Bhagavata Purana; symbol: Bull
→ 23rd Tirthankara: Parshvanatha (~877–777 BC) — first historical Tirthankara; taught 4 vows: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha (without Brahmacharya); born at Varanasi; attained nirvana at Sammeta Shikhar
→ 24th Tirthankara: Vardhamana Mahavira (599–527 BC) — the real founder of Jainism as we know it; added Brahmacharya to make 5 great vows (Panchamahavrata)
Life of Vardhamana Mahavira
| Event | Details |
|---|
| Birth | 599 BC at Kundagrama (near Vaishali, Bihar) — in the Vajji republic |
| Family | Kshatriya; Licchavi clan; father Siddhartha (chief of Vajji), mother Trishala (Licchavi princess) |
| Childhood name | Vardhamana (meaning: one who grows/increases) |
| Marriage | Married Yashoda; daughter Priyadarshana; 28-30 years of householder life |
| Renunciation | At age 30 — left home to become an ascetic; gave up clothes (nude path) |
| Enlightenment | Age 42, after 12 years of severe asceticism — attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) at Jrimbhikagrama on river Rijupalika, near Vaishali |
| Titles | Mahavira (Great Hero), Jina (Conqueror — follower = Jain!), Vardhamana, Nirgrantha / Nigantha Nataputta (in Buddhist texts) |
| Teaching | 45 years of teaching across eastern India |
| Death | 527 BC at Pavapuri (Bihar) — attained Nirvana/liberation; Digambaras celebrate as Mahavir Jayanti |
| Contemporary | Buddha's contemporary; both lived in Bihar at the same time |
Jain Philosophy — Core Teachings
Three Jewels (Triratna) — The Path to Liberation
1. Samyak Darshana (Right Faith) — correct understanding; faith in the Tirthankaras
2. Samyak Jnana (Right Knowledge) — true knowledge of the self and reality
3. Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct) — following the 5 vows strictly
🧠 Mnemonic — "Dar Jana Char" = Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct
Panchamahavrata — 5 Great Vows
| # | Vow (Sanskrit) | Meaning | Note |
|---|
| 1 | Ahimsa | Non-violence (towards all living beings) | Most important; Jains use cloth mask to not inhale insects; sweep path before walking |
| 2 | Satya | Truthfulness | Speak no harmful truth either |
| 3 | Asteya | Non-stealing | Don't take what isn't given |
| 4 | Aparigraha | Non-possession / Non-attachment | Monks own nothing; this vow taken from Parshvanatha's 4 vows |
| 5 | Brahmacharya | Celibacy | ADDED BY MAHAVIRA; not in Parshvanatha's original 4 vows — key UPSC point! |
Other Key Doctrines
→ Anekantavada (Many-sidedness of truth) — truth has many aspects; no single viewpoint is absolute
→ Syadvada / Saptabhangi (Conditional predication) — "maybe it is so, maybe it isn't" — 7 possible ways of making a statement
→ Karma Theory: Soul (Jiva) binds to physical karma particles through actions; liberation = freeing the soul from karma
→ Atheism: No creator God; but Tirthankaras are venerated
→ Eternal individual soul (Jiva) — unlike Buddhism which denies a permanent self (anatman)
→ Sallekhana/Santhara: Voluntary fasting unto death; highest Jain practice; Chandragupta Maurya did this
Jain Sects — Digambara vs Shvetambara
| Aspect | Digambara (Sky-clad) | Shvetambara (White-clad) |
|---|
| Founder / Leader | Bhadrabahu (led monks south to Shravanabelagola) | Sthulabhadra (stayed in Pataliputra) |
| Clothes | Monks go completely naked | Monks wear white robes |
| Split reason | Disagreement over whether monks should wear clothes during a famine (~300 BC) | |
| Women | Cannot attain moksha in female body | Women can attain moksha |
| Mahavira's status | Mahavira was celibate throughout life (never married) | Mahavira was married to Yashoda |
| Region | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu (Shravanabelagola) | Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra |
| Famous converts | Chandragupta Maurya (became Digambara) | — |
Jain Councils
| Council | Date | Place | Presided by | Result |
|---|
| 1st Jain Council | ~300 BC | Pataliputra | Sthulabhadra | Compiled 12 Angas (Agamas); led to Shvetambara-Digambara split |
| 2nd Jain Council | 512 AD | Vallabhi (Gujarat) | Devardhi Kshamasramana | Finalized 12 Agamas in written form; Shvetambara canonical texts |
Jainism vs Buddhism — Key Differences
| Point | Jainism | Buddhism |
|---|
| Soul (Atman) | Eternal individual soul (Jiva) exists | No permanent soul (Anatman / Anatta) |
| Asceticism | Extreme asceticism acceptable (naked monks) | Middle Path: neither luxury nor extreme asceticism |
| Ahimsa | Absolute; covers even breathing (mask usage) | Important but not as extreme as Jainism |
| Language | Mahavira preached in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit | Buddha preached in Pali |
| God | No creator God; Tirthankaras venerated | No creator God; Buddha not a deity (Hinayana); became one in Mahayana |
| Karma | Physical particles binding to soul | Mental/intentional actions determine karma |
| Women | Can attain moksha (Shvetambara); cannot (Digambara) | Can attain Nirvana (Buddha accepted women into Sangha) |
| Both rejected | Vedic authority, caste by birth, animal sacrifice, Sanskrit | Vedic authority, caste by birth, animal sacrifice, Sanskrit |
Spread, Art & Architecture
Language of Preaching: Mahavira preached in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit — language of common people, NOT Sanskrit
Royal Patrons:
→ Chandragupta Maurya — converted to Digambara Jainism; went to Shravanabelagola; died by Sallekhana
→ Kharavela of Kalinga (1st century BC) — great Jain patron; Hathigumpha inscription
→ Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta king) — converted to Jainism
Famous Jain Temples:
→ Dilwara Temples (Mount Abu, Rajasthan) — marble temples; famous for intricate marble carvings
→ Ranakpur Temple (Rajasthan) — 1,444 uniquely carved marble pillars
→ Palitana (Shatrunjaya hill, Gujarat) — over 900 temples; holiest Shvetambara site
→ Shravanabelagola (Karnataka) — monolithic statue of Gommateshvara (Bahubali) — tallest freestanding statue in India (17m); Digambara site
→ Ellora Caves (Jain section) — 5 Jain caves; carved by Rashtrakutas
Quick Revision
✅ Must-Know for Prelims
→ Mahavira born: Kundagrama, Bihar (599 BC)
→ Enlightenment: Jrimbhikagrama (Rijupalika river); age 42
→ Death: Pavapuri, Bihar (527 BC)
→ Brahmacharya: ADDED by Mahavira (not in Parshvanatha's vows)
→ Language: Ardhamagadhi Prakrit
→ 1st Jain Council: Pataliputra, ~300 BC; Sthulabhadra
→ 2nd Jain Council: Vallabhi, 512 AD
→ Digambara = naked monks; Shvetambara = white-robed
→ Chandragupta Maurya → Digambara Jain
→ Most common Jain symbol: Swastika (not Buddhist)
→ Tallest Jain statue: Gommateshvara (Bahubali), Shravanabelagola
