Rajiv Jain
Jaina Convention
Federation of Jain Associations In North America
Vedic & Shraman Cultures Of India
 Rajiv Jain East Brunswick, NJ Rajiv has been an active contributor to Jain community for over 15 years.His articles have previously been published in the Jain Digest and other Jain circulars. Rajiv has given talks at Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan programs and has been a lecturer for children during Payushan at Jain Center of NJ. He also teaches at Patshala. |
Many western scholars claim that Jainism was founded by Bhagawan Mahavira in the 6th century BC. This is accurate from an organizational and reforming perspective. But from a philosophical perspective, the major tenets of Jainism trace back to a much older culture of India - the Shraman Tradition. The Shraman Tradition is likely Pre-Aryan in origin. That is, its origin is prior to the Aryan migration to India that took place around 1500BC. Shraman tradition is said to be Pre-Vedic meaning its philosophy being different from the Vedas (which were compiled between 1500-1 100BC). Therefore we had two principle currents prevalent in India during those times - Vedic and Shraman - with Jainism having it roots in Shraman Culture. The Shramanic philosophy was systematized by Jain Thirthankars starting from Rishabdev Bhagawan continuing to Mahavir.
The word "Srama" means labor. The wandering mendicants, as they are commonly known, were named Shramanas because of their observance of strict austerities, renunciation of worldly affairs and reclusion. These Shraman monks believed in the soul's ability to transmigrate and achieve god-hood through shedding of Karma. In addition, they believed in observing austerities, being reclusive and non-violent. All of these are essentially Jain tenants. The major "named" Shramana branches prevalent during early India were the Jains, Buddhists, Ajivakas and Sankkyas (there were many monks who were just known as Shramana monks without any particular affiliation). On the other hand, the Aryan (Vedic) people who settled in India, were nomadic and in search of happiness, prosperity and materialistic enjoyment - worshipping many gods to fulfill their needs. As they settled and conquered the lands, they would have encountered people with very different attitude toward life than theirs. After the Aryans settled, they quickly began to think more deeply as they assimilated with the indigenous people of India, imbibing some of the philosophical ideas of the Shramana Culture. This can easily be seen from studying the transformation of ideas from Rig Vedas (the earliest Vedas) to the Upanishads.
Just prior to the time of the Upanishads (around 800 BC), the interaction and influence of Shramanic culture on Vedic ideas (known as Brahmana around this time) intensified enriching the thoughts of the latter. With the acquaintance of ideas like non-violence, austerities, soul and karma, they started to think deeply and determined a course that would create theories based on some of these ideas. This is readily seen in many of the Upanishads including the Chandogya Upanishad where, for example, a rishi explains the secret of the soul's true nature to his son. In addition, there are many question and answer sequences with conversations on the true purpose of life, life after death, science of atman take place (Yajnavalkya is featured prominently in these passages). So, with the intellectual fervor set, the most important challenge to Vedic and Post-Brahmana Culture was ready to take hold. Rrishis and sages challenged the usefulness of the Sacrificial Rituals. The Shramanic monks (Jain Thirthankar Neminath) already challenged this long before the Upanishad period, however, now, the intensity grew to a tipping point as Parsavana and ultimately Mahavira and Buddha organized a final assault on the Brahmin Priestly practice of Animal Sacrifice. Within a few hundred years from this point, animal sacrifices were largely discontinued. The great sage Sankara in the 8th century AD finally assimilated ideas of Vedas, Upanishads, Shramana (Jainism and Buddhism) into what is known as Vedanta.
As we can see, Jainism's origin is much older than 6th century BC since Shraman thought is quite likely to be pre-Aryan. Wandering ascetics (Shramanas) walked in India during the Vedic period influencing the thought of people with their values of non-violence, austerities, and transmigration. This can be considered early Jain Philosophy. Both Vedic and Shramana culture have influenced each other for thousands of years. For example, Jain idol worship, Pujas, Bhakti are likely Vedic/Brahmana influences. Therefore, the synthesis of Shramana and Vedic Cultures over the years has resulted in the Indian culture we know today.