History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c24.3

v2.c24.3

THE Jaina sect sprang up almost contemporaneously with the Buddhist: Vardhamâna, their last apostle, was a native of Vaisâlî, in Tirhût, a contemporary of Sâkyamuni Buddha and died at Pâwâ in Bihâr, during the lifetime of the latter.¹ They are in two divisions—the Digambaras, that is, those "whose covering is the air," who regard nudity as a sign of holiness, though they are now obliged to part from the outdoor practice of their theory; and the Swetâmbaras, who are "clad in white." The Jaina religious theories and practices, in many respects, closely resemble those of the Buddhists. They acknowledge no supreme governor, believe in transmigration, regard all animal life as sacred, reverence the Jinas or Tîrthankaras, because they believe them to have overcome all human desires, and to have attained Nirvâna; but they have no veneration for relics. They consist of ecclesiastics—Yatis or Sâdhus—and lay hearers or Srâvaks. The laity are chiefly engaged in trade and banking.² Jains are numerous in the larger towns all over India, but especially in Râjputâna, Gujarât, and neighbouring provinces, and also in Kanara and Mysore, where they are mostly Digambaras.