Jainism – Tirthankaras, Vardhaman Mahavira & Triratna

Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara (a great teacher). The tenets of Jainism and facts about Mahavira are important for IAS Exam as it makes a significant part of Indian ancient history and Indian culture. NCERT notes on important topics for the UPSC civil services exam. These notes will also be useful for other competitive exams like banking PO, SSC, state public services exams, and so on. This article talks about the rise and spread of Jainism in ancient India, Triratna of Jainism, and more. You can also download the notes PDF.

Jainism (UPSC Notes):-Download PDF Here

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Origin of Jainism

• Jainism is a very ancient religion. As per some traditions, it is as old as the Vedic religion.
• The Jain tradition has a succession of great teachers or Tirthankaras.
• There were 24 Tirthankaras the last of which was Vardhaman Mahavira.
• The first Tirthankara is believed to be Rishabhanath or Rishabhadev.
• The 23rd Tirthankara was Parshvanatha who was born in Varanasi. He may have lived in the 8th or 7th century BC.
• All the Tirthankaras were Kshatriyas by birth.

Vardhaman Mahavira (540 – 468 B.C.)

• Considered the last Tirthankara.
• He was born at Kundagrama near Vaisali.
• His parents were Kshatriyas. Father – Siddhartha (Head of Jnatrika Clan); Mother – Trishala (Sister of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka). (Chetaka’s daughter married Haryanka King Bimbisara).
• He was married to Yasoda and had a daughter Anojja or Priyadarsana.
• At the age of 30, Vardhaman renounced his home and became a wandering ascetic.
• He also observed self-mortification.
• After 13 years of penance, he attained the highest spiritual knowledge called Kevala Jnan. He attained this at Jimbhikagrama village under a sal tree aged 42. This is called Kaivalya. Thereafter, he was called Mahavira, Jina, Jitendriya (one who conquered his senses), Nigrantha (free from all bonds), and Kevalin.
• He preached his teachings for 30 years and died at Pava (near Rajagriha) aged 72.

Causes of the rise of Jainism

• Vedic religion had become highly ritualistic.
• Jainism was taught in Pali and Prakrit thus was more accessible to the common man as compared to Sanskrit.
• It was accessible to people of all castes.
• Varna system had rigidified and people of the lower castes led miserable lives. Jainism offered them an honourable place.
• About 200 years after the death of Mahavira, a great famine in the Ganga valley prompted Chandragupta Maurya and Bhadrabahu (last Acharya of the undivided Jain sangha) to migrate to Karnataka. Jainism spread to Southern India after that.

Teachings of Jainism

• Mahavira rejected Vedic principles.
• He did not believe in God’s existence. According to him, the universe is a product of the natural phenomenon of cause and effect.
• He believed in Karma and transmigration of the soul. The body dies but the soul does not.
• One will be punished or rewarded as per one’s karma.
• Advocated a life of austerity and non-violence.
• Stressed on equality but did not reject the caste system, unlike Buddhism. But he also said that man may be ‘good’ or ‘bad’ as per his actions and not birth.
• Asceticism was taken to a great length. Starvation, nudity, and self-mortification were expounded.
• Two elements of the world: Jiva (conscious) and Atma (unconscious):
  • Right faith
  • Right knowledge
  • Right conduct (observance of five vows)
    1. Ahimsa (non-violence)
    2. Satya (truth)
    3. Asteya (no stealing)
    4. Aparigraha (no acquiring property)
    5. Brahmacharya (abstinence)

Split in Jainism

• When Bhadrabahu left for South India, Sthulabahu remained in the North with his followers.
• Sthulabahu changed the code of conduct and said that white clothes could be worn. Thus, split Jainism into two sects:
  1. Swetambaras: White-clad; Northerners
  2. Digambaras: Sky-clad (naked); Southerners

Jainism – Jain Councils

First council

• Held at Pataliputra in the 3rd century BC.
• Presided by Sthulabhadra.

Second Council

• Held at Vallabhi in Gujarat in 512 AD.
• Presided by Devardhi Kshemasarmana.

Royal patrons of Jainism

South India

• Kadamba dynasty
• Ganga dynasty
• Amoghavarsha
• Kumarapala (Chalukya dynasty)

North India

• Bimbisara
• Ajatasatru
• Chandragupta Maurya
• Bindusara
• Harshavardhana
• Ama
• Bindusara
• Kharavela

Other Facts about Jainism relevant for UPSC

There are a few important details about Jainism that aspirants should know for the UPSC Prelims examination:

1. The doctrine of Jaina is older than the Buddhist doctrine
2. Buddha and Mahavira were contemporaries
3. The word ‘Jaina’ has meaning. It means the follower of ‘Jina,’ which means ‘Victor’ (Someone who has attained infinite knowledge and who teaches others how to attain moksha.)
4. The other name to ‘Jina’ is ‘Tirthankara,’ which means ford builder.
5. There is a Jaina conception of time which is divided into six stages called Kalas.
6. The 22nd Tirthankara Neminatha is said to have belonged to the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
7. The 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanath lived in Benaras
8. All Tirthankaras are supposed to have taught the same doctrine.
9. A Jina is said to possess ‘Avadhijnana,’ (Superhuman cognition or psychic power.)
10. Jaina doctrine insists that:
    • Reality is Anekanta (Manifold)
    • Sat (Being) has three aspects – Substance (Dravya), Quality (Guna), and Mode (Paryaya.)
    • Jaina Doctrine of Anekantavada mentions the manifold nature of reality.)

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Aspirants can get other NCERT Ancient History Notes for UPSC in the linked article.

Also read:

Buddha and his teachings

Buddhist Councils & Texts

UPSC Preparation

NCERT Medieval History Notes for UPSC	UPSC Syllabus
UPSC Exam Pattern	UPSC Calendar 2023
UPSC Books	Daily News Analysis
NCERT Modern History Notes for UPSC	Daily Video Analysis: The Hindu

Frequently Asked Questions related to Jainism

Q1

Does Jainism believe in God?

According to Mahavira, a person is born in higher or lower varna as the consequence of the sins or the virtues in the previous birth. Thus, Jainism believes in the transmigration of the soul and the theory of Karma.

Q2

How many types of Jains are there?

Jains are divided into two major sects; the Digambara (meaning sky clad) sect and the Svetambara (meaning white clad) sect. Each of these sects is also divided into subgroups. The two sects agree on the basics of Jainism, but disagree on: details of the life of Mahavira.

Q3

How is Buddhism different from Jainism?

Buddhism is centered upon the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha, whereas Jainism is centered on the life and teachings of Mahavira. Jainism is also a polytheistic religion and its goals are based on non-violence and liberation of the soul.

Q4

What are the basic beliefs of Jainism?

Jainism is a religion of self-help. There are no gods or spiritual beings that will help human beings. The three guiding principles of Jainism, the ‘three jewels’, are right belief, right knowledge and right conduct. The supreme principle of Jain living is non-violence (ahimsa).