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Jain Acharya
''Āchārya'' () means the Head of an order of ascetics. Some of the famous achāryas are Bhadrabahu, Kundakunda, Samantabhadra, Umaswami, Sthulibhadra. In Digambara Jainism, ''Āchārya'' has thirty-six primary attributes (''mūla guṇa'') consisting in: *Twelve kinds of austerities (''tapas''); *Ten virtues (''dasa-lakṣaṇa dharma''); *Five kinds of observances in regard to faith, knowledge, conduct, austerities, and power. *Six essential duties (''Ṣadāvaśyaka''); and *''Gupti''- Controlling the threefold activity of: **the body; **the organ of speech; and **the mind. According to the Jain text, ''Dravyasamgraha'', Chandanaji became the first Jain woman to receive the title of Acharya in 1987. Mūla Guṇa Twelve kinds of austerities (''tapas'') ;External austerities The external austerities (''bāhya tapas'') are fasting (''anaśana''), reduced diet (''avamaudarya''), special restrictions for begging food (''vrttiparisamkhyāna''), giving up stimulating and d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Acharya KundaKunda
In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a title affixed to the names of learned subject. The designation has different meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism and secular contexts. ''Acharya'' is sometimes used to address an expert teacher or a scholar in any discipline, e.g.: Bhaskaracharya, the expert mathematician. Etymology The Sanskrit phrase ''Acharam Grahayati Acharam Dadati Iti Va'' means ''Acharya'' (or teacher) is the one who teaches good conduct to one's students. A female teacher is called an ''achāryā,'' and a male teacher's wife is called an ''achāryāni'' In Hinduism In Hinduism, an ''acharya'' is a formal title of a teacher or guru, who has attained a degree in Veda and Vedanga. Prominent acharyas in the Hindu tradition are as given below : *Adi Sankaracharya *Ramanu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dravya (Jainism)
Dravya ( sa, द्रव्य) means substance or entity. According to the Jain philosophy, the universe is made up of six eternal substances: sentient beings or souls ('' jīva''), non-sentient substance or matter (''pudgala''), principle of motion (''dharma''), the principle of rest (''adharma''), space ('' ākāśa'') and time (''kāla'').Grimes, John (1996). Pp.118–119 The latter five are united as the ''ajiva'' (the non-living). As per the Sanskrit etymology, ''dravya'' means substances or entity, but it may also mean real or fundamental categories. Jain philosophers distinguish a substance from a body, or thing, by declaring the former as a simple element or reality while the latter as a compound of one or more substances or atoms. They claim that there can be a partial or total destruction of a body or thing, but no dravya can ever be destroyed. Classification and importance in Jainism The ''dravya'' in Jainism are fundamental entities, called ''astikaya'' (literal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Digambara Monk
Digambara Sādhu (also ''muni'', ''sādhu'') is a Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold ''sangha''. They are also called ''Nirgranth'' which means "one without any bonds". Digambar Sādhus have 28 primary attributes which includes observance of the five supreme vows of '' ahimsa'' (non-injury), truth, non-thieving, celibacy and non-possession. A Digambar Sādhu is allowed to keep only a feather whisk, a water gourd and scripture with him. In Jainism, those '' śrāvakas'' (householders) who wish to attain ''moksha'' (liberation) renounce all possessions and become an ascetic. According to the Jain text, ''Dravyasamgraha'': Digambar Sādhus are also called ''nirgranth'' which means "one without any bonds". The term originally applied to those of them who were on the point of attaining to omniscience, on the attainment of which they were called ''munis''. Rishabhanath (the first '' Tirthankar'') is said ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pañca-Parameṣṭhi
The (Sanskrit: पञ्च परमेष्ठी for "five supreme beings") in Jainism are a fivefold hierarchy of religious authorities worthy of veneration. Overview The five supreme beings are: #'' Arihant'': The awakened souls who have attained keval gyan are considered as Arihant. The 24 Tirthankaraas or Jinas, the legendary founding figures of Jainism in the present time cycle are Arihants. All Tirthankaras are Arihants but not all Arihants are Thirthankars. #''Siddha'' (Ashiri): The souls which have been liberated from the birth and death cycle. #''Acarya'' #''Upadhyaya'' ("Preceptors") #''Muni'' or '' Jain monks'' The five initials, viz. ''A+A+A+U+M'' are taken as forming the Aum syllable. Five supreme beings Dravyasaṃgraha, a major Jain text, succinctly characterizes the five Supreme Beings (''Pañca-Parameṣṭhi''). #Definition of the World Teacher (Arhat) - verse 50. #Definition of the liberated souls (Siddha) - verses 51. #Definition of the Chi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passage across the sea of interminable births and deaths, the '' saṃsāra''. According to Jains, a ''Tirthankara'' is an individual who has conquered the ''saṃsāra'', the cycle of death and rebirth, on their own, and made a path for others to follow. After understanding the true nature of the self or soul, the ''Tīrthaṅkara'' attains '' Kevala Jnana'' (omniscience). Tirthankara provides a bridge for others to follow the new teacher from ''saṃsāra'' to ''moksha'' (liberation). In Jain cosmology, the wheel of time is divided in two halves, Utsarpiṇī' or ascending time cycle and ''avasarpiṇī'', the descending time cycle (said to be current now). In each half of the cosmic time cycle, exactly twenty-four ''tirthankaras'' grace thi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sāmāyika
''Sāmāyika'' is the vow of periodic concentration observed by the Jains. It is one of the essential duties prescribed for both the ''Śrāvaka'' (householders) and ascetics. The preposition ''sam'' means one state of being. To become one is ''samaya''. That, which has oneness as its object, is ''sāmāyikam''. ''Sāmāyika'' is aimed at developing equanimity and to refrain from injury. On the third '' pratimā'' (stage) the householder resolves to observe the ''sāmāyika'' vow three times a day. According to the Jain text, '' Purushartha Siddhyupaya'': ''Sāmāyika'' is also one of the five kinds of conduct (''cāritra'') other kinds being reinitiation, purity of non-injury, slight passion and perfect conduct. It is of two kinds — with and without time limit. Duration The ''sāmāyika'' is performed for an ''antara-muhurta'' (about 48 minutes) every day. Champat Rai Jain in his book ''The Key of Knowledge'' writes: Procedure In performing ''sāmāyika'', the ''śr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arihant (Jainism)
''Arihant'' ( pka, arihant, italic=yes, sa, अरिहन्त, lit=conqueror) is a jiva (soul) who has conquered inner passions such as attachment, anger, pride and greed. Having destroyed four inimical karmas, they realize pure self. ''Arihants'' are also called ''kevalins'' (omniscient beings) as they possess '' kevala jnana'' (pure infinite knowledge). An ''arihant'' is also called a ''jina'' ("victor"). At the end of their life, ''arihants'' destroy remaining ''karmas'' and attain ''moksha'' (liberation) and become ''siddhas''. ''Arihantas'' have a body while ''siddhas'' are bodiless pure spirit. The Ṇamōkāra mantra, the fundamental prayer dedicated to ''Pañca-Parameṣṭhi'' (five supreme beings), begins with ''Ṇamō arihantāṇaṁ'', "obeisance to the arihants". ''Kevalins'' - omniscient beings - are said to be of two kinds # ''Tirthankara kevalī'': 24 human spiritual guides who after attaining omniscience teach the path to salvation. # ''Sāmānya ke ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tattva (Jainism)
Jain philosophy explains that seven ''tattva'' (truths or fundamental principles) constitute reality. These are:— #'' jīva''- the soul which is characterized by consciousness #''ajīva''- the non-soul #''āsrava'' (influx)- inflow of auspicious and evil karmic matter into the soul. #''bandha'' (bondage)- mutual intermingling of the soul and ''karmas''. #''samvara'' (stoppage)- obstruction of the inflow of karmic matter into the soul. #''nirjara'' (gradual dissociation)- separation or falling-off of part of karmic matter from the soul. #''mokṣha'' (liberation)- complete annihilation of all karmic matter (bound with any particular soul). The knowledge of these reals is said to be essential for the liberation of the soul. However, as per one sect of Jain i.e. Shwetamber (Sthanakwasi), there are total nine tattva (truths or fundamental principles). Seven tattva are same as above but 2 more tattva are there namely: Overview The first two are the two ontological catego ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pujyapada
Acharya Pujyapada or Pūjyapāda (464–524 CE) was a renowned grammarian and ''acharya'' (philosopher monk) belonging to the Digambara tradition of Jains. It was believed that he was worshiped by demigods on the account of his vast scholarship and deep piety, and thus, he was named Pujyapada. He was said to be the guru of King Durvinita of the Western Ganga dynasty. Life Pujyapada is said to have lived from 510 CE to 600 CE. His real name was ''Devanandi'' and he was a sadhu Digambara monk. As the Devs from heaven used to come to do Puja of his feet Paad, the title of Pujyapaad was given to him. He was heavily influenced by the writings of his predecessors like ''Acharya'' Kundakunda and ''Acharya'' Samantabhadra. He is rated as being the greatest of the early masters of Jain literature. He was prominent preceptor, with impeccable pontifical pedigree and spiritual lineage. He was a yogi, mystic, poet, scholar, author and master of several branches of learning. He wrote in S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bhadrabahu
Ācārya Bhadrabāhu (c. 367 - c. 298 BC) was, according to the ''Digambara'' sect of Jainism, the last '' Shruta Kevalin'' (all knowing by hearsay, that is indirectly) in Jainism . He was the last ''acharya'' of the undivided Jain ''sangha''. He was the spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of Maurya Empire. According to the ''Digambara'' sect of Jainism, there were five ''Shruta Kevalins'' in Jainism - Govarddhana Mahamuni, Vishnu, Nandimitra, Aparajita and Bhadrabahu. Early life Bhadrabahu was born in Pundravardhana (The region mainly consisted of parts of the Northern West Bengal and North-Western Bangladesh, i.e., parts of North Bengal) to a Brahmin family during which time the secondary capital of the Mauryas was Ujjain. When he was seven, Govarddhana Mahamuni predicted that he will be the last ''Shruta Kevali'' and took him along for his initial education. According to ''Śvētāmbara'' tradition, he lived from 433 BC to 357 BC. ''Digambara'' tradition ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Acharya Chandana
Acharya Chandana (born Shakuntala in 1937), known as Tai Maharaj by her devotees, belongs to Amarmuni Sampradaya. Chandana is the first Jain sadhvi (female renunciant) to be awarded the title of Acharya and the Padma Shri. Chandana is well-known for her social engagement and for popularisingzthe notion of 'seva' (human service) among Jainthe community. She is the founder of Veerayatan, a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Rajgir with centers in over ten countries. Early life On 26 January 1937, Chandana was born as Shakuntala, in the Kataria family in the village of Chaskaman in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Her mother was Premkunwar Katariya, and her father was Manikchand Katariya. She received formal education until the third grade. From childhood, she longed to aid and serve those in need. Monastic life Shakuntala's maternal grandfather persuaded her to be initiated as a sadhvi by Sumati Kunvar. At the age of fourteen, she received Jain d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dravyasamgraha
' (Devnagari: द्रव्यसंग्रह) (Compendium of substances) is a 10th-century Jain text in Jain Sauraseni Prakrit by Acharya Nemicandra belonging to the Digambara Jain tradition. It is a composition of 58 ''gathas'' (verses) giving an exposition of the six '' dravyas'' (substances) that characterize the Jain view of the world: sentient ''( jīva)'', non-sentient ''(pudgala)'', principle of motion ''(dharma)'', principle of rest ''(adharma)'', space ''(ākāśa)'' and time ''(kāla)''.Acarya Nemicandra; Nalini Balbir (2010) p. 1 of Introduction It is one of the most important Jain works and has gained widespread popularity. ' has played an important role in Jain education and is often memorized because of its comprehensiveness as well as brevity. Author 10th century Jain Acarya, Nemicandra Siddhānta Cakravartin is regarded as the author of '. He was the teacher of Camundaraya—the general of the Western Ganga Dynasty of Karnataka. Nemicandra was a proli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
