Jainism

Beginnings: Jainism began as a heretical sect of Hindu Brahminism, and is believed by some scholars to be related to Buddhism. It was founded in roughly 600 BCE by Jnatriputra, who was later given the title Vardhamana Mahavira, and Jina, conqueror, from which the name Jain is derived. Mahavira, like Buddha, was reputedly the son of a Prince, rejected the Vedas, and practiced extreme asceticism.

The Tirthankaras: Mahavira was the last of 24 Tirthankaras, or enlightened teachers. Tirthankars are divine beings, but they are not gods. Rather, they are especially enlightened souls who attained their status through riorous meditation and extreme piety. Anyone can potentially become a Tirthankara, but there can only be 24 at any given time. Some Tirthankaras are mythological, with birth narreatives that begin millions or even billions po0f years ago. Many are kings, The Tirthankaras are also known as Jina (saints), or Nirgrantha ('free').

The 24 Tirthankars: Rishabha (also Adi-natha) Ajita Sambhava Abhinandana Sumati Padmaprabhu Suparshvanatha Chandraprabhu Suvidhi Shitalnatha Shreyansa Vasupujya Vimala Ananta Dharma Shanti Kunthu Arah Malli Munisuvrata Nami Nemi Parshva Mahavira

Sects in Jainism: There are two main sects of Jainism, the Svetamabara and Digambara Svetamabaras are slighty more liberal, allowing women into the ranks. The Digambara forbid women and tend to be more ascetic. Further, both sects maintain their own lists of sacred texts.

Svetambara : Svetambara means "White robed," and refers to the attire worn by the sect. The Svetambaras tend to outnumber the Digambaras and the majority of Svetambara initiates are women.

Digambaras: Digambara means "Sky clad," and refers to the sect's preference for nudity and the natural state. The Digambara sect practices a stricter asceticism than the Svetambars, and they do not consider women acceptible candidates for moksha, or release from Samsara.

Adherents: There are about five million Jains worldwide, the vast majority concentrated in India. The numbers of initiated monks and nuns are much lower, about 15,000 for the Svetambara sect and just over 1,000 for the Digambara sect.

Jain Scripture: The authentic scriptures agreed upon by both Jain sects are the Purvas, which have been lost. Other scriptures include the Angas, Upangas, Mulasutras, the Satkhandagama, and the Anuyogas.

Jain Symbolism: Symbols of the Jain religion include many Hindu symbols, also emblems like the "Ahimsa," a hand proclaiming an end to Samsara through nonviolence, and the Jain Om. The "Universal Jain Symbol" is a symbol of Jain adherence.

Beliefs and Practices: Jains have no clergy; generally serious believers become monks or nuns-Sadhu (males) and Sadhvi (females). To become a monk, one is initiated, and takes vows to live a life without worldliness.

Non-initiates form the classes of laypersons, Shravak and Shravika. One becomes a Jina by completely excising one's ego and base emotions, thus freeing oneself of negative karma and liberating oneself the Wheel of Samsara, the attainment of which is called Moksha.

Ordained Jain Monastics take five vows:

1. Ahimsa (non-killing) for all living things.
2. No lying.
3. No stealing.
4. Avoid worldly attachments.
5. Avoid walking after dark.

Jain religious practice centers around two doctrines: liberation from the self via meditation, and the practice of ahimsa, or non-violence.

Church/temple: Jains tend to prefer ornate temples similar to Hindu temples, however, only the laity worship in temples- monastics repudiate temple worship as worldly. Temples contain statues of the Tirthankaras and minor deities.

Jains practice extreme self-denial and non-violence, avoiding meat, cooked food, killing, and anything thought to be harmful to nmlife or "worldly." Jains usually wear face coverings to prevent the accidental inhalation and killing of insects. Some Jains go without clothing; most wear simple white garments.
For more about the doctrine of nonviolence, see Ahimsa

Jain belief is similar to Buddhism in many ways. They believe that Moksa, or enlightenment, is the only way to be liberated from the Dharma, the law of Karma and rebirth. To achieve this end, Jains practice ahimsa, non-harming. Everyday Jains avoid killing "five-sensed" creatures, and Monastics avoid taking the life of any creature at all. Unlike Buddhism, Jains teach self-denial and asceticism- that only by repudiating material existence can one attain spiritual existence. One must strive to remove attachments, ego, and subservience to base emotion; this is accomplished throughout many lifetimes.

Another doctrine Jains hold that is similar to Buddhism is the triratna, or "three gems." These are:

Right knowledge
Right faith
Right action

Jain cosmology divides the universe and everything in it into five categories called astikayas: About astikayas