Some Misconceptions Regarding Jainism

Summary

Jainism is often misrepresented in several key aspects. First, it is incorrect to assume Jains are Hindu dissenters or that the religion originated with Mahavira. Hindu traditions attribute Jainism's founding to Rishabha Deva, the first Tirthankara, who is considered the son of Nabhiraja, the third Manu, within a lineage of fourteen Manus established at creation's beginning. This contradicts the notion that Mahavira or his predecessor Parasvanath founded Jainism. Historical and scriptural evidence, including references in the *Kalpa Sutra* and *Nava Tattva*, supports the Hindu-Jain agreement on Rishabha's role. Another misconception involves the Jaina practice of non-violence (ahimsa). A critic falsely claimed devout Jains place vermin on beds to feed them through intermediaries, which directly contradicts Jaina principles. The doctrine strictly prohibits causing pain to any living being, even for another's benefit. Such claims are dismissed as baseless libels rooted in sensationalized literature. A further misrepresentation is the accusation that Jainism encourages suicide. The Jaina *Bhaktapratyakhyana* clarifies that *sallekhana* (voluntary death) is only permissible under specific circumstances: when death is inevitable due to incurable disease, famine, or sudden crisis, and the individual has exhausted their saintly life. It is not a general endorsement of suicide but a regulated practice to ensure a dignified death, akin to Hindu *mahaprasthana* rituals described in the *Manu Smriti*. Both traditions emphasize proper conduct during death, rejecting arbitrary self-destruction. Crit