🕉️ Chapter 08 · Topic 03 · Religions of India

Jainism

Mahavira, Five Vows, Anekantavada, Syadvada, Digambara and Shvetambara sects, Jain councils, Jain art — complete UPSC & PSC notes.

🔱 Mahavira — Life and Teachings

Vardhamana Mahavira — the 24th and last Tirthankara (ford-maker/spiritual teacher) of Jainism
Born: Vaishali (Bihar), ~599 BCE; Kshatriya clan (Licchavi); father Siddhartha, mother Trishala
Left home at age 30; attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) at age 42 at Jrimbhikagrama
Died: Pavapuri (Bihar), ~527 BCE; attained Nirvana
Mahavira did not found Jainism — he reformed and revived it; the 23rd Tirthankara was Parshvanatha
Mahavira’s teachings are compiled in the Agamas (Jain scriptures)

📜 Core Teachings

Five Vows (Pancha Mahavrata) for monks:
1. Ahimsa — non-violence (most important)
2. Satya — truthfulness
3. Asteya — non-stealing
4. Brahmacharya — celibacy (added by Mahavira; Parshvanatha had only four vows)
5. Aparigraha — non-possession
Three Jewels (Triratna): Right Faith (Samyak Darshana), Right Knowledge (Samyak Jnana), Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra)
Anekantavada — doctrine of many-sidedness; reality has multiple aspects; no single viewpoint is complete
Syadvada — doctrine of conditional predication; “perhaps” or “in some respect”; seven-fold predication (Saptabhangi)
Karma — physical substance that binds the soul; liberation through shedding karma

⭐ Digambara vs Shvetambara:
Digambara (“sky-clad”) — monks go naked; women cannot attain liberation; Mahavira never married; scriptures lost; prevalent in South India (Karnataka)
Shvetambara (“white-clad”) — monks wear white robes; women can attain liberation; Mahavira was married; scriptures preserved; prevalent in Gujarat and Rajasthan
The split occurred at the Second Jain Council (~300 BCE) at Pataliputra.

🏛️ Jain Councils

Council	Date	Place	Significance
1st Council	~300 BCE	Pataliputra	Compiled 12 Angas (scriptures); Sthulabhadra presided; Digambara-Shvetambara split
2nd Council	~512 CE	Vallabhi (Gujarat)	Final compilation of Shvetambara canon; Devardhigani presided

📌 Jain Art and Architecture: Jains have made significant contributions to Indian art and architecture. Key examples: (1) Dilwara Temples (Mt. Abu, Rajasthan) — white marble; intricate carvings; Solanki dynasty; Vimal Vasahi (1031 CE) and Luna Vasahi (1230 CE); (2) Gomateshwara (Bahubali) statue (Shravanabelagola, Karnataka) — 57 feet tall monolithic statue; Ganga dynasty; 981 CE; Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony every 12 years; (3) Ranakpur Temple (Rajasthan) — 1,444 marble pillars; no two alike; (4) Palitana temples (Gujarat) — 900+ temples on Shatrunjaya hill.

✅ Revision Checklist — Jainism

✅ Mahavira = 24th Tirthankara = Vaishali, Bihar = ~599 BCE
✅ Mahavira attained Kevala Jnana = Jrimbhikagrama = age 42
✅ Mahavira died = Pavapuri = ~527 BCE
✅ 23rd Tirthankara = Parshvanatha (had only 4 vows; Mahavira added Brahmacharya)
✅ Five Vows = Ahimsa + Satya + Asteya + Brahmacharya + Aparigraha
✅ Three Jewels = Right Faith + Right Knowledge + Right Conduct
✅ Anekantavada = many-sidedness of reality
✅ Syadvada = conditional predication = “perhaps”
✅ Digambara = naked monks = South India; Shvetambara = white robes = Gujarat/Rajasthan
✅ 1st Jain Council = Pataliputra = ~300 BCE = Sthulabhadra
✅ Gomateshwara = Shravanabelagola = 57 feet = 981 CE = Mahamastakabhisheka every 12 years
✅ Dilwara Temples = Mt. Abu = white marble = Solanki dynasty