Tamil Jain
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There are around 50,000 native Tamil Jains in Tamil Nadu, India, mostly belonging to the Jain Digambara sect. They are also known as Samanar in Tamil. They are mostly scattered in northern Tamil Nadu, mostly in the districts of Chennai, Chengleput, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Thanjavur. They call themselves "Nainar". Their mother tongue is Tamil even though Jains belonging to Swethambara sect speak Hindi.
They have a legacy that is more than 2000 years old. Many of the rich Tamil literature works were written by Tamil Jains, such as Seevagasinthamani.
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Presence
Tamil Jains families are found in the Madras, Chengelpet, South Arcot, North Arcot, and Tanjavur districts of Tamil Nadu and also in urban areas such as Madras city, Kancheepuram, Vandavasi, Arni, Tindivanam, Vizhupuram. One can find Jain temples constructed in Dravidian style in these areas. In many of these temples daily worship takes place.
Sects
All Tamil jains are of the Digambara sect. The Nainar caste outnumbers others such as Iyer in Kancheepuram, Udayar in Senji, Mudaliar in Tanjavur and Chettiar in the Kumbakonam area.
Lifestyle
The occupation of the majority of the Tamil jain families is agriculture. A small number settled in urban areas are employed in public and private sectors. Many are teachers.
Identity
Tamil jains are well assimilated in Tamil society without any outward differentiation. However, they christen their children by the names of Tirthankaras, characters of Jaina literature. Some of the examples are Aadhi Doss, Aadhiraj, Virushabadoss, Ajitha Doss, Sambava Doss, Neminathan, Appandai Rajan, Parsvanathan, Jeevagan, Dhanyakumaran, Sreyankumaran, Bharata chakravarthy, Jinasenan, Vasavadutta, Ramadutta, Vijayamathi, Gandharvadutta, etc.
Religious head
Swasti Shri Laxmisena Swamiji of Jina Kanchi Jain mutt at Mel Sithamoor (near Tindivanam, South Arcot District) is the religous head of the community. He performs the Upadesam ceremony (similar to Baptisam) 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, mainternance of temples and such activities. The mutt was able to achieve such multifarious operations with the help and contributions of its members.
Fastings and other religious practices
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 five times the name of a Thirthankara. 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.
Lifetime ceremonies
Ezhangappu - On the seventh day of its birth, a new born baby is adorned with bracelets. Ear piercing and adorning the child with ear rings. This ceremony is mostly performed either in the Jain temple of Arpakkam or Thirunarungondai.
Girls attaining puberty
Upadesam - both men and women (induction in to religious practices and adherences) Marriage. Outwardly jain marriages resemble hindu marriages. However, mantras chanted are of Jaina orientation.
Pilgrimage to Sammedsigarji Pavapuri, Champapuri, Urjayantha giri in North India and to Shravanabelagola, Humcha and Simmanagadde in Karnataka. Funeral rites - the dead are placed on a pyre and incinerated. Ashes are disbursed in water courses, ceremonies are performed on tenth day. There after annual rememberence ceremonies similar to hindu practice are not performed.
Festivals
Atchaya thrithiyai - a festival in commemoration of the first thirthankara Rishabadeva partaking food after 1000 long years of penance.
Sivarathri - in comemoration of Shri Rishabadeva attaining moksha.
Mahavir Jayanthi - festivity on the day of thirthankara Shri Mahaveera's birth.
Deepavali - in comemoration of Shri Mahaveera attaining moksha.
Shruthapanjami - to worship agamas and scriptures
Avani Avittam - in comemoration of emperor Bharatha acknowledging true scholars by giving them the sacred thread.
Saraswati Pooja, Yugadi and Pongal are the other common festivals celebrated alongwith other Tamils.