Jainism in India - Legal Status of Jainism as a Distinct Religion in India (Paperback)

Chapters: Legal Status of Jainism as a Distinct Religion in India. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 75. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Jainism is considered as a legally distinct religion in India. Many others consider it a reformist movement that is a part or sub-sect of Hinduism, historically and legally. The Supreme Court of India has made several pronouncement on the question, most recently observing that Jainism is "indisputably is not a part of Hindu Religion." The question is politically charged because the Jains if recognized as a religious minority would be eligible for a series of benefits granted to minority groups by the Constitution of India. Since India became a Republic in 1950, the Constitution has brought the various social contracts such as marriage and inheritance of all Jains fully under the purview of Hindu Laws, a status that remains unchanged today. . The Union of India does not accord Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs the status of a religious minority even as some States have passed judgments pronouncing such a status at the state level. Most scholars have come to view Jainism an independent phenomenon having non-Vedic origins. J. L. Jaini sums up this view as follows: Dr. Prof. Padmanabh Jaini further states that Jainas themselves have no memory of a time when they fell within the Vedic fold. Any theory that attempts to link the two traditions, moreover fails to appreciate rather distinctive and very non-Vedic character of Jaina cosmology, soul theory, karmic doctrine and atheism. "I am directed to inform you that a number of seats have been reserved for representation of minorities by nomination and that in allotting them, the claim of the important Jain Community will receive full consideration. " The National Minorities Commission arrived at their recommen...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=7108487