12.2 Hinduism and Jainism: Shared history and concepts

Hinduism and Jainism share deep historical roots in ancient India. Despite developing distinct identities, they've influenced each other for centuries, especially in western and southern regions where Jain presence is strong.

Both religions emphasize non-violence, karma, and liberation from rebirth. However, they differ on key points like the nature of the soul and divine. Jainism's strict practices have shaped Hindu traditions, particularly in areas of asceticism and vegetarianism.

Hinduism and Jainism: Historical Connections

Origins and Early Development

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• Hinduism and Jainism originated in the Indus Valley region of ancient India, sharing common cultural and philosophical roots despite developing distinct religious identities
• The historical founder of Jainism, Mahavira, was born into a Hindu family in the 6th century BCE and was a contemporary of the Buddha, reflecting the shared milieu from which these traditions emerged
• Jainism arose as a śramaṇa movement, along with Buddhism, which challenged the authority of the Vedas and the Brahmin priests of Hinduism, offering alternative paths to spiritual liberation

Geographical Proximity and Interaction

• Despite their differences, Hinduism and Jainism have coexisted and interacted in close geographical proximity throughout their histories, particularly in western and southern India where Jain influence has been most prominent (Gujarat, Karnataka)
• The shared history and geography of Hinduism and Jainism have led to a complex relationship of mutual influence, dialogue, and debate between these two traditions over the centuries
• Jain contributions to Indian art, architecture (Mount Abu and Ranakpur temples), and literature have enriched the broader cultural milieu that Hinduism shares

Shared Concepts: Non-violence, Karma, and Liberation

Ahiṃsā (Non-violence)

• The principle of ahiṃsā, or non-violence towards all living beings, is a central ethical tenet in both Hinduism and Jainism, though Jainism takes this to a more extreme level
  • In Hinduism, ahiṃsā is an important virtue but allows for necessary violence in certain contexts, such as self-defense or the duties of a warrior
  • Jainism insists on absolute non-violence in all circumstances, with strict practices like vegetarianism and sweeping the ground to avoid harming insects
• Jain vegetarianism and the practice of avoiding harm to animals have had a significant impact on Hindu dietary practices, particularly in regions of strong Jain influence

Karma and Rebirth

• The concept of karma, the law of moral cause and effect, is foundational to both Hindu and Jain understandings of the soul's journey through the cycle of birth and death (saṃsāra)
  • In Hinduism, karma determines an individual's future rebirths and experiences based on the moral quality of their actions in this life and previous lives
  • Jainism shares a similar view of karma but sees it as a kind of material substance that literally adheres to the soul, obscuring its inherent purity and knowledge
• Both traditions affirm the existence of an eternal soul or self (ātman) that transmigrates through the cycle of rebirth, accumulating karma along the way

Mokṣa (Liberation)

• The ultimate goal of spiritual practice in both traditions is mokṣa, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth and the suffering of worldly existence
  • In Hinduism, mokṣa is often conceived as union with or realization of the divine Brahman, the ultimate reality underlying all things
  • Jainism envisions liberation as the soul's release from the bondage of karma, regaining its innate qualities of infinite knowledge, perception, power, and bliss
• The path to liberation in both religions involves ethical conduct, spiritual discipline, and detachment from worldly affairs, though the specific practices and philosophies differ

Soul and the Divine: Hindu vs Jain Perspectives

Nature of the Soul (Ātman)

• Hinduism and Jainism both affirm the existence of an eternal soul or self (ātman) that transmigrates through the cycle of birth and death, but they differ in their understanding of its nature
  • The Hindu concept of ātman is ultimately identified with Brahman, the divine absolute reality, suggesting an underlying monism or non-dualism
  • In Jainism, each soul is considered a distinct, individual entity that is inherently pure and divine but not identical with any overarching divine principle
• Jainism emphasizes the plurality and independence of individual souls, while Hinduism tends to see them as ultimately one with the divine reality

Views on the Divine

• Jain philosophy is fundamentally atheistic, rejecting the existence of a supreme creator God and viewing the universe as eternal and self-sufficient
  • Jainism does recognize spiritually liberated beings called tīrthaṅkaras who serve as teachers and exemplars, but they are not worshipped as deities
• Hindu traditions encompass a wide range of theological views, from monistic conceptions of God as the impersonal absolute (nirguṇa Brahman) to devotional worship of personal deities (Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti)
  • Theistic Hinduism affirms the existence of a supreme being who creates, sustains, and dissolves the universe, often conceived as saguna Brahman or Ishvara
  • Non-dualistic Vedanta regards the divine as the ultimate reality beyond all attributes and distinctions, with the soul and the world being identical to this absolute principle

Jain Influence on Hindu Traditions

Asceticism and Renunciation

• Jainism's rigorous emphasis on non-violence and asceticism influenced the development of similar ideals and practices within Hinduism, particularly the ascetic and renunciant traditions
• Jain ideals of renunciation and detachment from worldly affairs have inspired the formation of Hindu monastic orders and the lifestyle of sannyāsa, or complete renunciation

Philosophical and Cultural Exchange

• The Jain concept of anekāntavāda, or the doctrine of multiple viewpoints, acknowledges the complexity and relativity of truth, an idea that has resonated with certain Hindu philosophical schools
• The Jain tīrthaṅkara Ṛṣabha is recognized in some Hindu traditions as an avatar of Vishnu, reflecting a process of mutual assimilation and incorporation between the two religions
• Jain contributions to Indian art, architecture, and literature have enriched the broader cultural milieu that Hinduism shares, fostering ongoing dialogue and exchange between the traditions