Jainism Chapter 1 Rajesh Kumar Jain M M I G , B - 23, Ram Ganga V i h a r , Phase 2, Extn, M o r a d a b a d - 2 4 4 0 0 1 , UP- B h a r a t . (India) Asia 2013 2014 2015 2016 Copyright © Rajesh Kumar Jain, Moradabad-UP-Bharat. 1 From the Desk of Author Dear Readers:- I am happy to publish first chapter of an English version book Jainism, there was a huge demand from south Bharat, USA and UK, so I tried to write and publish the same. My mother tongue is Hindi, so, there are chances of mistakes and hoping that readers will help to rectify the same. Thanks Rajesh Kumar Jain I wrote my first book in 2013, published on wordpress and BlogSpot, book was listed on Pothi and Chinemonteal in 2014, the second edition was published, listed in 2015 and the language was Hindi. Year wise Readers 2013,2014,2015 25000 21600 20000 15000 Series1 10000 6300 5000 1700 0 1 2 3 2 Month Wise Readers of 2013,2014,2015 3500 N o 3000 2500 o f 2000 1500 Series1 R Series2 e 1000 a 500 Series3 d e 0 r s Month Readers were from 72 USA 13550 countries, list of Top Bharat 9509 eighteen countries are Sweden 3901 given with data. France 552 Germany 250 Taiwan 233 UK 195 European 177 Singapore 107 Japan 70 Russia 64 Canada 46 UAE 46 Indonesia 25 Nepal 23 Australia 22 Malaysia 15 Thailand 15 others 800 3 Country wise Readers at a Glance USA Bharat Sweden France Germany Taiwan UK European Singapore Japan Russia Canada UAE Indonesia Nepal Australia Malaysia Thailand others Year Readers % Growth 2013 1700 - 2014 6300 85 2015 21600 242 4 Left to Right: My Wife Smt Alka Jain, Me, My Mother Smt Prem Lata Jain Left to Right: My son Er Varun Jain, Me, My mother Smt Prem Lata Jain 5 Left to Right My son Er Rajat Jain, Me, My daughter in Law Er Vartika Jain 6 Mangalam Bhagavan viro, Mangalam gautamo gani, Mangalam kundakundadya, Jain dharmostu mangalam. Jainism prescribes 3 moral principles to be observed by all the members of the society. These are called Ahimsa or non-violence, Aparigraha or non-possession, and Anekantavada. Triple-A principles can develop a new society for peace, love and harmony is the thought of Jain philosophy. The population of Jains in Bharat is less than 1% of total 1.3 billion. Literacy %age in women is more than 99. Male, Female birth 7 ratio is almost same. Jain society‟s share is 23% of the total revenue generated from Income Tax. This clearly shows that Jain community contributes majorly to country‟s economy and is a sign of prosperity and peace in the society. We believe that approximately 2600 years back Lord Mahavir achieved Kavel Gyan and moksha after a long tapasia. He is 24th Tirthnkar and Lord Adinath is 1st Tirthnkar. Son of Lord Adinath, Bharat was chakraverty and the name of our country Bharat is on his name. Three idol of lord Mahavir situated in a Temple at ShriMahavirji-Raj JAL Bachao, JAL Hi Jevan Hai! 8 Name, sign and birth place of Tirthnkars Name of Lord Sign Birth Place 1008 Shri Adinath ji Ayodhya Bull 1008 Shri Ajitnath ji Ayodhya Elephant 1008 Shri Sambhavnath ji Shravasti Horse 1008 Shri Ayodhya Abhinandannath ji Monkey 1008 Shri Sumatinath ji Ayodhya Curlew 1008 Shri Padmaprabhu ji Kaushambi Lotus 1008 Shri Suparshvanath Varanasi ji Swastika 1008 Shri Chandraprabhu Chandrapuri ji Moon 1008 Shri Pushpadanta ji Kakandi Crocodile 9 1008 Shri Sheetalnath ji Bhaddilpur KalpVriksha 1008 Shri Shreyansnath ji Simhapuri Rhinoceros 1008 Shri Vasupujya ji Champapuri Buffalo 1008 Shri Vimalnath ji Kampilyapur Pig a 1008 Shri Anantnath ji Ayodhaya Porcupine 1008 Shri Dharmanath ji Ratnapur Vajra 1008 Shri Shantinath ji Hastinapur Deer 1008 Shri Kunthunath ji Hastinapur Goat 1008 Shri Arahnath ji Hastinapur Fish 1008 Shri Mallinath ji Mithila Kalasha 10 1008 Shri Munisuvrtanath Rajgriha ji Tortoise 1008 Shri Naminath ji Mithlapur Neel kamal 1008 Shri Neminath ji Shoripur Shank 1008 Shri Parshvanath ji Varanasi Snake 1008 Shri Mahaveer Kundalpur swami ji Lion 11 The Jains are divided into two major sects, Digambar and Svetambar. The differences between the two sects are minor and relatively obscure. Digambar Jain muni do not wear clothes while Svetambar Jain muni wears white, seamless clothes. Digambar and Svetambar are divided into four branches each. According to recent survey 1408 muni, 5678 Sadhvis, 16570 Jain temples and 19567 sthanak/uppaska (Place for sadhus) are in Bharat. 12 Shri Gautam Swami ji Shri Gautam Swami Ji was born in a Brahmin family and his parents‟ name was Vasubhuti and Prithvi Gautam. He was the Ganadhar (interpreter) of Lord Mahavira. He was wise and great tapasavi. His childhood name was Indrabhuti. He achieved Keval Gyan at the age of 80 and attained moksha at the age of 92, approximately 2600 years back. 13 Acharya Kundkund Acharya Kundkund was born in south Bharat, Kaundakunda, so he was famous as KundKund Acharya. His proper name was Padmanandi. It is believed that due to the greatness of Tapa (Penance) Acharya Kund Kund got „Charan Riddhi‟ (The power of moving in the sky / air over the earth). He authored many Shashtra such as: Samayasara, Niyamasara, Panchastikayasara, Pravachansara and Barasanuvekkha. In Managlacharan, Acharya Kund Kund‟s name comes after Bhagwan Mahaveer & Gautam Ganadhar. He occupies the highest place in the tradition of the Jain acharyas. 14 108 Acharya Shri Shanti Sagar Ji Maharaj Acharya Shanti Sagar Ji Maharaj was born in 1871 at Belgul village of South Bharat. His birth name was Satgauda. His mother's name was Shrimati Satyavati (Satyabhama) and his father's name was Shri Bhimgonda. He was inspired by muni Adisagar ji in 1905; in 1915 he was initiated as a Kshullaka by muni Devakirti ji. He visited for a pilgrimage to Girnar ji in 1918. One year later, he was 15 initiated as a muni by Devakirti at Yarnal. He was titled as a Jain Acharya at the age of 52. Acharya Shri ShantiSagarji was given further award of Charitra Chakravarti. He has wandered on foot over the length and breadth of Bharat, covering 35000 miles. Acharya had to face many difficulties in his life and he faced all the adverse circumstances with fearlessness, patience and tolerance. Once Acharya shri was performing samayik in a cave, thousands and crores of red ants came up on his body and began to suck his blood by severely painful biting. Acharya Shri did not move for about two hours and went on suffering this pain. Afterwards, some Shravakas saw this and they removed the ants by throwing sugar nearby. Maharaj Shri opened his lips only after all the ants were gone away from him. There have been many such instances in the life of Acharyaji wherein he proved victorious over rigorous physical pains and mental worries. He was on fast for more than 9000 days in his life time. When his eye sight began to weaken in 1955 he adopted Sannllekhana, in the first eight days, he took only two bits of food everyday. Then after he took only juice 16 from black grapes for another eight days and after that he used to take water only. From August 14 until September 7 he took only water; then, unable to drink without help, he ceased even that. At last, fully conscious he died after dev darshan in the early morning of September 18. Shri ShantiSagar ji Maharaj contributed very much to uphold, strengthen and establish the traditions of Digambar Jain. He was the first Digambar Jain Acharya of the 20th century, when the traditions of Digambar Jains were being wiped out since many years and there was hardly a saint or mendicant to work and speak for Lord Mahavir and Kundkund. He had won over his senses and had captured anger, greed, attachments, sensuality, pride desires with six enemies. 17 He was born on 10th October 1946 in District Belgaum, Karnataka. His father was Shri Mallappa, who later became Muni Mallisagar. His mother shrimati later became aryika Samayamati. He was initiated as a muni at the age of twenty-two by Acharya Gyansagar ji, at Ajmer in 1968. He was elevated to the Acharya status in 1972. He Knows several Languages and Authored many books. Acharya Vidyasagar ji inspired for the renovation of temples. He is a strong supporter of cow protection movement. Website is http://www.vidyasagar.net “Walk on Foot, Live Healthy and Save Environment” 18 Shri 108 Vidhya Nand Ji Muni Maharaj He was born on April 22, 1925 in village Shedwal, Distt: Belgam (Karnataka). His father was shri Kalappa Upadhayaya and mother smt. Saraswati Bai. His childhood name was Surendra Kumar. His Muni diksha was on July 25, 1963 and muni diksha guru was Acharya shri Deshbhushan ji. He was elevated to the Acharya status in 1987. In the true tradition of Jain Acharyas we are lucky to have Acharya Vidyanandji in the 20th 19 century. It is for many many centuries that a person of this caliber, vision, knowledge, exceptional managerial skills and towering personality is available to the Jains. Many historical and landmark projects were undertaken by him to help the Jains to come together (cutting across the sectarian barriers) and understand the great treasures (of values, philosophy and literature) inherited by us as a result of excellent work done by Jain Acharyas over many many centuries. His command over many languages (current and ancient), depth of knowledge and great amount of research in old scripts is reflected in his actions, thinking, discourses and many books written by him.