Jainism

Jainism
   According to tradition, Mahavira, the founder of the Jain religion, was born in the state of Bihar in India in 599 BC. Jainism therefore has as great a claim to antiquity as Buddhism and there are similarities between the two religions. Jainism is an austere, non-theistic religion, its central tenet being non-violence, practised in an extremely comprehensive way by its monastic followers who are required to walk with extreme caution to avoid crushing insects and to wear masks and strain drinking water. A minority religion in India, it never became a missionary religion like Buddhism. Jainism found its way to Britain with members of the Indian merchant class who were, and remain, its chief adherents.
   See also: Buddhism; Hinduism; Islam
   JAN EVANS

Encyclopedia of contemporary British culture . . 2014.

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  • Jainism — Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म) is an ancient religion of India. Jains are a small but influential religious minority with at least 10 million followers in modern India, [ [http://www.censusindia.gov.in… …   Wikipedia

  • Jainism — • A form of religion intermediate between Brahminism and Buddhism, originated in India in pre Christian times Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Jainism     Jainism      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • jainism — JAINÍSM s.n. Religie şi şcoală filozofică indiană, opusă brahmanismului şi sistemului de castă al acestuia, întemeiată în sec. VI a.cr. [pr.: ja i ] – Din fr. jaïnisme. Trimis de claudia, 02.02.2005. Sursa: DEX 98  jainísm s. n. (sil. ja i )… …   Dicționar Român

  • Jainism — Jain ism, n. The heterodox Hindu religion, founded in the 6th century as a revolt against Hinduism; its most striking features are the exaltation of saints or holy mortals, called jins, above the ordinary Hindu gods, and the denial of a supreme… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Jainism — 1858, from JAIN (Cf. Jain) + ISM (Cf. ism). Jainist is attested from 1816 …   Etymology dictionary

  • Jainism — ► NOUN ▪ an Indian religion founded in the 6th century BC, characterized by non violence and asceticism. DERIVATIVES Jainist noun …   English terms dictionary

  • Jainism — [jīn′iz΄əm] n. a religion of India, founded in the 6th cent. B.C.: it emphasizes asceticism, nonviolence, and reverence for all living things …   English World dictionary

  • Jainism — /juy niz euhm/, n. a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century B.C. as a revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, esp. through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living… …   Universalium

  • Jainism —    The name Jain derives from jina (victory); Jainism is thus the religion of the “victorious one” any human being who by his or her own effort has conquered the lower passions and thus become free of attachments to things. Most Jains believe… …   Encyclopedia of Hinduism

  • Jainism — One of the three heterodox darshanas or branches of Hinduism. Jainism traces its origins to Vardhamana, a successor to twenty three previous ‘fordmakers’, or teachers who enabled the faithful to cross the stream leading to release from the cycle… …   Philosophy dictionary

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