Jainism

Patrons

• Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara → royal support
• Bimbisara, Ajatashatru → early promoters

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Jain Philosophy

Core Goal

• Moksha → liberation from cycle of birth

Three Jewels (Ratnatraya)

• Right Knowledge (Samyak Jnana) → correct understanding
• Right Faith (Samyak Darshana) → belief in truth
• Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra) → ethical life

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Five Vows (Mahavrata)

• Ahimsa → no violence (most important)
• Satya → truth
• Asteya → no stealing
• Brahmacharya → control of desires
• Aparigraha → no attachment
• Literature in Prakrit language → common people access

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Tirthankaras

General

• Total: 24 Tirthankaras → spiritual teachers

Important Ones

• 1st – Rishabhdev
  • Birth: Ayodhya, Symbol: Bull
  • Mentioned in Vedas
• 23rd – Parshvanath
  • Birth: Varanasi, Symbol: Serpent
• 24th – Vardhaman Mahavira (Main founder)
  • Symbol: Lion
  • Birth: 540 BC – Kundagram (Vaishali)
  • Death: 468 BC – Pawapuri (Bihar)

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Mahavira Life

Family

• Father: Siddhartha (Jnatri clan)
• Mother: Trishla
• Wife: Yashoda, Daughter: Anojja Priyadarshini

Spiritual Journey

• Left home at 30 years
• Enlightenment (Kaivalya) at 42 years
  • Under Sal tree (Jambikagram, Rijupalika river)
• 1st Sermon: Pava

Identity

• Known as Jitendriya (self-controlled) & Kevalin (omniscient)

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Jain Sects

Digambar

• No clothes (sky-clad) → strict asceticism
• Chandragupta Maurya + Bhadrabahu → Shravanabelagola
• Practice: Sallekhana (fast unto death)

Shwetambar

• White clothes → moderate
• Leader: Sthulbhadra
• Reason: Famine in Magadha (303 BC)

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Jain Councils

1st Council (298 BC)

• Patron: Bindusara
• Presided by Sthulbhadra
• 12 Angas compiled

2nd Council

• Vallabhi (Gujarat) → final compilation

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Jain Architecture

Important Sites

• Gomateshwara (Bahubali) – Shravanabelagola → largest statue
• Hathigumpha Cave (Kharavela, Odisha)
• Udayagiri & Khandagiri caves (Odisha)
• Dilwara Temple (Mt. Abu, Rajasthan) → marble work

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Terms

• Basadis → Jain monasteries

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🔥 Memory Tricks

• “3R = Right Knowledge, Faith, Conduct”
• “5A = Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha, (Brahmacharya)”
• “24 → Last = Mahavira”