JAINISM: HISTORY AND TEACHINGS
A MESSAGE OF CO-EXISTENCE
by Dr. Navinchandra Mehta, Toronto, Canada
Note from the Author
My main incentive for learning more about Jainism came from the example set by my father, Mohanlal Mehta, who, from having little knowledge of the religion, acquired enough to push for a Jain temple in Toronto in the 1980s and was later the temple’s Trustee, helping families at the time of Birth and Death. I thank my wife, Shrimati Ina Mehta, for her support throughout my life, and for encouraging me and supporting me in the writing of this book. My Pranams & Michchaami Dukadam मिच्छामी दुकडम to all. Dr. Navin Mehta
AboutThe Book
In his book, Dr. Navin Mehta begins with the pre-history of Jainism—before the first Tirthankara, Rishabhnath—acknowledging the challenges of drawing conclusions from limited or indirect evidence. He critically examines the vast time cycles in Jain cosmology, emphasizing their logical progression (1–6 and 6–1) as more rational than the repetitive Vedic model. Challenging the belief that the 14 Purvas are lost, Dr. Mehta argues that their teachings still persist and explores them in depth, along with the 24 Tirthankaras of both past and current cycles. He outlines the teachings of Mahavir Swami and both major Jain sects, then examines Jainism’s historical decline, its interactions with other religions, and the adaptive power of Anekantvad (Multiplicity of Viewpoint). He also explores the evolution of temple worship and prayer practices, and closes by summarizing historical and contemporary conflicts within Jainism and between Jainism and other religions, offering a broad yet critical perspective on the past, present, and potential future of Jainism.
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What Readers are Saying About Jainism: History and Teaching
Please get everyone to read this book and doing so may help you get focussed on the pure divine images of Chauvis Tirthankaras, which would not go in vain as health and wealth may become your natural possessions and you may discover new spiritual energies and assimilate the Punya of Gyan-daan.
Each day, well-lived, makes yesterday a dream of happiness and each tomorrow a vision of hope. Look, therefore, to this day for it and it alone is life!
– Arhant Jain
This book offers tremendous insight into the ancient history of Jainism, including its time cycles and Purvas (ancient scriptures), which are not widely known. The author provides a detailed account of the Tirthankaras and their teachings. The section on the Jain Agams (the oldest known Jain scriptures) covering their origin, composition and classification is particularly noteworthy.
– Jainendra Kumar Jain
Since Dr. Navin is not dogmatic in nature, he is able to view the scriptures from different angles. … Many critical explanations offered by Dr. Navin are novel and interesting. … For the young generation, this book should make a good and interesting reading to know the scientific aspects of religion with open mind. They may not agree with him fully, but it would motivate them to think differently in spiritual field ….
– Dr.-Ing Jeoraj Jain
About Dr. Navin Mehta
Dr. Navin Mehta was born in Zanzibar, trained as a medical doctor in Mumbai and the UK, and moved to Nova Scotia to practice medicine in the late ‘60s. He was often the only Jain in town and he and his wife Ina opened their home for Diwali celebrations and Jain prayers for decades. He taught Jainism at Truro’s Teacher’s College in the 1970s, sourcing material from Dalhousie University at a time when resources were limited.
After retiring to Toronto in 2005, Dr. Mehta continued his lifelong commitment to education and interfaith engagement. He organized a pioneering international Zoom lecture series on Jainism and initiated the effort to establish a Jain Chair at the University of Toronto, realized in 2021. He is a multilingual writer of prose and poetry. He has advocated for unity among Jain sects and emphasized the importance of the original Jain teachings, particularly those of the Purvas.