Contrary to Hinduism and Buddhism which even spread out of India,Jainism remained confined within the country.As in the case of Buddhism,it arose against the excesses of Hindu priesthood.Vardhaman Mahavira was born in the 6th century B.C.,the son of a chieftain.He renounced worldly life at the age of 30. and became a monk.After 12 years of penance,he attained the state of highest knowledge and became a Jina,the victorious one.The next 30 years were spent in spreading his doctrine which included that of non-violence as causing injury was considered by him as the greatest of sins and total abstention of material possessions the greatest virtue.He emphasized the importance of austere living and equanimity in all situations.
Jains,the followers of Jainism believe that there are 24 tirthankaras (builders of ford crossing the ocean of suffering) who are the greatest teachers of humanity.The first 22 tirthankaras are mythological figures.the first was Adinatha or Rishabhdeva,the 23rd ,Parshavanatha and the 24th or the last Mahavira,the last two being historical personages.Jainism also like Buddhism does not mention a creator god,but unlike Buddhism and like Hinduism believes in individual soul,which goes through the cycle of births and deaths and finally attains moksha after breaking the bondage of karma.Image worship became a part of Jainism and sculptures an painting became a part of Jain temples.The building of a temple is believed by jains to be of great spiritual merit.Becuase of the belief in a very rigid form of non violence(which discourages even professions like farming ,fishing etc),Jainism never spread as widely as Buddhism did in its early stages.However it became very popular,with the business community and has survived to this day with a strong and active following.Jainism spread all over India,even to the deep south,very early in its history.
The Jains are divided into two main groups,the Digambaras and Svetambaras.In the former,monks are are to be sky clad or remain in the nude and in the latter,they are clad in white.Nudity is however practiced by the very few those who are the most involved.Avoidance of voilnce in thought and deed is enjoined to all.Othodox jains therefore eat before sun-set to avoid harming even insects.In the ascetic tradition of Jainism,their festivals and rituals are austere as the causing of pain underlies all living.Some of the important virtues enjoined on all Jains are forgiveness, charity simple living,contented living,observance of truth,fasting,detachment,self control,humility and continence.The greatrst influence of Jianism on Hinduism was the observance of non-voilence and non-killing as also vegetarianism.Jainism in turn accepted many celestial beings of the Hindu pantheon and deities like Saraswati,the goddess of learning are carved on the walls of their temples.The wealth and intricacy of the carvings in Jain temples is in marked contrast to the austere figure of the Tirthanakara image in the inner shrine.
