About Jainism (जैनधर्म)

Jainism(जैनधर्म)  is an ancient religion of India, also now found in other countries around the world, that prescribes a path of peace and non-violence towards all living beings.

Jainism was revived by a lineage of 24 enlightened ascetics called tirthankaras culminating with Parshva (9th century BC) and Mahavira (6th century BC).

In the modern world, it is a small but influential religious minority with as many as 4.2 million followers in India

Principle and Beliefs

Jainism regards every living soul as potentially divine. When the soul sheds its karmic bonds completely, it attains divine consciousness. It prescribes a path of non-violence to progress the soul to this ultimate goal.

Jainism is based on three general principles called the three Ratnas (jewels).

• Right faith.
• Right knowledge.
• Right action.

There are five basic ethical principles (vows) that needs to be followed.

• Non-violence (Ahimsa) - to cause no harm to living beings.
• Truth (Satya) - to always speak the truth in a harmless manner.
• Non-stealing (Asteya) - to not take anything that is not willingly given.
• Celibacy (Brahmacarya) - to not indulge in sensual pleasures.
• Non-possession (Aparigraha) - to detach from people, places, and material things.

Jains are recommended to pass through four stages during their lifetime:

• Brahmacharya-ashrama: the life of a student
• Gruhasth-ashrama: family life
• Vanaprasth-ashrama: family and social services
• Sanyast-ashrama: life as a monk; a period of renunciation