Glossary
Jain words, explained simply
The Jain words children meet in the stories, each explained in a sentence or two, with its Hindi and Gujarati form and the stories where it appears.
Tirthankar तीर्थंकर · તીર્થંકર
Tirthankar: One of the 24 great teachers of Jainism who crossed the river of rebirth and showed others the way across. Bhagwan Rishabhdev was the first and Bhagwan Mahavir the twenty fourth.
In the stories: Shankheshwar Parshvanath, Marichi's Pride, Life of Bhagwan Vasupujya
Bhagwan Mahavir भगवान महावीर · ભગવાન મહાવીર
Bhagwan Mahavir: The twenty fourth Tirthankar, born Prince Vardhaman to King Siddharth and Queen Trishala. He gave up his kingdom, practised for twelve and a half years, reached kevalgyan and taught ahimsa to everyone.
In the stories: Chandkaushik, Four Daughters-in-law, Goshalak
Rishabhdev (Adinath) ऋषभदेव (आदिनाथ) · ઋષભદેવ (આદિનાથ)
Rishabhdev (Adinath): The first Tirthankar. Jain tradition remembers him as the one who first taught people farming, writing and crafts, and then the path to liberation.
In the stories: Lord Rishabhdev, Brahmi and Sundari, Akshay Tritiya: The First Alms
Parshvanath पार्श्वनाथ · પાર્શ્વનાથ
Parshvanath: The twenty third Tirthankar, often shown with a hooded serpent above his head, remembered for his calm when his old enemy Kamath attacked him.
In the stories: Shankheshwar Parshvanath, Kalikund Tirth, Life of Bhagwan Suparshvanath
Neminath नेमिनाथ · નેમિનાથ
Neminath: The twenty second Tirthankar. On his wedding day he heard the cries of animals kept for the feast, set them free and chose the life of a monk. His bride Rajul followed him on the path.
In the stories: Girnar, Krishna Vasudev, Ambika Devi
Gautam Swami गौतम स्वामी · ગૌતમ સ્વામી
Gautam Swami: Indrabhuti Gautam, the first and chief disciple (ganadhar) of Bhagwan Mahavir, much loved for his humility and his questions.
In the stories: Halik the Farmer, Gautam Swami, Ashtapad
Ganadhar गणधर · ગણધર
Ganadhar: A chief disciple of a Tirthankar who gathers and passes on the teachings. Bhagwan Mahavir had eleven ganadhars, led by Gautam Swami.
In the stories: Pundarik Swami, The Eleven Ganadharas, Ganadhar Sudharma Swami
Ahimsa अहिंसा · અહિંસા
Ahimsa: Not harming any living being, in action, word or thought. Jains extend this care to the smallest creatures, which is why monks sweep the ground gently before they step.
In the stories: Non Violence, Kumarpal's Ahimsa Rule, True Study
Satya सत्य · સત્ય
Satya: Truthfulness. Jains try to speak the truth, and to speak it kindly, so that true words never hurt.
In the stories: Elephant and the Blind Men, Four Daughters-in-law, King Hansa
Aparigraha अपरिग्रह · અપરિગ્રહ
Aparigraha: Non-possessiveness: needing little, holding things lightly and sharing the rest.
In the stories: Bhamashah, Learning About Selfishness, Shopping with Care
Anekantavada अनेकांतवाद · અનેકાંતવાદ
Anekantavada: The Jain teaching that truth has many sides. Like the blind men and the elephant, each person may hold one true part, so we listen before we judge.
In the stories: Elephant and the Blind Men, Akalank and Nikalank, Learning Not to Judge
Kshama क्षमा · ક્ષમા
Kshama: Forgiveness, both giving it and asking for it. It is at the heart of Paryushan.
In the stories: Chandkaushik, Paryushan and Kshamapana, King Udayan
Michhami Dukkadam मिच्छामि दुक्कडम् · મિચ્છામિ દુક્કડમ્
Michhami Dukkadam: A Prakrit phrase meaning "may my wrongs be forgiven". Jains say it to family, friends and everyone they may have hurt, especially on Samvatsari.
In the stories: Paryushan and Kshamapana, Forgiving a Friend, True Study
Paryushan पर्युषण · પર્યુષણ
Paryushan: The most important Jain festival: days of fasting, prayer, reflection and forgiveness, eight days for Shvetambar Jains and ten days (Das Lakshan) for Digambar Jains.
In the stories: Paryushan and Kshamapana, The First Paryushan Fast, The Power of Unity
Samvatsari संवत्सरी · સંવત્સરી
Samvatsari: The last and holiest day of Shvetambar Paryushan, when Jains ask forgiveness of every living being.
In the stories: Paryushan and Kshamapana, Kurgadu Muni, Forgiving a Friend
Samayik सामायिक · સામાયિક
Samayik: Forty eight minutes of sitting calmly with an equal mind towards everyone, setting aside worldly work.
In the stories: King Chandravatamsak's Samayik, Punia Shravak, Grandfather's Samayik
Pratikraman प्रतिक्रमण · પ્રતિક્રમણ
Pratikraman: A daily practice of looking back on one's actions, admitting mistakes and asking forgiveness.
In the stories: Sajjan Mantri and Pratikraman, Humanity, King Vidyapati and Contentment
Diksha दीक्षा · દીક્ષા
Diksha: The ceremony in which a person gives up home and possessions and becomes a Jain monk or nun.
In the stories: Aimutta Muni, Vajrakumar, Avanti Sukumal
Kevalgyan केवलज्ञान · કેવળજ્ઞાન
Kevalgyan: Perfect, complete knowledge, reached when the soul is free of the karma that covers its knowing. A Tirthankar begins to teach after kevalgyan.
In the stories: Elephant and the Blind Men, Pundarik Swami, Ashtapad
Moksha मोक्ष · મોક્ષ
Moksha: Liberation: the soul's final freedom from the cycle of birth and death, when all karma is gone.
In the stories: Shatrunjay: The Holy Hill, Gautam Swami, Girnar
Nirvana निर्वाण · નિર્વાણ
Nirvana: The final liberation of a Tirthankar at the end of life. Bhagwan Mahavir's nirvana at Pavapuri is remembered at Diwali.
In the stories: Life of Bhagwan Ajitnath, Diwali: Bhagwan Mahavir's Nirvana, Ganadhar Sudharma Swami
Samavasaran समवसरण · સમવસરણ
Samavasaran: The divine assembly hall where a Tirthankar teaches. Gods, humans and animals sit together in peace to listen.
In the stories: Bhagwan Mahavir's Kevaljnan, Devananda's Tears, Marichi's Pride
Karma कर्म · કર્મ
Karma: In Jainism, fine matter that sticks to the soul through our actions, words and feelings and shapes what happens to us. Kindness, self-control and austerity help the soul shed it.
In the stories: Mairavati, Shrenik and His Destiny, Shripal and Mayanasundari, Part 1
Atma (soul) आत्मा · આત્મા
Atma (soul): The living soul. Jains believe every living being, even the smallest, has a soul, and every soul can become free.
In the stories: Chandkaushik, Parshvanath and Kamath: Ten Lives, Life of Bhagwan Shantinath
Tap (austerity) तप · તપ
Tap (austerity): Self-discipline such as fasting, control of the senses and meditation, done to purify the soul.
In the stories: Draupadi in the Jain Tradition, Life of Bhagwan Shreyansnath, Nandan Muni
Upvas उपवास · ઉપવાસ
Upvas: A day of fasting. In the strictest form no food is taken, and often only boiled water.
In the stories: Kurgadu Muni, The First Paryushan Fast, Ayambil and the Plague of Dwarka
Ayambil आयंबिल · આયંબિલ
Ayambil: A form of fasting with one plain meal a day, without milk, curd, ghee, oil, sugar or fried food.
In the stories: Ayambil and the Plague of Dwarka, Navpad Oli, Brahmi and Sundari
Ekasanu एकासना · એકાસણું
Ekasanu: Eating only once in the day, in one sitting.
In the stories: The First Paryushan Fast
Chauvihar चौविहार · ચોવિહાર
Chauvihar: Not eating or drinking anything from sunset until the next sunrise.
In the stories: No Food After Sunset, The Pretty Red Fruit, King Vidyapati and Contentment
Gochari गोचरी · ગોચરી
Gochari: The way Jain monks and nuns receive food: a little from many homes, so no family is burdened, the way a cow grazes a little here and there.
In the stories: Elephant and the Blind Men, The Six Sons of Devaki, Arhannak Muni and the Heat
Muni and Sadhvi मुनि, साध्वी · મુનિ, સાધ્વી
Muni and Sadhvi: A Jain monk (muni or sadhu) and nun (sadhvi), who have taken the five great vows and walk from place to place.
In the stories: Chandkaushik, Kshapak Muni and Harsh Words, Kurgadu Muni
Acharya आचार्य · આચાર્ય
Acharya: The head of a group of monks and nuns, who teaches and guides them.
In the stories: Chandrudracharya's Disciple, Annikaputra Acharya, Shitalacharya
Shravak and Shravika श्रावक, श्राविका · શ્રાવક, શ્રાવિકા
Shravak and Shravika: A Jain layman and laywoman, who follow smaller vows while living at home.
In the stories: Munisuvrat and Greed, Anand Shravak, Dhanasar
Upashray उपाश्रय · ઉપાશ્રય
Upashray: A hall where Jain monks and nuns stay and where the community gathers to listen and pray.
In the stories: Learning About Humility, The First Paryushan Fast, Sage Nandishen
Derasar देरासर · દેરાસર
Derasar: The Gujarati word for a Jain temple.
In the stories: Shatrunjay: The Holy Hill, Dharnashah and Ranakpur, Girnar
Shvetambar and Digambar श्वेतांबर, दिगंबर · શ્વેતાંબર, દિગંબર
Shvetambar and Digambar: The two main Jain traditions. Shvetambar monks wear white; Digambar monks wear nothing. Some stories are told differently in each, and JainStory says which telling a story follows.
In the stories: Bhadrabahu Swami, Acharya Kundakunda, Samantabhadra