Core Principles of Jainism: Three Jewels

The Three Jewels of Jainism (Triratna)

Jainism is a way of life that leads to ultimate joy and happiness. The ultimate goal of Jainism is to attain Moksha or Nirvana (Liberation). We know that there exists sorrow, woe, and unhappiness in our lives. We also know that mundane souls travel through a rotation of 84 lakh Yonis (various life forms). Attaining Moksha is the ultimate solution to this cycle of birth and suffering.

According to the Tattvartha Sutra, Samyak Darshan (Right Faith), Samyak Gyan (Right Knowledge), and Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct) together form the golden path to Moksha or Nirvana. These three together are called Triratna or Ratnatrayee. Remember, they are not three separate paths but one single path where all three work together!

Jainism teaches us how to live a good and meaningful life. One of the most important teachings of Jainism is Triratna, which means Three Jewels. These three jewels are:

1. Samyak Darshan (Right Faith)

2. Samyak Gyan (Right Knowledge)

3. Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct)

By following these three jewels, a person can live a pure and peaceful life and move closer to Moksha (liberation). Let’s learn about them one by one.

1. Samyak Darshan (Right Faith)

Right Faith means having true belief in Jain teachings. It is about understanding and accepting the truth about the universe, life, and karma. In Jainism, it is important to have faith in the Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers) and their teachings.

Example:

Imagine you have a treasure map, but you don’t believe it’s real. Will you follow it? No! Similarly, if we don’t trust Jain teachings, we won’t follow the right path. Right Faith is like believing in the map that guides us to truth and happiness.

Key Teachings of Right Faith:

• Believe in the Tattvas (fundamental principles of Jainism).

• Respect Jain Sadhu/Sadhvi (ascetics) and scriptures.

• Avoid false beliefs and superstitions.

2. Samyak Gyan (Right Knowledge)

Right Knowledge means understanding the truth correctly. It is not just about collecting information but truly knowing what is right and wrong. Jainism teaches that knowledge should be free from doubt and confusion.

Jains believe in Anekantavada, which means that truth has many sides. Just like a single story can have different viewpoints, reality can also be seen in various ways.

Example:

There is a famous story about six blind men and an elephant. Each man touches a different part of the elephant and describes it differently—one says it’s like a wall, another like a rope, another like a fan. They are all partly right but also partly wrong. This teaches us that truth can be seen in different ways, and we must gain complete knowledge before making judgments.

How to Get the Right Knowledge?

• Study Jain scriptures like Tattvartha Sutra (written by Acharya Umaswati).

• Learn from Jain Sadhu/Sadhvi and teachers.

• Think logically and ask questions.

3. Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct)

Right Conduct means following Jain principles. Once we have the right faith and right knowledge, we should also act correctly. Jainism teaches us to live a life full of non-violence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), honesty (Aparigraha), and self-control (Brahmacharya).

Example:

Imagine a person who knows that eating too many sweets is bad for health but still eats them all the time. Knowing something is not enough; we must also act on it!

Five Main Vows (Mahavratas) for Right Conduct:

1. Ahimsa (Non-violence): Do not harm any living being.

2. Satya (Truthfulness): Always speak the truth.

3. Asteya (Non-stealing): Do not take what is not yours.

4. Brahmacharya (Celibacy/Self-control): Control desires.

5. Aparigraha (Non-attachment): Do not be greedy.

Jain Sadhu/Sadhvi follow these vows strictly (Mahavratas), while common people (householders/laymen) follow lenient versions of these vows, called Anuvratas.

Conclusion

The Three Jewels of Jainism—Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct—are the keys to leading a good and meaningful life. If we follow them, we can live peacefully and move towards Moksha, which is freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

A Simple Way to Remember Triratna:

Think of Triratna as a three-step ladder:

1. First, believe in the right path (Right Faith).

2. Then, learn and understand it well (Right Knowledge).

3. Finally, walk on that path (Right Conduct).

By following these three jewels, we can become better humans and help others too!

Exercises

A. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the ultimate goal of Jainism?

2. What are the Three Jewels of Jainism (Triratna)?

3. Why is it important to have Samyak Darshan (Right Faith)?

4. What does Anekantavada teach us?

5. List the Five Main Vows (Mahavratas) of Jainism.

B. Fill in the blanks:

1. The three jewels of Jainism are ________, ________, and ________.

2. ________ means non-violence in Jainism.

3. ________ wrote the Tattvartha Sutra.

4. Right Knowledge should be free from ________ and ________.

5. The lenient versions of Mahavratas followed by householders are called ________.

C. True or False:

1. Jainism believes in multiple paths to Moksha. (True/False)

2. Right Faith is about blindly following Jain teachings. (True/False)

3. Jain Sadhu/Sadhvi follow Mahavratas strictly. (True/False)

4. Right Conduct means only gaining knowledge about Jain principles. (True/False)

5. Aparigraha means non-attachment. (True/False)

D. Match the following:

Column A	Column B
Ahimsa	Self-control
Satya	Non-attachment
Asteya	Non-violence
Brahmacharya	Truthfulness
Aparigraha	Non-stealing

A brief introduction to Jainism: Links to various topics

Thanks, 

Jyoti Kothari (Jyoti Kothari, Proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is an adviser, to Vardhaman Infotech, a leading IT company in Jaipur. He is also an ISO 9000 professional)

सिद्धचक्र में नवपद का स्वरुप क्या है?

Definition of Navapada (Nine supreme elements) in Siddhachakra 

१. अरिहन्त परमेष्ठी

नाना प्रकार के दुखों से उद्वेलित जगत के समस्त जीवों के प्रति उछलते हुए करुणा भाव से वीस स्थानक तप की सम्यक आराधना कर जिन्होंने तीर्थंकर नाम कर्म का उपार्जन किया ऐसे जगत वत्सल अरिहन्त परमेष्ठी को प्रथम पद में बारम्बार नमस्कार है। अचिन्त्य सामर्थ्य युक्त, सिद्धचक्र के केंद्र स्वरुप उस परम ज्ञानी सर्वज्ञ परमेश्वर ने  जगत तारक तीर्थ रूप चतुर्विध संघ स्थापित किया। सम्पूर्ण कृत कृत्य होते हुए भी केवल मात्र जगत हितार्थ जिन्होंने देवकृत समवसरण में स्फटिक रत्न के सिंहासन पर विराजमान हो कर अपने वचनातिशय के प्रभाव से ३५ गुण युक्त वाणी से सभी भव्य प्राणियों का कल्याण किया ऐसे लोकप्रदीप अरिहंत परमात्मा को त्रिकरण, त्रियोग से नमस्कार हो।   

२. सिद्ध परमेष्ठी

समस्त प्राणियों में क्लेश उत्पन्न करने वाले मोहनीय कर्म को क्षय करने के पश्चात् जिन्होंने समस्त कर्मो को पूर्ण रूपेण क्षय कर दिया है ऐसे परम आनंद के घन पिंड श्री सिद्ध परमात्मा का शरण हो।  आठ कर्मों के क्षय से प्रगट अनंत ज्ञान, अनंत दर्शन, अव्यावध सुख, क्षायिक सम्यक्त्व व अनंत चारित्र, अगुरुलघु, आदि गुणों से युक्त देहरहित अरूपी सिद्ध परमात्मा अक्षय स्थिति गन के कारण अनंत काल तक सिद्ध शिला के ऊपर लोकांत में विराजमान हैं।  मुनिराज के ह्रदय रूपी मानसरोवर में हंस के समान क्रीड़ा करने वाले ऐसे सिद्ध भगवन को त्रिकरण त्रियोग से नमस्कार हो।  

३. आचार्य परमेष्ठी

"तित्थयर समो सूरी" ऐसे शास्त्र वाक्य से जिनकी प्रतिष्ठा है; ज्ञानाचार, दर्शनाचार, चारित्राचार, तपाचार व वीर्याचार के पालन में समुद्यत एवं चतुर्विध संघ को पालन की प्रेरणा देनेवाले ३६ गुणधारी आचार्य भगवंत को तीसरे पद में नमस्कार हो।  सदा तत्वज्ञान में रमण करनेवाले, आगमों की सरहस्य व्याख्या करनेवाले, संघ हित में देश, काल के अनुसार निर्णय कर उसका पालन करवाने वाले जिनशासन में दीपक समान मुनिपति गणाधीश आचार्य भगवंत जयवंत वर्तें।  

४. उपाध्याय परमेष्ठी

कुवादी रूप मदमस्त हाथियों के अहंकार को चूर्ण करने में सिंह के समान अजेय पराक्रमी ११ अंग और १४ पूर्व को साङ्गोपाङ्ग धारण करनेवाले उपाध्याय भगवंत को चौथे पद में सदा नमस्कार हो। राजकुमार के सामान आचार्य परमेष्ठी के शासन को सँभालने वाले और मुर्ख से मुर्ख शिष्य को भी विद्वान बनाने का सामर्थ्य रखनेवाले श्रेष्ठ अध्यापक २५ गुण धारी उपाध्याय परमेष्ठी तीसरे भाव में मोक्ष प्राप्त करनेवाले होने से सदा वंदनीय हैं. 

५. साधु परमेष्ठी

मोक्षमार्ग की साधना में निरंतर अप्रमाद पञ्च समिति से समित व त्रि गुप्ति से गुप्त षटकाय रक्षक साधु परमेष्ठी को सतत नमन। संयम के शिखर पुरुष, १८ हज़ार शीलांग के धारक, अचल आचार चरित्र वाले जग वान्धव मुनि भगवंत सदा जयवंत हों।  आचार्य, स्थविर और उपाध्याय की सेवा में निमग्न एवं उनकी आज्ञा के पालक, मधुकरी वृत्ति से जीवन निर्वाह करनेवाले उग्र तपस्वी श्रमण वृन्दों को त्रिकाल वंदन, नमन।  

६. सम्यग दर्शन पद

  

मिथ्यात्व के नाश से उत्पन्न जिनेश्वर देव के वचन में श्रद्धा एवं तत्व में रूचि रूप समस्त धर्मों का मूल सम्यग दर्शन को त्रिकालवर्ती भावों से सम्यग नमन।  जिसके बिना ज्ञान भी अज्ञान रूप हो, और चारित्र भी भव भ्रमण को नष्ट न कर सकता हो ऐसे धर्म बीज सम्यक्त्व की जय हो! दर्शन मोहनीय की तीन प्रकृति एवं चार अनंतनुवांधि कषाय के क्षय-उपशम से प्रगट होने वाले ६७ गुणों से युक्त सम्यक दर्शन मुझे प्राप्त हो!

७. सम्यग ज्ञान पद

अज्ञान एवं मोह हारिणि, ५१ भेदों से  नमस्कृत, स्व-पर प्रकाशक सम्यग ज्ञान पद को बारम्बार नमस्कार।  सभी क्रियायों का मूल, मति, श्रुत, अवधि, मनःपर्यव और केवल ज्ञान इन पांच भेदों से सर्वत्र पूजित, जगत प्रकाशक ज्ञान पद सदा जयवंत वर्ते।  तीनों लोक, यहाँ तक की अलोक को भी द्रव्य, गुण, पर्याय सहित सम्पूर्णतः प्रकाशित करनेवाले ज्ञान की केवल ज्ञान प्राप्ति में हेतु बनें.   

८. सम्यग चारित्र पद

६ खण्ड के विशाल राज्य सुख को घास के तिनके के सामान तुच्छ समझ कर, उसे छोड़कर चक्रवर्ती भी जिन्हे अंगीकार करते हैं ऐसे मोक्ष सुख के प्रत्यक्ष कारण भुत और आत्मरमण रूप सम्यग चारित्र पद को बारम्बार वंदन हो। अंगीकार करने के  मात्र एक माह में ही व्यंतर देवलोक के सुख से अधिक और १२ माह में अनुत्तर विमान के सुख का अतिक्रमण करनेवाले चारित्र के सुख की तुलना जगत के किस सुख से हो सकती है? ७० गुणों से अलंकृत, देश विरति और सर्व विरति के भेद वाले चारित्र को नमन. 

९. सम्यग तप पद

उसी भव में अपनी निश्चित मुक्ति जानते हुए भी तीर्थंकर भगवंत जिसका आचरण करते हैं, समस्त कर्मों को जड़ मूल से उखाड फेंकने वाले उस तप पद को बारम्बार नमन हो।  वाह्य और अभ्यन्तर दोनों प्रकार के तप ही इच्छा निरोध स्वरुप हैं, ५० गुणों से युक्त ऐसे सम्यग तप पद की सदा जय हो !

Thanks, 

Jyoti Kothari (Jyoti Kothari, Proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is an adviser, Vardhaman Infotech, a leading IT company in Jaipur. He is also ISO 9000 professional)

Karma Theory in Jainism: Mohaniya Karma Part 4

Karma theory of Jainism depicts that Karma is divided into eight parts and we have discussed Darshanavaraniya Karma in the last part of the discussion. Third of the Ghati karma is Mohaniya Karma. Mohaniya Karma is the king of all Karma. In fact all Karma exists for infinite period due to Mohaniya Karma. This is the strongest, long lasting and most powerful of all Karma.

Mohaniya Karma is further divided in two parts:
1. Darshan Mohaniya
2. Charitra Mohaniya

Darshan Mohaniya is the main reason and root cause of Samsara. It restricts Samyag Darshan or right View. Mundane soul rotates in the earthly perspectives and can not attain Moksha (Nirvana) because of this Karma. Darshan Mohaniya Karma is always accompanied by Ajnyana. There are three types of Darshana Mohaniya according to Jain theory of Karma.

1. Mithyatva Mohaniya
2. Mishra Mohaniya
3. Samyaktva Mohaniya

Mithyatva Mohaniya causes Mithyatva or wrong belief (wrong view) and resist soul to attain Samyaktva. It has the highest time period  (Sthiti) among all Karma i.e. 7000 trillion Sagaropama.

Mishra Mohaniya also resist Soul in attaining Samyaktva or Samyag Darshan. The very nature of the karma keeps the soul in ambiguity and does not let the Soul to determine the substances (Tatva).

Samyaktva Mohaniya can exist even with Samyak Darshan. It is a type of impurity that resist the soul from attaining Kshayik Samyag Darshan.

Charitra Mohaniya is divided in to two parts according to Karma Granth. Jain Karma theory speaks that these are Kashay and No- kashay.

I will discuss the theory about Charitra Mohaniya Karma in the next part.

Karma Theory Part 1
Karma Theory Part 2
Karma Theory Part 3
Karma Theory part 4
Karma Theory part 5


Thanks,
Jyoti Kothari

Jyoti Kothari is an author and hubber who writes about Gems and Jewelry, India, Economy, Finance, Management, Skills, Job, Employment, Food, Environment, Jainism and on many other topics.
He is proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing centuries old tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry.

Karma Theory in Jainism: Mohaniya Karma Part 4

Karma theory of Jainism depicts that Karma is divided into eight parts and we have discussed Darshanavaraniya Karma in the last part of the discussion. Third of the Ghati karma is Mohaniya Karma. Mohaniya Karma is the king of all Karma. In fact all Karma exists for infinite period due to Mohaniya Karma. This is the strongest, long lasting and most powerful of all Karma.

Mohaniya Karma is further divided in two parts:
1. Darshan Mohaniya
2. Charitra Mohaniya

Darshan Mohaniya is the main reason and root cause of Samsara. It restricts Samyag Darshan or right View. Mundane soul rotates in the earthly perspectives and can not attain Moksha (Nirvana) because of this Karma. Darshan Mohaniya Karma is always accompanied by Ajnyana. There are three types of Darshana Mohaniya according to Jain theory of Karma.

1. Mithyatva Mohaniya
2. Mishra Mohaniya
3. Samyaktva Mohaniya

Mithyatva Mohaniya causes Mithyatva or wrong belief (wrong view) and resist soul to attain Samyaktva. It has the highest time period  (Sthiti) among all Karma i.e. 7000 trillion Sagaropama.

Mishra Mohaniya also resist Soul in attaining Samyaktva or Samyag Darshan. The very nature of the karma keeps the soul in ambiguity and does not let the Soul to determine the substances (Tatva).

Samyaktva Mohaniya can exist even with Samyak Darshan. It is a type of impurity that resist the soul from attaining Kshayik Samyag Darshan.

Charitra Mohaniya is divided in to two parts according to Karma Granth. Jain Karma theory speaks that these are Kashay and No- kashay.

I will discuss the theory about Charitra Mohaniya Karma in the next part.

Karma Theory Part 1
Karma Theory Part 2
Karma Theory Part 3
Karma Theory part 4
Karma Theory part 5


Thanks,
Jyoti Kothari

Jyoti Kothari is an author and hubber who writes about Gems and Jewelry, India, Economy, Finance, Management, Skills, Job, Employment, Food, Environment, Jainism and on many other topics.
He is proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing centuries old tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry.