Why jainism decline

The Jain community of medieval India shared relatively harmonious bonds with Mughal ruling elite, via their spiritual leaders and affluent traders. Emperors like Akbar and Jahangir are known to have conferred royal favours and released farmans or imperial orders directing against slaughter of animals on certain stated days, such as the Jain festival of Paryushan, in places around Jain religious sites.

Since Jains held that even unintentional activities generate karma, they sought to avoid not only those modes of livelihood that clearly and always cause harm to the living, but also any which might do so incidentally or occasionally. Almost from its inception, a number of common occupations including agriculture, animal transportation and animal by-product trades were thus deemed unsuitable for a practising Jain.

A similar bond between ascetics and lay followers of Buddhism did not exist. Another strong pillar of Jain identity is its strong, unexceptionable emphasis on vegetarianism, which attributes it with a distinct identity. Unlike these defining set of criteria that Jainism could rely on, Buddhism floundered due to a lack of such unifying criteria.

While the Jains eventually produced some 50 manuals on conduct proper to a Jain lay person, Buddhists as far as it is known produced only one. The result of a weak Buddhist identity and a weak community connection among them.

The weak role of the campaigners- Its campaigners have a very important role in the spread of any religion. Later Jainism lacked good religious preachers and blocked the way for the spread of Jainism. Constant organized efforts were not made for the promotion, so Jainism remained confined to India. The feeling of discrimination — Mahavir Swami had opened the doors of Jainism to all the castes and religions, but later a sense of discrimination developed. Due to differences in these sections, the remaining remains of this religion were also destroyed.

The rule of Muslim rulers — Muslim rulers invaded India and achieved victory and built mosques and tombs on the foundation of Jain temples. Allauddin Khilji has destroyed many Jain temples. Most of the Jaini Talwar ferries were dropped and Jain libraries were destroyed. Due to all these reasons Jainism was destroyed. Improvement in Brahmanism — Jesus The initial condition of that In Vedic -mythology, Brahmin Dharma reformed his religion by removing his radical distortions.

For this reason, the interest of the people has increased towards Shaiva and Vaishnavism. Related Articles. Political History of Vardhan dynasty November 19, It does not attach any importance to the performance of sacrifices. The Jains believe that every object, even the smallest, including inanimate objects, is endowed with various degrees of consciousness. Hence they lay greatest stress on Ahimsa or non-injury in thought, word and deed. They believe in penance and fasting , even to the point of death.

Fasting and penance provide rigorous discipline which gives strength to the soul and helps to subdue man's lower nature. Life of renunciation is the shortest way to salvation.

The goal of life is to attain moksha. The way to this lies through the triratna. What are Triratna Three Jewel of Jainism? The main purpose of Mahavira's teachings was the attainment of salvation. To attain this he recommended the Principle of Triratna , namely :. Right Faith : Firm belief in Jinas - in the tirthankaras. Right Knowledge : Belief in salvation of, and life in all existing things.

Right Conduct: It consists of strict observance of charity, chastity, renunciation of all wordly interests, honourable conduct like not stealing, not uttering falsehood, and ahimsa non-injury to life and also positive kindness to all creation.

Jain Philosophy:. According to Jainism, the world consists of two eternal, uncreated, co-existing but independent categories, namely the conscious jiva and the unconscious ajiva.

Jainism did not spread outside India, but it still remains the religion of a wealthy community mostly engaged in commerce. Its followers, numbering over 2. There are several causes for the decline of Jainism :. The common people found it difficult to undertake severe penances and rigid fasts propagated by Jainism.

Also, the theory of ahimsa preached was too rigid to be followed. The religion could not spread to foreign countries due to lack of missionary effort.

Jainism failed to get royal patronage from contemporary rulers. The revival of Brahmanism proved to be a setback for both, Jainism and Buddhism. Present day Jainism is similar to Hinduism with Statue worshiping and pomp and show.

True spirit of Jainism is now confined to saints and Munis only.