Jaina Rituals of Death: History, Doctrine and Practice

Flügel, Peter

Abstract

In this book, the author presents recent, somewhat unexpected, findings on the thriving cult of bone relic stupas and the ritual role of the materiality of the dead amongst contemporary Jains. Based on extensive fieldwork in India, clear evidence is offered for the ubiquity of bone relic stupas and relic veneration across the Jain sectarian spectrum, although classical Jain doctrine rejects the worship of material objects. The unique analysis applied in this book juxtaposes field-based ethnographic materials with textual analysis. Additionally, the author adds a broad comparative scope by systematically comparing Jain textual sources with the relevant sources from the Brahmanical and Buddhist traditions. This groundbreaking work will significantly reshape the field of Jain studies and its relationship with other South Asian religious traditions. It also offers is a major contribution to the history of religions.

Citation

Flügel, P. (in press). Jaina Rituals of Death: History, Doctrine and Practice. Routledge

• Book Type: Authored Book
• Acceptance Date: Mar 22, 2025
• Deposit Date: Sep 19, 2018
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Series Title: Routledge Advances in Jaina Studies
• Series Number: 7
• ISBN: 9781138232693
• Keywords: Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, mortuary rituals, death, funerals, Terāpanth, Śvetāmbara, Jain, stūpa, samādhi, bone relics, Ācārya Tulsī , Caland
• Contract Date: Jan 1, 2015