JAIN WORSHIP AND RITUALS
Shravanabelagola The Jain laity engage in a number of ritual activities that resemble those of the Hindus around them (see The Ceremonies of Hinduism). Special shrines in residences or in public temples include images of the Tirthankaras, who are not worshiped but remembered and revered; other shrines house the gods who are more properly invoked to intercede with worldly problems. Daily rituals may include meditation and bathing; bathing the images; offering food, flowers, and lighted lamps for the images; and reciting mantras in Ardhamagadhi, an ancient language of northeast India related to Sanskrit. [Source: Library of Congress]
Many Jain laity engage in sacramental ceremonies during life-cycle rituals, such as the first taking of solid food, marriage, and death, resembling those enacted by Hindus. Jains may also worship local gods and participate in local Hindu or Muslim celebrations without compromising their fundamental devotion to the path of the Jinas. The most important festivals of Jainism celebrate the five major events in the life of Mahavira: conception, birth, renunciation, enlightenment, and final release at death.
Some Jain monks and nuns wear face masks to avoid accidentally inhaling small organisms, and all practicing believers try to remain vegetarians. Extreme renunciation, including the refusal of all food, lies at the heart of a discipline that purges the mind and body of all desires and actions and, in the process, burns off the consequences of actions performed in the past. In this sense, Jain renunciants may recognize or revere deities, but they do not view the Vedas as sacred texts and instead concentrate on the atheistic, individual quest for purification and removal of karma. The final goal is the extinguishing of self, a "blowing out" (nirvana) of the individual self. [Source: Library of Congress]
Jains, the ancient Greeks, Buddhist monks and “the Orixás — Yoruba gods who are called ‘saints’ in Brazil” are among the groups that have interacted with stones.
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Jain Texts
The sacred Jain texts are called Agamas and the religion is broken into sects that disagree over how many sacred texts there are. The Sthanakvasi recognize 33, the Svetamba believe 45 are true and other sects accept as many as 84 Agamas. Jains in north of India also disagree with those in south about the wearing of clothes. The former wear clothes while the latter go around naked and worship naked idols except were they are forced to wear clothes. Jains in the south also believe that women can not receive salvation until they are reborn as men.
The “Kalpa Sutra”, the Book of Ritual, is one of the most popular Jan texts. It may date back to the 4th century B.C. Among other things it describes the lives of all 24 tirthankaras.
In many cases, historians have not accepted a tradition until supporting evidence becomes available. For example, the Kalpa-Sutra gives a list of ancient orders (Ganas etc.) Many historians were not convinced of the historicity of this information until the excavations at Mathura un-earthed many inscriptions mentioning the very same orders. Several archaeological discoveries and studies of the Buddhist and Vedic/Puranic literature has confirmed the antiquity of the Jain tradition. [Source: Colorado State]
Jain Nudity and Austerity
Digambara monk
Acarya Pushpadantasagara Digambara worshipers are Jain men that believe that nakedness is an essential part of religion. They pray together in large numbers in certain Jain temples. Jain saints are always represented by nude statues with carefully rendered genitals.
According to Jain theology the great sage Bahubali and his brother fought a tremendous battle thousands of years ago over the inheritance of their father's kingdom. At the moment of his victory, however, Bahubal realized that greed and pride had debased him, and he renounced his kingdom and other worldly things. After the battle he meditated for so long that ant hills piled up around his feet and vines grew up his legs and arms. On Jain statues Bahubali is perfectly naked, with a serene and benevolent smile etched on his face, he is the picture of self-control, detachment and spiritual enlightenment."
Nudity and other forms of austerity are intended to strip away karma matter and create a detached state of desirelessness that will not attract further karma. The goal is “ahimsa”, a lack of desire in which no living thing is harmed. Jain ascetics sometimes fast to death as a severe penance for killing creatures and to work off as much karma as possible.
Jain Temples
Jains built temples and monoliths and carved structures out of rock. Caves, such as those in Orissa, were built to house Jain monks. Jain temples and temple complexes are characterized by elaborate carvings in marble and granite. Among the most impressive are the massive Svetambara temple complex in the Satrunjaya hills near Palitana, Gujarat; the Ranakpur temple complex in Rajasthan; and Mount Abu in Rajasthan. The most famous Jain monolith is the Digambara shrine at Sravanabelgola, Karnataka (See Below). [Source: Leona Anderson, Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices, Thomson Gale, 2006]
Jain temples are similar to Hindu temples in that they have a main tower and inner sanctum. Jain temples, however, are generally dedicated to a tirthankara rather than a god and an image of the tirthankara is in the inner sanctum. Temples are regarded as a place of study and meditation rather than worship. Prayers range from chanting mantras while having eye contact with an image to elaborately decorating and anointing the image. Many large temples have libraries and a guest houses where nuns and monks stay during the monsoon. Great effort is made to make sure the temple stays clean.
Chintamani Jain Temple is one of the oldest temples in Surat. Built about 400 years ago, it draws visitors not only for its spiritual significance but also for its architectural beauty. The temple was built under the reign of Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, at the end of the 17th century. It has simple exteriors, but its beautifully carved interiors more than make up for it. The wooden pillars in the temple are covered with gorgeous vegetable dye paintings and are topped with carved brackets that make for a fascinating sight. The vegetable dye paintings of Jain preacher, Acharya Hemchandra, and king Kumarpala, of the Chaulukya dynasty, are notable. The temple's popularity can be estimated by the fact that the London Museum also houses a sandalwood replica of it.
Hutheesing Jain Temple in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, was built as a tribute to the 15th Jain tirthankar (saint) Shri Dharmanatha in 1848. It cost trader Hutheesing Kesarisinh, who commissioned it, a considerable amount of money, during the period when the state was facing famine. The idea was to employ hundreds of labourers and artisans so that they had steady income during this period. Most of these artisans belonged to the Sompura and Salat communities, which are famous for their craftsmanship skills in sculpting and stone carving, especially in Hindu and Jain temples. Unfortunately, Kesarisinh, only 49 then, died while the temple was being constructed. His wife, Sethani Harkunvar, supervised and completed it. Like most other Jain temples, it is made of white marble with intricate carvings. It also has a mandapa (pillared-outdoor hall) capped by a large dome, which is supported by 12 ornate pillars. At the east end of the mandapa stands the garbha graha (main shrine) that reaches up to three impressive carved spires. It is further surrounded by 52 smaller shrines of various tirthankars. There are wide porches with decorated columns on the three outer sides of the temple. Recently, a 78-ft-high tower, called the Mahavir Stambha, was established in the courtyard by the front entrance, resembling a renowned tower at Chittor in Rajasthan. Several of the motifs used in the tower's design will remind one of minarets from the Mughal period. According to legend for over 170 years, a lamp has been lighting below the sanctum sanctorum.
Jain Pilgrimage Sites
At a number of pilgrimage sites associated with great teachers of Jainism. The gifts of wealthy donors made possible the building of architectural wonders. Shatrunjaya Hills (Siddhagiri) in Gujarat is a major Svetambara site. It is an entire city of about 3,500 temples. Mount Abu in Rajasthan, with one Digambara and five Svetambara temples, is the site of some of India's greatest architecture, dating from the eleventh through thirteenth centuries A.D. Jains also go on pilgrimages to Varanasi.
Jain Temples in Patan are one of Patan’s main draws. Patan used to be a very important site for Jains during the Solanki rule (950-1300), who built several beautiful temples in the area. The largest group of temples, comprising over 100 structures, is the Panchasara Parshvanath Jain Derasar, which is distinguished by its typical architecture of white marble floors and fine stone carvings. Among them, the Kapur Mahetano Pado is the most popular, known for its beautiful wooden interiors.
According to legend an interesting observation by the temples' master builder, Uda Mehta, changed the way Jain temples of Patan were built. One night, Mehta saw a mouse carrying a burning candle, which made him realise that even a minor mishap could lead to a major fire and burn down the entire temple. From then on, Jain temples were never the same again. Stone was chosen as the preferred material for construction and splendid structures were erected that leave one spellbound with their intricately-carved patterns.
Palitana (170 kilometers from Diu in Gujarat) is famed for a large cluster of Jain temples. On your way to the Shatrunjaya Hill top from the base, you will come across as many as 836 beautiful temples. Reaching the top is not an easy task as it requires tourists to climb almost 4,000 steps over a 3.5 kilometers long uphill climb. The site holds immense significance for the Jain community as it was here that the first Jain tirthankara (saint), Adinath, achieved enlightenment, making the Shatrunjay Hill a holy site for Jains. The temples have been built in the 11th, 12th centuries and 16th centuries. Interestingly, unlike other temples in the country, these were not built under the patronage of any dynasty or kings but are a result of the efforts of the wealthy businessmen who followed Jainism.
Shravanabelagola
Sravanabelgola (130 kilometers west of Bangalore in In Karnataka) is a major pilgrimage center for members of the Jain religion. Every 12 years a great festival occurs here. The rest of the time the city is pretty quite. The main sight is a massive statue of statue of Gomateshwara, a Jain saint that meditated in one place for so long, creepers grew up his legs and body. The nude statue, with carefully renders genitals and toes nails as large as a person is located on top of a 470-foot-high that must be climbed without shoes. Each morning at 10 o'clock Sravanabelgola Akanabasti Temple fills praying nude men.
On the hill of Sravanabelgola (Sravana Belgola), stands the monolithic seventeen-meter-high statue of the naked Bhagwan Bahubali (Gomateshvara), the first person in the world believed by the faithful to have attained enlightenment, so deep in meditation that vines are growing around his legs. At this site every twelve years, a major concourse of Jain ascetics and laity participate in a purification ceremony in which the statue is anointed from head to toe.
One of the most-visited Jain pilgrimage spots in South India, Shravanabelagola is a popular weekend getaway from Bengaluru. It is famous for a massive 57-ft high statue of Bahubali, which is the world's tallest monolithic stone statue carved out of a single granite block. This is housed in the Gomateshwara Temple, which is perched atop the Vindhyagiri Hill at a height of 3347 feet.
For over 2,300 years, Shravanabelagola has been a major attraction for Jain's and has been drawing them for its culture, art and architecture. A town of temples and ponds, Shravanabelagola boasts one of the largest numbers of rock inscriptions at one place. Another attraction is the 14 historical shrines known as basadis at the Chandragiri Hill. The most important of these include Chavundaraya Basadi, Chandragupta Basadi, Chandraprabha Basadi, Kathale Basadi and Parshwanath Basadi.
Mahamastak Abhishek Festival
Once every 12 years, tens of thousands of Jains gather in Shravanabelagola to ritually pour hundreds of gallons of coconut milk, sacred water with sandalwood paste, turmeric and other sacred fluids on the thousand-year-old, 58-foot statue of Bhanwan Bahubali, the holiest shrine of the Jains. The statue has 26-foot-wide shoulders and 30-foot-long arms, and 9-foot-long and 2½-foot-high feet. It is carved from a sold piece of granite at the top of a 450-foot-high hill. It barely looks weathered after hundreds of years of exposure to the hot sun and monsoon rains. [Source: John Ward Anderson, the Washington Post]
Carved in 981, the statue is considered the holiest Jain shrine. In addition to its lavish patronage of shrines, the Jain community, with its long scriptural tradition and wealth gained from trade, has always been known for its philanthropy and especially for its support of education and learning. Prestigious Jain schools are located in most major cities. The largest concentrations of Jains are in Maharashtra (more than 965,000) and Rajasthan (nearly 563,000), with sizable numbers also in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. [Source: Library of Congress]
The Jain’s first Mahamastak Abhishek Festival was celebrated in 981 under the Cholas The whole festival is beamed around India live on state-run and satellite television channels. Vendors sell commemorative wristwatches with pictures of Bhagwan Bahubali on them and stalls display leather handbags and jackets (even though it is taboo for Jains to sell the skins of dead animals). The night before the ritual, Jains bid at an auction to see who will pour water down on the statue first. One year a paper merchant paid 1.5 million rupees (about $50,000) to be the first one to anoint the statue. Many Jains wearing turbans and gold-colored crowns throw fistfuls of money on the statue. [Source: John Ward Anderson, the Washington Post]
Celebrating the Mahamastak Abhishek Festival
The most important annual rite is Samvatsarri, which is performed during an eight-to-ten day period called Paryusana-parva during the Shvetambra festival in which ordinary people abstain from eating certain foods and fast. The event climaxes with a confession to family and friends and a plea for forgiveness for all the creatures that may been harmed. One of the primary purpose of the festival is link the laity and the acetic community by allowing laymen to live like ascetics for a brief period of time.
According to PBS: “Taking place every 12 years, this Jain festival celebrates the life of saint Bahubali. Millions of devotees travel to Shravana Belagola in the Indian state of Karnataka, in South India, for the ritual anointing of a 57 foot statue of Bahubali, also known as Gomateshwara. The gigantic statue of the nude saint was carved out of a single piece of granite from the hill, known as Vindhyagiri or Indragiri, where it's located. [Source: PBS, The Story of India, pbs.org/thestoryofindia]
“The festival has been regularly observed since 981 A.D., when the statue was completed, and involves the anointing of the colossal figure with a multitude of substances beginning with sanctified water from 1,008 small metal vessels. Then it is showered with a series of other libations, such as milk, sugarcane juice, pastes of saffron and sandalwood, as well as powders of coconut, turmeric, saffron, and vermilion. These are followed by offerings of gold, silver, precious stones, petals, and coins, culminating with a cascade of flowers.
“Priests and select devotees ascend 700 stairs to reach the top of the statue in order to conduct the ceremony, while masses of pilgrims watch from the foot of the colossus and are drenched by the materials being showered on the figure. Jains revere Bahubali, who, according to legend, renounced his kingdom after winning a battle with his brother Bharata because he was disillusioned by the desire for power that set him against a family member. Bahubali decided to seek spiritual enlightenment and stood meditating for so long that vines began to grow on his legs and spread to his arms, which is how he is represented in the statue at Shravana Belagola.
Gunasthanas
Image Sources: Wikicommons Media
Text Sources: “World Religions” edited by Geoffrey Parrinder (Facts on File Publications, New York); “Encyclopedia of the World’s Religions” edited by R.C. Zaehner (Barnes & Noble Books, 1959); “Encyclopedia of the World Cultures: Volume 3 South Asia “ edited by David Levinson (G.K. Hall & Company, New York, 1994); “The Creators” by Daniel Boorstin; “A Guide to Angkor: an Introduction to the Temples” by Dawn Rooney (Asia Book) for Information on temples and architecture. National Geographic, the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Times of London, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, AP, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Compton’s Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.
Last updated December 2023