Hinduism vs. Jainism
Part 1: Hinduism
Answer the following questions about Hinduism in 90 to 175 words each:
Provide a brief history of Hinduism.
Hinduism is the oldest religion globally because its customs and roots date back about 4000 years ago.it is the third largest religion with about one billion followers. More than 90% of Hindus live in India. The religion does not have a specific founder and it is challenging to trace its history and origins. The religion is unique because it is not just a religion but a combination of philosophies and traditions. Although most scholars believed that Hinduism was begun about 2300 BC in the Indus Valley, Pakistan, most Hindus insist that their faith is infinite, has always existed, and is timeless (Zaehner, 2016).
Summarize the mythology and functions of one Hindu god or goddess.
Shiva is the most powerful God after Vishnu and Brahma. Brahma acts as the creator, Vishnu the preserver, while Shiva’s responsibility is to destroy it so that it can be recreated. Hindus believe that Shiva’s powers regarding destruction and recreation are essential in destroying imperfections and illusions in the world so that it can make way for beneficial changes (Zaehner, 2016). It is believed that the destruction may not be arbitrary but constructive. Shiva is also known to be passionate and has certain extremes in his behavior. For instance, at times he is a hedonist, ascetic, or abstains from certain worldly pleasures. Shiva’s relationship with Pavartis, his wife, allows Shiva to attain balance.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
What is the role of the sacred texts in Hinduism?
Although Hinduism is not based on material objects or relics, there are various principals of veneration and respect. The books represent the knowledge acquired and passed through the generations. The sacred texts have two major classifications: Smruti and Sruti (Zaehner, 2016). The Sruti or “heard” scriptures are believed to be divinely inspired and act as the final authority for practice and belief. On the other hand, Smruti or “remembered” scriptures are recognized as the outcomes or products of the intellectual minds of the important sages in Hinduism.
Define these concepts in Hinduism: maya, karma, moksha, samsara, and atman .
Atman describes the personal self or soul. It also extends to the thinking principle that is manifested in an individual’s consciousness.
Moksha describes the freedom from the inefficiencies of the mortal, differentiated, and temporal world in normal or ordinary experience.
Samsara is the process of endless series of rebirths, births, and deaths that all living creatures experience.
Karma is the act of bringing upon oneself bad or good inevitable results either in the reincarnation or in the current life.
Maya is a basic concept in Hinduism especially in the Advaita or Non-dualist section in Vedanta. It originally explained the magic power possessed by gods and can make a human believe something that may turn out to be just an illusion (Zaehner, 2016).
What does the Hindu moral life consist of?
Hinduism insists that humans are moral agents with the responsibility of understanding and using religion in their daily activities. Hindu morality states the importance of understanding and appreciating the divine presence of Brahman (Zaehner, 2016). The importance of morality is explained in universal dharma, karma, and specific dharma. Hindu dharma focuses on nonviolence or ahimsa because all forms of violence affect the moral order in the society. Also, when a person acts selflessly, morally, and helps others, they accrue positive karma.
Part 2: Jainism
| Core Beliefs | Hinduism | Jainism |
| 1. Karma | 1. Aparigraha or non-possession | |
| 2. Aatma or belief in soul | 2. Ahimsa or nonviolence | |
| 3. What we eat defines who we are | 3. Brahmacharya or celibacy/chastity | |
| 4. There are multiple paths to reach God | 4. Satya or truth | |
| 5. The incarnation of Vishnu | 5. Asteya or non-stealing | |
| 6. Food, parents, and teachers are next to the Supreme Being, God. | ||
| 7. Reincarnation |
What do you think is the most important similarity between Hinduism and Jainism? What do you think is the most important difference? Use specifics to support your answer.
The similarities between Hinduism and Jainism are numerous but on the surface only. The similarities may be attributed to the thousands of years of contact between the two religions. The most essential similarity is the reincarnation (Zaehner, 2016). The reincarnation is a cycle of rebirth, birth, and death that is continuous and is affected by karma. They both believe that the human soul is entirely immortal and that death only affects the physical form or the human body. Similar to the way humans change clothes, the soul can also change the body and be reborn in a different form. Also, the soul continues traveling from one physical form or body to another until it achieves unity with the Supreme Soul.
Their main similarity is also their main difference. The two religions hold different ideas regarding reincarnation and karma (Long, 2009). While Jains believe that Karma is a particle that attaches itself to the soul during a lifetime, Hindus believe that karma is a way of atonement for transgressions or blessing in the current and next life.
Consider the following statement: Sallekhana (holy death) violates the Jain principle of ahimsa because it is an act of violence against oneself. Using examples from Ch. 5 of Experiencing the World’s Religions , what points might a follower of Jainism make to argue against this statement?
Sallekhana is also known as the ‘holy death.' It is a technique of killing oneself according to Jains. However, the process of killing oneself is often lengthy and slow because it involves suicide through self-starvation (Long, 2009). It is believed to be a supplementary vow in the code of conduct in the religion. The act is done voluntarily and the individual fats by reducing the intake of liquids and foods. Most believers in Jainism view Sallekhana as the thinning of the body and human passions. It also acts as a way of reducing or destroying the impact of karma through the withdrawal of mental and physical activities. Jain scholars do not view Sallekhana as suicide but an act of passion that does not involve weapons or poisons. However, Sallekhana is only practiced after a long life of detachment and virtue and it should be done after considering its effects on others. The peaceful taking away of a person's life can be considered as a way of mercy upon oneself. Most Jain scholars believe that spending many years or dying slowly because of old age is obviously more violent than experiencing a month of starvation (Long, 2009). Sallekhana is easier than the sickness and pain of old age.
References
Long, J. D. (2009). Jainism: an introduction . Macmillan.
Zaehner, R. C. (2016). Hinduism . Oxford University Press (1962).
