Overview
Jainism, also called Jain Dharma, is an ancient Indian religious tradition. It teaches that living beings possess souls and that liberation becomes possible as karmic bondage is overcome through disciplined knowledge, conduct and spiritual practice.
Jains look to a succession of 24 Tirthankaras, enlightened teachers who reveal a path across the cycle of rebirth. The most recent was Vardhamana Mahavira, traditionally placed in the first millennium BCE. Jain tradition regards him as a teacher and organizer of the community rather than the creator of an entirely new religion.
Jainism developed in the same broad cultural setting as Hindu traditions and Buddhism. The three have shared vocabulary and historical contact, but their accounts of the soul, karma and liberation differ in important ways.
The Jain worldview
Jain thought describes the universe as beginningless and uncreated. It contains living beings and nonliving realities, including matter, space, time, and the conditions that make motion and rest possible. Liberated souls dwell beyond ordinary rebirth.
These descriptions belong to a detailed religious cosmology. Interpretations and terminology may vary between texts, teachers and Jain communities.
Karma and liberation
In Jain philosophy, karma is understood as subtle matter that attaches to the soul through actions and passions. It obscures the soul's inherent knowledge and freedom. This differs from simplified uses of karma as either a reward for good behavior or a punishment for wrongdoing.
Moksha, or liberation, is release from karmic bondage and the continuing cycle of rebirth. Jain paths emphasize self-restraint, insight, ethical conduct, meditation and reduced attachment. The disciplines undertaken by monks and nuns are generally more extensive than those expected of householders.
The Three Jewels
The Jain path is commonly summarized through three mutually supporting principles, known as the Ratnatraya or Three Jewels:
Five central vows
Jain ethics are organized around five vows. Ascetics undertake them in an especially rigorous form; lay Jains commonly observe limited forms suited to household life.
Ahimsa · nonviolence
A commitment to avoid harming living beings through action, speech and thought. It informs diet, work, travel and daily care.
Satya · truthfulness
Speaking truth responsibly and avoiding deceptive or harmful communication.
Asteya · non-stealing
Not taking what has not been freely given and respecting the rights of others.
Brahmacharya · restraint
Celibacy for ascetics and disciplined sexual fidelity and restraint for laypeople.
Aparigraha · non-attachment
Limiting possessions, consumption and possessiveness rather than building identity around ownership.
Practice and everyday life
Vegetarianism is widespread among Jains because of the priority given to ahimsa. Many observant Jains avoid root vegetables because harvesting them destroys the whole plant and may disturb small organisms in the soil. Specific dietary observance differs among families, communities and levels of commitment.
- Worship, meditation, repentance and recitation may form part of daily practice.
- Sacred texts and religious teaching provide guidance, although the accepted canons differ between traditions.
- Fasting may be practiced as a discipline of restraint and reflection, with forms ranging from limited observances to demanding ascetic commitments.
- Lay life can include family responsibilities, work, service and support for monks, nuns and religious institutions.
Digambara and Shvetambara traditions
Jainism includes diverse lineages and communities. Two principal groupings are Digambara and Shvetambara, with differences involving scripture, monastic discipline, religious images and some teachings.
Digambara
The name is often translated as “sky-clad.” Digambara monks practice a particularly austere form of renunciation. The tradition has its own textual heritage, teachers and conventions for sacred images.
Shvetambara
The name means “white-clad,” reflecting the simple white robes worn by its mendicants. Shvetambara communities include several monastic and lay traditions with distinct practices.
These labels do not capture every form of Jain identity. Readers should avoid assuming that one community's practice represents all Jains.
Reading Jainism with care
Terms such as soul, karma, nonviolence and liberation can sound familiar across religions while carrying different meanings. A careful comparison begins by understanding each tradition's own use of those terms. See the glossary, explore comparisons between religions, or return to religions and ethical systems.