Jainism

Jainism is an ancient religious and philosophical tradition that is thought to have originated in the Ganges River basin. There remain some 4 million Jains in India, spread mainly between five states, and there is also a small but influential community of emigrants in both Europe and the United States.

The great philosophers of Jainism evolved a view of the universe as material and permanent, in strong contrast to the Buddhist view that everything is illusory and transient and nirvana or moksa means the merging or extinction of individuality in an undifferentiated final state. In contrast, in Jainism, death leads ultimately to the liberation of the soul into an individual state of total knowledge and bliss, although this process may take several cycles of death and rebirth. In Hinduism, unlike Jainism, there is no possible form of transmitting conscious memory from one life to another, because its domain belongs to the world of illusions and dissolves at death.

The distinctive aspects of the Jain tradition are the belief in unending cycles and "half cycles" of time as well as of life and death; the spiritual model provided by twenty-four leaders (jinas) who regenerated the Jain tradition in the present "half cycle" of time; the five vows of noninjury or nonviolence; speaking the truth; taking only that which is given; chastity; and detachment from place, persons, and things. The aim of Jain spiritual endeavour is to liberate the soul (jiva), which is believed to leave the physical body with one's karmic matter.

This matter supplies the energy for onward travel to a new destiny in the cycle of death and rebirth (karma), which in the Jain tradition has a material nature. "Drier," more dispassionate souls are not so easily polluted by negative karma, whereas karmic matter is more easily attracted to souls that are "moist" with desires that might contravene the five vows. The soul can leave the body through several orifices.

The soul of a sinner is perceived as leaving an already decayed body through the anus. The suture at the top of the skull is the purest point of the soul's exit, reserved for those who have led a life of renunciation, such as that of a dead ascetic. Just before the body of the deceased is cremated, the eldest son may help the soul of his father on its way by cracking the skull.

"First there must be knowledge and then compassion. This is how all ascetics achieve self-control" (Dasavaikalika 4:33). In Jainism, a good life through moral conduct (ahimsaa, or nonviolence and reverence for life in thoughts, words, and deeds) leads to a good death, one in which the body remains, to the last, under an ascetic type of control. Jain scriptures detail the destiny of the soul after death and the causes of physical death.

At a Jain deathbed, the sacred mantra of surrender, obeisance, and veneration to the five supreme beings (Navakara Mantra) is recited and hymns are sung. The same mantra is recited after death, when hymns are sung and other prayers recited. In the Indian subcontinent, the dead person is normally cremated within twenty-four hours of death (though there may be a delay of up to a week among the diaspora in Europe and the United States).

Before the body is consumed in the crematorium oven, there is a period of meditation for the peace of the soul, a sermon on the temporary nature of worldly life and advice to those present not to feel grief at the departure of the soul, which will be reborn in a new body. In the Indian subcontinent, the ashes of the deceased are dispersed in a nearby sacred river, or in the absence of a suitable river, a pit.

The departure of the soul at death is part of a Jain worldview in which the concept of a living soul is thought to exist in all human beings, animals, insects, and vegetation, and even in the earth, stone, fire, water, and air. The distinctive Jain respect for life and refusal to kill animals, insects, and plants for food arises from this worldview.

because of 3 reasons 1)practice of jainism in attaining keval gnan required alienation from worldly relations ,strict following of ahimsa(even during severe draught) made them socially weak and vulnerable to invaders(Muslims,brahminical conspiracies like brainwashing of jain hoysala king bittideva by ramanujacharya making him into a vaishnava vishnuvardhanan, also recently to christian brainwashing) 2)strongly the influence of vaishnava(mainly sri Krishna bhakti) and shaiva(like lingayatism in karnataka)bhakti movements and also included the comparitive social freedom available in Hinduism i mean inpuranic followingprecisely 3)internal battles among jain dynasties particularly in south India

A religion that does not teach forgiveness is hardly a religion, because every religion must teach forgiveness, and they do. Religions are kindergartens - all religions are good, they teach us the ABC of God, they teach us about being good, about loving our fellow men, about giving and forgiving but unfortunately religions are only kindergartens, they only teach us the basics. Just like we go beyond a kindergarten to school and to pre-university and university we have to graduate in the university called spirituality. Spirituality is not a religion, we don't have to change our religion but we have to go beyond the kindergarten of religion to realize the Truth about God. Forgiveness is just one simple step. Not only must we forgive, but we must also love and become compassionate, kind and we must realize that the one we are trying to forgive is none other than the Divine Spirit that is in us: we are all part of the same Divine.

They're called Jains.

In Jainism there is no prophet. Instead Jains follow the teaching and path shown by 24 Tirthankars (Jain Gods). Jains regard Lord Rishabnath as their first Tirhankar and Lord Mahavira as the last.

None in particular, but India is known for having numerous diverse languages.

jainism is worshiped in the temples where the trithankaras are worshiped

Like Buddhists, Jains do not worship a Creator God, but, believe in various non-creator deities.

michael

the jainism people believe because they are aware of the karam chakra and also believe in the cycle of life and death. but, at the same time they believe that in future only the religion is the base which helps the people , nothing else. on the other side, if you have a believe in the life-cycle you also believe that people have to face the good and the bad things in the human life itself. The one more reason for believing is the jain religion is totlly based on scientific methods, if you are aware of it as in this you have to walk without footwears and scientifically its a good thing. moreover, in the jain religion people prefer to eat dinner before the sunset which is again a scientific way as you have to take your meals atleast 2 hrs before you sleep........ there are a bumber of reasons to prove but, until you believe everything seems to be a story.

there are many teachers but the main is Mahavira

The knowledge domain of Jainism is very vast. The main holy books of Jains are known as "Äagam". Formerly there were 84 Aagams but there are total 45 Aagam in existence at present. They include 11 Anga Aagam, 12 Upanga Aagam, 10 Prakirnaka Sutra, 6 Chhed Sutra, 4 Mool Sutra and 2 Chulika Sutra making it a total of 45 Aagams.

4

They really focus on 'Ahimsa' which means nonviolence. They mainly believe that one should focus on striving for nirvana, which will lead to their gaining of the highest salvation possible.

Jains believe in cycling through birth and rebirth. However their take on things is a little different from most religions that believe this. Not only can you be reincarnated into the earthly realm, but also into their layers of heaven and hells. You are not permanently stuck in hell, once you die there, you may be reincarnated back into the earthly realm. Where you go depends on your karma. Moksha (the end of the cycling through birth and rebirth) comes when one finds enlightenment, like the tirthankaras. In addition, you cannot attain Moksha until you have been a man in at least one of your lives. The layers of heaven and hell consist of... # The supreme abode: This is located at the top of the universe and is where Siddha, the liberated souls, live. # The upper world: 30 heavens where celestial beings live. # Middle world: the earth and the rest of the universe. # Nether world: 7 hells with various levels of misery and punishments # The Nigoda, or base: where the lowest forms of life reside # Universe space: layers of clouds which surround the upper world # Space beyond: an infinite volume without soul, matter, time, medium of motion or medium

The basic principal of Jainism is AHIMSA, which means to protect even the unseen creatures present in the universe. In other words, you can say that it is the only religion which says don't walk, don't talk, and don't do any activity unless it is necessary to protect the enormous molecules present every where.

Jainism is polytheistic, while Sikhism is monotheistic.

In the age of Mahavir, Jainism was known as "Jin Sashan" which would roughly translate to "Jainism" itself, because 23 other Tirthankaras had preceded Mahavir and spread the principles of Jainism. In the age of Mahavir, his parents and many others were already following Jainism propagated by Parshwanath, the 23rd Tirthankar of Jainism.

the main 4 are injure no life, tell the truth, do not steal, and own no property -hope this works

Jains do believe that there is no real founder of Jainism as it is an eternal religion. They have 24 tirthankaras of whom Lord Rishabha is considered to be the first one and is accounted as the founder and preacher of Jainism in this kaal (jain division of time).

However, some of the modern historians believe that Lord Parshwnath (23rd Tirthankar of Jains) was the founder of Jainism.

He is associated with Jainism, although it is disputed whether the belief system is actually *based* on his teachings.

Pronounce the bold letters louder ji-neejin-ee

No, Sikhism is part of Dharmic religions along with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

The Jain religion accepts these following items to be true and orients their beliefs and behaviors around them:

* Every living being has a soul * Every soul can potentially become divine with innate infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite power, and infinite bliss. * Every living being is yourself, harm no one.

* Every soul is can be born into a laver of existence depending on its karma: celestial, human, sub-human or demon * Every soul is the determines its own life, here and hereafter. * A soul freed from karma becomes god like liberated. * The freeing of Karma is achi ved by: Right View, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct * Non-violence is the basis of Right View, the condition of right Knowledge and the start of right Conduct. * Control your senses. * Limit your possessions and your possessiveness * Keep company of the holy and better qualified, show mery to the afflicted and tolerate the perversely inclined * Four things are difficult to attain by a soul: human birth, knowledge of the law, faith in the law and the pursuit of the right path. * Do not waste human life in evil ways yours or others. Rise up in your spiritual evolution. === ===