Similarities Between Avatar And Jain Tirthankara
Hinduism is the most dominant religion across the Indian subcontinent. The religion has one universal supreme being known as Brahman. Apart from the supreme being, there are other numerous gods and goddesses who represent different aspects of Brahman. The gods and goddesses commonly referred as Deva and Devi respectively. Among the many different deities, there exists Holy triad which consists of Brahma (the creator), Shiva (destroyer of worlds) and
Vishnu (sustainer). Sometimes these deities can appear in a given representation known as an avatar by a human being here on earth. The avatars often appear to save humans from an impending calamity. The Jain Tirthankara share some similarities with the Hindu avatar. For example, both the Jain Tirthankara
and avatars are individuals who act as guides to their people.
Although they are guides, they are different in such a way that the avatars are incarnation of the gods while the Tirthankara are just simple human beings just like prophets in the Christian religion. There are some similarities between Hindu and Christian practices. The Christians and Hindus perform rights of passage, festivals, and family rituals which are quite similar. Some of these practices include baptisms, weddings, and funerals. In both religions, the events are presided by priests who act as intermediaries. Both the Jains and Hindus believe in life after death by believing in reincarnation. Also, their monks and priests attain their positions of enlightenment through meditation. However, there is a significant difference between the Jains and Hindus is the fact that the Hindus believe in gods and goddesses as opposed to the Jains who believe in a set of precepts.
Vishnu (sustainer). Sometimes these deities can appear in a given representation known as an avatar by a human being here on earth. The avatars often appear to save humans from an impending calamity. The Jain Tirthankara share some similarities with the Hindu avatar. For example, both the Jain Tirthankara
and avatars are individuals who act as guides to their people.
Although they are guides, they are different in such a way that the avatars are incarnation of the gods while the Tirthankara are just simple human beings just like prophets in the Christian religion. There are some similarities between Hindu and Christian practices. The Christians and Hindus perform rights of passage, festivals, and family rituals which are quite similar. Some of these practices include baptisms, weddings, and funerals. In both religions, the events are presided by priests who act as intermediaries. Both the Jains and Hindus believe in life after death by believing in reincarnation. Also, their monks and priests attain their positions of enlightenment through meditation. However, there is a significant difference between the Jains and Hindus is the fact that the Hindus believe in gods and goddesses as opposed to the Jains who believe in a set of precepts.