Jaina Dharma

1) History of Jainism : Kālacakra (cycle of time) and the tradition of Tīrthaṅkaras
– Life-sketch of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, Pārśvanātha and Mahāvīra
2) Jain Sects and their sub-division : Digambara and Śvetāmbara and their subsects.
3) Ṇamokāra Mahāmantra, Five Preceptor (Pañca Parameṣṭhi), Prayer, Bhakti,
Upāsanā; Three Jewels : Samyakdarśana-Jñāna-Cāritra.
4) Prakrit Canonical (Āgama) Literature and their VĀCANĀS (councils).
5) Prominent Ācāryas of Jainism : Life and works of Ācārya Kundakunda,
Ācārya Umāsvāmi(ti), Ācārya Siddhasena, Ācārya Akalaṅka svāmi, Ācārya
Haribhadra Sūri, Ācārya Vīrasena Svāmi, Ācārya Jinasena, Ācārya
Hemchandra Sūri and Ācārya Yaśovijay.

Vows : vows of Householders- Aṇuvratas, Guṇavratas and Śikṣāvratas; Great
Vows (Mahāvratas) of Monks- Ahiṃsā (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya
(non-stealing), Braḥmacarya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness).
Seven elements and six substance; Theory of Karma and its classification,
Puruṣārtha.
The concept of Knowledge and its classification.
Anekāntavāda and Syādvāda; Jain Yoga and Dhyāna.
The concept of Liberation in Jainism.

ART AND CULTURE

1) Jain Art (Śilpa) and Architecture : Jain caves and temples of Southern India,
Jain Temples of Khajurāho, Devagarḥa, Pālitānā and Mount-Ābu.
2) Jain Sculptures, Paintings and Jain Iconography : important Jain Sculptures
available in India, Idols received from Śravaṇabelagolā and Mathurā.
3) Impact of Jain Religion on Society : Vegetarianism (Śakāhāra) and Charity
(Dāna); Status of women in Jain Religion.
4) Environmental and Ecological thoughts in Jainism; Jainism and Science.
5) Main Centres of Jaina Learning: Śravaṇabelagolā, Jesalamera, Ahmedabad,
Varanasi, Vaishali, Koba, Ladnun, Jaipur, Delhi; Jainism in abroad.