Jainism and Sikhism

Both Jainism and Sikhism have originated in South Asia and are Eastern philosophical faiths. Jainism, like Buddhism, rejected the value of the Vedas and created independent textual traditions based on the words and examples of their early teachers, eventually evolving entirely new ways for interacting with the lay community.

Jainism is the oldest living Shramana tradition in India. This tradition is traced to Var-dhamana Mahavira (The Great Hero; ca. 599-527 B.C.), the twenty-fourth and last of the Tirthankaras (Sanskrit for fordmakers). According to legend, Mahavira was born to a ruling family in the town of Vaishali, located in the modern state of Bihar

Next to the Bahá'í Faith, Sikhism is the youngest of the world's five great monotheistic religions. Sikhism was established in 15th century in the state of Punjab in North India. Guru Nanak, although born into a Hindu household in 1469 in the Punjab region, he challenged the existing practices and is considered the founder of the new faith. The Guru loved to travel and observe concepts and ideas regarding spiritual practices of various faiths. At the heart of his message was a philosophy of universal love, devotion to God. He set up congregations of believers who ate together in free communal kitchens in an overt attempt to break down caste boundaries based on food prohibitions. As a poet, musician, and enlightened master, Nanak's reputation spread, and by the time he died he had founded a new religion of "disciples" (shiksha or sikh) that followed his example.

The founder of the Jain community was Vardhamana, the last Jina in a series of 24 who lived in East India. Jains have 24 Tirthankaras, the Sikhs have 10 Gurus with the final Sovereign Authority of living Guru conferred upon Guru Granth Sahib by the tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh.

The festival of Diwali is celebrated by both groups as a commemoration of specific events pertinent to their religions, and Hindus also celebrate Diwali. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC. Sikhs celebrate the day as Bandhi Chhor Diwas, commemorating the the homecoming to Amritsar following his release from prison in Gwalior Fort of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, who also rescued 52 Hindu Rajas held captive with him by Mughal Emperor in the Gwalior in 1619.

There has been considerable debate in Sikhism about vegetarianism. The Sikh scriptures are not explicit in condemnation of meat-eating, although there are verses linked with Bhakta kabir, select verses of Bhagat Kabir were included in the Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib (Pothi Sahib at the time) by the fifth Sikh Guru - Guru Arjan Sahib.

There are random references to Jainism in the Guru Granth Sahib. Jains do not believe in the concept of a Godhead responsible for the manifestation of the Creation. They believe the universe is eternal, without beginning or end, and that all happens in an autonomous fashion with no necessity of a co-ordinator/God.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion, believing in the singular power of the Formless Creator God, Ik Onkaar, without a parallel. In the Guru Granth Sahib , God is called by all the Hindu names and by Allah as well. Sikhism is void of meaningless rituals and practices.

During the 18th century, there were a number of attempts to prepare an accurate portrayal of Sikh customs. Sikh scholars and theologians started in 1931 to prepare the Reht Maryada -- the Sikh code of conduct and conventions. This has successfully achieved a high level of uniformity in the religious and social practices of Sikhism throughout the world. It contains 27 articles. Article 1 defines who is a Sikh:

Fasting is an accepted practice for the Jains. A Sikh will eat to partially satisfy the hunger at all times.

Where the Guru Granth Sahib is present, that place becomes a Gurudwara. The focal point of worship in a Gurudwara (the gateway to God) is the eternal teachings of Guru Granth Sahib -the Shabad (Word) Guru.

Jains exhibit the statues of their Tirathankaras in their temples. Special shrines in residences or in public temples include images of the Tirthankaras, who are not worshiped but remembered and revered; other shrines house the gods who are more properly invoked to intercede with worldly problems. Daily rituals may include meditation and bathing; bathing the images; offering food, flowers, and lighted lamps for the images; and reciting mantras in Ardhamagadhi, an ancient language of northeast India related to Sanskrit.

Jainism express non violence in thought, word and action. Sikhism seeks peace; when all other means have been exhausted then they find it justifiable to draw the sword against oppression and injustice.

Sikhs believe in the Karma Theory and re-incarnation of the soul. Jains believe in this too.

Sikhism does not promote asceticism - The Gurus advocated a householders lifestyle. Jains have an organised ascetic order of monks and nuns. The lay people are householders.

Salvation for a Sikh is attained through the Divine Grace and Will of Waheguru (God). This is contrary to the Jain belief. Both believe in the conquest of the mind through control of the passions through the five senses as the path to ending the cycle of sufferance of birth and death.

Ahimsa for the Jains is a code of practice to engage in acts of kindness and compassion. It is a way to prevent hurt to self and others. Compassion and seeking the highest good os all, Sarbat Da Bhala, in the Will of God, is paramount for a Sikh. A Sikh is bound to the Truth at all times and practices god Consciousness through Nam Simran and selfless Service -Sewa.

Jains too place high regard for prayers. Sikhs reject the caste system and promote social and gender equality as the soul is the same for both men and women.All are equal in the eyes of God.God is accessible without priests or a middle person.Sikhs are tolerant of all faiths and do not believe that any one path has a monopoly on the Truth. There are many paths to seek out the Love of god and incur Divine Grace. Both, personal devotion and communal prayers are a part of Sikh's way of life.

Reference

• http://www.indiatourism.com/religious-tourism/jainism-religion.html

This article contains content from Wikipedia. Current versions of the GNU FDL article Jainism and Sikhism on WP may contain information useful to the improvement of this article

WP