Compendium of Jainism

The Jain religion is one of the oldest religions of the world. The book – A Compendium of Jainism – is a collection of several chapters. It presents to the world a comprehensive picture of the Jain religion. It deals with the antiquity of the Jain religion, the tradition of the Jain Tirthankaras, Jainism’s inherent belief in the principles of Ahimsa, Anekantavada and Karma theory.

It also deals with the Jain culture, its contribution in the field of language, literature, arts, sculpture and architecture. The Jain temples are elegant and are some of the most ancient in the world. Some of the oldest Jain paintings and sculptures are to be found in caves scattered all over India. Besides these, the most important contributions of Jainism towards society are Ahimsa, and Anekantavada, which form the basis for rules of conduct laid down for its followers. Emphasis has also been made on the survival of Jainism and decline of Buddhism in India. The book also provides about the points of differences between the two important sects: Svetambaras and Digambaras. Attention has also been provided to the Jain diaspora and its contribution in the spread of Jain religion.

A Compendium of Jainism is a treasure-house of knowledge which will be useful to scholars, students and the laity interested in delving into the various aspects of Jainology.