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. The three main pillars of Jainism are ahiṃsā (non-violence), anekāntavāda (non-absolutism), and aparigraha (asceticism).
The Śvetāmbara is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Digambara. Śvetāmbara in Sanskrit means "white-clad", and refers to its ascetics' practice of wearing white clothes, which sets it apart from the Digambara or "sky-clad" Jains whose ascetic practitioners go nude. Śvetāmbaras do not believe that ascetics must practice nudity.
Bhadra or Bhadrapada or Bhādo or Bhadraba (Bengali: ভাদ্র bhādro; Hindi: भादों bhādo; Sanskrit: भाद्रपद bhādrapada; Nepali: भाद्र Bhādra; Gujarati: ભાદરવો Bhādravo; Odia: ଭାଦ୍ରବ Bhadraba; Assamese: ভাদ) is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar, which falls in August and September of the Gregorian calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Bhadra is the fifth month of the year, beginning on middle of August and ending on middle of September. In Hindu astrology, Bhadra begins with the Sun's entry into Leo and is the fifth month of the year.
Parshvanatha, or Pārśva and Pārasanātha, was the 23rd of 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism. He gained the title of Kalīkālkalpataru.
Kshamavani or "Forgiveness Day" is a day of forgiving and seeking forgiveness for the followers of Jainism. Digambaras celebrate it on the first day of Ashvin Krishna month of the lunar-based Jain calendar. Śvētāmbaras celebrate it on Samvatsari, the last day of the annual Paryushana festival. which coincides with the Chaturthi, 4th day of Shukla Paksha in the holy month of Bhadra. "Micchami Dukkadam" is the common phrase when asking for forgiveness. It is a Prakrit phrase meaning "May all the evil that has been done be fruitless".
Siddhachakra is a popular yantra or mandala used for worship in Jainism. It is also known as Navapada in the Śvetāmbara tradition and Navadevta in the Digambara tradition. In the Śvetāmbara tradition it is associated with the Namokar Mantra. It is related to the legend of King Shripala and his wife Mayanasundari. It is depicted as a Kalasha with the core of a blossomed lotus representing Navapada in the centre surrounded by guarding deities on petals. It is used in some rituals.
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.
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akti or Akha Teej, is an annual Jain and Hindu spring festival. It falls on the third tithi of the bright half of the Hindu month of Vaisakha.
Pratikramana, is a ritual during which Jains repent (prayaschit) for their sins and non-meritorious activities committed knowingly or inadvertently during their daily life through thought, speech or action.
Chaturthi refers to the fourth day of a lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar.
Saṃvatsari is the last day of Paryushana according to the Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism. It falls on Shukla Choth each year in the Jain calendar month of Bhadrapada, somewhere between the middle of August and September in the Gregorian calendar.
Upadhāna are the religious practices performed by Śrāvakas in Jainism.
Jainism is a religion founded in ancient India. Jains trace their history through twenty-four tirthankara and revere Rishabhanatha as the first tirthankara. The last two tirthankara, the 23rd tirthankara Parshvanatha and the 24th tirthankara Mahavira are considered historical figures. According to Jain texts, the 22nd tirthankara Neminatha lived about 84,000 years ago and was the cousin of Krishna.
Chaturmasya, also rendered Chāturmāsa, is a holy period of four months, beginning on Shayani Ekadashi (June-July) and ending on Prabodhini Ekadashi (October-November) in Hinduism. This period also coincides with the monsoon season in India.
aAyushi nahar, also written as michchha mi dukkadam, is an ancient Indian Prakrit language phrase, found in historic Jain texts. Its Sanskrit equivalent is "Mithya me duskrtam" and both literally mean "may all the evil that has been done be in vain".
Here is a list of glossary of Culture of India in alphabetical order:
Ancient idols of Jain Tirthankara were found in archaeological expeditions in Badli, Bhiwani, Dadri, Gurgaon, Hansi, Hisar (Agroha), Kasan, Nahad, Narnaul, Pehowa, Rewari, Rohad, Rohtak and Sonepat in Haryana. Agrawal Jain community traces its origins from Hisar. Guptisagar Dham Tirtha at Ganaur is a religious tourist spot in Haryana. It is named after the Jain Acharya Guptisagar.
Jain festivals occur on designated days of the year. Jain festivals are either related to life events of Tirthankara or they are performed with intention of purification of soul.
Jains are broadly divided into 2 major groups. These include the Digambara, whose clothing displays symbols of cardinal directions, and the Śvetāmbara who wear white clothes. Both of the groups are similar in their ideology but differ in some aspects.
