Quiz

ROUND 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE/SHORT ANSWERS

1. Who was the first Tirthankar of the present chauvisi?

        a) Mahavir                 b) Parshavanath

        c) Adinath                  d) Shantinath

2. How many Pradikshana (circumbulation) do we give in the Deraser?

        a) 1                           b) 4

        c) 5                           d) 3

3. Jains are allowed to eat plants because they are –

        a) one sensed            b) two sensed

        c) three sensed          d) four sensed

4. In Jainism, ritual in honour of the Tirthankar is –

        a) Jiva                       b) Ajiva

        c) Ahimsa                  d) Puja

5. A Spiritual Teacher is a –

        a) Guru                     b) Jiva

        c) Jiva                       d) Ajiva

6. Regular practice of the Jains include –

        a) Alms giving and animal sacrifice

        b) Fasting and Pilgrimage

        c) Deity worship and Meditation

        d) Wearing orange or white clothes

7. Who is the main Bhagwan( mulnayak ) in the Mombasa Deraser?

        a) Neminath               b) Rushabhdev

        c) Mahavir                 d) Parshavanath

8. What is the Sanskrit name of the Wishing Tree?

        a) Golden Vruksha      b) Fal Vruksha

        c) Kalpa Vruksha                d) Sampati Vruksha

9. ” Conqueror ” the Jain term for a perfected person who will not be reborn –

        a) Jina                       b) Sadhu

        c) Sadhvi                   d) Shravak

10. How many beads are there in a Rosary(mala)?

        a) 98                         b) 100

        c) 108                       d) 106

11. How does one attain Moksha?

        a) through making honour the first priority

        b) through benevolence to other humans

        c) through benevolence towards all living beings

        d) through faith

12. According to Jain belief, who was the founder of Jainism?

        a) Lakshmi devi                  b) Parshavanath

        c) it has existed forever       d) Simandhar Swami

13. Is/Are there a God(s) who  created ,sustain or destroy the universe  in Jainism?

        a) Jainism does not answer this question

        b) Yes, there are many

        c) Yes, there is one

        d) No, there are none

14. “ Clothed in Sky”, a member of the Jian sect in which Monks do not wear    Clothing –

        a) Digamber               b) Shvetamber  

        c) Terepanth              d) Mumuksha

15. Matter with soul or life is –

        a) Jiva                       b) Ajiva

        c) Ahimsa                  d) puja

16. Which of this is not a commonly acknowledged Principle of Jainism?

        a) Anekantvad            b) Satya

        c) Racism                  d) Ahimsa         

17. Name the Panch Parmeshthi –

        1) Arihant                          2) Siddha                           3) Aacharya

        4) Upadhyay                      5) Sadhu

       

18. Are there names of the Tirhankaras mentioned in the Navkar Mantra?

        Ans. Yes or No

19. What is the difference between Arihanta and Siddha?

        Ans. Arihants are – Liberated Souls

                Siddhas are – Enlightened/ Perfect Souls

20. The seventh line of the Navkar Mantra reads :”Savva Pava Panna Sano”    

        What does this mean?

        Ans. It destroys all the sins from one’s life.

Slides - Week 9 - Jain Festivals

Notes Week 9 - Jain Festivals

Week 9  - Notes

Jain Festivals & Scriptures

Jain Festivals (Parva)

Jainism has a rich tradition of festivals emphasising spirituality and are celebrated austerity, penance, reading of scriptures, mediation, reciting of holy hymns.

Jainism follows the lunar calendar, which is made up of 15 days of waxing moon (growing), and 15 days of waning moon (fading).  The dates in the waxing phase are known as Sud, and that in the waning as Vad.

In every phase the following dates are auspicious

2nd Bij, 5th Pacham, 8th Aattham, 11th Agyaras, 14th  Chaudas, 15th Poonam

Eg there is Sud Chaudas and Vad Chaudas. 14th day in growing phase of moon, and 14th in waxing phase of moon.

Festivals allow a person to pay specific attention to spirituality, purify thoughts, bond with culture, engage in activities of shedding Karma.

The main festivals are:

GNAN PACHAM

A celebration of knowledge, knowledge being fundamental to Jainism.  Falls on the 5th day after Diwali.  In the lunar month known as Kartik.  It is a Sud Pacham tithi.  It is a day for acquiring Gnana.

There are 5 types of Gnana

1. Mati Gnana – sensory
2. Shruta Gnana – scriptural
3. Avadhi Gnana – Clairvoyance
4. Manahparyava Gnana – Telephathy
5. Kevalgnana – Omniscience, complete, full, total knowledge

Where a philosophy pays great respect to and celebrates knowledge itself, the following must be strictly adhered:

DO NOT

• Mishandle implements of knowledge - Burn or destroy or throw books/paper, sit or stand on written paper, steal or hide books.
• Disrespect teachers
• Keep knowledge to oneself
• Hinder someone else from gaining knowledge
• Read in the bathroom

On Gnana pacham, either full fasting or one meal fasting should be done, along with Jin pooja which entails pooja of the scriptural books.  Supatra Daan – daan to monks is also done.  It isn’t just enough to go and give 5 books and 5 pencils for the 5 types knowledge.  On this day, study of Jain scriptures must be undertaken.

MAUN AAGYARAS (MAUN EKADASHI)

Maun means silence.  Complete silence, no communication of any sort, fasting and living in isolation is undertaken.  On this day, which is on Sud Aagyaras in the month of Magsar (Nov – Dec), 150 Kalyanak of different Tirthankars are said to have happened.

KARTAKI POONAM

On this day 2 grandsons of the first Tirthankar Rushabdev, along with 10 Million munis are said to have attained Moksha at Palitana.  The day is observed with fasting as well as pilgrimage to Palitana.  In Kenya, a photo of Palitana (Shatrunjay) is unveiled.

Bundi ladoo and ganthia are distributed to break the fast.

AYEMBIL

This festival of fasting has been done since the time of the 20th Tirthankar, Munisuvrat Swami, and takes place twice a year.  April/May and September/October.  It is a festival for control of sense of taste and lasts for 9 days.

Only boiled grains and pulses are eaten with no salt, ghee, oil, fruits, vegetables or curds.  Different grains and pulses are eaten on specific days.  A variation of this tapa, Vardhaman tapa takes 15 years to complete and entails 5050 Ayembils.  The story of Shreepal Raja is read during this festival.

Nirjara occurs when sense of taste is controlled.

MAHAVIR JANMA KALYANAK

This day is a pure celebration, and Swetamber Jains celebrate during Paryushan as well.

AKHATRIJ

This is a very very auspicious day, and happens on the 3rd day of Vaisakh month (May/June).  On this Rushabdev Swami broke his year long fast, and did it with sugar cane juice.

PARYUSHAN PARVA

This is the most important festival in the Jain calendar, lasting 8 days.  A time for reflection of the past year and repenting all sinful activities undertaken during that time.   Austerities are observed to shed Karma.

The word Paryushan comes from Pari and Ushan = to burn all kinds.  Meaning to shed all karma.  Ushan also means to stay close, stay close to the soul, through meditation, austerities.

It is the time to purify our soul.  Message of non-violence is spread, fasting is done, different Derasar visits are done, fellow Jains are honoured, forgiveness is sought by doing Pratikraman all the 8 days.

Digambar Jains celebrate Das Lakshana.  Their festival lasts 10 days on each day is dedicated to one of 10 different virtues.

DIWALI

On the last day of the last month (Ashvin) of the Jain calendar, Mahavir Swami attained Moksha/Nirvana.  Mahavir Swami started a 48 hour sermon, which is compiled as Uttaradhyan Sutra.  At the end of it, on a very dark night he passed on.

The light of knowledge was extinguished, hence Diya were lit.  This is why the day is known as Deepavali.   Deep means lamps, avali means a series.

Lighting of lamps is just an external show, and does not keep Mahavir Swamis teachings alive.  Our inner lamps need to be lit and actively follow the path shown by Mahavir Swami.

2 days of fasting are observed.  Jain businessman close accounts on this day and do chopda poojan so that the forthcoming year be conducted ethically.

Gautam Swami attained Kevalgnan the very next day, which is the first day of the new year in the Jain calendar.

Jain Scriptures

Jain scriptures are called Agams.

Anga Agam – 12 in number are the original teachings of Mahavir Swami.

Angabahya – explanations and commentary by shrut kevalis and Acharya of the Anga Agams.

This subject is very vast and detailed, for basic knowledge, suffice to know that we have 45 scriptures.

Notes - Week 8 - Jain Universe, Time Cycle and Mahavir Swami

Week 8  - Notes

The Jain Universe

Jainism describes the shape of the universe as similar to a man standing with legs apart and arms resting on his waist.  

    The universe is made up of 6 Dravyas (Substances).

1. Jiva – (Living Substance)  

Ajiva – (Non – Living Substance)

2. Matter – (Pudgal)
3. Principle of Motion
4. Principle of Rest
5. Space – (Akash)
6. Time – (Kala)

This topic can be read up on the internet or in books for a deeper description but for the purpose of the basic course this much is sufficient.

The Jain Cosmic Wheel of Time

According to Jainism, time is beginningless and eternal. The wheel of time is divided into 2 half rotations.

• Ascending Time Cycle on the left of the circle (Utsarpini)  This is a period of progressive prosperity and happiness.  
• Descending Time Cycle on the right of the circle (Avsarpini) This is a period of increasing sorrow and immorality with decline in time span.

Every ascending/descending cycle is divided into 6 parts called Aras. These are :-

1. Happy, Happy – Susam susam
2. Happy - Susam
3. Happy, Unhappy – Susam Dusam
4. Unhappy, Happy – Dusam Susam
5. Unhappy - Dusam
6. Unhappy, Unhappy – Dusam Dusam

This kalachakra (time cycle) repeats and continues forever.

At present we are in the 5th Ara which has 21000 years and we have about 18,000 years to go till its end.   The next ara is also 21,000 years long, as are the 6th and 5th in the rising cycle.

Each of these aras progress into the next phase seamlessly without any apocalyptic consequences. The increase or decrease in the happiness, life spans and length of people and general moral conduct of the society changes in a phased and graded manner as the time passes. No divine or supernatural beings are credited or responsible with these spontaneous temporal changes, either in a creative or overseeing role, rather human beings and creatures are born under the impulse of their own karmas.

All the 24 Tirthankars appear in the 3rd and 4th Ara only.  They cannot be born in 5th and 6th aras because of the decline of moral values.

   

The first Tirthankar,  Adinath (Rushabhdev Bhagwan) was the one who taught people the art of writing, agriculture, cooking, how to defend oneself. This was the starting point of civilization. Hence he taught 64 arts (kala) to women and 72 arts(kala) to men.

Jain History

In India two forms of culture formed.  

Brahaman -  based on rituals and sacrifices for maintenance of the world and God.

Shramana – based on equality, and exerting labour by own self for liberation/salvation.  Jainism is one of the schools of philosophy which is based on the shramanic system.

The Jains traditionally trace their history through the 24 Tirthankars. The lineage of this begins with Rushabhdev Bhagwan and ends with Mahavir Swami.  During the 5th Century Mahavir Swami became one of the most influential teachers of Jainism.

Who Was Mahavir Swami?

Lord Mahavir was born in a royal Family in the year 599B.C. in Bihar state in India.  His father was King Siddhartha and mother was Trishala mata. The child was named Vardhman because from the day of his birth, the wealth, power, glory and prosperity of the royal Family and of the people began to increase immensely.  From the early days of childhood Vardhman had shown extraordinary physical strength and distinguished qualities.  Hence he was the leader of the young children and so was called Mahavir

At the age of 30 Mahavir left the Royal Palace and the family and became a Sadhu.  He spent the next 12 years meditating and at the age of 42 attained the highest knowledge (Kevalgnan).

He spent most of his time in prayer, meditation and penance (tap) and cared very little for rest, sleep and other comforts of the body. He exercised self-control.  There are several incidents of harassments and tortures in his life, but Mahavir Swami never lost his temper and did not wish evil of the torturers.  He remained quiet, peaceful and meditative at all times.

Mahavir Swami then spent the rest of his 30 years preaching Jainism. At the age of 72 years Mahavir Swami left the human body and liberated his soul from the cycle of birth and death in a place called Pavapuri.  The day of his Nirvana falls on what we know as Deepavali.  It was the darkest day of the month, lamps were lit to signify continuity, as the light of knowledge had passed on.

He had 11 disciples and his chief disciple was Gautam Swami, who attained Kevalgnan the day after Mahavir Bhagwan’s nirvana.  This is the same day as when our New Year is celebrated.

Message of Lord Mahavir

We revere him because of his spiritual vision and achievements.

• He proved that an ordinary human being can be transformed into a divine state of bliss, and omniscience through absolute purification of the soul by determined unwavering effort.
• The path of liberation is by self-discipline to eliminate passions such as ego ,greed, anger, deceit, hatred and attachment to wordly things.
• Any living being in any form is worthy of respect.
• His teaching is based on respect for environment and ecology.
• His main theme was Ahimsa, Aparigraha and Anekantvada.

The message is not a divine revelation, or magical power, it is borne from practical and personal experience.

After Mahavir Swami

Gandhars are the immediate disciples of Mahavir Swami, and there were 11 of them.   When Mahavir Swami attained Nirvana, only 2 of the 11 gandhar were living.  Gautam Swami and Sudharma Swami.  Sudharma Swami was the one responsible for leading the entire Jain Sangh and maintaining the scriptures.

A great drought of 324BC which lasted 12 years, made Jain monks move North and South away from Bihar.  After the drought when the southern people returned, the Sangh was divided into 2 due to differences in beliefs.  Swetamber and Digamber.  Differences lie in rituals, outward appearances and behaviours.

The Swetamber sect was further split into Sthanakvasi and Deravasi around 1474.  Sthanakvasi do not believe in idol worship and have upashray only, Deravasi have a temple and worship idols.

The goal remains the same for all sects and sects within sects – to attain moksha through similar principles and philosophy.