Anurag Jain's Blog on Bangalore Events, Travel, IIM Bangalore, IIM, IIMB, Management

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Posted 1:05 PM by Anurag

Anant Chaudas, Das Lakshan Parva (Paryushan), Jainism etc.

Yesterday, I visited Jain temple(s) after a long time. This was on account of yesterday being Anant Chaudash, an important day in the ten-day festival of Daslakshan. I visit temples probably once in six-months or so. But thats not to say I am not religious. I am just a bit detached.

Talking about temples and Jainism, latest Indian census data paints a very healthy picture of Jain community. Incidentally, this is the first time Religion-wise data has been published by Indian census office. The numbers suggest that Jains are tops on pretty much all parameters. Sample some: Literacy-wise, Jains top the list with 94.1%. The national average for literacy is 64.8%. For female literacy, the national average is at 53.7%, and Jains again take the lead with a female literacy figure of 90.6%. The only sore point in the data is the scorching growth rate of Jain population which has been estimated at 26% in the last decade (as against 4% in the previous decade)! But Jain groups have contested that figure (Census results inaccurate: Jains).

I think all this has to probably do with the fact that we Jains are a minority community. We are 6 million (60 lakhs) out of 1 billion Indians (0.6%). Even though, people at large, often categorize Jains as Hindus, we are not. We have a separate religious and more importantly, cultutral, identity. In a sense, we can be compared to Jews: Small ethnic group, which excels at most activities that it touches.

A friend on a Jain yahoogroup sent these additional statistics on state-wise Jain population:
"
91.16% Jains live in these 8 states
State Jain Population % of Total Jains
Maharashtra 1301843 30.81
Rajasthan 650493 15.40
Madhya Pradesh 545446 12.91
Gujarat 525305 12.43
Karnataka 412659 9.77
Uttar Pradesh 207111 4.90
Delhi 125122 2.96
Tamil Nadu 83569 1.98
Total 91.16

Total of Jain population in these 8 states: 3851548
Total Jain population in India: 4225052

Thus 91.16% Jains live in these 8 states

In Gujarat, the growth of Jains in 1991-2001 was just 6.91%. This number is very low as the growth of Jains in all India was 26%. I think that Jain from Gujarat have written themselves as Hindus and not as Jains in the census. There is no other reason."

4 comments

Comments:

You have impressive stats man..

# posted by

drsankalp : November 24, 2005 3:56 AM

Glad you like 'em, Sankalp!

# posted by

Anurag : November 24, 2005 7:14 AM

i am taking an easter religion class in college. I was trying to figure out how jain laymen live, and where do they live.
thanks for the facts!

# posted by

Anonymous : March 10, 2007 11:21 AM

Can you put up a list or address of jain temples in bangalore

thanks

# posted by

Anonymous : February 15, 2008 7:17 AM