Holy sites

There are many Jain tirthas (pilgrimage sites) throughout India.

· Hastinapur, holy destination comprising of a collection of temples and pilgrimage locations

· Shikharji, also known as Parshvanathji or Sammet Sikhar and located in Giridih district in Jharkhand state, is considered the most sacred pilgrimage site. Parshvanath Hill is about 4481 feet high, and twenty Tirthankars attained Nirvan here.


Figure 14: Shikarji

Parasnath hill which is 4431 ft height is the highest mountain south of the Himalayas. It is located at the latitude of 23 degree ,9 minutes North and longitude of 86 degree ,3 minutes East. It was made accessible since the construction of a road in 1838 .Significantly the oldest of the jain temple appears to date only from AD. 1775.

· Shravanabelagola, a monumental statue of Saint Gomateshwar in Hassan District, Karnatak.



Figure 15: Shravanabelagola

Shravanabelagola is a city located in the Hassan district, Karnataka, India. It is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers. In Kannada language, "Bel" means white and "kola", the pond, an allusion to the beautiful pond in the middle of the town. It reached a high point in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Gangas of Talakad.

· Dilwada Temples, complex of white marble Jain temples on Mount Abu, Rajasthan.



Figure 16: Dilwara

The Jain Dilwara temples of India are located about two kilometers from Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station. These temples built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD are world famous for their stunning use of marble. The five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are a sacred pilgrimage place of the Jains. Some consider them to be one of the most beautiful Jain pilgrimage sites in the world. The marble temples have an opulent entranceway. The simplicity in architecture may remind one that Jainism has always encouraged honesty and frugality. The temples are in the midst of a range of forested hills. A high wall shrouds the temple complex.Although the Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan, some believe that none come close to these in terms of architectural perfection. The ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply marvelous.

· Palitana, most visited Jain temple in Gujarat.



Figure 17: Palitana

The Palitana temples are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place (tirtha) by the Jain community. There are a total of 1250 temples located on the Shatrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble. The main temple on top of the hill is dedicated to 1st tirthankar lord Adinath (Rishabdeva).

· Girnar, a temple in Gujrat.

· Vataman, (between Ahmedabad and Palitana) with a beautiful Adinath derasar

· Bawangaja, a complex of Jain temples and monumental statues in Barwani District, Madhya Pradesh.

· Gwalior's fort is home to dozens of Jain rock-cut sculptures.

· Sonagir, about 60 km from Gwalior, has scores of temples on little hills.

· Bajrangadh, Atisaya-kshetra in Guna district in Madhya Pradesh, India

· Ranakpur Temples, extensive complex of white marble Jain temples in Ranakpur, Rajasthan.

· Nakoda Parsvanatha Jain temple is a holy place of the Jains near Barmer, Rajasthan

· Kundalpur, Siddha-kshetra with 63 temples, is famous for a beautiful statue of Bade Baba in Damoh district in Madhya Pradesh, India



Figure 18: Kundalpur

Kundalpur is a historical site in India. It is located in central Bihar, 1.6 km from the ruins of Nalanda.The Digambar sect of the Jains believes that Kundalpur ihar is the birthplace of the 24th and last Tirthankar, Lord Mahavira.

· Shri Mahavirji/Chandanpur, in Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan, India has a 78 cm high copper-colored idol of Mahavir in the Padmasana posture. It is the most visited temple in Rajasthan.

· Tijara/Dehra, Atisaya-kshetra, in Alwar district in Rajasthan, India, where the principal Tirthankar is Chandraprabhu

· Ananthanatha Swami Temple (also known as the Puliyarmala Jain Temple} in Puliyarmala, outside of Kalpetta in Wayanad district, Kerala.

· Nageshwar Parshavanath Tirth Near Ratlam MadhyaPradesh has a very big idol of Parshavanath.

· Mohankheda Tirth Near Jhabua MadhyaPradesh is very famous. It is the Swargarohan Place of Rajenedrasuri Maharaj.

· Rajgir Jain Temple has a ancient History from period of Ramayana & Buddha


Figure 19: Rajgir

Rajgir (Rajgrahi) is the famous pilgrimage centre for Jains, this is also known as Panch Pahadi. Rajgir is famous as Jain Teerth from ancient times. Twentieth Teerthankar Muni Suvratnath's four Kalyanka - Garbha, Janma, Tapa and Gyan (Jnan) were celebrated at this sacred place. This place was capital of King Jarasandha (Contemporary to Lord Krishna) nd capital of the emperor of Magadha King Shrenik (Bimbsar). King Shrenik was the principal disciple of Lord Mahavir. Rajgrahi had the great strategic importance also at that time.

Jain Personalities

This is a list of Jains. The existence of a few of the historical figures is not proven, like Lord Rishabha and some others, and these are purely religious figures.

Historical

· Lord Rishabha 1st tirthankar, first king of Ayodhya kingdom (earlier known as Vinita City)
· Parshwanath 23rd Tirthankar
· Mahavir 24th Tirthankar
· Gautam Gandhar
· Acharya Kundakunda
· Acharya Amritchandra
· Muni Shri Padmaprabhmaldhari Dev
· Bhadrabahu - Jain Acharya from Bengal and Teacher of Emperor Chandragupta
· Acharya Umaswami
· Acharya Jayasen
· Bhaiya Bhagwatidas
· Pandit Daulatram
· Pandit Banaradas
· Pandit Pravar Acharyakalp (Acharya like) Todarmal
· King Shrenik Bimbisara Magadh Emperor
· Shrimad Rajchandraji - 19th Century philosopher/mystic
· Kanjiswami - 20th Century philosopher/mystic
· Champaben - 20th Century philosopher/mystic/
· Sthulibhadra - Jain Acharya
· Chandragupta Maurya - Founder of the Mauryan empire
· Acharya Suhasti - Jain Saint and Teacher of Emperor Samprati
· Samprati - Mauryan Emperor
· Kharwel - Kalinga Emperor
· Amoghvarsh - Rashtrakut Emperor
· Chamundrai - General of Gang King Marsinha
· Acharya Maghnandi - Jain Acharya and Scholar
· Gandraditya - Shilahar King
· King Bhoj II - Shilahar King
· Acharya Hemchandra - Jain Acharya and Scholar
· Kumarpal - Solanki King
· Raja Bhamashah -(1542-1598 A.D., approx.), a Jain, was the childhood friend, colleague and adviser of Maharana Pratap, the legendary hero of Mewar (Rajasthan). Bhamashah’s loyal support was pivotal to the career of the Maharana; right from the time his coronation. Courageous and possessing exemplary military skills, Bhamashah played crucial roles in the numerous military exercises of Mewar against the mighty Mughal army, including the famous battle of Haldi Ghati. Modern historians describe him as the "Uplifter of Mewar".
· Siddhasen Diwakar - Ancient scholar
· Devchandra - Monk
· Som Sundar - 14th Century monk
· Muni Sundar - 14th Century monk
· Acharya Bhiksu - Jain Acharya of the 20th Century
· Acharya Tulsi - Jain Acharya with Revolutionary vision
· Acharya Mahaprajna - Great Jain Acharya, Scholar, thinker, writer of the 21st Century
· Haribhadrasuri - 12th Century philosopher
· Virasena - 9th century Mathematician
· Mahendra Suri - Sanskrit astrologer
· Acharya Rajendrasurishwar -19 century monk, reformer & philosopher/mystic
· Acharya Shantisagar - Great Jain Acharya of 20th Century
· Acharya Shri Chandanaji - Great Jain Acharya of the 21st Century
· Virchand Gandhi - First Silver Medalist Jain at First Ever Parliament of World Religions at Chicago, USA (1893)

Politics and Business

· Virchand Raghav Gandhi (VRG) (Aug 25, 1864 - Aug 7, 1901) represented Jains in the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. He spoke 14 languages including Gujarati, Hindi, Bengali, English, Sanskrit and French.
· Champat Rai Jain (1867 – Jun 2, 1942) was great Jain preacher who was barrister at the age of 13. He has written several books on Jainism.
· Annasaheb Latthe - First Finance minister of Maharashtra, Diwan Of Kolhapur, Educationalist, Social Reformer, Author, Awarded the Title "Diwan Bahaddur" by the then Viceroy of India.
· L.M. Singhavi - Former Indian High Commissioner to UK, Member of Parliament.
· Anshulal Sancheti – Guinness World Record Holder for translating Kalidasa's world famous ballad, Meghadutam in 36 languages, which include 12 European languages, 15 Indian regional languages and 9 Indian dialects.
· Satish Kumar Jain – Social activist, writer and journalist.
· Sunder Singh Bhandari - Governor of Gujarat
· Indu Jain and Vineet Jain - Owners of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., which owns Times of India and other related media brands.
· Anshu Jain of Deutsche Bank, London
· Sundar Lal Patwa - Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Cabinet Minister of India
· Prakash Sethi - Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
· Virendra Sakhlecha - Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
· Takhtmal Jain - Former Chief Minister of Central Province
· Himmat Kothari - Minister in Madhya Pradesh Govt (Cabinet/Forest)
· Raghavji Bhai - Minister in Madhya Pradesh Govt (Cabinet/Finance)
· Jayant Mallya - Minister in Madhya Pradesh Govt (Cabinet - Urban Development)
· Sri Paras Jain - Minister in Madhya Pradesh Govt (State - Higher Education)
· Padma shree Birendra Hegde - Well known social activist
· Mr. Jawaharlal Darda - a veteran freedom fighter, Congress leader and founder of the Lokmat group of newspapers. Mr. Darda was elected to the Maharastra Legislative Council between 1972 and 1995. He made a mark in the governance in Maharastra by his admirable handling of the portfolios of energy, industry, irrigation, health, food and civil supplies, sports, youth affairs, textiles and environment as a Minister.
· Mohan Lal Sukhadia - Ex-Chief Minister of Rajasthan and ex-Governor of various states
· Tejraj S Dedavat - Jain business tycoon of the Oswal Group of industries
· Babu Ajit Prasad Jain - A prominent Jain politician from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, India. He was a veteran freedom fighter who was member of UP legislative council before independence. He was appointed the rehabilitation minister and then Union Food minister in the cabinet of Pandit Nehru. He was elected to the Lok Sabha 3 times and Rajya sabha twice. He played a prominent role in the formulating Zamidari abolition bill and for agricultural reform in India, which went a great way in formulating the green revolution in India. He is remembered for his courage, honesty and great social work done for the poor.

Entertainment

· V Shantaram - Pioneer of Indian film industry
· Asha Parekh - Famous leading lady of yesteryears
· Sooraj R Barjatya - Movie producer & director
· Kalyanji - Anandji - Music director
· Ravindra Jain - Music director
· Anuradha Paudwal - Singer
· Bharat Shah - Businessman and movie producer
· Sanjay Leela Bhansali- Famous movie maker

Sports

· Dilip Doshi - Indian Test and One Day cricketer

Literature

· Kundakunda - Jain scholar monk, 2nd century CE, composer of spiritual classics such as: Samayasara, Niyamasara, Pancastikayasara, Pravacanasara, Atthapahuda and Barasanuvekkha.
· Umasvami - Author of Tattvarthasutra.
· Siddhasena Divakara - Author of Sanmatitarka Prakarana
· Banarasidasa - Poet, Spiritualist and Thinker. Composed the Banarasivilasa, Nataka Samayasara and his magnum opus, Ardhakathanaka, the first ever autobiography in Hindi literature.
· Nathuram Premi - Publisher and Scholar of Jainism, founder of Hindi Granth Karyalay and Manikchandra Jain Granthamala, Historian, Researcher, Social reformer and Editor of Jain Mitra and Jain Hitaishi.
· Shrenik Annadate - Editor and Scholar, Mumbai, India
· Pierre Amiel - Writer and Activist, France
· S.A. Bhuvanendra Kumar - Jain Scholar & Editor, Canada
· Yashvant Malaiya - Sanskritist and Jain scholar, Colorado, USA
· Sudhir M. Shah - Writer, Editor, Scholar & Activist, Connecticut, USA
· Dr. Hemalata Pokharna - Scholar & Doctor, Chicago
· Amar Salgia - Young Scholar, Activist & Publisher, Los Angeles
· Annasaheb B Latthe - Started the magazines Sri Jinavijay, Pragati Ani Jinavijaya, Deccan Rayat and wrote many books on Jainism and politics including Jagati Federal Rajyaghatana.
· Sanjay D.Bafna - Writer, Editor, Scholar & Activist, Connecticut, Mumbai
· Dr. Hukumchnad Bharill - Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Author of 52 books on main Principles of Jainism like Krambadh Paryaya, Anekant-Syadwad, Nimitt-Upadaan, Naychakra, etc.
· Pt. Ratanchnad Bharill - Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Author of many books on Jainisim like 'Sanskar', 'Jin-Pujan-Rahasya', etc.

Philatalist
· Dhirubhai Mehta – He is one of the pioneers in establishing Philatelic Congress of India (PCI). He got elected trustee of PCI Trust in 1992.
· Manik Jain – Avid Philatelic material collector and writer of several books on philately.
· Pradip Jain – Famous Aerophilatist. He is winner of several awards world over. He has served in Philatic Advisory Committee, Department of Post, India. He is writer for several books on Indian philately.
· Prakash Mody – Prakash Mody is known for his politico-philatic mission. He is one of the leading figure in Canada and USA philatic canvas. He is instrumental in movement for multifaith postal stamp release in Canada and Mahaveer Nirvana in USA.
· Sudhir Jain – Secretery of Central India Philatic Society. With his help various Special Covers, Cancellations and Stamps have been released based on Jainism. He is also untiring force behind various philatic exhibitions across India like MAHAPRAGYAPEX-2004.

Other

· Acharya Rajneesh - "OSHO" Controversial Guru Rajneesh
· Shahil Mehta - World Renowned Mathematician
· Chandra Swami- Controversial Godmen Chandraswami
· Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai - World famous space scientist of India
· Dr. Karmveer Bhaurao Patil - educationalist and social worker
· Dr. Jagdish Chandra Jain - renowned philosopher
· Harshad Mehta – Famous trader at Indian stock market and instrumental in perpetuating 1992 stock market fraud.

Navkar Mantra

The Navkar Mantra is the most fundamental mantra in Jainism and can be recited at any time of the day.

Namo Arihantanam
Namo Siddhanam
Namo Ayriyanam
Namo Uvajjhayanam
Namo Loe Savva-sahunam

Eso Panch Namokaro
Savva-pavappanasano
Manglananch Savvesim
Padhamam Havei Mangalam


I bow to the Arahants, the perfected human beings.
I bow to the Siddhas, liberated bodiless souls.
I bow to the Acharyas, the masters and heads of congregations.
I bow to the Upadhyayas, the spiritual teachers.
I bow to the spiritual practitioners in the universe, Sadhus.

This fivefold obeisance mantra,
Destroys all sins and obstacles,
And of all auspicious repetitions,
Is the first and foremost.

Jain monks and nuns (Sadhu or Muni Maharaj)

In India there are thousands of Jain Monks, of which categories have been defined like Acarya, Upadhyaya and Muni. Trainee ascetics are known as Ailaka and Ksullaka in the Digambar tradition.

There are two categories of ascetics in Jainism.

Sadhu (monk) and Sadhvi (nun) they practice the five Mahavratas, three Guptis and five Samitis:

5 Mahavratas

· Ahimsa: Non-violence in thought, word and deed
· Satya: Truth which is (hita) beneficial, (mita) succinct and (priya) pleasing
· Acaurya: Not accepting anything that has not been given to them by the owner
· Brahmacarya: Absolute purity of mind and body
· Aparigraha: Non-attachment to non-self objects

3 Guptis
· Managupti: Control of the mind
· Vacanagupti: Control of speech
· Kayagupti: Control of body

5 Samitis
· Irya Samiti: Carefulness while walking
· Bhasha Samiti: Carefulness while communicating
· Eshana Samiti: Carefulness while eating
· Adana Nikshepana Samiti: Carefulness while handling their fly-whisks, water gourds, etc.
· Pratishthapana Samiti: Carefulness while disposing of bodily waste matter

Male Digambara monks do not wear any clothes. They are completely nude as they practise non-attachment to the body and hence, wear no clothes.

Digambara nuns and Shvetambara monks and nuns all wear white clothes.

Shvetambaras believe that monks and nuns may wear simply un-stitched white clothes as long as they are not attached to them. Whereas Digambaras believe the male Digambara ascetics cannot wear any clothes since clothes signify attachment to a non-self object (the body).

Jain literature

Jains have contributed to India's classical and popular literature. For example, almost all early Kannada literature and Tamil literature was authored by Jains.
Some of the oldest known books in Hindi and Gujarati were written by Jain scholars. The first autobiography in Hindi, [Ardha-Kathanaka] was written by a Jain, Banarasidasa, an ardent follower of Acarya Kundakunda who lived in Agra.

Several Tamil classics are written by Jains or with Jain beliefs and values as the core subject.

Practically all the known texts in the Apabhramsha language are Jain works.

The oldest Jain literature is in Shauraseni and Ardha-Magadhi Prakrit (Agamas, Agama-Tulya, Siddhanta texts, etc). Many classical texts are in Sanskrit (Tatvartha Sutra, Puranas, Kosh, Sravakacara, mathematics, Nighantus etc). "Abhidhana Rajendra Kosha" written by Acharya Rajendrasuri, is only one available Jain encyclopedia or Jain dictionary to understand the Jain Prakrit, Sanskrit, and Ardha-Magadhi and other Jain languages, words, their use and references with in oldest Jain literature. Later Jain literature was written in Apabhramsha (Kahas, rasas, and grammars), Hindi (Chhahadhala, Mokshamarga Prakashaka, and others), Tamil (Jivakacintamani, Kural, and others), and Kannada (Vaddaradhane and various other texts). Jain versions of Ramayana and Mahabharata are found in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsha and Kannada.



Figure 13: GommateshvaraThe statue of Gommateshvara of Digambara tradition in Shravanabelagola, Karnataka, India is the tallest monolith in the world

Jain Scriptures

· Agamas

The texts containing the teachings of Mahavira are called the Agamas, and are the canonical literature - the scriptures - of Svetambara Jainism. Mahavira's disciples compiled his words into texts or sutras, and memorised them to pass on to future generations.

The texts had to be memorised since Jain monks and nuns were not allowed to possess religious books as part of their vow of non-acquisition, nor were they allowed to write.

Jain theology developed after Mahavira through the teachings of particularly learned monks - these teachings too, had to be memorised - and so the amount that the monks had to remember steadily increased.

· Loss of the scriptures

Unfortunately many of the original teachings of Mahavira have been lost.
As centuries passed some of the texts were forgotten, and others were misremembered. The distortion of the original texts caused much concern to the Jains.

Then came a particular disruption around 350 BCE when a famine killed off many Jain monks, and with them the memory of many Jain texts.

The Digambara sect believes that during this famine all the Agamas were lost; the Svetamabara sect believes that the majority of these texts survived.

This is one of the most important differences between the two groups in Jainism, and it means that Jain texts have very different roles for the two groups of Jains.

Both sects agree that a group of texts called the Purvas were lost in the famine.

· Preservation of the scriptures

After the famine, monks and nuns of the Svetambara sect held several conferences to preserve the most important Jain texts. Unsurprisingly there were many arguments about which texts were authentic, and different sub-sects still differ over this.

Jain monks and nuns are now permitted to possess religious books, so the Jain scriptures should no longer be in danger.

· The nature of Jain scripture

Jains don't regard Mahavira as the founder of their religion, so his words aren't of importance because he said them, but because they represent a series of beginningless, endless and fixed truths, a tradition without any origin, human or divine, which in this world age has been channelled through Sudharman, the last of Mahavira's disciples to survive.

Contributions to Indian culture

While Jains represent less than 1% of the Indian population, their contributions to culture and society in India are considerable.
Jains have wielded great influence on the culture and language of Karnataka and Southern India. Jainism has influenced Gujarat most significantly. The earliest known Gujarati text, Bharat-Bahubali Ras, was written by a Jain monk. Some of the most important people in Gujarat's Jain history were Acharya Hemacandra Suri and his pupil, the Calukya ruler Kumarapala.

Jains encourage their monks to do research and obtain higher education. Jain monks and nuns, particularly in Rajasthan, have published numerous research monographs. This is unique among Indian religious groups and parallels Christian clergy. The 2001 Indian census states that Jains are India's most literate community and that India's oldest libraries at Patan and Jaisalmer are preserved by Jain institutions.