JAINISM. The Jains are the followers of the religious reformer Jina. Jina, however, like Buddha, is not a name but a title. The real founder of Jainism would seem to have been Mahavira Jfiatriputra. Both Jainism and Buddhism may be said to represent revolts against Brahmanism. Of the two systems, Jainism appears to have had the start of Buddhism; and in any case it may be regarded as a religion intermediate between Brah manism and Buddhism. Another name for the Jains is Nirgranthas. The Nigranthas claimed Nataputta as their founder. It would seem, therefore, either that Nataputta was one who prepared the way for Mah5vira, or that he was identical with Mahavira. In course of time the Jains split up into two main bodies, the Svet5rubaras, " white-attire men," and the Digambaras, " sky-attire men," that is to say, naked devotees. The Digambaras insist that ascetics must be naked. The Jains differ from the Buddhists in this, among other things, that they attach the greatest importance to asceticism. The term Jina means " conqueror," and Mahavira held that the passions must be conquered by mortification of the flesh. The Digambaras argued that where there is no sin there can be no shame. Their nakedness implied the conquest of sin. The Svetambaras arose in protest against this type of Jainism. They object even to nude images of the twenty-four Jinas or chiefs venerated by the Jains. They differ further from the Digambaras in admitting women into their order of ascetics, and in having sacred books of their own. The Jains in general
practically worship their chiefs or Jinas as gods. They also worship the female energy. They do not believe in an All-Spirit, but they believe in individual souls or spirits existing in stones, plants, drops of water, particles of fire, etc. They cherish three moral gems or jewels, Right-knowledge, Right-intuition, and Right-eonduct. Their five principles of Right-conduct are : " (I) Non injury, (2) kindness and speaking what is true (in so far as the truth is pleasant to the hearer), (3) honourable conduct, typified by ' not stealing,' (4) chastity in word, thought, and deed, (5) renunciation of earthly interests " (Hopkins). The first principle is followed to an extrava gant extent, since, among other precautions against killing living creatures they " often wear muslin before their mouths to catch minute insects " (Monier-Williams). It is a rule with the Jains that their hair, instead of being cut off, must be plucked out. Hence they have been called " hair-pluckers." The Jains believe in re incarnation on earth. In this way salvation is attained by degrees. After twelve years of strict asceticism •the Jain may commit suicide. The Jaime do not erect Stapas or Dagobas to hold relics. See Monier-Williams, Buddhism, 1890; E. W. Hopkins; J. A. Dubois and H. K. Beauchamp.