Jai Jinendra 🙏
An introduction to Jain principles, written for someone meeting them for the first time.
Thirteen topics, in a deliberate order. Nothing here assumes any prior knowledge, every term is explained where it first appears, and each topic can also be read on its own.
Four topics in the order they are best read. Together they take about twenty minutes and cover everything the rest of this section builds on.
The first mantra a Jain learns. It bows to qualities, never to a person.
The five supreme beings, and the five colours of the Jain flag.
Right faith, right knowledge, right conduct. Together they are the path to moksha; separately, none of them is.
Non-violence in action, non-absolutism in thought, non-attachment in possession. The three pillars, and how they hold each other up.
The first thing a Jain learns, and the shortest complete statement of what the tradition holds.
णमो अरिहंताणं
Ṇamo Arihantāṇaṁ
I bow to the Arihants, those who have conquered the inner enemies.
णमो सिद्धाणं
Ṇamo Siddhāṇaṁ
I bow to the Siddhas, the liberated souls.
णमो आयरियाणं
Ṇamo Āyariyāṇaṁ
I bow to the Acharyas, the heads of the ascetic order.
णमो उवज्झायाणं
Ṇamo Uvajjhāyāṇaṁ
I bow to the Upadhyayas, who teach the scriptures.
णमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं
Ṇamo Loe Savva-sāhūṇaṁ
I bow to all Sadhus everywhere in the world.
एसो पंच णमोक्कारो, सव्वपावप्पणासणो
Eso pañca ṇamokkāro, savva-pāvappaṇāsaṇo
This fivefold salutation destroys all sin.
मंगलाणं च सव्वेसिं, पढमं हवइ मंगलं
Maṅgalāṇaṁ ca savvesiṁ, paḍhamaṁ havai maṅgalaṁ
Of all that is auspicious, it is the first and foremost.
The mantra, the five supreme beings, and the three jewels that define the path. Start here if you are starting anywhere.
Non-violence, many-sidedness and non-attachment, the nine fundamentals, and the ten virtues. What Jain dharma actually holds.
The festivals that shape the year, the reasoning behind the diet, and the symbols you will see in the mandir.
Where Jain dharma comes from, the twenty-four Tirthankars, the Digambar tradition, and the kshetras of Maharashtra.
Each one links to the passage that explains it.