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The Jain Faith

Ron Cosman
History 134 / 142961
9 November 2014

As we have seen with many cultures, almost every culture seems to have some type of faith
belief integrated into its foundation. The belief in a higher power or in a life after death seems to
be what many people are looking for. In India, one of the minor faiths is called Jain. The Jain
faith has as many as 4.2 million followers according to an article in New Statesman.1 This may
sound like a lot; however, the same magazine shows that in Indias population this equates to a
very small percentage of just 0.4% compared to Hinduism which is 80.5%. I will be discussing
Jains origin and some of the beliefs and even death practices of Jainism.
Depending on what source we go by, we get different timeframes as far as how long Jainism
has been around for. While one source tells us that the Jain faith has been around for over 2500
thousand years, we have yet another that says that Jainism is one of the oldest religions of
India, and that we do not know exactly when it was founded.2 Then we have another source
that says that its historical origins can be traced to at least the third century b.c.e. when
Mahavir, a holy ascetic and contemporary of the Buddha, established a community of
mendicants.3 Bimbisara, who was a ruler in India during the time of 543-491 BCE helped in the
development of religion in India during his time. He was a friend of both Mahavir, the founder
of Jainism, and Gautama.4 And we still have yet another article that references Mahavir, saying
that he was the founder of Jainism, Mahavira, died in 527 BCE5 So here we can see that
Mahavir is referenced as the founder of Jainism. Then there is mention elsewhere that says that
he was not the founder of Jainism, that he was but a teacher or prophet. In fact, he was
referenced as the twenty fourth Tirthankara. A Tirthankara is one who has completed the process
of reincarnation and has come back to help Jain followers go from samsara to moksha. There
seems to be more evidence though pointing to the fact that Mahavira is the founder, dating back
for thousands of years at least.

The Jains are broken up into two different sects: the Digambara and the Svetambara.
Digambara means sky or space clad and the individuals that follow this sect choose to go
naked or to wear nothing but the sky. The Svetambara which means white clad followers
wear white garments. There seems to be a difference of opinion between these two groups as far
as women attaining moksha because women cannot go around naked like the men. One of the
major differences between them, including the resistance of the Digambara sect is the idea
that women can achieve moksha.6 Jains believe that their religion is eternal and has no
beginning and no end.7
There are many interesting aspects to the Jain religion. The Jains try to abide by five vows:
non-violence, non-attachment, not lying, not stealing, and sexual restraint or celibacy.8 The one
that I find most interesting however is their pursuit of non-violence. In their non-violent
approach to life, it in turn affects many other aspects of their lives to even include such areas as
dietary. As a result, this also affects their health, which I will address as well. Jains are
vegetarian by choice, but I would say an extreme vegetarian. In choosing to not harm even the
smallest of living things, namely micro-organisms, Jains choose to eat vegetables grown above
ground rather than below. The thinking in this is that there are less micro-organisms on
vegetables grown above ground. One mans account of his life as a Jain and his thoughts of
being a vegetarian are as follows: Jains also choose not to eat food that grows underground like
onions, potatoes, carrots and garlic because they have lot of microorganisms in them compared
to vegetables that grow above ground. By eating a potato, for example, we believe we are killing
more lives than by eating a tomato.9 Having such a deep concern for life, Jains were also known
to even carry brooms with them so they could sweep in front of themselves so that they would

not step on any bugs. A reason why Jains choose to be vegetarians is that they believe it is bad
karma to harm another living life form and that it would impede their progress towards moksha.
As I had mentioned earlier, this non-violent approach to life affects their health, more
specifically, dental care. Since they have a concern about not hurting even the smallest of life
forms, they do not even brush their teeth so as to not harm bacteria in their mouth. As a part of
their religion, many Jain individuals avoid brushing their teeth especially during fasting, keeping
in mind not to harm the microorganisms present in the mouth.10 I find this ironic because while
they are seeking to be non-violent in not harming any life form like the bacteria in their mouth it
is actually resulting in violence to themselves. Their lack of dental care results in gum disease
and tooth decay; thereby, harming themselves.
Jains are known to have the highest literacy levels amongst any of the other religions in
India. I would say part of the reason for this is because with their extreme pursuit of nonviolence, they seek jobs that are less harmful in nature. So they seek to get jobs in offices and
mercantile and business. While Jain monks will give up most worldly possessions, keeping only
a bowl for food and for some, depending on which sect, the clothes on their backs, not all Jains
are this extreme. For some, they will still have wealth and worldly possessions, but still be strict
in the form of vegetarian.
The Jains also have a unique outlook on death. One thing in particular that they believe is
that it is an honorable thing to be able to starve yourself to death. In doing this, they are able to
control their own death and timing. It is here that an old tradition continues an ancient practice
in the modern world. Malabar Hill is used by the Parsi, who dispose of their dead by leaving
them on the hill to be eaten by the vultures. It is supposed to be the best way to cleanse the body

on death, but recently, because there are fewer vultures around, the Parsis have had to resort to
cremations.11

End Notes
1

Faith speaks volumes: how much do the great religions and beliefs have in common? The
updated NS chart, first published in 2006, shows what they have to say. (2010, April 5). New
Statesman [1996], 139(4995-6), 26+. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA225786537&v=2.1&u=lom_schoolcraft&it=r&
p=AONE&sw=w&asid=94d6d1956e8a7dfe3656e594294cb79c
2
Roy, ASHIM KUMAR. "A HISTORY OF THE JAINS." History of Jainism. Web. 9 Nov.
2014. <http://www.chandrashekharjyot.org/Ebooks/History of Jainism.pdf>.
3
Salter, E. (2004). Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India (Book). Journal of
Religion, 84(1), 154-155
4
Blackwell, Amy Hackney. (2014). Bimbisara. In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras.
Retrieved November 8, 2014, from http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/
5
India. (2014). In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. Retrieved November 9, 2014,
from http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/
6
Kabay, P. (2013). INTERPRETING THE DIVYADHVANI: ON WHY THE DIGAMBARA
SECT IS RIGHT ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE KEVALIN. Philosophy East & West, 63(2),
176-193.
7
Loar, R. (1996, Jul 23). Next L.A.; In the Web of Life, Jain Religion Reveres Even the Tiniest
Forms. Los Angeles Times (Pre-1997 Fulltext) Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/293309948?accountid=4267
8
Faith speaks volumes: how much do the great religions and beliefs have in common? The
updated NS chart, first published in 2006, shows what they have to say. (2010, April 5). New
Statesman [1996], 139(4995-6), 26+. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA225786537&v=2.1&u=lom_accessmich&it=r&
p=AONE&sw=w&asid=1872e527b1d69b2e0f43a120acf0dbee
9
Mehta, A. (2012, May-August). My religion: Jainism: understanding different faiths. Skipping
Stones, 24(3), 7. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA289833710&v=2.1&u=lom_accessmich&it=r&
p=ITOF&sw=w&asid=6c39f9119a733914376bf39ab4d95b48
10
Jain, M., Mathur, A., Kumar, S., Duraiswamy, P., & Kulkarni, S. (2009, October-December).
Oral hygiene and periodontal status among Terapanthi Svetambar Jain monks in India. Brazilian
Oral Research, 23(4), 370+. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA229056945&v=2.1&u=lom_accessmich&it=r&
p=AONE&sw=w&asid=e309795d23b7e28f32803cc3fa1fec21
11
Cousins, F. (2008, May-June). Mumbai: formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai has a
population of around 18 million people and is the home of Bollywood. Felicity Cousins
investigates life, death and religion in this vast metropolis. Business Traveller Middle East,
S30+. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA180278301&v=2.1&u=lom_schoolcraft&it=r&
p=GPS&sw=w&asid=82711650df14c821906059748962e5c7

Annotated Bibliography
1. Blackwell, Amy Hackney. (2014). Bimbisara. In World History: Ancient and Medieval
Eras. Retrieved November 8, 2014, from http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/
-Blackwell talks in this article mostly about this ruler Bimbisara and a relationship he had
with Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism and how they also knew the founder
of Jainism- Mahavari
2. Cousins, F. (2008, May-June). Mumbai: formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai has a
population of around 18 million people and is the home of Bollywood. Felicity Cousins
investigates life, death and religion in this vast metropolis. Business Traveller Middle
East, S30+. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA180278301&v=2.1&u=lom_schoolcraft
&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w&asid=82711650df14c821906059748962e5c7
-This is a very brief article that says how people are responsible for their own actions. It
mentions how Jain monks are a small population but are yet very educated. It goes on to
talk about their temple and how it looks. Then it goes on to talk about death and how the
Parsi dispose of the dead.
3. Faith speaks volumes: how much do the great religions and beliefs have in common? The
updated NS chart, first published in 2006, shows what they have to say. (2010, April 5).
New Statesman [1996], 139(4995-6), 26+. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA225786537&v=2.1&u=lom_accessmich
&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=1872e527b1d69b2e0f43a120acf0dbee
-This is a breakdown chart of the major religions of the world and some of their beliefs. It
also has statistics showing the religions and their population per religion.
4. India. (2014). In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. Retrieved November 9,
2014, from http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/
-This article gives a brief breakdown on the history of India from the first Aryan kingdom
to Alexander the Great conquering and touches briefly on their religions.
5. Jain, M., Mathur, A., Kumar, S., Duraiswamy, P., & Kulkarni, S. (2009, OctoberDecember). Oral hygiene and periodontal status among Terapanthi Svetambar Jain
monks in India. Brazilian Oral Research, 23(4), 370+. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA229056945&v=2.1&u=lom_accessmich
&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=e309795d23b7e28f32803cc3fa1fec21
-This article focuses on a study that was done and gives statistics showing the effects of
these monks not brushing their teeth.
6. Kabay, P. (2013). INTERPRETING THE DIVYADHVANI: ON WHY THE
DIGAMBARA SECT IS RIGHT ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE KEVALIN.
Philosophy East & West, 63(2), 176-193.

-This is a paper written by Paul Kabay where he discusses mostly kevalin. He starts it off
by describing the difference first between the two sects of Jains and then he goes on to
talk about why they essentially have different views of kevalin.
7. Loar, R. (1996, Jul 23). Next L.A.; In the Web of Life, Jain Religion Reveres Even the
Tiniest Forms. Los Angeles Times (Pre-1997 Fulltext) Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/293309948?accountid=4267
-This article talks about how even though the Jains are one of the smallest religions in
India, they are one of the strictest. There is mention of micro-organisms in life and how
the Jains even respect them.
8. Mehta, A. (2012, May-August). My religion: Jainism: understanding different faiths.
Skipping Stones, 24(3), 7. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA289833710&v=2.1&u=lom_accessmich
&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w&asid=6c39f9119a733914376bf39ab4d95b48
- Mehta talks in this article about his personal interaction with this religion and talks
about how prayer and dietary restrictions/fasting are involved.
9. Roy, ASHIM KUMAR. "A HISTORY OF THE JAINS." History of Jainism. Web. 9
Nov. 2014. <http://www.chandrashekharjyot.org/Ebooks/History of Jainism.pdf>.
-This is a paper written by Ashim Kumar Roy talks about the origin of Jain and the five
vows. He mentions the Jains concept that the world has not beginning and no end. He
goes on to talk about the twenty four Tirthankara and even more specifically Mahavira.
10. Salter, E. (2004). Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India (Book).
Journal of Religion, 84(1), 154-155
-This is more or less a book review about Jains in the world, it mentions in the beginning
about the origin of the Jain faith and says how it is without origin, but it can be traced
back to Mahavira.

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