Tamil Jains or Samanar are natives of Tamil Nadu, India. They are a micro community of around 85,000 in number (Around 0.13% of population of Tamil Nadu). Tamil Jains belong to the Jain Digambara sect, who speak Tamil in their homes. They are also known as Samanar in Tamil (in Sanskrit: Shramana). They are mostly scattered in northern Tamil Nadu, mostly in the districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Thanjavur. Their mother tongue is Tamil. They are not to be confused with the other Jains who have settled in Tamilnadu in the past century, who speak Hindi, Marwari, Gujarati or other languages.

Samanars or Tamil Jains have a legacy that is more than 2,000 years old. Early Tamil Brahmi Jain inscription in Tamilnadu are dated back to 2nd C BCE.According to Mahavamsa, Jainism was present in Srilanka in before the arrival of Thera Mahinda. Many of the rich Tamil literature works were written by Samanars, such as Civaka Cintamani. Three of the Five great Epics (Aim-perum-Kaapiyangal) in Tamil literature is attributed to Samanars.

The first kural

"அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு"


"Agara mudala ezhuthellam aadhi bagavan mudhatrae ulagu"

is a reference to Aadhinathan or Aadhishwaran (mudhal thirthankarar rishabhar)

According to Prof. George Hart, who holds the endowed Chair in Tamil Studies by University of California, Berkeley, has written that the legend of Tamil Sangam (literary assembly) was based on the Jain assembly (Sangham) at Madurai:

"There was a permanent Jaina assembly called a Sagha established about 604 A.D. in Maturai.It seems likely that this assembly was the model upon which tradition fabricated the cangkam legend."

Presence

Tamil Jain families are found in the Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai and Thanjavur districts of Tamil Nadu. One can find Jain temples constructed in Dravidian style in these areas. In many of these temples daily worship takes place.

Religion, Sects, Titles, Castes or Lack thereof

Samanars are Tamil Jains who adhere to the Digamabara form of Jainism. They believe in Ahimsai, Satyam and Asceticism. Unlike other religions, there is no "God" in Jainism. Instead Jains believe in "Jivan" the divine or pure soul. Although Mahavira is commonly attributed as the founder of Jainism, Jainism was present many centuries before Mahavira. Mahavira is the 24th or the last Thirtankara. Jainism complements and was a contemprory of Ajivika philosophy. The Thirthankara (enlightened souls) are the guides, inspiration and model for the path to ascetic life and moksha. Although the philosophy of Jainism is non-theistic, more Jains worship the Thirthankaras, increasingly Ammans, along with Ganesh and also other Hindu Gods.All Samanars are of the Digambara sect. Tamil Jains or Samanars use various titles such as Udayar in Senji, Jains in Kancheepuram, Mudaliars in Tanjavur and Chettiars in the Kumbakonam area. Another common title is Nainar. These are merely titles given to Samanars living in those regions and are not actual caste within Samanam. Samanam in Tamil denotes the Digamabara sect within the Jain religion and there is no sub-division under it. The Samanars today have ended up calling themselves with these titles and also as Nainaars. Samanars are strict followers of Ahimsa (Non-Violence) and hence purely vegetarians. They consider it a grave sin to hurt or kill a living being for any reason. Samanars in their early history have gone through "kazhuvetrum" (similar to a holocaust) by the onset of brahmanical order in Tamil Nadu. During the period of "samanar kazhuvetrum" (7th century AD), many Samanars had been killed and persecuted. Many had to go through forced conversion to Hinduism . The Samanar motto is "Vaazhu Vaazha Vidu", translated as "Live and Let Live" .

Lifestyle

The occupation of the majority of the Tamil Jain families is agriculture. Many are teachers. A considerable number of them are settled in urban areas, they are employed in public and private sectors. A small population has settled overseas (US, Canada, UK, Australia and other places).

Identity

Tamil Jains are well assimilated in Tamil society without any outward differentiation. Their physical features are similar to any tamil (tamil people). Apart from certain religious adherences, practices and vegetarianism, their culture is similar to the rest of Tamil Nadu. However, they name their children by the names of Tirthankaras, characters of Jaina literature. Some of the examples are Appandai nathan, Aadhi Doss, Athirajan, Parsuvanathan, Aadhiraj, Virushabadoss, Ajitha Doss,Srisanthinathan, Jeeva, Arugan, Aruga Dasan, Sambava Doss, Mahaveeran,Nabirajan, Neminathan, Appandai Rajan, Parsvanathan, Jeevagan, Dhanyakumaran, Sreyankumaran, Sripalan, Seevagan, Bharatha chakravarthi, Jinasenan, Vasavadhattan, Gandharvadhattan, Rajamathi, Padmavathi,Jinapriya,Kemasari, Vijayamathim,Chakraeshwari,Indirakumar etc.Increasingly they also name their children with other common Tamil names. Common pet names being Thambi, Kulandhai and Mani, with adjectives periya, naddu and sinna.The names of Tamil Jains are similar to other Tamilians, but different from other jains around India who have Hindi or other language names.

Temple locations

Puja is done in the following old (built several centuries ago) and new (built in the last 100 years) Tamil Digambara Jain temples (in Alphabetical order):

Religious head

Bhattaraka Swasti Shri Laxmisena Swamiji of Jina Kanchi Jain Mutt or madam at Mel Sithamoor (near Tindivanam, South Arcot District) is the religious head of the community. He performs the Upadesam ceremony (similar to Baptism) for Jain children. In the past, this mutt had been the centre for religious study, guiding and helping the economic activities of its members, organising religious discourses, mainternance of temples and such activities. The mutt was able to achieve such multifarious operations with the help and contributions of its members. At present the mutt is also maintaining A Gousala (Cows & others).

The present finance position of the mutt is inadequate for even day-to-day maintenance. Planting of coconut and mango trees has been started to increase the revenue of the fund for the purpose of day-to-day maintenance of the mutt. The car ('Ther') in the mutt requires replacement of wooden wheels. Donations are encouraged. The amount can be sent to Indian Bank, Melsithamoor, Gingee Taluk, Villupuram Dt., TN, India in the Account of 'Sri 1008 Parsuvanath Jain Trust'.

In additional to the above, a new mutt named Thirumalai Mutt located at Thirumalai near Polur, Tiruvannamalai district, has been functioning from 1999 with the name Thavalakeerthi Swamigal. Now in the mutt more than 100 students are studying from Primary to Higher Secondary school including Jain philosophy with free boarding and lodging. Maintenance of the above is done through contributions from donars.

There were other Samanar religious institutions which had been taken over by the Swethambarars due to the lack of Financial Capacity and interest of Samanars.

Fastings and other religious practices

Full moon days, Chaturdasi (14th day of the fortnight), Ashtami (8th day of the fortnight) are days chosen for fasting and religious observations. Women take food only after reciting the name of a Thirthankara five times. People undertake such practices as a vow for certain period of time - sometimes even for years. On completion, Udhyapana festivals (special prayer services) are performed , religious books and memorabilia are distributed. People who take certain vows eat only after sunrise and before sunset.

Lifetime ceremonies

Ezhankaapu - On the seventh day of its birth, a new born baby is adorned with bracelets.

Kaathu Kutthal - Ear piercing and adorning child with ear rings - This ceremony is mostly performed in either Aarpakkam temple or Thirunarangkondai i.e.Thirunarungkundram. (Appandai Nathar is name of the deity).

Other Ceremonies

Ubadesam - Formal induction into religious practices and adherences is called Upadesam. This is done to both men and women - at around the age of 15 years. After Upadesam, one is supposed to follow religious practices with vigour and seriousness.

Marriage - Outwardly Jain marriages resemble Hindu marriages. However, mantras chanted are of Jaina orientation. There is no brahmin priest, instead there is a samanar temple priest who is called as "Koil Vaathiyar" who conducts the ceremonies.

Pilgrimage - Most Jain people go on pilgrimage to major Jain temples in the North of India - Sammedsigarji (sanmesagaram, samaesigaram), Pavapuri, Sampapuri, Urjayanthagiri and other places in the South in Karanatka Shravanabelagola (Beligulam), Humbaj (Ombujam), Simmanagadde and Ponnur Malai in Tamil Nadu.

Funeral rites - Dead are placed on a pyre and incinerated. Ashes are disbursed in water courses and ceremonies are performed on tenth or sixteenth day. Annual remembrance ceremonies similar to Hindu practice are not performed. But no festivities or functions are followed that year on the paternal side.

Festivals

Atchaya thrithiyai - a festival in commemoration of the first thirthankara Rishabadeva partaking food after many long years of penance.

Jinarathri - in commemoration of Shri Rishabadeva attaining moksha.

Mahavir Jayanthi - festivity on the day of thirthankara Shri Mahaveera's birth.

Deepavali - in commemoration of Shri Mahaveera attaining moksha.

Shruthapanjami - to worship agamas and scriptures

Avani Avittam - in commemoration of emperor Bharatha acknowledging true scholars by giving them the sacred thread.

Saraswati Pooja, Varusha Pirappu and Pongal are the other common festivals celebrated along with other Tamils. Also the festival of Kaarthikai at the onset of kaarthikai maatham.

See also

• Tuluva Jains

References

1. Early Tamil Epigraphy. From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. by Iravatham Mahadevan; and the Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, Harvard University
2. http://www.lakehouse.lk/budusarana/2006/09/07/Budu23.pdf A comparative study in Jainism and Buddhism, Rohan Jayetilleke, September 07, 2006
3. Jaina Literature in Tamil, Prof. A. Chakravartis
4. Subramaniyam, Ka Naa, Tiruvalluvar and his Tirukkural. Bharatiya Jnanpith: New Delhi 1987.
5. P. S. Sundaram, The Kural. Penguin Books: London, 1990.
6. http://web.archive.org/web/19970709071128/tamil.berkeley.edu/html/chapter_1.html The Milieu of the Ancient Tamil Poems, Prof. George Hart

External links

• Moksha |First Hinduism Based Arcade Game |
• Jaina Literature in Tamil
• Jain vestiges
• Unexploited vestiges of Jainism
• Tamil Jain Page in Geocities
• Jainism Resource Center
• Religion wise Population of Tamil Nadu - Census 2001