Objects As History Jainism and Its Scientific Reasons Ujashvi Hirani
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Hirani 1 Objects As History Jainism and its scientific reasons Ujashvi Hirani ISDI UGP Section G November 22, 2016 Hirani 2 Introduction Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the path to liberation and bliss can only be achieved by living a life of harmlessness and renunciation. The Jains follow many practices and beliefs such as fasting , non violence , etc. and their beliefs are always scientific proved right. However to understand their beliefs we need to know what is Jainism and its history. The word "Jain" derives from the Sanskrit word jina which means conqueror. It is traditionally known as Jain Dharma , which belongs to the śramaṇa. Śramaṇa is a Sanskrit word which means seeker – the one who performs the acts of ascetic. This term refers to several Indian religious movements which are parallel but separate from the historical Vedic religion.. The Śramaṇa tradition includes Jainism , Buddhism and others such as Ajnana and Carvaka of the 9th to 6th c. BCE. The Jain religion was started in India in the 6th century BCE. There are no evidence as of when was Jainism started . The Jain Dharm didn’t have a beginning , it always existed because is was always considered to be a mere way of living life. There were twenty – four Tirthankars - each in every civilization who had adopted the Jain way of living and become people whom the Jain would follow as their idol. Jains believe in tirthankars and not Gods. They are of the opinion that every individual has the ability to become a great person. There were twenty-four teachers who are know as Tirthankaras – omniscient teaching God who preaches Dharm, and the history of Jainism can be traced through the succession of these Tirthankars. The first Tirthakara were Rishabhdeva and the last Tirthankara is Mahavir bhagnwaan. Jains now mainly follow Mahavir bhagwaan. Jainism has no priests. Its professional religious people are monks and nuns known as Mahrasaheb, who lead strict and Hirani 3 ascetic lives. However it is said that it was Mahavira who founded Jainism in the sixteenth century. Like Buddha Mahavira also belonged to the warrior family. (fig1) fig1 Source : https://www.google.co.in/search?q=jainism+gods+lord+mahavira&client=safari&rls= en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwgaDXjdDQAhXLvo8KHQwp AB0Q_AUICCgB&biw=1409&bih=768#imgrc=_oNm4wi_LFa9iM%3A Jains are divided into two major sections the Digambara (meaning "sky clad") section and the Svetambara (meaning "white clad") section. Jains don't worship to please gods, or in the hope of getting something from gods in return. Jain worship provides the individual with a discipline that helps them concentrate on the Jain ideals, they worship god so they find peach within themselves and around them , to do good to others and so that they don’t harm anyone . However Jains do not believe in a God or gods in the way that many other religions do, but they do believe in divine beings who are worthy of devotion. People regard the jinas as Gods because the jinas are admired by Jains in the way that other faiths worship their Gods. Jains have great respect for them because they have achieved Hirani 4 perfection, and have become liberated from the cycle of birth and death1. They believe in Jina or the monks – Mahrasaheeb. Being a Jain since childhood I had to follow the practices of Jain. I was sent for classes to learn Jain practices – Dharmik . I was often told that if I don’t follow or go against the practices I would be punished . I never got a proper answer for this. “Jainism is a religion based on the belief that a path of non-violence will lead to liberation and happiness.”2 Some of the main beliefs of Jainism are non-violence , fasting , they believe that everything has life , etc.(fig2). Jainism is based on true facts and not on blind faith. The core belief of Jainism is to conquer the inner feelings such as sorrow , anger , greed by practicing non-attachment with the world and living a peaceful and disciplined lifestyle. 1 "BBC - Religions - Jainism: God," BBC - Home, accessed November 22, 2016, http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/beliefs/god.shtml. 2 "What Are Jainism's Main Beliefs?," Our Everyday Life, accessed November 29, 2016, http://peopleof.oureverydaylife.com/jainisms- main-beliefs-6578.html. Hirani 5 fig2 Source: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=jainism+gods+lord+mahavira&client=safari&rls= en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwgaDXjdDQAhXLvo8KHQwp AB0Q_AUICCgB&biw=1409&bih=768#tbm=isch&q=main+beliefs+of+jainism&im grc=YRMv7ck28Tl38M%3A The main belief of Jainism is non-violence i.e. ahimsa . Ahimsa is the fundamental and most basic principle of Jainism . “The term ahimsa means nonviolence, non- injury or absence of desire to harm any life forms. Vegetarianism and other nonviolent practices and rituals of Jains flow from the principle of ahimsa.”3 Ahimsa 3 "Ahimsa in Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism." Share and Discover Knowledge on LinkedIn SlideShare. Accessed November 30, 2016. http://www.slideshare.net/bluelotusjoy/ahimsa-in-jainism- buddhism-and-hinduism. Hirani 6 means non-violence that is not harming others either my words or our actions. According to Jains the concept of ahimsa is very different from that of the other philosophers. Ahimsa doesn’t merely indicate absence of physical violence but it also means the absence of desire to harm someone or create any sort of violence . Violence means harming someone. But according to the Jain philosophy , violence means harming one’s own self. It also means harming others as it is the tendency when you harm someone else that would ultimately harm yourself. “In Jainism, the understanding and implementation of ahimsa is more radical, scrupulous, and comprehensive than in any other religion.• Non-violence is seen as the most essential religious duty for everyone (ahiṃsā paramo dharmaḥ, is a statement often inscribed on Jain temples).”4 As compared to any other religion , Jainism has taken the principle of ahimsa very seriously. It is one of the main aim of Jainism. The Jains not only believe in non-violence against other humans but they also believe that everything has a life like a small plant , and we should not harm anything that has life in it. Jains also believe in fasting. They often fast during festivals or any big day .Paryushan , it is a eight day festival which happens during the monsoon. According to people fast during Paryushan as during the monsoon seasons there are many tiny insects which we cannot see on the food. However the main reason for people to fast during Paryushan is first that the soul can to Samvar – to stop influx of Karma. They can enjoy the whole day spending time on doing dharmic which would give them peace. It would make them realize their soul and increase their strength from within. 4 "Ahimsa in Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism," Share and Discover Knowledge on LinkedIn SlideShare, accessed November 30, 2016, http://www.slideshare.net/bluelotusjoy/ahimsa-in-jainism- buddhism-and-hinduism. Hirani 7 It also helps people to gain control on their 5 sense.5 Some Jains also fast on the regular days , if they feel that they have caused harm to someone or have commited any kind of sin. They also fast to purify body and mind . There are many types of fasting like – Upvas in this people don’t eat anything the whole day and can only drink water till the sunsets. Chauvihar Upvas in this people can nether eat nor drink water for the whole day. Ekasana in this people only eat once in the whole day and can drink water till the sunsets. Beasana in this people can eat twice in a day. Chauvihar in this people can eat the whole day but cannot eat after sunset. There are many more types of fast but these are the most basic ones. Our body has a certain degree of heat inside it and it is important to maintain this. To keep the production of heat in our body continuous , fuel is necessary. “Most of the fuel is obtained from the carbohydrates and fats in our food. But during the period of Upavas fasting when the consumption of food has been stopped, the remaining oart of the food gets urnt and assimilated.”6 During upvas there is no intake of food and so the muscles may feel weak , the weakness is not cause of no food consumption but due to the clearness of the unwanted junk in our body , however the mind stays unaffected , we feel lighter and so we get a proper sleep. “By means of Upavas the children of a doctor in America by name, Edward David, 5 "Why Do Jain Fast During Paryushan? - Quora," Quora - The Best Answer to Any Question, accessed November 30, 2016, https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Jain-fast-during-paryushan. 6 "Why is Fasting Essential ?," Jainworld, accessed November 30, 2016, http://www.jainworld.com/jainbooks/guideline/24.htm. Hirani 8 were saved from the dreadful disease of Diphtheria.”7 It is said that fasting is he best medicine while someone is not well. It is useful to get rid of diseases such a fever or smallpox. Jains eat before sunset which many health conscious people have started doing. It is suggested that you should eat normally 3-4 hours before sleeping for proper digestion. After sunset there are many tiny living beings who come into existence in the atmosphere. These beings enter our food and drinks, and thereby enter our digestive systems.