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The
Jaina Dharma (religion) is the oldest religion in Indian culture. The religion liberates
the soul by freeing it from the shackles of all action (Karma.) It is known as Jain
religion because it is related to Jina. One who has conquered the five senses and the mind
absolutely is called Jina. He who has voluntarily subdued and absolutely too, both
attachment and hatred is known as ‘Jina’, He voluntarily suffered terrible
pains, looked upon both friends and foes alike, with equanimity. By annihilating karma,
the inner enemines, he has attained to absolute supra-sensuous knowledge. The great
personage, who has attained omniscience, is called a Tirthankara; he is also known as a
Jina. The Jina is also known as vitaraga. Arihanta, Sarvajna, Prathama-paramesthi, and so
on. The Tirthankaras are 24 in number.
The following are the names
of the 24 Tirthankaras, who constitute the last group of such 24.
(1)
Risabhadeva |
(2) Ajitnath |
(3)
Sambhavanath |
(4) Abhinandana |
(5)
Sumatinath |
(6) Padmaprabha |
(7)
Suparsvanath |
(8) Chandraprabha |
(9)
Suvidhinath |
(10) Shitalanath |
(11)
Sreyansanath |
(12) Vasupujya |
(13)
Vimalnath |
(14) Anantanath |
(15)
Dharmanath |
(16) Shantinath |
(17)
Kunthunath |
(18) Aranath |
(19)
Mallinath |
(20) Muni Suvrata Swami |
(21)
Naminath |
(22) Nemnath |
(23)
Parsvanath |
(24) Mahavira Swami |
The above-mentioned
Tirthakaras are adjudged to be the reformers of the Jaina religion. This is because an
infinite number of Tirthankaras had preceded them and they had carved out and lighted the
path for the welfare of the world by promulgating and reinstating again and again this
blessed religion. Sramana Bhagvan Mahavir was the last Tirthankara of this last group of
24. It was he who promulgated the Jaina religion as it is practised at present.
The 24th Tirthankara
- Bhagvan Mahavir
The Jina religion
knows Arihantadeva as a Tirthankara. Bhagvan Mahavir was the 24th Tirthankara. He was the
son of King Siddhartha of Ksatriyakunda and Queen Trisala. His name was Vardhmana. He was
born on the 13th day of the bright half of the month Chaitra, i.e., on Mondy, the 27th
March, 559 B.C. He was initiated as a Jain monk on the tenth day of the dark half of the
month Kartaka i.e. Monday, the 29th December, 569 B.C. He, attained to Kevalajnana
(absoulte knowledge) on the 10th day of the bright half of the month Vaisakha, i.e.
Sunday, the 23rd April, B.C. at Pavapuri (Bihar). Vardhmana Swami who was initiated at the
young age of 30 years, attained to absolute knowledge after undergoing hard austerities,
and suffering severest physical tortures.
The code of conduct and the
philosophical doctrines laid dawn by him, after attaining absoulte knowledge become a
Religion. As it was promulgated by the Jina, it come to be known as the Jina religion.
Fourfold Sangha
The omniscient
Arihanta Bhagvan founded the Jina religion and established the fourfold order for proper
management of religious institutions. The monks, the nuns, the Sravakas and the
Sravikas-these four consititute the fourfold Sangha. The Sangha is just like a tirtha
(holy place). The great man who established the Sangha, the tirtha, is therefore known as
a Tirthankara.
Eleven Ganadharas
The first prime
disciples initiated by Bhagvan Mahavir after attaining Kevalajinana, are known as
Ganadharas. As they headed groups (ganas) of disciples, they are known as Ganadharas. They
are -
(1) Shri Gautamswami
(2) Shri Agnibhuti Ganadhara
(3) Shri Vayubhuti Ganadhara
(4) Shri Vyakta Ganadhara
(5) Shri Sudharmaswami
(6) Shri Mandita Ganadhara
(7) Shri Mauryagupta Ganadhara
(8) Shri Akampita Ganadhara
(9) Shri Achalbhrata Ganadhara
(10) Shri Metarya Ganadhara
(11) Shri Prabhas Ganadhara
Jaina
The follower of a religion
is generally known by the religion he follows. The Follower of Buddhism is designated
Bauddhist, that of Christ is known as a Christian, while one who follows the religion of
vishnu is known as Vaishnava. Just the same way, the follower of religon of jina is known
as a Jaina. The Jainas have unstinted faith in, devotion to and respect for the Jain
religion, which lays down the path of bliss for the people of the world.
The Navkara Mantra
The great Mantra for
meditation by the followers of the Jain dharma is this-
Namo Arihantanam
Namo Siddhanam
Namo Ayariyanam
Namo Uvajzhayanam
Namo Loe Savvasahunam
Eso Panca namokkaro
Savvapavappanasano
Mangalanam ca savvesim
Padhamam havai mangalam. |
Every Jain chants, mutters
and repeats this great mantra every day and bows down before the Punchaparamesthi. This
mantra repeated with full concentration of mind yields many benefits to the aspirants.
Four
Saranas (Places of Surrender)
The four Saranas are
so called because human beings surrender themselves absoulutely to all the four for
liberation of their souls. This leads to purity of the soul and also peace of mind. Mental
peace accrues to one who accepts them with unstinted faith. Annihilation of karma also
follows.
Four Mangalas
The four mangalas
are -
1. Arihanta
Mangalam
(Arihantas are auspicious)
2. Siddhmangalam
(Siddhas are auspicious)
3. Sahumangalam
(Sadhus are auspicious)
4. Kevalipannatto dhammo
mangalam
(the religion promulgatedby the Kevali
is auspicious)
The Four Loguttamas
(Suppremes in the world)
The four are -
1. Arihanta
Loguttama
(The Arihantas are supreme in
the world.)
2. Siddhha Loguttama
(The Siddhas are supreme in the world.)
3. Sahu Loguttama.
(The Sadhus are supreme in the world.)
4. Kevalipannatto dhammo
loguttamo.
(The religion promulgated by Kevali is
supreme in the world.)
Following all this,
man surrenders himself to the four with this prayer : -
1. Arihante
Saranam Pavajjami
(I seek shelter of Arihantas.)
2. Siddhanam Saranam Pavajjami
(I seek shelter of Siddhas.)
3. Sahu Saranam Pavajjami
(I seek shelter of Sadhus.)
4. Kevali pannattam dhammam
(I seek shelter of the religion
premulgated by Kvali.)
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