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.