Shvetambaras
The Shvetambaras ( Sanskrit , m., श्वेताम्बर, śvetāmbara, people dressed in white) are a group within Jainism .
way of life
Although there are monks among the Shvetambaras as well, they form rather the large group of lay people within the Jaina community. Compared to the Digambaras , they have more moderate positions. But also the Shvetambaras live in principle according to the commandment of ahimsa , non-violence and respect for all living beings. To avoid accidentally killing an insect, they often wear a white face mask or sweep the floor before stepping on it.
In the center of the Shravanabelagola sanctuary near Mysore , the Jain ascetic Bahubali / Gomateshvara , completely unclothed according to Digambara custom, is depicted - the ideal image of many Jainas, including the Shvetambaras. His motionless meditation even goes so far that tendrils wind up on his body.
The postulates of non-violence and immobility have resulted in Jainas mostly in 'sedentary' but exclusive professions such as traders, jewelers, etc. were or are active. This fact - combined with a largely ascetic lifestyle - in turn meant that many Shvetambara families became quite wealthy and were able to finance elaborately designed temple buildings or their restoration (e.g. in Mount Abu , Ranakpur or Jaisalmer ) with large funds to be visited by Digambaras.
literature
- Walther Schubring : Words of Mahavira. Critical translation from the Jain canon. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1926. (Ed. Religious History Commission at the Society of Science in Göttingen, Sources of Religious History Group 7, Volume 14).
- Heinrich Zimmer : Philosophy and Religion of India. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main 1973, ISBN 3-518-27626-3 .
- Helmuth von Glasenapp : Jainism. An Indian religion of salvation. Olms, Hildesheim 1984, ISBN 3-487-00628-6 (Suhrkamp Taschenbuch, Wissenschaft; 26).
- Franz Bätz: Holy mountains, temple cities and ascetics. Jainism - a living culture of India. Weishaupt, Wolfsberg 1997, ISBN 3-7059-0049-8 .
- Adelheid Mette : The Jaina's doctrine of redemption: legends, parables, stories. Verlag der Welteligionen, Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-458-70023-4 .
Web links
- Shvetambaras (Eng.)
- Shvetambaras (Eng.)