My best friend practices Jainism, which she says is the strictest form of Hinduism. However, I usually see it referred to as another religion entirely. So is it a form of Hinduism, or a different religion on its own?
Jainism is a completely different religion from Hinduism. Yes they share some geographic areas but that is all. They are not forms of each other or derived from each other in any way.
They have similar precises such as ahems(non violence to all living creatures) but they are very distinct religions)perhaps of mutual influence over the centuries) that perhaps cam e out of the same cultural and religious spiritual ethos.
Like Buddhism, Jainism was originally an offshoot of Hinduism. Mahavir, a very intelligent and gifted teacher was the originator of Jainism and he was an old man when Buddha first began preaching his path. Mahavir and Buddha used to have debates. Mahavir was very serious and strict. Buddha liked to joke and get people to relax. Buddha would sort of verbally attack Mahavir in these debates and then just when Mahavir was getting upset, Buddha would in effect say, "Just kidding."
Sikhism is another sort of offshoot of Hindusim or the Vedic tradition. Guru Nanak Sahib was the founder of the Sikh religion. He was initiated into the spiritual mysteries by Sufi masters such as Kabir. Hinduism is by far the oldest of all religions, so many if not most religions are rooted in the Aryan Vedic tradition.
Jainism is a separate religion, but it derives from Hinduism in much the same manner than Christianity or Islam derive from Judaism. Consequently, Jainism and Hinduism have certain ideologies and traditions in common.
Your best friend is a confused person about her own religion. This is what happens when your fundamentals are weak. On the hand other you seem to have a bit more clearer picture on Jainism and Other religions.
Jainism is not only a separate religion?.it was never a part of Hinduism or deism. Infact Upanishads and classical Hinduism has been deeply influenced by Jainism. let the scholars speak...
Often Hindutva bigots claim that Jainism and Buddhism are offshoots of Hinduism?..This is the biggest false hood. Jainism and Buddhism arose from the ancient Sramana tradition that had links with Indus Valley Civilisation. Sramanas were Prue-aryan and Prue-vedic renounce who propounded the doctrines of ? Karma, Jnana, Samsara, Moksa and Ahimsa as against the barbaric animal sacrifices of Vedics. Ultimately the ritualistic vedism adopted all the sramana concepts and gave way to the Upanishads.
Following is the testimony of the scholars:-
A. Dr. Vilas Sangave (2001) In : Facets of Jainology: Selected Research Papers on Jain Society, Religion, and Culture . Popular Prakashan: Mumbai ISBN 8171548393
?The jain communities is one of the very ancient communities of India. The existence of the Jain religion can not only be traced to the vedic period but even to the Indus valley period of the Indian History. The names of Jain Tirthankars are mentioned in the Vedas and there is evidence to show that the Indus valley people must be worshipping Rishabhdeva the first Tirthankar of the Jains along with the other deities. Thus Hoary antiquity is a special feature of the Jain community and it is pertinent to note that this feature is not present in other religious minorities in India.?
B. Mary Pat Fisher (1997) In : Living Religions: An Encyclopedia of the World's Faiths I.B.Tauris : London ISBN 1860641482
?The extreme antiquity of Jainism as a non-vedic, indigenous Indian religion is well documented. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist scriptures refer to Jainism as an existing tradition which began long before Mahavira.? Page 115
C. Joel Diederik Beversluis (2000) In: Sourcebook of the World's Religions: An Interfaith Guide to Religion and Spirituality, New World Library : Novato, CA ISBN 1577311213
Originating on the Indian sub-continent, Jainism is one of the oldest religion of its homeland and indeed the world having pre-historic origins before 3000 BCE, and before the propagation of Indo-Aryan culture?.Page 81
D. Dr. P.S. Jaini, (1979), The Jaina Path to Purification, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, p. 169
Jainas themselves have no memory of a time when they fell within the Vedic fold. Any theory that attempts to link the two traditions, moreover fails to appreciate rather unique and very non-vedic character of Jaina cosmology, soul theory, karmic doctrine and atheism.
E. Y. Masih (2000) In : A Comparative Study of Religions, Motilal Banarsidass Publ : Delhi, ISBN 8120808150
. ?There is no evidence to show that Jainsim and Buddhism ever subscribed to vedic sacrifices, vedic deities or caste. They are parallel or native religions of India and have contributed to much to the growth of even classical Hinduism of the present times.? Page 18
?We know only this much that the doctrine of karma-samsara-jnana-mukti is first seen in the clearest form in the shramanic tradition. It is now even accepted by orthodox bhramins. This doctrine is not clearly spelled out in Rgvedas and not even in the oldest parts of Upanishads called chandogya and Brhadaranyaka.? Page 149
F. Dr. A. N. Upadhye , A Cultural History of India, Clarendon Press, Oxford
"The origins of Jainism go back to the pre-historic times. They are to be sought in the fertile valley of Ganga, where they flourished in the past, even before the advent of Aryans with their priestly religion, a society of recluses who laid much stress on individual exertion, on practice of a code of morality and devotion to austerities, as means of attaining religious Summum Bonum." , P. 100
G. Robert J. Zydenbos
In the view of so many basic differences between the two traditions, [Jain and Vedic] it is amazing that there are still people who speak of Jainism as a ?heterodox sect of Hinduism? An Impartial study of the literary evidence, both Jaina and Brahamanical, leads to a conclusion that the latter offshoots of the vedic traditions (like Hinduism) have borrowed a lot from Jainism : the theory of karma and re-birth, the vegetarianism of the higher Hindu castes, perhaps also temple worship. Page 59
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