Jainism

Jainism is one of the oldest religions and was founded in the sixth century B. C. E in India. Vardhamana, known to his followers as Mahavira is traditionally known as the founder of Jainism.

Mahavira was born in 599 B. C. in Bihar, India. His parents were of the Kashatriya caste. Mahavira was born into a wealthy family. His father was King Siddartha. He lived a life of luxury. Later Mahavira married Princess Yasoda. They had one daughter named Anoja. Through out this time period Mahavira wasn’t happy. He decided to leave all of his wealth, luxury, and loved ones behind in search of a religious answer to his unhappiness.

Mahavira first went out and joined the ascetics. He didn’t find what he was looking for with them. He believed you had to practice extreme asceticism to find release of the soul from the life. Mahavira also believed to find release one had to practice ahimsa, which means non-injury to life.

To find total release from life, Mahavira imposed extreme measures of asceticism. He didn’t want to be attached to people, or things, he never stayed more than one night in any one place. He swept the road before he walked so he wouldn’t step on any insects. He also strained the water he drank to avoid swallowing any living creatures that might be living in it.

Mahavira tormented his body by staying in the coldest places during the winter and the warmest places in the summer. He would always walk around naked. He would only eat food that was given to him. He would avoid meat, since an animal would have to die, thus, Mahavira was a vegetarian

After a long twelve years of the most extreme forms of asceticism, Mahavira achieved mokaha (release) from the bonds that tie ones soul to the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Thus, Mahavira achieved the release of karma.

Mahavira taught that karma built up over time, was a result of any type of activity. So for a Jian to escape karma and be free from life (reincarnation) they should do as little as possible.

Jains believe the world is comprised of two substances. One is jiva (soul), and the other is ajiva (matter). Soul is life, and matter is evil. Matter clings to ones body from past actions. As long as the soul is attached to matter, it cannot be freed from the cycle of lives.