Jainism: Origin and prospect.

Byline: Dr Rajkumar Singh

IT is an ancient Indian religion that is based on the teachings of Mahavira, who lived around 2500 years ago. It is a non-theistic religion that emphasizes the importance of non-violence, self-control and non-attachment. It was founded by Mahavira, who is considered the last of the 24 Tirthankaras (enlightened beings) in Jainism. Mahavira was born into a noble family in the town of Vaishali, in present-day Bihar. He lived a privileged life until the age of 30, when he renounced his wealth and status to become an ascetic. For the next 12 years, he practiced severe austerity and meditation, seeking enlightenment.

Mahavira's teachings emphasized the importance of non-violence (ahimsa), non-attachment to material possessions and strict self-discipline. He believed that the path to liberation and spiritual purity lay in following the Five Great Vows (panch mahavrata), which are non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy and non-possession. Mahavira's teachings and the ascetic way of life he advocated attracted many followers, who came to be known as Jains. Overtime, Jainism developed into a distinct religion with its own scriptures, rituals and practices. Jainism played an important role in shaping Indian culture and philosophy, particularly in the areas of ethics, non-violence and vegetarianism. Today, Jains can be found in India and around the world and the religion continues to grow and evolve.

Development of the religion: Jainism has developed and evolved over the centuries since its founding by Mahavira in the 6th century BCE. Here are some key milestones in the development of Jainism. After Mahavira's death, his teachings were spread by his disciples, known as Jina Sampradaya. Early Jainism was characterized by a focus on asceticism, non-violence and the pursuit of spiritual purity. The Jain canon, known as the Agamas, was compiled over several centuries after Mahavira's death, which contains the teachings of Mahavira and other Jain teachers and are considered the authoritative source of Jain doctrine. Over time, Jainism developed into a rich philosophical tradition, with an emphasis on metaphysics, ethics and epistemology.

Jain philosophers developed sophisticated theories of karma, reincarnation and the nature of reality. However, in later years, Jainism split into two main sects, the Digambaras and the Svetambaras, in the early centuries CE. The Digambaras believed in a more ascetic and naked way of...