Tag: jainism

Jainism grew during the second urbanization phase when the trade was increasing and Vaishyas were also rising both economically and socially and wanted to challenge Brahmana supremacy. Early Jainas thus discarded Sanskrit which was the language of the elite and used Ardhamagadhi (an eastern dialect of Prakrit) and Prakrit to reach out to the common masses.

Kharavela was a king of Kalinga in present-day Odisha. He ruled somewhere around first or second century BCE. Kharavela is the best known king of the Mahameghavahana dynasty of Kalinga. Most of the information about him is known from Hathigumpha inscription in Udayagiri hills near Bhubaneshwar. The inscription suggests that Kharavela gave patronage to various religious orders, including Jainism.

A great famine took place in Magadha 200 years after the death of Mahavira. According to Jain tradition, the famine lasted for twelve years. In order to protect themselves, many a Jaina went to the south under the leadership of Bhadrabahu. Remaining Jaina stayed back in Magadha under the leadership of Sthalabahu.

The earliest Jaina works are in Ardhamagadhi, an eastern dialect of Prakrit.

Bhadrabahu was the last acharya of undivided Jain Sangha. After his death Jain sangha was divided into two sects named Shvetambaras and Digambaras. Acharya Bhadrabahu predicted twelve-year long famine in Magadha. As it was impossible to follow the rules of Jainism strictly, Bhadrabahu moved to Karnataka with his disciples. Sthulabhadra who was also one of the disciples of Bhadrabahu stayed in Magadha and founded a new sect of Jainism by making rules easy to live. After that Jainism was divided into two sects.

Gommateshwara Statue, monolithic statue located at Shravanbelagola in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also known as the statue of Bahubali. Bahubali  was the son of first Jain teerthankar Rishabhanatha.

Vardhmana Mahavira was one of the propagators of Jainism. He was born in a place called Kundagrama near the ancient city of Vaishali located in present day Bihar.

In 468 BC, Mahavira passed away at the age of 72 in Pavapuri in Bihar. He was the last of the 24 Tirthankaras. Thus, he became a Jina, the victorious over attachment and aversion.

Five vows of Jainism: 1. Non–Violence, 2. Not to Steal, 3. Not to Accumulate, 4. Not to tell A lie, 5. Celibacy.