Jainism: Mahavira and His Teachings
NCERT Class 12 - Themes in Indian History Part I, Chapter 4
Jainism: Mahavira and His Teachings
Jainism recognises twenty-four Tirthankaras, of whom Mahavira is the last. Its core is extreme ahimsa, a belief that every being has a soul, and the view that liberation comes through self-discipline rather than through any god.
The Tirthankaras
- Rishabhadeva (Adinatha) is the first Tirthankara; his symbol is the bull, and his name appears in the Rigveda.
- Parshvanatha, the twenty-third, was a prince of Varanasi; his symbol is the snake. He taught four vows (chaturyama) - non-violence, truth, non-stealing and non-possession.
- Vardhamana Mahavira, the twenty-fourth, added brahmacharya as the fifth vow.
- A Tirthankara is a "ford-maker", one who makes a crossing over the ocean of rebirth.
Life of Mahavira
- Born at Kundagrama near Vaishali in Bihar, into the Jnatrika kshatriya clan. Jain tradition places him in 599-527 BCE; many historians prefer about 540-468 BCE.
- Father Siddhartha was the clan head; mother Trishala was a Licchavi princess.
- He renounced the world at 30, and after twelve years of austerity attained Kaivalya, supreme knowledge, at the age of 42 on the bank of the Rijupalika river.
- After this he was called Jina (conqueror), Mahavira (great hero) and Kevalin.
- He died at Pavapuri in Bihar, aged about 72.
Core teachings
- Triratna, the three jewels and the path to liberation: samyak darshana (right faith), samyak jnana (right knowledge) and samyak charitra (right conduct).
- The five vows - ahimsa, satya, asteya, aparigraha and brahmacharya.
- Jainism accepts the soul (jiva) in all things, including plants and even particles, which is why ahimsa is taken to an extreme.
- It does not accept a creator god, but does accept karma as a material substance that clings to the soul and must be shed.
- Anekantavada - reality has many aspects; syadvada - every statement is true only from a particular standpoint.
- Sallekhana, voluntary fasting to death, is accepted as the ideal end for an advanced ascetic.
| Point | Jain position |
|---|---|
| Number of Tirthankaras | Twenty-four |
| First and twenty-third | Rishabhadeva, Parshvanatha |
| Vows | Four under Parshva, five under Mahavira |
| Creator god | Not accepted |
| Soul | Present in all beings and things |
| Language of texts | Prakrit, mainly Ardhamagadhi |
Sects and councils
- A long famine in Magadha split the order. Bhadrabahu led a group south to Shravanabelagola in Karnataka; those who stayed under Sthulabhadra began wearing white cloth.
- This produced the two sects - Digambara (sky-clad, no clothes for monks) and Svetambara (white-clad).
- The first Jain council met at Pataliputra under Sthulabhadra; the second met at Vallabhi in Gujarat under Devardhi Kshamasramana, where the twelve Angas were finally written down.
- Royal patrons include Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, Chandragupta Maurya, and Kharavela of Kalinga, whose Hathigumpha inscription records his support.
हिंदी संकेत: पार्श्वनाथ ने चार व्रत दिए थे; महावीर ने पांचवां ब्रह्मचर्य जोड़ा। जैन धर्म ईश्वर को सृष्टिकर्ता नहीं मानता, पर आत्मा और कर्म को मानता है।
Exam me kaise aata hai
Factual questions ask the birthplace of Mahavira, the number of Tirthankaras, and which vow he added. Match-the-following links Tirthankara with symbol, or council with place. Statement-based questions test whether Jainism accepts a creator god and whether the soul is limited to humans.
UPSC / State PSC ke liye
Note the philosophical contribution - anekantavada and syadvada are among India's earliest formal statements of the idea that truth is perspectival. Also note Jainism's cultural effect: it preserved Prakrit and later Kannada and Gujarati literature, and its rule against agriculture pushed followers into trade.
Yahan confuse hote hain
✗ Mahavira founded Jainism | ✓ He was the twenty-fourth Tirthankara; the tradition is older than him
✗ Digambaras wear white robes | ✓ Svetambaras wear white; Digambara monks remain unclothed
✗ The second Jain council met at Pataliputra | ✓ The first met at Pataliputra; the second at Vallabhi
Ek nazar me
- Twenty-four Tirthankaras; first Rishabhadeva, twenty-third Parshvanatha, last Mahavira.
- Mahavira born at Kundagrama near Vaishali, died at Pavapuri, both in Bihar.
- Triratna - right faith, right knowledge, right conduct.
- Five vows - ahimsa, satya, asteya, aparigraha, brahmacharya.
- Anekantavada and syadvada; no creator god; soul in all beings; sallekhana accepted.
- Digambara and Svetambara split; councils at Pataliputra and Vallabhi; Kharavela a patron.