Jains debate offer of non-Hindu status
Leaders of India’s Jain community are currently debating whether or not to accept the Central Government’s offer of being reclassified as a non-Hindu minority.
Post-Independence, the Supreme Court of India determined that the term ‘Hindu’ should cover any person following a religion which is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, because this was the historical meaning of the term Hindu. This definition naturally included Jains as Hindus. However, some Jains had argued for non-Hindu status, saying that they have a very distinct identity and belief system. Others had offered the opposing argument that Hinduism is so diverse in its beliefs and customs, that the individuality of any particular sect has never been threatened. The current Government of India has revived the issue by making an offer of non-Hindu status to Jains.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:44 pm
This matter is hardly important. Hindus(narrow defintion) and Jains have always remained in harmony and there is simply no scope of division. This is the greatness of all India born religions in that we allow others to follow whatever they want. We may have different belief systems but the the main spirit is same,which are such as Bharatiyata,independence to do a spiritual adventure on my own,brahmacharya etc.
June 22nd, 2006 at 2:32 pm
But Jains denied this OFFER.
We jains belive that religion may be jain but as people we are hindu, as our origin,history, culture background , soical and civilisation haritage , we identify with and as Hindu.
Any jain would not like to identify as minority nor like to get any benifit as minority community.
Govenment has tired to sapratejains from hindu in past but failed.Divide and rule policyis again used by govrnment.
But we jains are feeling secure with and as Hindu.
June 22nd, 2006 at 5:59 pm
At my university - a Jain girl was president of the Hindu society.
She would be quite surprised to all of a sudden find out that she is no longer to be called a Hindu!
June 22nd, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Obviously the UPA gov’t is trying their divide and rule policy again (just like the British when they were in India) with these reservations for OBC’s and other rubbish. It’s good to see that many Jain’s are opposing this stuff, the obvious plan of the gov’t is cut them off from Hindu society and nurture a felling of separateness among them. In terms of dharma Jaina dharma has it’s own unique characteristics and rules but as a community Jain’s have always cast their lot with us Hindus.
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:51 pm
‘According to Article 30 of the Indian constitution, non-Hindu groups are entitled to certain benefits that Hindus are not.’
This is incredible! The Indian Government are out to destroy Hindu unity with this article! Its time it was withdrawn. No wonder then everyone wants to leave the Hindu umbrella. I would not be surprised if the Jains took advantage of this article too.
Once you start to call someone a minority then they will begin to feel like a minority and act like a minority, even if they are not!
Look at these words ‘karma’ ‘dharma’ ‘samsar’ ‘yoga’ and ‘moksha’.
So is the person who follow these philosophies is either a Hindu or Jain or both?
June 28th, 2006 at 5:27 am
no doubt jains are part of hindu family.
this is only a political stunt of this present govt.
i dont know what they want to achieve by this kind of offer to jains,by the way what jains will be getting after they become a minotrity community.no doubt in india the minority community getting all the benefits for their vote bank.
but i think jains shoulod not play into their hand by accepting that they too a minority community .
July 7th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
i love this question. What is a Hindu? Is it geographic? I describe hinduism as a “meta-religion” : Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Jainism, Budhism, Christianity, Islam… are religions: the acts of worshiping a prticular god (name). Hinduism is indeed secular in this regard. We regard action (Karma), Bhakti (worship), and Satya (God) as parts of all religions (yogas). We chose to emphasize meaning and process over name (hence meta-religion) and this defines Hindu. There are versions of Hinduism - advaita, dvaita, veda (including spiritual, physical, and social sciences) … And this is understood in our tradition as multiple roads to the one truth. It is this that defines Sanatan Dharma the eternal religion (loosely) seeking the relationship of ego (jiva) and Truth (Tat Sat).
Now step back to the question - all beings are in fact thus Hindu. Some simply embrace the sensate parts and chose one or the other name for their religion. Some chose the methodological (Raja Yoga) aspects. Some chose the metaphysical (being/non-being) and some the transcendant (egolessness). The person who denies hinduness is declaring that s/he is not interested in the relationship with the supreme truth but even in pursuing this s/he prusues it.
But some ideologies deny a metareligious truth - God must be known by only one name, book, etc. We don’t deny their experience but understand that they are not yet able to pass that veil of ignorance where-in one declares that they know god. These happen to be the persons that want to tell you that your relationship to God is inadequate even on just having met you (missionaries).
We are all God’s creation - even us crazy ones.
Hariaum. nkv
July 18th, 2006 at 10:12 pm
Obviously this is another ploy to try to divide the Hindu community. The sinister motives of Indias boxwalla “Pseudo-Secularist” elite has long been to undermine Hindu samaj and the unity of the Hindu people. I think something like this was attempted previously. Jains, Vaishnava, Shaivites, Vedantis, Shaktas etc etc are various Panths of the same Sanatan Dharma - Hinduism. The Ancient Philosphical Unity of India and Hindus is Dharma and majority of the different panths fully acknowledge this.
December 1st, 2006 at 12:17 pm
The matter under discussion is not just an emotional issue. It is more a legal issue. If the government is willing to acknowledge Buddhism as a National Minority Status, then legally, to avoid discrimination, Jainism should also be accorded the same status. I leave the details to lawyers.
Hinduism is not a ‘religion’ as etymologically it has no relevance to any path. It is an umbrella name for many ‘paths’ as well as a National culture and a geographical identity. Hence, giving Jains the National Minority Status does not in any way divide HINDUISM. It is only a legal status.
December 2nd, 2006 at 3:10 pm
^^^ Then any sect of HINDUISM should get minority status.
The whole concept of separate status and legal codes is ridiculous. Why should Jainism or Buddhism get a separate status (and numerous monetary benefits) and not, for example, Kashmiri Shaivites or Lingayats?
The whole idea of separate legal classifications for different groups nees to be scrapped, simple as.
January 20th, 2007 at 7:54 am
Our political system has become self destructive for want of true leadership.Such fissiporous agenda shows poverty of character and vision. These are diversions to split society and make it porous and vulnerable which has already been achieved by our multiparty system planted by colonial rulers through their operaters. Divide and rule was the tool of imperial powers which continues to be the handle of our political class. Whichever be the ruling party the whole focus is on how society can be broken in chunks to grab the largest.
January 20th, 2007 at 11:42 am
TO ALL
Q? What is it that all Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Bhuddists and yes even Moslems and Christians of India have as a Common Symbol and Unique to India?
January 21st, 2007 at 1:01 am
Deeno, my man… please tell me the answer…. I thought it was the outline of country itself… but i am wrong…
as to jains wanting to be different or not wanting to be different … hey it is a (relatively”) country so let them do what they want..
but the when the brown stuff hits the fan… we all know who they will turn too don’t we?
as for the UPA govt and infact all the opposition parties …
hey boys and girls … time to drink your chai and eat those pakora’s…
a Vedic Storm is coming from the west
and it is going to take you out…
sayanora suckers…
the VEDIC 300
January 21st, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Jack - I am surprised, a hardline, inyour face kind of activist as yourself asking for the answer. But here goes.
It was asked to find cohesion among us
It was asked to remember our common heritage
It was aksed so that Congress would be pressed into its duty
It is
THE SWASTIKA
All these would be Sikhs, Moselms, Christains etc were once Children of the Swastika
PROMOTE it and commonality and heritage follows.
Veda Shakti
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
It is truth. All else is commentary and adornments.
hariaum
January 22nd, 2007 at 5:14 pm
I don’t believe that we can ‘Unfurl Truth’ in a succinct format, if so pls enlighten me.
I don’t think truth conveys a snappy historic reference to a common heritage thru whose re-inforcement we can demonstrate a common and progressive stock.
The quest! To Move India as ONE block. This demands clear and non-complex presentation.
This is THE SWASTIKA
The truth is mis-leading because it is fraught with subjective and opposing isssues.
THE SWASTIKA
is free of this. I trust that others will see the depth and clarity of this.
Veda Shakti
January 22nd, 2007 at 5:56 pm
I do not seek the succint, the snappy, the quest.
India is yet another nation state. My goal is to move humanity as one block. If you are looking for a nation to move than use the symbol of the people.
Only truth can move reality.
hariaum
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Don’t get me wrong though. I like the Swastika as a uniting symbol. hariaum
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Navin - Thank you for that addendum. I was just about to make myself a HorsesAss by writing a caustic response. I trust that we will see you as One of Jacks Vedic 300?
I am glad that in The Swastika you find a possible Unity.
BTW you owe us commentary on the Sikh thing. You did not comment on my 1,2,3 Sikh steps.
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Chopping off the head of the hydra is not an efficient way of fighting evil. I think Hitler, the popes, the imams have all tried it before though. The way to fight avidya is with vidya. Hariaum
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Come on Cuz! It was pretty slick though?
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:09 pm
No offence or anything but why are so many members of the hindu community trying to make it sound like sikhs are part of hinduism, i mean why do ppl like rss have to go on a mission in the punjab.
February 26th, 2007 at 2:59 am
“i mean why do ppl like rss have to go on a mission in the punjab.”
cuz rss got an inferiority complex thinking sikhs saved Hindus and that’s why they in their khaki nickers from British days.
But then again i seen so many sikhs who go about falsifying history to get their point across that they ain’t Hindu.
February 27th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
There is no doubt about it. Jainism is NOT a part of Hinduism and never was. The History is being perverted by Right wing Fanatics.
February 27th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
A Shah why don’t you read some basic history before you spew garbage, if we look into the historical context the word Hindu was applied to anyone in India who were not Muslim, Christian, Jew or Parsi, that is why Jahangir called Guru Arjun the 5th Guru of the Sikhs a Hindu.
There was no “Jainism” or “Hinduism” before the British came, so how can it be a part of it or not be a part of it when such clear categorisations didn’t even exist back then.
History is being perverted by revisionists like you who cannot face the fact that Jains were lumped under the label Hindu before colonisation, whether Jains today want to call themselves Hindu or not is upto them, they can go get whatever minority benefits they want but then don’t expect Hindus to stand by you in times of trouble, we all make our choices whether good or bad.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:01 am
“There is no doubt about it. Jainism is NOT a part of Hinduism and never was”
Would you care to substantiate what u have said A Shah?