Books on Jainism And Jain Philosophy

Jainism Books

Find here a list of selected books on the various aspects of Jainism, Jain history, Jaina philosophy, practices, values and beliefs, thirthankaras, life and teachings of Mahavira and Jaina Tradition.


Books on Jainism by Category

Jainism Genereal || Jain Philosophy || Karma in Jainism || Mahavira || Jain Thirthankaras || Svetambaras || Jain History || Jain Sutras || Anekantavad || Parsvanatha || Jainism and Hinduism || Digamabara Jainism || Svetambara Jainism || Jainism in South India || Jain Temples || Jain Art and Architecture || The Kharavelas || The Jina Tradition || Ahimsa, Nonviolence ||

Recommended Books

An Introduction to Jainism - Dr. Bharat S. Shah

Life Force : The World of Jainism - Michael Tobias

Studies in Jaina Philosophy - Nathmal Tatia

Karma - The Mechanism Create Your Own Fate - Hermann Kuhn

Jaina Path of Purification - Padmanabh S. Jaini

Ahimsa, Anekanta and Jainism (Lla S.L.Jain S.) (Lla S.L.Jain) - Tara Sethia (Editor)

Essays in Jaina Philosophy and Religion - Piotre Balcerowicz

Jainism: An Introduction - Jeffery D. Long

Jaina Sutras: Part I & II (Forgotten Books) - Hermann Georg Jacobi

The Jain Path: Ancient Wisdom for the West - Aidan Rankin

Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation (Special Pnsi Series) - Helmuth Von Glasenapp

Jain Temples of Rajasthan: Architecture & Iconography (Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts) - Sehdev Kumar

Jainism: Short Essays on Jain Philosophy (Forgotten Books)

A Treatise On Jainism (Forgotten Books) - Jayatilal S. Sanghvi

Outlines of Jainism - S. Gopalan

The Lives of the Jain Elders (Oxford World's Classics) - Hemacandra

Realize What You Are: The Dynamics of Jain Meditation - Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu

Jaina Iconography Author: Jyotindra Jain, Eberhard Fischer

The Jain Path Author: Aidan Rankin;

Jainism Author: Helmuth Von Glasenapp, Shridhar B. S

Jains in the World Author: John, E. Cort;

Jain Cosmology Author: Crown;

History, Scriputure And Controversy In A Medieval Jain... Author: Paul Dunda

The Jains Author: Paul Dundas;

Jain Temples of Rajasthan Author: Sehdev Kumar;

A Jaina Perspective on the Philosophy of Religion Author: Arvind Sharma;

Essentials of Bhagavan Mahavir's Philosophy Author: Acarya Vijay Bhuvanbhanusur, K. Rama

Essentials of Jainism Author: Dr. Prem Suman Jain

A Comparative Study of the Jaina Theories of Reality a... Author: Y. J. Padmarajiah

An Introduction to Jainism and its Culture Author: Balbhadra Jain

Catalogue of Jain Manuscripts Author: Etal Tripathi;

Lord Mahavira and His Times Author: Kailash Chand Jain

Venerated Teachers of the Jains, Sikhs and Parsis Author: Manly P. Hall

Studies In Jainism Author: Duli C. Jain

The Lives of the Jain Elders Author: Hemacandra, R. C. C. Fynes

Jain Primer [Jain Balpothi]. A book on Jainism for Chi... Author: Br. Harilal Jain

Kalpa Sutra Author: K.C. Lalwani;

Singing to the Jinas Author: M., Whitney Kelting

Jaina Iconography Author: Jyotindra Jain, Eberhard Fischer

Studies in Early Jainism Author: Jagdishchandra Jain;

Jaina Sources of the History of Ancient India, 100 BC ... Author: Jyoti Prasad Jain;

The Jain Path: Jainism is one of the world's oldest religions, and perhaps the most demanding, rational and radical of all of them, attaching a great importance to individual responsibility. Today we are questioning our own inherited values and also rediscovering ancient traditions. We are looking for continuity and balance-a return to the centre. Understanding of Jain principles can point us towards the elusive paradigm shift, giving spiritual and intellectual strength to a new global ethic of compassion and interdependence.

Jainism: An Introduction by Jeffery D. Long Jainism evokes images of monks wearing face-masks to protect insects and mico-organisms from being inhaled. Or of Jains sweeping the ground in front of them to ensure that living creatures are not inadvertently crushed: a practice of non-violence so radical as to defy easy comprehension. Yet for all its apparent exoticism, Jainism is still little understood in the West. What is this mysterious philosophy which originated in the 6th century BCE, whose absolute requirement is vegetarianism, and which now commands a following of four million adherents both in its native India and diaspora communities across the globe?In his welcome new treatment of the Jain religion, Long makes an ancient tradition fully intelligible to the modern reader. Plunging back more than two and a half millennia, to the plains of northern India and the life of a prince who - much like the Buddha - gave up a life of luxury to pursue enlightenment, Long traces the history of the Jain community from founding sage Mahavira to the present day. He explores asceticism, worship, the life of the Jain layperson, relations between Jainism and other Indic traditions, the Jain philosophy of relativity, and the implications of Jain ideals for the contemporary world. The book presents Jainism in a way that is authentic and engaging to specialists and non-specialists alike.

Life Force : The World of Jainism This is the best book on Jainism. Michael Tobias has described non-violance(ahimsa) in great details. Everyone knows Gandhi but many don't know driving force behind Gandhi's Ahimsa. Gandhi's spiritual leader, Shrimad Rajchandra(or Raichandbhai in Gandhi's autobiography)was Jain. He has also tried to depict differences between Jainism and Baudhdhism, where applicable. By birth, I'm Jain(and trying to be Jain by act)and I appreciate many historical perspective on Jainism. Also, as mentioned in the book, Jainism is scientific religion - covering Physics, Math and other subjects. This is great book not only for spiritual reading but also for environmental understanding. Prashant M. Shah

Studies in Jaina Philosophy (Paperback) by Nathmal Tatia  Nathmal Tatia, one of the leading Jaina scholars of our time, provides us with the first systematic and in-depth study of the great problems dealt with in Jaina philosophy. It begins with the basic Jaina worldview of non-absolutism (anekanta-vada), and deals next with Jaina epistemology. Three major topics are then studied in great detail, with full reference to the Jaina scriptures. These are: the problem of avidya in the various Indian schools; the Jaina doctrine of karman; and Jaina yoga. This latter includes an important study of Haribhadra's comparative studies in yoga. Tatia has here given us a first-rate advanced level study of Jaina philosophy

Jainism and the New Spirituality is a sumptuous, 224-page exploration of an ancient and relatively little-known faith that is surprisingly relevant for the 21st century. Professor Parikh explains Jainism and links it to the newly emerging universal spirituality. He suggests that an understanding of new spirituality is essential to deal with current global issues. This is especially relevant to today's youth. Jainism and the New Spirituality offers explanations and assists it’s readers in redefining spirituality for themselves and their communities. Jainism and the New Spirituality is valuable reading on spiritual values, world religions, the multi-faith movement, peace, ecology and social justice. It is also an excellent resource for students of Jainism – young and old.

An Introduction to Jainism (Paperback) by Dr. Bharat S. Shah, Bharat S. Shah. Second U.S. edition of a highly acclaimed, simple introduction to Jainism, an ancient (more than 2600 years old) but currently relevant religion from India. Written in a clear and friendly style, full of explanations, and a gradual, stepwise presentation of its fundamental principles. For personal or classroom study. Equally interesting for non-Jains of either Indian, non-Indian, or Western origin, and for students and scholars of non-violence, vegetarianism, and ecology.

Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India (Hardcover) by John, E. Cort. This book offers an illuminating portrait of the ancient Indian religion of Jainism. Based on field research in northern Gujarat as well as on the study of ancient Sanskrit and modern vernacular Jain religious literature, John Cort discusses the major facets of Jain practice-the annual festivals, ascetic and dietary practices, interactions between laity and monks and nuns, and temple worship. "An authentic, detailed and penetrating explanation of the way the Jains of Patam practice their religion. John Cort's profound dedication and commitment to his subject is clearly evident on every page of this book. His sympathetic and keenly observed analysis of Jain principles will be of enormous help to future scholars and students of Islam."-Jain Spirit

Studies In Jainism: Primer (Paperback) by Duli C. Jain. This is a unique introduction to Jainism. The articles, mostly written by Jains living in USA, are drawn from "Jain Study Circular", a highly regarded Jain publication in America. The articles are easy to read, but that does not mean that the book is intended for children only. The articles are written in a simple language, but they are written by experts. Although primarily written for Jains, non-Jains would also enjoy reading it. I would recommend all Jains living overseas to have a copy of this excellent book.

Singing to the Jinas: Jain Laywomen, Mandal Singing, and the Negotiations of Jain Devotion (Hardcover) by M., Whitney Kelting. While Western Jain scholarship has focused on those texts and practices favoring male participation, the Jain community itself relies heavily on lay women's participation for religious education, the performance of key rituals, and the locus of religious knowledge. In this fieldwork-based study, Whitney Kelting attempts to reconcile these women's understanding of Jainism with the religion as presented in the existing scholarship. Jain women, she shows, both accept and rewrite the idealized roles received from religious texts, practices, and social expectation, according to which female religiosity is a symbol of Jain perfection. Jain women's worship shows us a Jainism focused more on devotion than on philosophy. With rituals structured around singing hymns, Jain women negotiate hybrid theologies that sometimes conflict with normative Jainism. Singing to the Jinas describes these women's interpretations of their religion, not as folklore or popular religion, but as a theology that recreates Jainism in a form which honors their own participation.

Suggestions for Further Reading

Translate the Page