describe the teaching of Mahavir
Answers
1. Ahimsa: The first and foremost principle of Jainism was Ahimsa or non-injury to anyone. It is why many of the Jains walk bare-footed, filter water before drinking and even tie a band of cloth round their mouth so that they may not kill small insects.
2. Hard Penance and Self-Sacrifice: The preachers of Jainism believe in hard penance and giving all sorts of injury to their human bodies. To die while starving oneself is regarded a virtue by them.
3. God: Mahavira denied the power of the Almighty as the creator and controller of the whole universe.
5. No Faith in Yajna, Sacrifice and Ritualism: Jainism was a sort of revolt against the superiority of the Brahmans and their Yajnas, sacrifices and useless ritualism. They stopped performing all these things. They went further and refused to accept the authority of the Vedas.
5. Worship of Twenty-four Tirthankaras: Instead of respecting the Brahmans and worshiping their gods the Jains began to worship their own Tirthankaras.
6. No Faith in the Caste System: Jainism strikes a deadly blow at the caste system and all sorts of class-distinctions. It preached the equality of human beings. .
7. Attainment of Salvation: The Jains like those of the Hindus believe that the chief aim of a man is to attain salvation (Moksha) or freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth. This salvation can be achieved by following three Jewels (Or Triratnas) of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.
8. Next life and Karma Theory: The Jains like those of the Hindus and the Buddhists believe in next life and transmigration of soul. According to them one acquires new life according to his actions (or Karma) in his past lives. If one does good actions during this life he is bound to get a good life next time