Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jainism
Jainism arose in the 6th century BC as a reaction against the caste restraints and rituals of
Hinduism. It was founded by Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha.
Jains believe that liberation can be attained by achieving complete purity of the soul.
Purity means shedding all
karman,
matter generated by one's actions that binds itself to the
soul. By following various austerities (eg fasting and meditation) one can shed
karman
and
purify the soul. Right conduct is essential, and fundamental to this is ahimsa (non-violence)
in thought and deed towards any living thing.
The religious disciplines of followers are less severe than for monks (some Jain monks
go naked). The slightly less ascetic maintain a bare minimum of possessions which include
a broom to sweep the path before them to avoid stepping on any living creature, and a piece
of cloth tied over their mouth to prevent the accidental inhalation of insects.
Today, around 0.4% of India's population is Jain, with the majority living in Gujarat and
Mumbai (Bombay). Some notable Jain holy sites include Sravanabelagola, Palitana, Rana-
kpur and the temples of Mt Abu.
