Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/23

 ( 3 ) BOOK V. JAINA ARCHITECTURE, CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. THE Jaina sect sprang up almost contemporaneously with the Buddhist : Vardhamana, their last apostle, was a native of VaLyali, in Tirhut, a contemporary of Sakyamuni Buddha and died at Pawa in Bihar, during the lifetime of the latter. 1 They are in two divisions the Digambaras, that is, those " whose covering is the air," who regard nudity as a sign of holiness, though they are now obliged to part from the outdoor practice of their theory ; and the vSwetambaras, who are " clad in white." The Jaina religious theories and practices, in many respects, closely resemble those of the Buddhists. They acknow- ledge no supreme governor, believe in transmigration, regard all animal life as sacred, reverence the Jinas or Tirthankaras, because they believe them to have overcome all human desires, and to have attained Nirvana ; but they have no veneration for relics. They consist of ecclesiastics Yatis or Sadhus and lay hearers or .Sravaks. The laity are chiefly engaged in trade and banking. 2 Jains are numerous in the larger towns all over India, but especially in Rajputana, Gujarat, and neighbouring provinces, and also in Kanara and Mysore, where they are mostly Digambaras. vol. i. p. 130. 2 For a sketch of their history and doctrines, see Buhler's 'Indian Sect of the Jainas,' English translation (London, 1903) ; and for their ritual, * Indian Antiquary,' vol. xiii. pp.