Religion Comparison
The world is home to many religions. Some religions are global and well-established, while others are regional or local. More importantly, most religions share common beliefs and practices. This paper compares and contrasts Hinduism with Jainism.
Part One
An Overview of the History Hinduism
According to Lipner (2019), Hinduism can be credited to several tribes known as Aryans. However, it is not clear the specific parts of the world these tribes came from. Some scholars think that the Aryans came from Central Asia, while others argue the tribes were already present in Western India (Lipner, 2019). At the same time, it is still not clear the specific era in which Hinduism was borne. It is believed that Hinduism can be traced back to approximately 2300 B.C. to 1500 B.C., and it originated in the Indus Valley, a place that is found near modern-day Pakistan (Hinduism, 2019). As compared to some other religions, Hinduism cannot be attributed to any one founder. This is because Hinduism is a combination of numerous beliefs.
More importantly, religion has undergone several significant developments over time. The Indo-Aryan people migrated into the Indus Valley in approximately 1500, B.C. (Hinduism, 2019). This group of people influenced the communities they found in the valley by sharing their culture and language with the latter. The other phase of the development of Hinduism is the Vedic Period. As the name suggests, the Vedic Period is the era that saw the composition of the Vedas. This period occurred between 1500 B.C. and 500 B.C (Hinduism, 2019). Some of the practices common in this era are chanting and sacrifices. The other phases in the development of Hinduism are the Puranic, Epic and Classic Periods, which occurred between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. (Hinduism, 2019). In this era, Hindus started emphasizing the worship of deities. Some of the deities that became an integral part of Hinduism include Devi, Vishnu, and Shiva (Hinduism, 2019). As such, Hinduism is the product of the interaction between the traditions and cultures the Aryans developed over time while incorporating the behaviors and ways of life of the tribes they met along the way.
The Importance and Role of the Sacred Texts of Hinduism
Hinduism places much value to its sacred writings instead of focusing on only one Holy Book, as is the case with other religions such as Christianity. The major sacred text in Hinduism is the Vedas which entails a collection of hymns and verses (Hinduism, 2019). As a collection of hymns and verses, the Vedas comprises of several chapters. The term Vedas translates to knowledge. Thus, The Vedas is a spritual book that forms the foundation of knowledge in Hinduism. Apart from the Vedas, Hinduism has other sacred texts. These texts include Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads, and 18 Puranas (Hinduism, 2019). Hinduism is a highly philosophical religion. Thus, sacred texts, such as the Upanishads and the Vedas, act a source of philosophical knowledge for believers. Besides, sacred texts help Hindus to overcome the problems they are encountering in their lives. This is because sacred books, such as the Ramayana, teach Hindus about good overcoming evil. Ramayana comprises of seven books that tell the story of the exiling of King Rama and his counterparts as they journeyed through the Island of the kingdom of Lanka (Lipner, 2019). The text teaches about the paths Hindus can adopt to attain salvation. Thus, the book teaches Hindus a sense of duty to their fellow humankind. The sacred texts of Hinduism help believers of this religion to attain their goals and succeed in their day-to-day lives. Besides, the sacred texts of Hinduism guide believers on ways of worshipping various gods. For instance, Bhagavata Puranas and Visnu texts are crucial in the worship of Shiva (Lipner, 2019). Thus, some of the sacred texts of Hinduism also serve as spiritual books for believers.
Part Two
Similarities between Hinduism and Jainism
Both Hinduism and Jainism believe in reincarnation as well as karma (Shah, n. d.). Thus, the two religions do not believe that life ends at death. Also, they do not believe in one ultimate god. For the two religions, one can become a god if he or she has his or her soul liberated through having the right conduct, perception, and knowledge. At the same time, Hinduism and Jainism share several holidays and symbols. For instance, Diwali and the swastika are common holiday and symbol in both Hinduism and Jainism. However, the two religions differ in the way in which they celebrate Diwali as well as the components of the swastika symbol.
Differences between Hinduism and Jainism
The two religions have very different views of karma and reincarnation. For example, Hindus view karma as a phase in which a person goes through to receive blessings in the next life (Hinduism, 2019). At the same time, Hindus believe that one fate is determined by his or her behavior and conduct in the previous life. On the other hand, Jainism views karma as some of particles that attaches itself in a person’s soul during his or her life (Shah, n. d. Thus, Jainism encourages practices aimed at keep their soul pure. Some rituals, such as animal sacrifices, are accepted in Hinduism but opposed in Jainism. The two primary symbols in Hinduism are the Swastika and Om (Hinduism, 2019). These symbols are found in Hindu temples and family shrines. Hindu’s holy days include Holi, Maha Shivaratri, Krishna Jamnashtami, Diwali, and Navaratri (Hinduism, 2019). On the other hand, the main holy days in Jainism include Paryushana, Mahavira Jayanti, Paryushana, Diwali, Kartak Purnima, and Maura Agyaras (Craig, 2017). Evidently, Diwali is common in Jainism and Hinduism.
The Effects of Hinduism and Jainism on the Society
Also, the practices common in the two religions are central to non-pharmacological interventions for certain illnesses. For instance, practices such as meditation and yoga are central to Hinduism and Jainism (Shah, n. d.). The two practices are followed by people across the world, even those who are neither Hindus nor Jainism followers. Also, Ayurveda healing is a form of medical practices that originated from Hinduism. It entails the use of yoga, massage, meditation, detoxifications, and healthy dieting (Johnson, 2018). At the same time, the two religions have impacted several academic and art fields. For instance, Hinduism has impacted fields such as fashion, religion, literature, and philosophy (Johnson, 2018). Thus, Hinduism and Jainism have not only influenced each other but have also impacted the world significantly.
In conclusion, Hinduism has been in existence for hundreds of years. In its development, Hinduism influenced and got impact by other religions. Consequently, it shares some similarities in practices, beliefs, holidays and symbols with Jainism.
References
Craig, B. (2017). Holy days of Jainism. Retrieved from http://anekant.org/holy-days-jainism/
Hinduism. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism
Johnson, T. (2018). Hinduism’s impact on today’s society. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@tremauricejohnson/hinduisms-impact-on-today-s-society-16e579f1f50f
Lipner, J. (2019). Sacred Texts in Hinduism. Retrieved from https://www.bl.uk/sacred-texts/articles/sacred-texts-in-hinduism
Shah, P. K. (n. d.). Comparison of religions. Retrieved from https://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/workshop/Worldrlgn.PDF