Know more about Jainism

Few articles which will help you know more about Jain culture.

णमो अरिहन्ताणम्
णमो सिध्धाणम्
णमो आइरियाणम्
णमो उवझ्झायणम्
णमो लोये सव्वसाहुणम्

ऎसो पन्च णमोकारो
सव्वपावप्पणासणो
मन्गलाणम्चा सव्वेसिम्
पढमम हवई म॑गलम्


**Santhara (also Sallekhana, Santhara, Samadhi-marana, Samnyasa-marana), is the Jain religious ritual of voluntary death by fasting. Jainism believes that each and every action (eating included) may or may not become karma. Jains are strictly vegetarian, but a tree, even if it has only one sense, has life, and hence taking away a piece of it (vegetable, fruit, leaf) hurts it - thereby adding a negative karma to all who encourage this process. Besides, there may be living organisms surviving in that fruit/vegetable/leaf that one eats. So by eating, one hurts the tree/plant and also possibly kills organisms living in it. In fact, since water also has microscopic organisms, even drinking water adds to one's karma.

The basic idea in different kinds of Jain fasting is to acquire a lowest possible negative karma and purify oneself in the process. Santhara, in this sense, is the best way to purification.

Ref-1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sallekhana
Ref-2: http://indiatraveller.blogspot.com/2006/11/people-who-die-voluntarily-by-ones-own.html


**Rishabh Dev (ऋषभदेव) or Adinatha was the first of the 24 Tirthankara. Rishabh existed before civilization developed. He taught people agriculture, tending of animals, cooking, and more. His eldest son - Bharat - was a chakravarti king - the conqueror of the known world. India was named Bhārata-varsha or Bhārata after him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabha_(Jain_tirthankar)

**Sorry Telling day - Samvtsari - Paryushan
Khamemi savve jive, (I forgive all the living beings)
Savve jiva khammatu me, ( May all living beings please forgive me)
Metti me savve bhuyeshu, (My friendship is with everyone)
Veram majaham na kenai. (My enmity is totally nonexistent)

Ref-1:http://koshiz.blogspot.com/2007/08/sorry-telling-day.html