Swetambar Jain Mandir

Jainism - in the eyes of historynn4nnAneeruddha Joshi 'Shatayu'nnFILEnnJainism, the oldest religion in the world, is called the religion of Shramans. The first Tirthankara Rishabhanath is mentioned in the Vedas. It is believed that the Yatis and vratas mentioned in the Vedic literature were not from the Brahmin tradition but were from the Shramana tradition. In the Manusmriti, Kshatriyas such as Lichchavi, Nath, Malla etc. are counted in vratyas.nnJainism has its origins in the ancient traditions of India. There is also a description of the tradition of Jainism in the Aryan period about Rishabhdev and Arishtanemi. Neminath was the head of this religion in the Mahabharata period.nnArishta Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara of Jainism, was a cousin of Lord Krishna. Jainism has included Krishna among his Triasshastha Shalaka men, one of the twelve Narayans. It is believed that Krishna will be the first Tirthankara of Jains in the next Chaubasi.nnIn the eighth century BC, the 23rd Tirthankara Parshwanath was born in Kashi. The 11th Tirthankara Shreyansanath was also born near Kashi. The name of Sarnath is prevalent in his name.nnThis tradition never came into existence in organized form till Lord Parshvanath. Parsvnath cult originated from Parsvnath and the tradition got an organized form. Lord Mahavira was from the Parsvnath sect itself.nn4nnFILEnnThe first sect of the Shramana sect in Jainism was founded by Parshvanath. These Shramans were against the Vedic tradition. This is where Jainism started forming its own separate existence. During the times of Mahavira and Buddha, these Shramans became some Buddhists and some Jain. These two separately formed their own branches.nnIn 599 BCE, the last Tirthankara Lord Mahavira streamlined the religion and tradition of the Tirthankaras. Built the Rajpath of Kaivalya. Union system was created: - Muni, Aryika, Shravaka and Shravika. This is called their Chaturvigha Sangh. Lord Mahavira died at the age of 72.