Tamil Jain

Tamil Jains or Samaṇar or Nainar (Tamil: சமணர் (அல்லது) நயினார், from Jain Prakrit samaṇa "wandering renunciate") are a Tamil people from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu who practice Digambara Jainism (Tamil: சமணம், Camaṇam). They are a micro-community of around 85,000 (around 0.13% of the population of Tamil Nadu). Tamil Jains are predominantly scattered in Northern Tamil Nadu, largely in the districts of Chennai,Viluppuram, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Thanjavur.

Early Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions in Tamil Nadu date to the 3rd century BCE and describe the livelihoods of Tamil Jains. Many of the rich Tamil literature works were written by Camaṇar, such as the Nālaṭiyār, the Silappatikaram, the Manimekalai and the Civaka Cintamani. Three of the five great epics of Tamil literature are attributed to Jains.

Some scholars believe that Jain philosophy must have entered South India some time in 6th century B.C. Literary sources and inscription state that Bhadrabahu came over to Shravanabelagola with a 12000-strong retinue of Jain sages when north India found it hard to negotiate with the 12 year long famine in the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. Even Chandragupta accompanied this constellation of sages. On reaching Shravanabelagola, Bhadrabahu felt his end approaching and decided stay back along with Chandragupta and he instructed the Jain saints to tour over the Chola and Pandiya domains.

According to other scholars, Jainism must have existed in south India well before the visit of Bhadrabhu and Chandragupta. There are plenty of caves as old as 4th century CE are found with Jain inscriptions and Jain deities around Madurai, Trichy, Kanyakumari, Tanjavur.

A number of Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions have been found in Tamil Nadu that date from the second century BCE. They are regarded to be associated with Jain monks and lay devotees.

The exact origins of Jainism in Tamil Nadu is unclear. However, Jains flourished in Tamil Nadu at least as early as the Sangam period. Tamil Jain tradition places their origins are much earlier. The Ramayana mentions that Rama paid homage to Jaina monks living inSouth India on his way to Sri Lanka. Some scholars believe that the author of the oldest extant work of literature in Tamil (3rd century BCE), Tolkāppiyam, was a Jain.

Tirukkural by Valluvar is considered by to be the work by a Jain by scholars like V. Kalyanasundarnar, Vaiyapuri Pillai, Swaminatha Iyer, P.S. Sundaram.  It emphatically supports vegetarianism (Chaper 26) and states that giving up animal sacrifice is worth more than thousand offerings in fire( verse (259).

Silappatikaram, first epic in Tamil literature, was written by a Camaṇa, Ilango Adigal. This epic is a major work in Tamil literature, describing the historical events of its time and also of then-prevailing religions, Jainism, Buddhism and Shaivism. The main characters of this work, Kannagi and Kovalan, who have a divine status among Tamils, were Jains.

According to George L. Hart, who holds the endowed Chair in Tamil Studies by University of California, Berkeley, has written that the legend of the Tamil Sangams or "literary assemblies: was based on the Jain sangham at Madurai:

There was a permanent Jaina assembly called a Sangha established about 604 A.D. in Madurai. It seems likely that this assembly was the model upon which tradition fabricated the Sangam legend.

Jainism began to decline around the 8th century CE, with many Tamil kings embracing Hindu religions, especially Shaivism. Still, the Chalukya, Pallava and Pandya dynasties embraced Jainism.

When India became independent in 1947, Madras Presidency became Madras State, comprising present day Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, South Canara district Karnataka, and parts of Kerala. The state was subsequently split up along linguistic lines. In 1969, Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu, meaning Tamil country.

The total number of Tamil Jains as per 2011 Indian census is 83,359, which forms 0.12% of the total population of Tamil Nadu (72,138,958).

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).

Tamil Jains are well assimilated in Tamil society, without any outward differentiation. Their physical features are similar to Tamils. 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 and characters from Jaina literature.

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).

Upadesam - 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 Ubadesam, one is supposed to follow religious practices with vigor and seriousness.

Marriage - Outwardly, Jain marriages resemble Hindu marriages. However, the mantraschanted are Jain. There is no Brahmin priest; instead there is a Camaṇar called a Koyil Vaadhiyar "temple priest” who conducts the ceremonies.

Pilgrimage - Most Jains go on pilgrimage to tirthas and major Jain temples in the North India- Shikharji, Pavapuri, Champapuri and Ujjayanta Giri - as well as places in South India such as in Karanataka, Shravanabelagola, Humbaj, 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.

Akshaya Tritiya commemorates the first Tirthankara, Rishabha, partaking food after many long years of penance. 

Jinaratri commemorates Rishabha's moksha. 

Mahavir Jayanti celebrates Tirtankara Mahavira's birth. 

Diwali commemorates Mahavira's moksha. 

Vasant Panchami honors the Jain Agamas

Upaakarma commemorates the Chakravartin Bharata, son of Rishabha, acknowledging the true scholars by awarding them the Upanayana. 

Karthikai Deepam at the onset of the month of Kartika

Puthandu and Thai Pongal are the other common festivals celebrated along with other Tamils. 

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.

Bhattaraka Laxmisena of Jina Kanchi Jain Mutt or madam at Mel-Sithamoor (near Tindivanam, Villupuram 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, maintenance 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.

In additional to the above, a new mutt named Arahanthgiri Jain Math located at Thirumalai near Polur, Tiruvannamalai district, has been functioning from February 8th,1998 with the name Dhavalakeerthi Swamigal. Now in the mutt around 2300 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 donors.