Timeline Of Jainism

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This is the timeline of Jainism.

Jainism is an ancient Indian religion belonging to the śramaṇa tradition. It prescribes ahimsa (non-violence) towards all living beings to the greatest possible extent. The three main teachings of Jainism are ahimsa, anekantavada (non-absolutism), aparigraha (non-possessiveness). Followers of Jainism take five main vows: ahimsa, satya (not lying), asteya (non stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha. Monks follow them completely whereas śrāvakas (householders) observe them partially. Self-discipline and asceticism are thus major focuses of Jainism.

Before common era (BCE)

584,979–574,979 BCE: Naminatha, 21st Tirthankara
Neminatha, 22nd Tirthankara: According to Jain beliefs, he lived 84,650 years before the 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha. He existed in the Mahabharata era and was the cousin brother of Krishna.
877–777 BCE: Parshva, 23rd Tirthankar of Jainism. He is the earliest Jain leader who can be reliably dated.
599–527 BCE: Mahavira, 24th and last Tirthankar of this era.
5th century BCE: Siddhasen Diwakar
d. 507 BCE: Ganahar Sudharma Swami
d. 357 BCE: Acharya Bhadrabahu
d. 162 BCE: Hathigumpha inscription mentions the Namokar Mantra and Jain monarch Kharvela.
2nd century BCE: Namokar Mantra epigraphically attested in Maharashtra

Shri Mahavirji temple

Common era (CE)

1st century CE: Acharya Kundkund
87 CE: Pushpadanta starts to write Shatkhandagam
156 CE: Acharya Bhutabali completes writing of Shatkhandagam
454 CE: Devardhigani compiles Jain Agamas
5th century CE: first mention of the Mula Sangh order

Middle Ages

Kundakunda, one of the most revered Digambara monk

9th century
- The Tirumalai complex in Tamil Nadu is established.
10th century
- Life of Nemichandra, a famous Jain author.
- Jain temple of Gurjiwada, Cudnem, Bicholim, Goa was constructed.
- 982: Monolithic statue of Bahubali erected at Shravana belagola
12th century
- Kashtha Sangh
- 1172: Acharya Hemachandra
- 1194: Tristutik
13th century
- 1229: Tapa Gachchha
15th century
- Ancient Jain temple of Gurjiwada, Cudnem, Bicholim, Goa was in ruins.
17th century
- 1664: Digambar Terapanth
- 1658: Digambara Jain Lal Mandir temple in Delhi built.
18th century
- 1760: Swetembar Terapanth
- 1780: Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi orders

British India

1868: Jain temple in Mumbai
1880s: reform movement of Acharya Rajendrasuri
1893: Virachand Gandhi participates in Chicago’s World Parliament of Religions& Won Silver Medal.
1904: Jain temple at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
1927: Madras High Court in Gateppa v. Eramma and others recognizes “Jainism as a distinct religion“

Post-Partition

Ācārya Mahāprajña, formulator of Preksha meditation

1970s: significant presence of Jainism in the United States
1972: Aacharya Shri Vidyasagar Maharaj elevated to the Acharya status.
1975: Acharya Sushil Kumar (Jain monk) ji travels to USA. The first Jain muni to travel by air out of the Indian subcontinent.
1975: Monolithic statue of Bahubali is installed at Dharmasthala, Karnataka, India under the auspices of D. Rathnavarma Heggade and Mathrushree D. Rathnamma Heggade, members of Dharmasthala’s Jaina lineage who also manage the local Shivaite temple. Carving work began in 1966 under the sculptor Rejala Gopalkrishna Shenoy of Karkala.
1976: In Arya Samaj Education Trust, Delhi & Others v. The Director of Education, Delhi Administration, Delhi & Others (AIR 1976 Delhi 207), the Court referred to Heinrich Zimmer’s Philosophies of India describing Jainism as “a heterodox Indian religion” and J. N. Farquhar’s Modern Religious Movements in India describing Jainism as “a rival of Hinduism.”
1981: First Jain convention in Los Angeles
1983: Formal organization of JAINA (Jain Associations in North America)
1990: Temple Pratishtha, The Jain Sangh Cherry Hill, New Jersey
1990: Temple Pratishtha, Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington
1991: Founding of Siddhachalam, the Jain tirtha
1991: Death of Jain Acharya Shri Ramchandra Surishwarji
1993: Temple Pratishtha, Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago
1995: Temple Pratishtha, Jain Center of Cincinnati and Dayton
1998: Temple Pratishtha, Jain Society of Greater Detroit
2000: Temple Pratishtha, Jain Center of Northern California (JCNC)
2000: Jain Vishwa Bharati Orlando
2005: the Supreme Court of India declined to grant Jains the status of a religious minority throughout India, leaving it to the respective states to decide on the minority status of Jainis.
2006: the Supreme Court opined that “Jain Religion is indisputably not a part of the Hindu religion” (Para 25, Committee of Management Kanya Junior High School Bal Vidya Mandir, Etah, U.P. v. Sachiv, U.P. Basic Shiksha Parishad, Allahabad, U.P. and Ors., Per Dalveer Bhandari J., Civil Appeal No. 9595 of 2003, decided On: 21.08.2006, Supreme Court of India.)
2008: Delhi city government declares Jain community a minority per the Supreme Court Orders.
2014: Jain community is designated a minority at the national level.