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Jainism

Jainism /ˈdʒeɪnɪz(ə)m/, traditionally known as '" Jaina Shasana'" or Jaina dharma (Sanskrit: जैन धर्म),[1] is a nontheistic Indian religion that prescribes a path of ahimsa - nonviolence - towards all living beings, and emphasizes spiritual independence and equality between all forms of life. Practitioners believe that nonviolence and self-control are the means by which they can obtain liberation. Currently Jainism is divided into two major sects, Śvētāmbaraand Digambara.

The word Jainism is derived from the Sanskrit verb root jin ("to conquer"). It refers to a battle with the passions and bodily pleasures that the Jain ascetics undertake. Those who win this battle are termed as Jina (conqueror). The termJaina is therefore used to refer to laymen and ascetics of this tradition alike.

Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world.[2] Jains traditionally trace their history through a succession of twenty-four propagators of their faith known as tirthankaras with Rishabha as the first and Mahāvīra as the last of the current era.

For long periods of time, Jainism was the state religion of Indian kingdoms and widely adopted in the Indian subcontinent. The religion has been in decline since the 8th century AD due to the growth of, and oppression by the followers of Hinduism[3] and Islam.[4]

Jainism is a religious minority in India, with 4.2 million adherents, and there are small but notable immigrant communities in Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong,Japan, Singapore, and the United States.[5] Jains have the highest degree of literacy of any religious community in India (94.1 percent),[6] and their manuscript libraries are the oldest in the country.[7]

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Origins[edit]

Statue of Rishabha, the firsttīrthaṅkara and the traditional founder of Jainism

Main article: Timeline of Jainism

The origins of Jainism are obscure.[2][8] During the 5th century BC,...