How did janinism influence the social religious culturak and political aspects of india?
Answers
India had a strong republican structure in the 6th century BC which enabled heterodox systems like Jainism and Budhism to rise against orthodox religion dominated by rigid caste system, ritualistic practices, sacrifice and other superstitious beliefs.The time was conducive for the two egalitarian systems to emerege with flourish on the vast social and spiritual landscape of India. These traditions had mass appeal and royal patronage. Ashoka embraced Budhism and turned what started as a local ethico-philosophical movement into a world religion. Chandragupta Maurya became a renounciate jain monk.Kharavela of Kalinga and royal dynasties of South such as Gangas,Kadambas,Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas patronized Jainism. Be it Art & Architecture,Language &Literature or Ethics &Morality these Indic traditions profoundly influenced Indian intellect and culture.
To me , however, three elements such as the idea of non-violence,Techniques of meditation and monasticism have inspired Hindu majority India immensely.
1.Non-violence: The concept of non-violence is ancient and it forms the core of Jainism. Gandhi took it from individual level to social and political plane.Satyagraha is nothing but devotion to the truth and remaining firm and resisting non-violently.This ideology earned India independence.
2.Meditation: Though there are earliest references of dhyan in Veda of of India which was always a land of Seers,Sages and Seekers. Budha developed his own techniques of meditative absorption that proliferated and diversified over a period of time. Budhist Meditation is extremely popular among people of different faiths all over the world.
3.Monasticism: The most important element adopted by Hinduism from Budhism is the monastic ways of life.This tradition existed in Pre-Budhist India in the form of ‘Gurukul' which operated at a small scale.Post-Budha Hinduism absorbed monastic system and took it to a different level altogether. The school of Advaita, World university of Taxila ,Nalanda and Vikramshila had their roots in the concept of monasticism
hope it helps