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J

JAINISM. Also known as Jain Dharma,
Jainism is a religion that originated in
India toward the end of the Vedic period.
Jains believe in a timeless history of
endless cosmic cycles. These cycles are
divided into two halves: a progressive half
and a regressive half. In the third and
fourth phases of each half of the cosmic
cycle, there are 24 Jinas (conquerors) or
Tir thankaras (ford-makers). The 24th Jina
of the current cycle was Vardhamana
(“increasing”), known as Mahavira (“great
hero”), a historical figure who lived near
Patna in the state of Bihar and was a
contemporary of Siddhartha Guatama,
the founder of Buddhism. Historians date
Mahavira as living from 497 to 425 BCE,
but Jain tradition puts him a century
earlier, from 599 to 527 BCE. Jinas or
tirthankaras such as Mahavira are reli-
gious teachers who have conquered
samsara (the cycle of death and rebirth)
and can provide a crossing or ford (hence,
“ford-maker”) for Jains to follow them
from samsara to liberation.
Jainism, like Buddhism, emerged as a
shramana or ascetic tradition in response
to the ritualism of Vedic religion and the

hegemonic role of the priestly Brahmin

caste. Jainism teaches that all living beings,

including plants and animals, have an

eternal soul (jiva). They therefore strictly

adhere to the principle of ahimsa, or

non-violence, and undertake many ascetic

practices. Jains are strict vegetarians and

also avoid root vegetables. The aim of life

is to shed one’s karma through these

ascetic practices and achieve liberation

(moksha) from samsara.

By the fifth century CE, Jainism had

split into two main sects: Digambara

(“sky-clad”) and Shvetambara (“white-

clad”). Digambara Jainism was stricter,

teaching that people should not own any-

thing, including clothing, and that only

men could attain moksha. Shvetambara

Jainism was more moderate, allowing

people to wear white robes and own a few

basic possessions: an alms bowl, a broom

(to sweep the ground in front of oneself

in order to avoid stepping on any living

creatures), and a mukhavastrika (a piece

of cloth to hold over one’s mouth to

prevent one from accidentally inhaling,

and thereby killing, small insects). Today

there are approximately 5 million Jains