Svetambara( श्वेताम्बर ) and Digambara ( दिगम्बर )

Two Main Sections of Jainism are :

1. Svetambara (White Clads)
2. Digambara (Sky Clads)

1.Svetambara

Svetambar literally means "White Clads", whose Ascetics practiontitioners wears White Cloths.
Svetambaras, unlike Digambaras, do not believe that ascetics must practice nudity, or that women are unable to obtain moksha. Svetambaras maintain that the 19th Tirthankara, Mallinath, was a woman.


At present in Svetambara sects, there are 2,510 Monks and 10,228 nuns(According to 'Smagra Jain chaturmas suchi-2006').
 
2. Digambara

Digambara literally means "Sky Clads", whose Ascetics practiontitioners wears NO Cloths.

At Present in Digambaras there are 548 monks and 527 nuns (According to 'Smagra Jain chaturmas suchi-2006').

Navkar Mantra (नवकार मंत्र)

The Navkar Mantra is the most important mantra in Jainism and can be recited at any time. While reciting the Navkar Mantra, we are bowing down with respect to Arihantas (souls who have reached the state of non-attachment towards worldly process), Siddhas (liberated souls), Ächäryäs (heads of sadhus and sadhvis), Upädhyäyas (those who teach scriptures to sadhus and sadhvis), Sädhus (monks, who have voluntarily given up social, economical and family relationships) and Sädhvis (nuns, who have voluntarily given up social, economical and family relationships). Collectively, they are called Panch Parmesthi (five supreme spiritual people). In this mantra we worship their virtues rather than worshipping any one particular person; therefore, this Mantra is not named after Lord Mahavir, Lord Parshvanath or Adinath, etc. When we recite Navkar Mantra it, also reminds us that, we need to be like them. This mantra is also called Namaskär or Namokär Mantra because we are bowing down.

Meaning of Navkar Mantra

Namo Arihantanam: I bow down to Arihanta,

Namo Siddhanam: I bow down to Siddha,

Namo Ayariyanam: I bow down to Acharya,

Namo Uvajjhayanam: I bow down to Upadhyaya,

Namo Loe Savva-sahunam: I bow down to Sadhu and Sadhvi.

Eso Panch Namokaro: These five bowings downs,

Savva-pavappanasano: Destroy all the sins,

Manglananch Savvesim: Amongst all that is auspicious,

Padhamam Havei Mangalam: This Navkar Mantra is the foremost.

Jain Tirthankaras (तीर्थंकर)

About Tirthankaras

Jains believe that knowledge of the truth (dharma) has declined and revived cyclically throughout history. Those who rediscover dharma are called Tirthankara.

Mahavira established the fourfold community (chaturvidhi sangha) of monks, nuns, and male and female laypersons.



The 24 Jain Tirthankara (तीर्थंकर) (Tirthamkara) with their respective signs


1.Bhagavân Rishabha Dev ( श्रीआदिनाथ ) bull
2.Bhagavân Ajitnath (श्रीअजितनाथ )        elephant
3.Bhagavân Sambhavanath (श्रीसंभवनाथ)horse
4.Bhagavân Abhinandananath(श्रीअभिनन्दननाथ)monkey
5.Bhagavân Sumatinath ( श्रीसुमतिनाथ)curlew
6.Bhagavân Padmaprabha (श्रीपद्मप्रभ)lotus
7.Bhagavân Suparshvanath (श्रीसुपार्श्वनाथ)swastika
8.Bhagavân Chandraprabha (श्रीचन्द्रप्रभ)moon
9.Bhagavân Pushpadanta(श्रीपुष्पदन्त )Crocodile
10.Bhagavân Sitalanath (श्रीशीतलनाथ)Kalpavriksha
11.Bhagavân Sreyansanath (श्रीश्रेयांसनाथ)rhinoceros
12.Bhagavân Vasupujya (श्रीवासुपूज्य)female buffalo
13.Bhagavân Vimalanath (श्रीविमलनाथ)pig
14.Bhagavân Anantanath (श्रीअनन्तनाथ)Baj
15.Bhagavân Dharmanath (श्रीधर्मनाथ) Vajra
16.Bhagavân Santinath (श्रीशांतिनाथ) deer
17.Bhagavân Kunthunath (श्रीकुंथुनाथ )goat
18.Bhagavân Aranath (श्रीअरहनाथ) fish
19.Bhagavân Mallinath (श्रीमल्लिनाथ)Kalasa
20.Bhagavân Munisuvrata (श्रीमुनिसुव्रनाथ]tortoise
21.Bhagavân Naminath (श्रीनमिनाथ)blue lotus
22.Bhagavân Neminath (श्रीनेमिनाथ)conch
 23.Bhagavân Parshvanath (श्रीपार्श्वनाथ)snake
24.Bhagavân Mahavira (श्रीमहावीर)lion

About Jainism (जैनधर्म)

Jainism(जैनधर्म)  is an ancient religion of India, also now found in other countries around the world, that prescribes a path of peace and non-violence towards all living beings.

Jainism was revived by a lineage of 24 enlightened ascetics called tirthankaras culminating with Parshva (9th century BC) and Mahavira (6th century BC).

In the modern world, it is a small but influential religious minority with as many as 4.2 million followers in India

Principle and Beliefs

Jainism regards every living soul as potentially divine. When the soul sheds its karmic bonds completely, it attains divine consciousness. It prescribes a path of non-violence to progress the soul to this ultimate goal.

Jainism is based on three general principles called the three Ratnas (jewels).

• Right faith.
• Right knowledge.
• Right action.

There are five basic ethical principles (vows) that needs to be followed.

• Non-violence (Ahimsa) - to cause no harm to living beings.
• Truth (Satya) - to always speak the truth in a harmless manner.
• Non-stealing (Asteya) - to not take anything that is not willingly given.
• Celibacy (Brahmacarya) - to not indulge in sensual pleasures.
• Non-possession (Aparigraha) - to detach from people, places, and material things.

Jains are recommended to pass through four stages during their lifetime:

• Brahmacharya-ashrama: the life of a student
• Gruhasth-ashrama: family life
• Vanaprasth-ashrama: family and social services
• Sanyast-ashrama: life as a monk; a period of renunciation