Jainism, also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras, with the first in the current time cycle being Rishabhadeva, whom the tradition holds to have lived millions of years ago, the twenty-third tirthankara Parshvanatha, whom historians date to the 9th century BCE, and the twenty-fourth tirthankara Mahavira, around 600 BCE. Jainism is considered an eternal dharma with the tirthankaras guiding every time cycle of the cosmology. Central to understanding Jain philosophy is the concept of bhedvigyān, or the clear distinction in the nature of the soul and non-soul entities. This principle underscores the innate purity and potential for liberation within every soul, distinct from the physical and mental elements that bind it to the cycle of birth and rebirth. Recognizing and internalizing this separation is essential for spiritual progress and the attainment of samyak darshan or self realization, which marks the beginning of the aspirant's journey towards liberation. The three main pillars of Jainism are ahiṃsā (non-violence), anekāntavāda (non-absolutism), and aparigraha (asceticism).
Shikharji, also known as Sammet or Sammed Shikharji, is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Jains, in Giridih district, Jharkhand. It is located on Parasnath hill, the highest mountain in the state of Jharkhand. It is the most important Jain Tirtha, for it is the place where twenty of the twenty-four Jain tirthankaras along with many other monks attained Moksha. It is one of the five principal pilgrimage destinations along with Girnar, Pawapuri, Champapuri, Dilwara, Palitana and Ashtapad Kailash.
Dhundhar, also known as Jaipur region, is a historical region of Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the districts of Jaipur, Neem ka Thana, Dantaramgarh part of Sikar District lying to the east of the Aravalli Range, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, the southern part of Kotputli and the northern part of Karauli District.
Agrawal is a Bania caste. The Banias of northern India are a cluster of several communities, of which the Agarwal Banias, Maheshwari Banias, Oswal Banias, Khatri Banias and Porwal Banias are a part.
A Bhaṭṭāraka heads traditional Digambara Jain institutions. He is responsible for training scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing endowments, presiding over installation ceremonies and running Jain institutions.
Banarasidas (1586–1643) was a Shrimal Jain businessman and poet of Mughal India. He is known for his poetic autobiography – Ardhakathānaka,, composed in Braj Bhasa, an early dialect of Hindi linked with the region around Mathura. It is the first autobiography written in an Indian language. At the time, he was living in Agra and was 55 years old – the "half" story refers to the Jain tradition, where a "full" lifespan is 110 years.
Jain monasticism refers to the order of monks and nuns in the Jain community and can be divided into two major denominations: the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara. The monastic practices of the two major sects vary greatly, but the major principles of both are identical. Five mahāvratas, from Mahavira's teachings, are followed by all Jain ascetics of both the sects. Historians believe that a united Jain sangha (community) existed before 367 BCE, about 160 years after the moksha (liberation) of Mahavira. The community then gradually divided into the major denominations. However, no evidences indicate when the schism between the Digambaras and the Śvetāmbaras happened.
Sardarshahar is a city located in the Churu district of Rajasthan, India. It is also the seat of the Rajasthan legislative assembly Sardarshahar Assembly constituency. Sardarshahar is the tehsil headquarter. and part of the Churu Lok Sabha constituency. Sardarshahar was established in 1838 at the place of "Alwana" village in Bikaner state. The city is named after Sardar Singh, The son of Bikaner Maharaja(Raja Ratan Singh). It is known for its grand Havelis (mansions) with frescoes, The only Clock Tower (GhantaGhar) in Asia which streets running under it in all four directions, Shri Ichha Puran Balaji Mandir, Acharya Shri Mahapragya Samadhi Sthal(ShantiPeeth), Gandhi Vidya Mandir and many more. It is famous for its Food, handicraft work, silver work, and woodwork. It is the birthplace of the Eleventh Acharya -Acharyashri Mahashramanji of the Shri Jain Terapanthi Sect.
The Taran Panth, also known as Taran Svami Panth, Taran Samaj or Taranapanthi, is a sect of Digambara Jainism founded by Taran Svami in Bundelkhand in central India in c. 1505 CE.
The Sarawagi or Saraogi or Sarawgi Jain community, meaning a Jain Śrāvaka, is also known as the Khandelwal. They originated from Khandela, a historical town in northern Rajasthan.
Pandit Todarmal (1719–1766) was an eminent Indian Jain scholar and writer. He led the creation of terapanthi community among the Digambara Jains by rejecting the authority of bhattarakas. He wrote moksha-marga-prakashaka.
Narsingpura is one of the Jain communities. It originated from the Mewar (Rajasthan) region. Many of them have migrated to Gujarat, MP, and recently to Maharashtra.
Taran Svami, also spelled Taranswami, was a Jain religious teacher and founder of the Taran Panth, a sect of Digambara Jainism. He lived in the 15th century central India. The traditional biographies places him within the Digambara mystic tradition. They also consider him a ritual reformer for rejecting the authority of Bhattarakas and his emphasis on aniconism and inner realization. He is credited for writing fourteen texts.
Agrawal Jains are an Indian Jain community who originated from Agroha near Hisar, Haryana. In Sanskrit inscriptions and texts, the community is termed Agrotakanvaya.
Digambara is one of the two major schools of Jainism, the other being Śvetāmbara (white-clad). The Sanskrit word Digambara means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing nor wearing any clothes.
Jainism is an Indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twenty-four spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. Broadly, Jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, Digambara and Śvetāmbara. These are further divided into different sub-sects and traditions. While there are differences in practices, the core philosophy and main principles of each sect is the same.
Muni Tarun Sagar was an Indian Digambara monk. His lectures are termed Kadve Pravachan because they can be candidly critical of common practices and views. His lectures have been compiled and published in book series also titled Kadve Pravachan. Excerpts from his discourses are often published by newspapers. Unlike most other Digambar Jain monks, his audience often included a majority of non-Jains. His discourses often addressed family or society issues.
Hemraj Pande was an Indian author belonging to the Digambara Jain Agrawal merchant caste & Garg Gotra. He was from Agra. He had a daughter named Jainulade(Jaini) who came to be mother of another poet legend Bulakidas making Hemraj Bulakis maternal Grandfather. He had written commentaries on numerous Jain texts. Being a disciple of Rupchand Pande, a thinker who had settled in Agra in 1635 & delivered sermons on Gommatasara. As a ‘pande’ – a vernacular form of the Sanskrit paṇḍitā – or ‘pandit‘, Hemraj could have been a lay Jain administering the temple, appointed by a Bhattaraka.
Siddhantacharya Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri was a Jain scholar, writer, editor, freedom fighter, social reformer and an intellectual giant in the field of Jainism. He is best known for dedicating a major part of his life in translating to Hindi the foremost and the oldest Digambara Jain Canon Shatkhandāgama and Kasayapahuda and its commentaries Dhavala, Maha-Dhavala and Jai-Dhavala. He was also an active member of Indian National Congress during the Indian freedom struggle. He was also a strong advocate and proponent of abolishing many evils within the Jain community. Panditji was also the founding member of many institutes of learning and scholarship. As a recognition of his contribution to Jain philosophy, he was conferred a title of "Siddhantacharya" at Jain Siddhant Bhavan, Ara (Bihar) in 1962 by the Governor of Bihar Ananthasayanam Ayyangar.
Śvetāmbara Terapanth is a sect of the Śvetāmbara Jainism that was founded by Acharya Bhikshu in Vikram Samvat 1817. Acharya Bhikshu believed in strict adherence to the canonical code of conduct for ascetics as prescribed by Lord Mahavira. Acharya Bhikshu rigorously followed the principles and thus set an example for all to follow. He showed the way for the life of discipline, purity and self-control.
