Jai Jinendra

Jai Jinendra! (Sanskrit: जय जिनेन्द्र Jaya Jinēndra) (started in 7th CE) is a common greeting used by the Jains. The phrase means "Honor to the Supreme Jinas (Tirthankaras)"

The reverential greeting is a combination of two Sanskrit words: Jai and Jinendra

The word, Jai is used to praise somebody. In Jai Jinendra, it is used to praise the qualities of the Jinas (conquerors).

The word Jinendra is a compound-word derived from the word Jina, referring to a human being who has conquered all inner passions and possess Kevala Gyan (pure infinite knowledge), and the word "Indra," which means chief or lord.

Meguti Aihole Jain Inscription

A slab on the outer east side wall of the Jain Meguti temple is inscribed in Sanskrit language and Old Kannada script. It is dated to 634 CE, and is a poem by Jain poet Ravikirti. He was in the court of king Pulakeshin II. This inscription opens with the words "Jai Jina" the equivalent of "Jai Jinendra" salutation in Sanskrit. The inscription is a panegyric by the Jain poet wildly praising his patron Pulakesin II.

The first verse reads:-

"Victorious is the holy Jina ─ he who is exempt from old age, death and birth ─ in the sea of whose knowledge the whole world is comprised like an island. And next, long victorious is the immeasurable, wide ocean of the Chalukya family, which is the birth-place of jewels of men that are ornaments of the diadem of the earth."

This 7th-century greeting remains a tradition among contemporary era Jains as "Jai Jinendra".

See also

• God in Jainism
• Mahavira

References

• Mardia, K.V.; Rankin, Aidan (2013), "Chapter 1. Jains Jainism and Jainness", Living Jainism: An Ethical Science, John Hunt Publishing, ISBN 978-1780999111
• Sangave, Vilas Adinath (2001), Aspects of Jaina religion (3rd ed.), Bharatiya Jnanpith, ISBN 81-263-0626-2