Quote: "Jainism ( JAY-nih-zəm), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion."
The various rituals, observances, and festivals followed by Jains, including fasting, worshiping, and performing austerities.
Ahimsa: The principle of non-violence, one of the most important aspects of Jainism.
Jina: The supreme soul, also known as the conqueror or victor, who attains liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Jain rituals: A set of religious practices followed by Jains that include fasting, meditation, and worship of deities.
Tirthankaras: The twenty-four spiritual leaders of Jainism who help people attain spiritual enlightenment.
Five Vows: The five main vows of Jainism are Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy), and Aparigraha (non-possession).
Sallekhana: A voluntary fasting unto death practiced by Jains who are terminally ill or advanced in age.
Navakar Mantra: A prayer that Jains recite at the beginning of every ritual, emphasizing the five vows and reverence to the Jina.
Panch Kalyanak: The five auspicious events that are central to Jainism, including the birth, renunciation, enlightenment, preaching, and liberation of Mahavira.
Digambar and Shwetambar: The two main sects of Jainism, with distinct differences in beliefs, practices, and attire.
Jain festivals: Celebrations that honor important events in Jain history, such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushan, and Diwali.
Jain symbols: The symbols commonly associated with Jainism, such as the swastika, Jain flag, Jain emblem, and Jain hand gesture.
Jain scriptures: The primary texts of Jainism, including the Agamas, Upangas, Prakirnakas, and commentaries.
Jain cosmology: The Jain belief in the universe as an infinite, eternal, and cyclical entity, divided into different realms of existence.
Jain philosophy: The key principles of Jainism, which emphasize spiritual progress, non-attachment to material possessions, and liberation from karma.
Jain monasticism: The lifestyle and practices of Jain monks and nuns, who take vows of renunciation and dedicate their lives to spiritual pursuits.
Samayika: It is a daily meditation and self-reflection practice to bring spiritual peace through awareness.
Pratikramana: It is a daily confession ritual where one acknowledges their past mistakes, seeks forgiveness, and vows to avoid repeating them.
Paryushana: It is an eight-day fasting ceremony during the monsoon months, which includes self-reflection, repentance, and charity.
Ayambil Oli: It is a nine-day fasting ritual during which people eat only boiled vegetables with no spices or salt.
Atthai: It is a forty-eight-day period of spiritual reflection, meditation, and study that is done in groups or individually.
Chaturmas: It is a four-month long period that spans from the third day of Ashadh to the eleventh day of Kartik, during which Jain monks and nuns stay in one place and refrain from traveling or wandering.
Bhaktamar Stotra: It is a twenty-four prayers praising the first Tirthankar Lord Adinath, with each prayer highlighting different virtues of the Lord.
Navakar Mantra: It is a universal prayer or mantra reciting the nine auspicious names of the Tirthankars.
Chaitya Vandan: It is a daily practice of expressing gratitude and reverence to the Tirthankars and their teachings.
Digambar Terapanthi Puja: It is a puja or worship ritual done by the Digambar Terapanthi sect.
Jain Kundalini Kriya: It is a seven-step meditation technique to balance the energy chakras and enhance spirituality.
Anumodana: It is a ritual of expressing gratitude and sending blessings to all beings after any virtuous or charitable act.
Guru Puja: It is a ritual of paying tribute to one's spiritual guru or teacher.
Kevalgyan: It is a knowledge attainment ceremony, where a Jain ascetic attains Kevalgyan, the perfect and complete knowledge of the universe.
Quote: "Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of Dharma)."
Quote: "The first in the current time cycle being Rishabhadeva, whom the tradition holds to have lived millions of years ago."
Quote: "The twenty-third tirthankara Parshvanatha, whom historians date to the 9th century BCE."
Quote: "The twenty-fourth tirthankara Mahavira, around 600 BCE."
Quote: "The three main pillars of Jainism are ahiṃsā (non-violence), anekāntavāda (non-absolutism), and aparigraha (asceticism)."
Quote: "Jain monks take five main vows: ahiṃsā (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness)."
Quote: "These principles have affected Jain culture in many ways, such as leading to a predominantly lacto-vegetarian lifestyle."
Quote: "Parasparopagraho jīvānām (the function of souls is to help one another) is the faith's motto."
Quote: "The Namokar Mantra is its most common and strongest prayer."
Quote: "Jainism is one of the oldest religions still practiced today."
Quote: "It has two major ancient sub-traditions, Digambaras and Śvētāmbaras."
Quote: "Both sub-traditions hold different views on ascetic practices, gender, and the texts considered canonical."
Quote: "Both sub-traditions have mendicants supported by laypersons (śrāvakas and śrāvikas)."
Quote: "The religion has between four and five million followers, known as Jains, who reside mostly in India."
Quote: "Outside India, some of the largest Jain communities can be found in Canada, Europe, and the United States."
Quote: "Japan is also home to a fast-growing community of converts."
Quote: "Major festivals include Paryushana and Das Lakshana, Ashtanika, Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, Akshaya Tritiya, and Dipawali."
Quote: "They numbered around 4.5 million at the 2011 census."
Quote: "The religion has between four and five million followers, known as Jains."