Jainism: An Indian Religion of Nonviolence

This book is a multi-faceted, thorough, and yet compact introduction to Jainism. It presents the history and scripture of Jainism, a religion that originated in ancient India and still exists today. A work of primarily philological nature, giving a close look at the history and development of Jain scriptural traditions based out of the tradition of German Indology, this accessible introduction is available for the first time for an English-speaking audience. Readers will encounter an accessible, easy-to-read, and up-to-date overview of Jainism according to Śvetāmbara tradition, with reference to the Digambara Transmission. The author also offers anthropological, archaeological, and art-historical information from the field of Jain Studies. It will be of interest to students studying Religious Studies, Asian Religion and South Asian Studies and a wider public audience without in-depth previous knowledge of Jainism looking for a concise, yet innovative and insightful introduction.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures x Foreword xii Acknowledgments xiv Prologue 1 1 The Jina 6 The Jina Mahāvı̄ra 8 The Legend of Mahāvı̄ra 11 The Predecessors of Mahāvı̄ra 17 Pārśva 19 Ariṣṭanemi 20 Ṛṣabha 21 2 Development and Growth of Jainism 24 Beginnings 25 Antiquity (ca. 500 BCE to 500 CE) 26 Medieval Period (ca. 500 CE to 1500 CE) 30 Modern Times (ca. 1500 CE to 1800 CE) 33 Colonial Period and Present (since ca. 1800 CE) 35 History of Academic Research 37 3 Literature and Tradition 41 Canonical Literature 43 The Books of the Canon 44 Twelve ‘Limbs’ (aṅga) 44 Twelve ‘Secondary Limbs’ (upāṅga) 46 Chedasūtras 47 Mūlasūtras 47 Prakı̄rṇakasūtras 48 Cūlikasūtras 49 Post-Canonical and Modern Literature 49 4 Understanding the World, Ethics, and Philosophy 54 Cosmology 55 Time and Time Eras 56 World and Universe 58 Cosmos 58 World 63 Development and Transmission of Jain Cosmology 65 Basic Ethical Principles of Jainism 74 Conception of the Soul 77 The Soul in the Cycles of Birth 78 Embodiment and States of the Soul 80 Living Beings 81 Body 82 Colors of the Soul 83 Function and Effect of Karma 84 Steps to Liberation 86 5 Religious Practice 93 The Jain Community 93 Religious Practice of Ascetics 95 Religious Practice of the Laity 98 Ceremonies of Worship 101 Jain Deities 103 Temples and Ascetic Lodgings 105 Religious Festivals 108 Pilgrimage 112 6 Art and Symbolism 116 The Representation of the Jina 117 Bronze Altars 120 Jain Painting and Book Art 123 Wall and Ceiling Painting 123 Painted Book Covers 124 Palm Leaf Manuscripts 125 Paper Manuscripts 126 Jain Symbols 127 Eight Auspicious Symbols (aṣṭamaṅgala) 127 Sacred Syllables 129 Epilogue 132 Glossary 135 Index 140

About the Author :
Patrick Felix Krüger studied South Asian Art and Archaeology, History of East Asian Art at Free University of Berlin and South Asian History at Humboldt University of Berlin. Since 2016, he has been Research Associate at the Center for Religious Studies (CERES), Research Section for Jainism of Ruhr-University Bochum. Translators: Marion Frenger is an independent researcher and art historian specializing in the arts of South and Southeast Asia. She has published on both pre-modern and contemporary South Asian art and co-edited Von Gibraltar bis zum Ganges. Studien zur Islamischen Kunstgeschichte in memoriam Christian Ewert (2010). Christopher Jain Miller is Professor of Jain and Yoga Studies and VP of Academic Affairs at Arihanta Institute, Visiting Researcher at the University of Zürich’s Asien-Orient-Institut, and Visiting Professor at Claremont School of Theology. He is the author of Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation (Routledge 2024) and the co-editor of Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Studies of Jain Social Engagement (SUNY 2025) as well as Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age (Lexington 2020).

Review :
Patrick Krüger’s Jainism: An Indian Religion of Nonviolence offers an accessible scholarly introduction to the Jain tradition. Drawing on his background in German Indology, Krüger explains the history, scriptures, and development of Jainism, raising thought-provoking questions for scholars and general readers alike about the teachings of a nonviolent religious tradition that remains perennially relevant. Christopher Jain Miller, Arihanta Institute, author of Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation Patrick Krüger’s Jainism: An Indian Religion of Nonviolence offers a meticulously researched and thematically comprehensive introduction to the Jain tradition. Grounded in the philological approach of German Indology, the volume presents both historical nuance and textual insight, while remaining accessible to a broad readership. It is a welcome and timely contribution to the growing field of Jain Studies and will serve as a valuable resource for scholars, educators, and students alike. Venu Mehta, Claremont School of Theology, USA This is a highly informative and well-organized introduction to the Jain tradition. Its translation into English will be a boon both to students and to anyone who is interested in learning more about this fascinating tradition and its important and ever-relevant message of nonviolence. Covering topics ranging from history to literature to ascetic practice, it is a treasure trove of useful information for anyone who wants to learn more about how Jain traditions have been lived from the ancient past to the present day. Jeffery D. Long, Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, and Asian Studies, Elizabethtown College, USA