Please find here my recent reflection on Mahavira and Jainism, one of the heterodox traditions that emerges in response to early Brahmanism and the Upanishads.
Primary texts
Jaina Sutras, Part I and II, translated by Hermann Jacobi
– a collection of some of the corpus of Jain religious texts relating to theology and philosophy
Tattvârthsûtra by Âchârya Umâsvami
– the most succinct and accessible primary text of Jain philosophy giving a systematized philosophical framework
Sarvārthasiddhi by Acharya Pujyapada
– the oldest extant commentary on Tattvārthsūtra
Secondary texts
Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition by Grant Hardy
– has a good introductory episode to Jain thought, and the entire series really puts Jainism within its historical and situational perspective
Jain Philosophy and Practice I and II by the Jaina Education Series
– accessible introductions into Jain thought, however written for a Jain audience (i.e. preaching to the converted)
Studies In Jaina Philosophy by Nathmal Tatia
– an older but excellent systematic reading of Jain philosophy within the context of Brahmanism/Hinduism and Buddhism
Intro and Outro music:
Reeder, Watchmaker’s Daughter – available on Free Music Archive or at http://www.iamreeder.com/
