Article Title: Jainism and its heritage sites
25-09-2022
History & Art and Culture Prelims Plus
Why is in news? A Jain heritage site in T.N. battles the elements
With much of the art in Sittanavasal either damaged or vandalised, Archaeological Survey of India has undertaken conservation measures and also introduced digital checks to track public access.
Jainism: Jainism is one of the world's oldest religions, originating in India at least 2,500 years ago.
The spiritual goal of Jainism is to become liberated from the endless cycle of rebirth and to achieve an all-knowing state called moksha.
Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four Tirthankaras (supreme preachers of Dharma), with the first - Rishabhadeva, the twenty-third tirthankara - Parshvanatha, and the twenty-fourth tirthankara - Mahavira, around 600 BCE.
The three main pillars of Jainism: ahiṃsa (non-violence), anekantavada (non-absolutism), and aparigraha (asceticism).
Three jewels of Jainism: right belief, right knowledge and right conduct.
4 sins of Jainism: anger, pride, deceitfulness, and greed.
Jainism teaches that the path to enlightenment is through nonviolence and reducing harm to living things (including plants and animals) as much as possible.
Like Hindus and Buddhists, Jains believe in reincarnation. This cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is determined by one's karma.
Gomateshwara Statue, Shravanabelagola (Karnataka) probably one of the most well-known Jain temples in India by both Jains and non, this temple has a massive black stone structure of Gomateshwara - the first Tirthankara standing 18 metres tall.
Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir in New Delhi is one of the oldest Jain temples, dating back to the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It was originally built in the year 1656, and is famously known as the Lal Mandir or the 'Red Temple' because it is built out of red sandstone.
The Ranakpur temple in Rajasthan, is one of the largest temples of Jain culture.
Other sites include Ajanta & Ellora caves, Pattadakal, Khajuraho temple complex, etc.
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