The Jain Teachings and Philosophy can be found in the Jain canonical texts, also called Agamas. Risabhadeva was the first of the teachers, and the last was Vardhamana, also known as Mahavira (the Great Hero). He is said to have lived as a contemporary of Gautama Buddha in the sixth century B.C. Parvanatha, who lived in the ninth century B.C., was succeeded by Mahavira.

In this article, we will discuss about the teachings and philosophy of Jainism which will be useful for UPSC IAS Exam aspirants.

What is Jainism?

• Jainism is one of the religions whose origins can be traced back to the twenty-four teachers (Tirthankaras - those who establish a path) who are said to have passed down their faith.
• The term 'jaina' is derived from the term 'jina,' and the term 'jina' is the common name for supreme souls who are completely free of all attachment, aversion, and so on.
• Conqueror is the etymological meaning of the word 'jina.'
• It is the common name for the twenty-four teachers (tirthankaras) who have conquered all passions (raga and dvesa) and attained liberation.
• In essence, Jainism is the religion of heroic souls known as jinas, or self-conquerors.
• Jina devotees are known as 'jaina,' and the religion founded by jina is known as the 'Jaina Religion.'
• Jainism has made a significant contribution to Indian culture, spirituality, and philosophy. It is more of a praxis religion than a faith religion.
• Jainism is a sramanic faith. The term "Sramana" refers to an ascetic or a monk.
• Asceticism and mysticism, meditation and contemplation, silence and solitude, and the practice of virtues such as nonviolence, renunciation, celibacy, self-control, and so on are thus distinguishing features of this tradition.

Jain Teachings

• The primary goal of the Jain faith is to perfect the soul, which can only be accomplished by adhering to the Jinas' teachings.
• The 24 Jinas, according to Jains, revealed the essential truths of the universe and provided guidance to achieve liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
• The teachings of the most recent Jina, Mahavira, were recorded in the scriptures, which outline the fundamental concepts in which Jains should believe and live.
• Teachers and thinkers have written extensively on Jain beliefs and the rules of living that support them over the centuries.
• Living by these rules, whether mendicant or lay, puts religious principles into practice and aids Jains in spiritual development and eventual emancipation.

Jain Philosophy

• The Jain system is non-theistic. It denies the existence of God as the creator.
• Another distinguishing feature is that it is a pluralistic system. There are an infinite number of souls.
• Moksha is not absorption into the supreme, but rather the attainment of a perfect, luminous, and blissed soul that is devoid of body and actions.
• Jainism's religious philosophy teaches that there are nine truths or realities (Nav-tattva), which are as follows:

Jive (soul)

• The principle of Jiva is a conscious substance that varies from person to person. There are an infinite number of Jivas (souls).
• The soul is not only the reaper of karma's fruits (bhokta) but also the actor, deeply involved in worldly affairs and responsible for his act (karma), good or bad.
• It transmigrates, that is, it takes successive births based on the nature of the stock of its deeds.
• It can achieve emancipation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death by freeing itself from all that is non-soul (ajiva), destroying accumulated karmas, and preventing further influx into it.

Ajiva (non-soul)

• Ajiva is the polar opposite of jiva, consisting of dharma, adharma, akash, pudgala, and kala substances, the first three (medium of motion, medium of rest, space, or medium of accommodation)are formlessand indivisible wholes.
• The fourth substance is defined as what has the qualities of touch, taste, color, and smell.
• Time has an atomic dimension, and kala atoms pervade all of cosmic space.

Punya (merit)

Punya is the result of good and religious actions.Thereare nine ways to achieve that which in a way aredistinct forms of practicingcharity.

Papa (sin or demerit)

It is known as sin or evil, and it is a major factor in jiva's bondage. Injuring or killing living beings is a heinous sin that carries a terrible penalty.

Asrava (influx of karma)

• Asrava represents the soul's inflow of karmic matter. As water flows into a boat through a hole, so karmic matter flows into the soul through asrava.
• The nature of the activity is shubha (meritorious) or ashubha (demeritorious).
• The principle "like causes produce like results" is accepted as a defining feature of the Jain doctrine of karma.

Samvara (stoppage of karmic matter)

• Samvara refers to the stopping, controlling, or ceasing of the inflow of karmic matter into the soul.
• Samvara is achieved through self-control (gupti), restrained movement (samiti), virtues (dharma), contemplation (anupreksha), hardship conquest, and monastic conduct.

Bandha (bondage)

• Bandha is the union of jiva and pudgala (matter) or of the soul and non-soul particles.
• The problem is caused by five factors: incorrect belief, attachment, carelessness, passions, and activity.

Nirjara (shedding the karmic matter)

• Nirjara meansto destroy and burn accumulated karma.
• Consider the case of a tank. We stop the inflow of water into the tank, which stops the tank from filling up. That's Samvara, but there's already water in the tank.
• This water may be exposed to the heat of the sun for a period of time in order to dry. This is what isNirjara.

Moksha (liberation)

• Moksha is the highest level of spiritual attainment attained when all causes of bondage have been removed and the soul has been liberated from karmic matter.
• It is a stage of perfect faith, perfect knowledge, and having attained siddhi.
• Moksha can be attained through right faith, right knowledge, and right action.

Five Great Vows

Five types of vows are recommended for the perfection of right conduct:

• Nonviolence (ahinsa)
• Truthfulness (Satya)
• Non-stealing (asteya)
• Celibacy (brahmacharya)
• Non Attachment (aparigraha)

Let us have look at these five vows in detail-

Non-violence (Ahinsa)

• Nonviolence has always been at the heart of Jainism.
• According to Jainism, all living beings are equal regardless of size or shape. Gods (deva), humans (manushya), hell-beings (narakh), animals, and plants are the four forms of existence recognized by Jainism.
• Nonviolence should be observed in action, thought, and speech.

Truth (Satya)

• Jainism insisted on honesty and avoidsdeception.
• Truth can only be spoken after a person has overcome his or her greed, fear, anger, jealousy, and ego.

Non-stealing (Asteya)

• Jainism opposes stealing, which forbids taking someone else's property without their permission and taking too much is also considered theft in Jainism.
• It requires a monk to resist all forms of desire and to refrain from taking goods belonging to others without permission.

Non-attachment (Aparigraha)

• A person should not attach himself to worldly objects because this bonds him to the cycle of life and death.
• As a result, a person should abstain from any objects that appeal to the five senses.
• Jainism holds that greater wealth leads to greater attachment in the long run.

Celibacy (Brahmacharya)

• Brahmacharya is the practice of satisfying the five senses while abstaining from sexual arousal.
• Sensual pleasure suppresses all of a person's virtues, and monks and nuns must strictly adhere to this fast.
• This word was later added by Mahavira.

Tri-Ratnas

• Nirvana is the ultimate goal of life according to Jain philosophy.
• Nirvana can be attained by liberating the soul from the bonds of the physical elements and putting an end to Karma and its consequences.

This can be accomplished through the practice of Triratna, or the three gems.

• Samyak Darshan (Right View): This does not imply believing what is told or seen, but rather seeing things clearly by avoiding preconceived notions and superstitions.
• Samyak Gyan (Proper Knowledge): An effort to gain knowledge by overcoming ignorance. Only by following the Tirthankaras' teachings can knowledge be gained.
• Samyak Acharan (Right Conduct): This entails living one's life in accordance with Jains' ethical rules, abstaining from violence against animals and humans, and freeing oneself from attachment and negative thoughts.

Concepts of Sin

• Jainism not only emphasizes the observance of Vratas but also encourages his followers to avoid sin because sin is what binds a man.
• Untruth, theft, sexual relationships, anger, violence, dravya, greed, maya, ego, moh, backbiting, speaking ill of others,Dosharopan (impute charges), non-restraint, and False perception are among the 18 sins mentioned in Jain works.

Concept of Soul

• The concept of the Soul and its purity is central to Jain philosophy.
• According to Jainism, every object in the universe – animate or inanimate – contains a soul.
• As a result, every being has a soul, and the physical body serves as a bond to the soul.
• The path to salvation is paved by liberating the soul from physical bonds.
• It does not believe in the existence of a single soul, but it does believe that there are multiple souls in this universe.

Karma Theory

• Mahavira was a firm believer in Karma and Atma (soul).
• Man will be punished or rewarded for his actions in the next, present, or previous lives.
• The soul creates its own present or future by doing good or evil deeds. This philosophy emphasizes the Soul's immortality.
• According to Mahavira, a person is born into a higher or lower caste based on sins or virtues committed in a previous life.

Concept of Knowledge

• Since knowledge is a relative quality, no absolute and final affirmation or denial is possible, according to Jainism. This is known as the Syadvada theory.
• Before determining the degree of truthfulness in a particular statement, there may be as many as seven options.

Equality

Jains place a high value on equality. Mahavira accepted caste but stated that a person's goodness or badness could be determined by his actions rather than his birth.

Existence of God

• Jainism recognized the existence of gods but regarded them as inferior, and it did not condemn caste, like Buddhism.
• The universe, according to Jain philosophy, is eternal.
• The universe was not created by God, who does not exist, but by six elements: Jeev (soul), Ajeev (Physical Matter), Dharma, Adharma, Kal, and Akash.

Rejected the Vedas

• Mahavira rejected the Vedas' and Vedic customs' supremacy.
• He declared a strict and simple way of life, with the ultimate goal of achieving Kevalaya (Nirvana or Mokha).
• He went ahead and refused to accept the Vedas' authority.

Against Rituals and Sacrifices

• Jainism was a form of rebellion against Brahmin superiority and their sacrifices and useless rituals.
• He stopped all sacrifices and rituals and instructed everyone to focus on Karma and soul.

Conclusion

Jainism is one of the world's oldest religious traditions. This tradition produced a large number of tirthankaras, acaryas, saints, and scholars. In today's world, it is assumed that religion has lost its hold on humanity, but Jainism has much to offer to refute this claim. To realize the inherent potentialities of the human self, Jainism follows the path of self-reliance, self-discipline, and self-purification.

FAQs

Q1: What are the core teachings of Jainism?

Q2: What is Ahimsa in Jainism?

Q3: What does Anekantavada mean?

Q4: What role does Aparigraha play in Jain philosophy?

Q5: How does Jainism view the concept of karma?

MCQs

1. What is the meaning of Ahimsa in Jainism?

a) Truthfulness

b) Non-violence

c) Generosity

d) Patience

2. Which Jain doctrine teaches multiple perspectives?

a) Anekantavada

b) Ahimsa

c) Satya

d) Aparigraha

3. What is the significance of Aparigraha in Jainism?

a) Wealth accumulation

b) Meditation

c) Non-attachment to possessions

d) Offering sacrifices

4. How does Jainism explain karma?

a) A divine gift

b) A substance that binds the soul

c) A philosophical idea only

d) A temporary emotion

5. Which of the following is not a core Jain principle?

a) Ahimsa

b) Anekantavada

c) Aparigraha

d) Bhakti

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Explain the relevance of Ahimsa in Jain philosophy and its significance in the modern world.

Answer: Ahimsa, or non-violence, is the foundation of Jain philosophy. It extends beyond physical harm to include non-violent thoughts and words. In today’s context, Ahimsa remains relevant in promoting peaceful coexistence, environmental conservation, and ethical consumption. It encourages individuals to avoid harm to any form of life, advocating vegetarianism and eco-friendly practices. Jain principles of Ahimsa have also influenced global leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, inspiring non-violent movements across the world.

Q2: Discuss the concept of Anekantavada and its importance in fostering tolerance.

Answer: Anekantavada is the Jain doctrine that truth has multiple aspects, and no single perspective can represent absolute truth. This principle promotes intellectual humility and tolerance for differing viewpoints. In a multicultural world, Anekantavada encourages acceptance of diverse ideologies, fostering social harmony and reducing conflict. It aligns with modern democratic values by emphasizing dialogue and understanding.

Q3: Evaluate the role of Aparigraha in addressing consumerism and environmental challenges today.

Answer: Aparigraha, or non-attachment to material possessions, promotes simple living and contentment. In the context of today’s consumerist culture, this principle offers a way to counter overconsumption and environmental degradation. Aparigraha encourages individuals to adopt sustainable lifestyles, reduce waste, and focus on inner well-being rather than external wealth. It aligns with movements advocating minimalism and environmental consciousness.

Previous Year Questions on Jain Teachings

1. UPSC CSE 2017

Question: "How have Jain principles shaped India's ethical and spiritual landscape?" 

Answer: Jain principles like Ahimsa, Anekantavada, and Aparigraha have profoundly influenced India’s ethical and spiritual traditions. The emphasis on non-violence has shaped Indian society's attitudes toward animals and the environment, leading to widespread vegetarianism and animal welfare practices. Anekantavada has encouraged tolerance and dialogue, vital in a diverse society. The principle of Aparigraha has resonated with ascetic traditions in Hinduism and Buddhism, promoting simple living. These values also influenced leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, whose non-violent philosophy became a cornerstone of India’s freedom struggle.

2. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: "Analyze the impact of Jain philosophy on environmental conservation." 

Answer: Jain philosophy, particularly the principles of Ahimsa and Aparigraha, has significant implications for environmental conservation. Ahimsa promotes kindness to all living beings, fostering eco-friendly practices and vegetarianism, which reduce the environmental impact of meat production. Aparigraha encourages limiting material desires, supporting sustainable consumption patterns. Jain monks exemplify a lifestyle of minimalism and respect for nature, inspiring movements advocating ecological responsibility. The philosophy aligns with modern environmental ethics by emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life and the need to preserve natural resources.