Jainism in India

India's seventh-largest religion

Indian Jains

Flag for Indian Jains

Ranakpur Jain temple

Total population
4,451,753 (2011)[1]
0.40% (of the total population of Bharat)
Regions with significant populations
Maharashtra| 1,400,349
Rajasthan| 622,023
Gujarat| 579,654
Madhya Pradesh| 567,028
Karnataka| 440,280
Uttar Pradesh| 213,267
Delhi| 166,231
Religions
Jainism
Languages
Languages of India

Jainism is India's sixth-largest religion and is practiced throughout India.[2][3] Per the 2011 census, there are 4,451,753 Jains in the 1.35 billion population of India, the majority living in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.[citation needed] However, the influence of Jainism has been far greater on the Indian population than these numbers suggest. Jains can be found in every state and all union territories, varying from large societies to smaller. The state of Jharkhand, with a population of 16,301 Jains also contains the holy pilgrimage centre of Sammed Shikharji. Jains can be found throughout India and in many other countries throughout the world.

## History

[edit]

Main article: History of Jainism

Jain doctrine teaches that Jainism has always existed and will always exist.[4][5][6][7][8] Like most ancient Indian religions, Jainism has its roots from the Indus Valley civilization, reflecting native spirituality prior to the Indo-Aryan migration into India.[9][10][11] Other scholars suggested the Shramana traditions were separate and contemporaneous with Indo-Aryan religious practices of the historical Vedic religion.[12] In August 2005, the Supreme Court of India ruled that Jainism, Sikhism (and Buddhism) are distinct religions but are inter-connected and inter-related to Hinduism, so these three are part of wider broader Hindu religion, based on the historic background on how the Constitution had come into existence after.[13][14] However, in the 2006 verdict, the Supreme Court found that the "Jain Religion is indisputably not a part of the Hindu Religion".[15][16]

## Status in India

[edit]

On January 20, 2014, the Government of India awarded the minority status to the Jain community in India, as per Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act (NCM), 1992. This made the Jain community, which makes for 9.5 million or 0.72 percent of the population as per 2011 census, the sixth community to be designated this status as a "national minority", after Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis.[17] Though Jains already had minority status in 11 states of India including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, in 2005 a petition was filed with Supreme Court of India, by community representatives, which was also backed by the National Minorities Commission. In its judgement the court left the decision to the Central government.[18][19]

## Jainism by state

[edit]

Jainism as a religion exists throughout India. Jainism also varies from state to state, but the core values are the same.

Percentage of Jain population by state and union territory (2011 Census)  State or union territory | Jain population | Total population | Percentage Jain (%)

|
|
|

Maharashtra | 1,400,349 | 112,374,333 | 1.25
Rajasthan | 622,023 | 68,548,437 | 0.91
Gujarat | 579,654 | 60,439,692 | 0.96
Madhya Pradesh | 567,028 | 72,626,809 | 0.78
Karnataka | 440,280 | 61,095,297 | 0.72
Delhi | 166,231 | 16,787,941 | 0.99
Uttar Pradesh | 213,267 | 199,812,341 | 0.11
Tamil Nadu | 89,265 | 72,147,030 | 0.12
Chhattisgarh | 61,510 | 25,545,198 | 0.24
West Bengal | 60,141 | 91,276,115 | 0.07
Andhra Pradesh | 53,849 | 49,577,103 | 0.11
Haryana | 52,613 | 25,351,462 | 0.21
Punjab | 45,040 | 27,743,338 | 0.16
Assam | 25,949 | 31,205,576 | 0.08
Bihar | 18,914 | 104,099,452 | 0.02
Jharkhand | 14,974 | 32,988,134 | 0.05

Source: Data compiled from the Census of India 2011.[20]

## Census of India, 2011

[edit]

District wise Jain population percentage India census 2011

Jain population in India by State (2011)[1]

State |  | Jains
Maharashtra |

| 1,400,349
Rajasthan |

| 622,023
Gujarat |

| 579,654
Madhya Pradesh |

| 567,028
Karnataka |

| 440,280
Uttar Pradesh |

| 213,267
Delhi |

| 166,231
Tamil Nadu |

| 89,265
Chhattisgarh |

| 61,510
West Bengal |

| 60,141
Andhra Pradesh |

| 53,849
Haryana |

| 52,613
Punjab |

| 45,040
Assam |

| 25,949
Bihar |

| 18,914
Jharkhand |

| 14,974
Other states |

| 40,666

Indian districts having more than 1% Jains in 2011 Census[21] District | State | Jain Population (approximate) | Total population | Jain Percentage (%)

|
|
|
|

Mumbai City district | Maharashtra | 166,000  | 3,085,411  | 5.38%
Kolhapur district | 154,882  | 3,876,001  | 4.00%
Mumbai Suburban district | 343,639  | 9,356,962  | 3.67%
Sangli district | 87,453  | 2,822,143  | 3.10%
Thane district | 172,052  | 11,060,148  | 1.56%
Pune district | 127,786  | 9,429,408  | 1.36%
Udaipur district | Rajasthan | 78,647  | 3,068,420  | 2.56%
Ajmer district | 45,614  | 2,583,052  | 1.77%
Chittorgarh district | 25,843  | 1,544,338  | 1.67%
Tonk district | 22,458  | 1,421,326  | 1.58%
Bhilwara district | 35,149  | 2,408,523  | 1.46%
Kota district | 25,742  | 1,951,014  | 1.32%
Barmer district | 34,010  | 2,603,751  | 1.31%
Bikaner district | 30,850  | 2,363,937  | 1.31%
Rajsamand district | 14,966  | 1,156,597  | 1.29%
Banswara district | 22,613  | 1,797,485  | 1.26%
Jaipur district | 81,079  | 6,626,178  | 1.22%
Bundi district | 13,455  | 1,110,906  | 1.21%
Dungarpur district | 16,141  | 1,388,552  | 1.16%
Ahmedabad district | Gujarat | 209,287  | 7,214,225  | 2.90%
Surat district | 112,835  | 6,081,322  | 1.86%
Surendranagar district | 22,992  | 1,585,268  | 1.31%
Kutch district | 25,312  | 2,092,371  | 1.21%
Navsari district | 13,386  | 1,329,672  | 1.01%
Sagar district | Madhya Pradesh | 62,992  | 2,378,458  | 2.65%
Indore district | 71,667  | 3,276,697  | 2.19%
Ratlam district | 29,353  | 1,455,069  | 2.02%
Damoh district | 25,005  | 1,264,219  | 1.98%
Ashoknagar district | 15,094  | 845,071  | 1.79%
Neemuch district | 14,165  | 826,067  | 1.71%
Mandsaur district | 19,029  | 1,340,411  | 1.42%
Jabalpur district | 33,728  | 2,463,289  | 1.37%
Vidisha district | 18,490  | 1,458,875  | 1.27%
Ujjain district | 24,622  | 1,986,864  | 1.24%
Bhind district | 19,950  | 1,703,005  | 1.17%
Bhopal district | 25,950  | 2,371,061  | 1.09%
Guna district | 13,474  | 1,241,519  | 1.09%
Tikamgarh district | 15,569  | 1,445,166  | 1.08%
Belagavi district | Karnataka | 178,310  | 4,779,661  | 3.73%
Dharwad district | 29,037  | 1,847,023  | 1.57%
Bagalkot district | 25,198  | 1,889,752  | 1.33%
Lalitpur district | Uttar Pradesh | 20,390  | 1,221,592  | 1.67%
Bagpat district | 16,139  | 1,303,048  | 1.24%
East Delhi | Delhi | 46,927  | 1,709,346  | 2.75%
North Delhi | 13,049  | 887,978  | 1.47%
North West Delhi | 43,460  | 3,656,539  | 1.19%
North East Delhi | 24,673  | 2,241,624  | 1.10%
Central Delhi | 5,886  | 582,320  | 1.01%
Chennai district | Tamil Nadu | 51,708  | 4,646,732  | 1.11%
Literacy in India by religion[22] Religion | Literacy Rate

|

Jain | 94.9
Christian | 84.5
Buddhist | 81.3
Sikh | 75.4
Hindu | 73.3
Muslim | 68.5

## See also

[edit]

* India portal

* List of Jain temples

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.
2. ^ "National minority status for Jains". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014.
3. ^ "Jains become sixth minority community". DNAIndia.com. 21 January 2014.
4. ^ Glasenapp 1999, p. 15.
5. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 12.
6. ^ Varni, Jinendra; Ed. Prof. Sagarmal Jain, Translated Justice T.K. Tukol and Dr. Narendra Bhandari. Samaṇ Suttaṁ. New Delhi: Bhagwan Mahavir memorial Samiti. "The Historians have so far fully recognized the truth that Tirthankara Mahavira was not the founder of the religion. He was preceded by many tirthankaras. He merely reiterated and rejuvenated that religion. It is correct that history has not been able to trace the origin of the Jaina religion; but historical evidence now available and the result of dispassionate researches in literature have established that Jainism is undoubtedly an ancient religion." Pp. xii – xiii of introduction by Justice T. K.Tutkol and Dr. K. K. Dixit.
7. ^ Glasenapp 1999, p. 24.
8. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 17.
9. ^ Larson, Gerald James (1995); India’s Agony Over Religion; SUNY Press; p. 27; ISBN 0-7914-2412-X. "There is some evidence that Jain traditions may be even older than the Buddhist traditions, possibly going back to the time of the Indus valley civilization, and that Vardhamana rather than being a 'founder' per se was, rather, simply a primary spokesman for much older tradition."
10. ^ Beversluis, Joel Diederik (2000); in: Sourcebook of the World's Religions: An Interfaith Guide to Religion and Spirituality; Novato, California: New World Library; ISBN 1577311213 Originating on the Indian sub-continent, Jainism is one of the oldest religion of its homeland and indeed the world, having pre-historic origins before 3000 BC and the propagation of Indo-Aryan culture.... p. 81
11. ^ Jainism by Mrs. N.R. Guseva p.44
12. ^ Long, Jeffrey D. (2009). Jainism: An Introduction. New York: I. B. Tauris. pp. 45–56\. ISBN 9781845116262.
13. ^ Negi, S. S. (11 August 2005). "Jains, Sikhs part of broader Hindu religion, says SC". Tribune. Retrieved 11 August 2005.
14. ^ "CASE NO.:Appeal (civil) 4730 of 1999 PETITIONER:Bal Patil & Anr. RESPONDENT:Union of India & Ors. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/08/2005". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
15. ^ "Supreme Court of India Committee of Management Kanya ... vs Sachiv, U. P. Basic Shiksha ... on 21 August, 2006. Author: D. Bhandari Bench: S. B. Sinha, Dalveer Bhandari".
16. ^ para 25, Committee of Management Kanya Junior High School Bal Vidya Mandir, Etah, Uttar Pradesh v. Sachiv, U.P. Basic Shiksha Parishad, Allahabad, U.P. and Ors., Per Dalveer Bhandari J., Civil Appeal No. 9595 of 2003, decided On: 21.08.2006, Supreme Court of India
17. ^ "Govt grants minority status to Jain community". livemint.com/. 20 January 2014.
18. ^ "Jains granted minority status". The Hindu. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
19. ^ "Eye on votes, UPA gives Jain community minority status". Hindustan Times. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 20 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
20. ^ Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. "Census of India 2011: Religion Data".
21. ^ "Census of India : C-1 Population by Religious Community". Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
22. ^ "Jains most literate in North, Muslims the least". Hindustan Times. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

## References

[edit]

* Dundas, Paul (2002) [1992], The Jains (2nd ed.), London / New York: Routledge, ISBN 041526605X
* Glasenapp, Helmuth Von (1999), Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation, Shridhar B. Shrotri (trans.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 8120813766
* Elst, K. (2002). Who is a Hindu?: Hindu revivalist views of Animism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and other offshoots of Hinduism. ISBN 9788185990743

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