Triggered to Thinking

My interest in Jainism started during a time when I couldn’t work due to a shoulder injury. Admitelly, I hadn’t studied eastern faiths in as much detail as Christianity and Islam at that point, three years ago. Jainism is a fascinating religious tradition, and I was intrigued by the concept of ahimsa or non-violence. The scholar Andrea Diem Lane explained that, “Jainism arose as a systemic response to animal violence by positing a radical alternative- the path of ahimsa or nonviolence”. There is a helpful glossary for many of the technical terms used in the book. 

Introduction

Babb explains that “Jainism is Buddhism’s lesser known cousin although their belief systems are in some ways radically different, they are together the only surviving examples of India’s ancient non-Vedic traditions” (2). 

Babb explains that a Jain is “a follower of a Jina”. A Jina means victor or one that has achieved complete victory over attachments and aversions. The Jain faith is a big proponent in maintaining non-attachment to material things and people

Babb also explains how Jainism is similar to South Asian traditions with the belief in a cycle of birth and rebirth (7)

Babb’s fieldwork was focused in the Gujarati city of Ahmedabad in India and in Jaipur. The fieldwork was primarily focused on the Svetambara sect of Jainism. 

Chapter 1 Victors 

Babb discusses rites and rituals in Jaipur. He next discusses the details of a Parsvanath. This is followed by a discussion of karma in the Jain faith (32). The title of the book, Absent Lord” comes into effect in this chapter when Lord Indra is discussing the lord’s journey to Mount Meru (33). Babb then discusses Jain cosmology (38-39). The abode of the liberated souls who have escaped the cycle of death and rebirth are at the top, whereas the seven layers of hell are at the bottom. Babb explains that, “the beings of the world are divided into two great classes liberated (mukt) and unliberated (samsari). Liberated beings have been free from the cycle and of karmic bondage. This is discussed in Babb’s discussion of Jain biology and it is followed by a discussion of rebirth in hell realms. The chapter ends with a discussion of Jain ascetics (56-63). 

Chapter 2 Kings of the Gods 

Babb explains that among the two places he conducted fieldwork, “Ahmedabad is a Svetembar world and the city’s temples reflect that” and “In Jaipur most temples belong to the Digambars” (65). He thus begins this chapter by  a discussion of different Jain temples. Babb writes, “those who enter the temple should do so in a condition of ritual purity; the stringency of this requirement however depends on the worshipers intentions (66). Different rituals of Jain lords are discussed and the first bath of Tirthankar (76). 

Next, Babb discusses Kingship and the places the soul can travel to after death. He follows this with a discussion of the eightfold worship of the Tirthanakars (82-88). He then discusses the meaning of the symbol of the svastika and its significance for the Jain faith which was much later rebranded as a hate symbol by the Nazis (90-93). He briefly mentions the anthropologist Arnold Van Gennep when examining the concept of liminality (95).

Chapter 3 Magical Monks 

This next chapter is a discussion of monks and focuses on the region of Khartar Gaach. The monks in this region are known as Dadagurus. Babb begins by discussing the hagiography of these monks (105-108). He follows that with a discussion of virtue and power (108-110). Next, there is a discussion of a reform movement called the Khartar Gach (114-119). Next, there is a discussion of the Dagdaru or monk called Jincandrasuri. The chapter continues to discuss Jain monks

Chapter 4 Valor 

Babb begins this chapter by discussing ahimsa or the Jain concept of non-violence. This is followed by stories of some Jain kings. Next, Babb discusses the story of Saciya Mata (148-151). The pujaris of Saciya Mata gave a different version of the stories told. Babb ends the chapter by discussing the types of miracles told in different legends (162-173).

Chapter 5 Giving and Giving up 

The last chapter discusses ritual giving and different traditions. The book ends with a discussion of cosmology and reflecting on the Jain view of the cosmos.