Oswal Jain
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Oswal Jain
The Oswal (sometimes spelled Oshwal or Osval) are a Śvetāmbara Jain merchant community with origins in Osian, a town in the Marwar region of Rajasthan, India. According to research by Colonel James Tod, Osavālas are purely of Rajput origins and they belong to not one, but several different Rajput tribes. The Osavālas origin legend has multiple aspects, all of which include a fierce, meat-eating goddess who becomes pacified by a Jain ascetic, involving the conversion of a king to Jainism. In modern times, there are barely any Osavālas living in Osiyān, but they still regard the Mahavira temple and Sachiya Mata Temple as their "mother temples". They reside in Rajasthan, Malwa, Gujarat, and Kutch. They were formerly also found in the Tharparkar district of Sindh ( pre-partition). Creation of the ''Oswāl clan'' Ratnaprabhasuri's penance near Upkeśapattan According to a legend, in 457 BC, Ratnaprabhasuri was at Mount Abu, and demi-goddess Chakreshvari appeared befo ...
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Chakreshvari
In Jain cosmology, Chakeshvari or ''Apraticakra'' is the guardian goddess or Yakshini (attendant deity) of Rishabhanatha. She is the tutelary deity of the Sarawagi The Sarawagi or Saraogi or Sarawgi Jain community, meaning a Jain Śrāvaka, is also known as the Khandelwal. They originated from Khandela, a historical town in northern Rajasthan. The Sarawagi community owes its name to a strong historical ... Jain community. See also * Padmavati * Ambika Notes References * {{Jainism topics Jain minor deities Rishabhanatha ...
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Ratnatraya
Jainism emphasises that ratnatraya (triple gems of Jainism) — the right faith (''Samyak Darshana''), right knowledge (''Samyak Gyana'') and right conduct (''Samyak Charitra'') — constitutes the path to liberation. These are known as the triple gems (or jewels) of Jainism and hence also known as ''Ratnatraya'' The Path to liberation According to Jainism, purification of soul and liberation can be achieved through the path of three jewels: ''Samyak darśana'' (Correct View), meaning faith, acceptance of the truth of soul (''jīva''); ''Samyak jnana'' (Correct Knowledge), meaning undoubting knowledge of the ''tattvas''; and ''Samyak charitra'' (Correct Conduct), meaning behavior consistent with the Five vows. Jain texts often add ''samyak tap'' (Correct Asceticism) as a fourth jewel, emphasizing belief in ascetic practices as the means to liberation (moksha). The four jewels are called ''moksha marg''. According to Jain texts, the liberated pure soul (''Siddha'') goes up to the ...
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Five Vows
The Five Vows of Jainism include the ''mahāvratas'' (major vows) and ''aṇuvratas'' (minor vows). Overview Jain ethical code prescribes two '' dharmas'' or rules of conduct. One for those who wish to become ascetic and another for the ''śrāvaka'' (householders). Five fundamental vows are prescribed for both votaries. These vows are observed by '' śrāvakas'' (householders) partially and are termed as ''anuvratas'' (small vows). Ascetics observe these fives vows more strictly and therefore observe complete abstinence. These five vows are: * ''Ahiṃsā'' (Non-violence) * ''Satya'' (Truth) * '' Asteya'' (Non-stealing) * ''Brahmacharya'' (Chastity) * ''Aparigraha'' (Non-possession) According to the Jain text '' Puruşārthasiddhyupāya'': Apart from five main vows, a householder is expected to observe seven supplementary vows (''śeelas'') and last '' sallekhanā'' vow. ''Mahāvratas'' (major vows) ''Mahavrata'' (lit. major vows) are the five fundamental observed by the ...
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Śvetāmbara
The Śvetāmbara (; also spelled Shwetambara, Shvetambara, Svetambara or Swetambara) is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Digambara. ''Śvetāmbara'' in Sanskrit means "white-clad", and refers to its ascetics' practice of wearing white clothes, which sets it apart from the ''Digambara'' or "sky-clad" Jains whose ascetic practitioners go nude. Śvetāmbaras do not believe that ascetics must practice nudity. The Śvetāmbara and Digambara traditions have had historical differences ranging from their dress code, their temples and iconography, attitude towards Jain nuns, their legends and the texts they consider as important. Śvetāmbara Jain communities are currently found mainly in Gujarat, Rajasthan and coastal regions of Maharashtra. According to Jeffery D. Long, a scholar of Hindu and Jain studies, about four-fifths of all Jains in India are Śvetāmbaras. History and lineage Śvetāmbaras consider themselves to be the original followers of Maha ...
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Ratnaprabhasuri Converts Osian Town
Ratnaprabhasuri was a Śvetāmbara Jain ascetic and the 6th successor in the lineage of the monastic heads of the ''Chaturvidha Sangha's'' () Upkeśa Gaccha. He succeeded Swayamprabhasuri and is believed to have existed in 6th–5th century BC. He is most well-known as the founder of the ''Oswāl'' clan of Śvetāmbara Jains. Birth and initiation As per scriptures of the Śvetāmbara sect, he is believed to have been born in the 5th century BC in a royal family belonging to the ''Vidyādhara'' clan as ''Prince Ratnachuda''. Later on, he became a ''Vidyādhara'' king. As a member of the ''Vidyādhara'' clan, he is said to have possessed several ''vidyās'' (magical powers). Śvetāmbara scriptures have vivid descriptions of ''Vidyādhara'' kingdoms and legends about the magical powers possessed by the members of this clan. According to legends, Swayamprabhasuri was once preaching lay followers about renouncing and embracing monkhood, and ''King Ratnachuda'' was flying a ...
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Chaturmasya
Chaturmasya (; Pali: ''Catumāsa''), also rendered Chāturmāsa, is a holy period of four months, beginning on Shayani Ekadashi (June-July) and ending on Prabodhini Ekadashi (October-November) in Hinduism. This period also coincides with the monsoon season in India. Chaturmasya is reserved for penance, austerities, fasting, bathing in holy rivers and religious observances for all. Devotees resolve to observe some form of vow, be it of silence or abstaining from a favourite food item, or having only a single meal a day. Etymology Chaturmasya literally means "four months", derived from the Sanskrit ''chatur'' (चतुर्), "four", and ''māsa'' (मासः), "month". Hinduism Literature Chaturmasya begins on the eleventh day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashadha or Devashayani Ekadashi. This is celebrated as the day that the deity Vishnu enters a yogic sleep ('' yoga nidra'') on his serpent, Shesha, for a period of four months and wakes up on Prabodhini Ekadashi. This is ...
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Animal Sacrifice In Hinduism
The practice of Hindu animal sacrifice is in recent times mostly associated with Shaktism, and in currents of folk Hinduism strongly rooted in local popular or tribal traditions. Animal sacrifices were an important part of the ancient Vedic Era in India, and are mentioned in Vedas as Yajna. Over the period shape of rituals and sacrifice changed with shifting of pastoral economy of Early-vedic period to agriculture centric economy of Later-vedic. This shift in economy also impacted the rituals and sacrifice replacing animal sacrifice with grains(rice,wheat etc.) in Srauta Yajnas. During Medieval period religious movements like Bhakti movement also had a great impact on this tradition evident in Hindu scripture like Brahma Vaivarta Purana which forbids the Srauta Asvamedha Horse sacrifice in Kali Yuga. The perception that animal sacrifice was only practiced in ancient Non-Vedic Era is opposed by instances like Srauta Ashvamedha and other rituals that are rooted in Vedas. Bo ...
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Chamunda
Chamunda (, ), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu mother goddess, Mahadevi and is one of the seven Matrikas.Wangu p.72 She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Parvati.Wangu p.114 The name is a combination of Chanda and Munda, two demons whom Chamunda killed. She is closely associated with Kali, another fierce aspect of Parvati. She is identified with goddesses Parvati, Kali or Durga. The goddess is often portrayed as residing in cremation grounds or near holy fig trees. The goddess is worshipped by ritual animal sacrifices along with offerings of wine. The practice of animal sacrifices has become less common with Vaishnavite influences. Origins Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar says that Chamunda was originally a tribal goddess, worshipped by the tribals of the Vindhya mountains in central India. These tribes were known to ...
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Ācārāṅga Sūtra
The Ācārāṅga Sūtra, the foremost and oldest Jain text (''First book'' c. 5th–4th century BCE; Second book c. Late 4th–2nd century BCE), is the first of the twelve Angas, part of the agamas which were compiled based on the teachings of 24th Tirthankara Mahavira. The existing text of the Ācārāṅga Sūtra which is used by the Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism was recompiled and edited by Acharya Devardhigani Kshamashraman, who headed the council held at Valabhi c. 454 CE. The Digambaras do not recognize the available text, and regard the original text as having been lost in its original form. The Digambara text, '' Mulachara'' is said to be derived from the original Ācārāṅga Sūtra and discusses the conduct of a Digambara monk. Introduction The Ācārāṅga Sūtra is the oldest agama, from a linguistic point of view, written in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit. The Sutra contains two books, or Srutaskandhas. The first book is the older part, to which other treatises were la ...
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Porwal
Poravāla, correctly called Poravāḍa, is a Kshatriya community that originated in southern Rajasthan, India. They are mainly of Jain or Hindu faith. The name Poravāla was applied on the basis of the names of other Bania communities ( Osavāla, Agaravāla, Khaṇḍelavāla, etc.). The name Poravāḍa is derived from Prāgavaṭa. The caste is divided into 24 gotras. They are also divided into three sections (from highest to lowest status): Visā, Dasā and Pañcā Poravāḍas. According to tradition the Visā and Dasā divisions arose in the 13th century. The brothers Vastupāla and Tejapāla were the sons of Poravāḍa father and Śrīmāli mother. The Poravādas who chose to eat with the brothers became Dasā, and those who refused became Visā. The Visā and Dasā interdine but do not intermarry. The Visās tend to be Jain while Dasā's tend to be Vaishnav. Formerly interreligious marriages occurred between Jains and Vaishnavs of the same sub-caste. They originate ...
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Bhinmal
Bhinmal (previously Shrimal Nagar) is an ancient town in the Jalore District of Rajasthan, India. It is south of Jalore. Bhinmal was the early capital of Gurjaradesa, comprising modern-day southern Rajasthan and northern Gujarat. The town was the birthplace of the Sanskrit poet Magha and mathematician-astronomer Brahmagupta. History The original name of Bhinmal was Bhillamala. Its older name was Srimal, from which Shrimali Brahmins took their name. Xuanzang, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who visited India between 631 and 645 AD during Harsha's reign, mentioned this place as ''Pi-lo-mo-lo''. There are different views about the origin of its name. It is suggested that it may from its Bhil population, whereas Shrimalamahatmaya said the name arose because of the poverty caused by Islamic invaders, which caused most of its people to migrate from the area. It was the early capital of the kingdom of Gurjaradesa. The kingdom is first mentioned in Banabhatta's ''Harshacharita'' in ...
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