Sources

The Jains

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "The Jains." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/the-jains.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). The Jains. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/the-jains

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-the-jains,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {The Jains},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/the-jains},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Paul Dundas's overview rests on the textual and doctrinal record of both the Digambara and Svetambara traditions read side by side, which is itself a real editorial choice: many general accounts of Jainism default to one tradition's framing, and this one deliberately covers both. What the atlas can verify is that it remains the general English language reference most commonly cited for an overview of the whole tradition rather than one sect's own account of itself; it has not independently traced a documented history of corrections or scholarly disputes about specific claims in it. It is a strong source for established historical and doctrinal facts about Jain religion and community life across both major traditions. As a single volume overview of a long and internally diverse tradition, a claim specific to one regional community or one lineage's own current practice may need a more specialized source alongside it.

Facts

Assessment

Reliability Tier

A standard scholarly overview of Jainism from an academic publisher, covering the tradition's history, doctrine, monastic and lay practice across its Digambara and Svetambara branches.

Notes

Standard scholarly overview of Jainism: its history, doctrine, monastic and lay practice, scripture and the Digambara and Svetambara traditions. Use for established historical and doctrinal facts about Jain religion and community life.

Citation

Author

Paul Dundas

Publisher

Routledge

Publication Year

2002

URL

https://www.routledge.com/The-Jains/Dundas/p/book/9780415266062

Source Type

academic monograph

Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Digambara

This source names Digambara directly: "and doctrinal record of both the Digambara and Svetambara traditions read side by side, which is itself a real editorial choice: many general accounts of Jainism default to one tradition's framing..."

Source The JainsPaul Dundas

Svetambara

This source names Svetambara directly: "record of both the Digambara and Svetambara traditions read side by side, which is itself a real editorial choice: many general accounts of Jainism default to one tradition's framing, and this one..."

Source The JainsPaul Dundas

Questions Resolved By This

When was the Mathuri recension of the Svetambara Jain canon made?

The council-historicity fact already recorded on the page this question concerns, stating no absolute date is defended in the literature.

Claims Backed By This Source (1,249 claims)

This source backs 1,249 claims across the atlas. As facts: 904 well-attested, 19 scholarly debate, 1 open question. As cited relationships: 142 holds, 11 connected, 3 held Differently. Plus 169 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Articles, 229 claims: 213 well-attested, 4 holds, 4 connected, 8 general references.
Figures, 220 claims: 167 well-attested, 5 scholarly debate, 48 general references.
Denominations, 83 claims: 57 well-attested, 19 holds, 1 connected, 3 held Differently, 3 general references.
Religious Organization & Structure, 81 claims: 53 well-attested, 17 holds, 11 general references.
Sacred Sites, 59 claims: 40 well-attested, 13 holds, 6 general references.
Doctrines, 51 claims: 32 well-attested, 11 holds, 8 general references.
Deities, 41 claims: 29 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 8 holds, 3 general references.
Hymns & Liturgical Texts, 38 claims: 25 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 9 holds, 3 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 36 claims: 23 well-attested, 3 holds, 10 general references.
Practices, 33 claims: 26 well-attested, 3 holds, 4 general references.
Mantras, 32 claims: 25 well-attested, 4 holds, 3 general references.
Open Questions, 32 claims: 23 well-attested, 6 connected, 3 general references.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 25 claims: 18 well-attested, 7 general references.
Holidays & Festivals, 24 claims: 15 well-attested, 4 holds, 5 general references.
Religious Events, 22 claims: 6 well-attested, 7 scholarly debate, 4 holds, 5 general references.
Scriptures & Texts, 21 claims: 17 well-attested, 4 general references.
Prayers, 20 claims: 11 well-attested, 5 holds, 4 general references.
Sacred Art & Iconography, 18 claims: 11 well-attested, 1 open question, 5 holds, 1 general references.
Pilgrimage Routes, 17 claims: 12 well-attested, 3 holds, 2 general references.
Cities, 15 claims: 3 well-attested, 7 holds, 5 general references.
Myths & Sacred Narratives, 14 claims: 9 well-attested, 4 holds, 1 general references.
Calendars, 12 claims: 9 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
Religious Dress & Vestments, 11 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds, 2 general references.
Rituals, 11 claims: 10 well-attested, 1 general references.
Spread Events, 11 claims: 3 well-attested, 7 holds, 1 general references.
Animals & Totems, 10 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Councils and Synods, 10 claims: 5 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 3 general references.
Sources, 10 claims: 8 well-attested, 2 holds.
Historical Figures, 9 claims: 5 well-attested, 3 holds, 1 general references.
Religions, 9 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 general references.
Religious Symbols, 8 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Religious Offices, 7 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Sacred Architecture, 6 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 general references.
Subcategories, 6 claims: 3 well-attested, 3 general references.
Ages, 5 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 general references.
Disciplines, 4 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
Regions, 3 claims: 3 general references.
Countries, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Mythical Creatures, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Scripts & Magical Alphabets, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.