A report on Ahimsa in Jainism

Relief representing ahimsa
Painting in a Jain temple with the statement "ahinsā paramo dharma" (non-injury is the highest virtue/religion)
Violence (Himsa) gouache on paper, 17th century, Gujarat depicts animals of prey with their victims. The princely couple symbolises love, which is another occasion of violence.
Sculpture depicting the statement "ahimsā paramo dharma" (Photo:Ahinsa Sthal, Delhi)

Fundamental principle forming the cornerstone of its ethics and doctrine.

- Ahimsa in Jainism
Relief representing ahimsa

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The hand symbolizes Ahiṃsā, the wheel dharmachakra, the resolve to halt saṃsāra (transmigration).

Jainism

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Ancient Indian religion.

Ancient Indian religion.

The hand symbolizes Ahiṃsā, the wheel dharmachakra, the resolve to halt saṃsāra (transmigration).
Classification of Saṃsāri Jīvas (transmigrating souls) in Jainism
Lord Neminatha, Akota Bronzes (7th century)
Jain miniature painting of 24 tirthankaras, Jaipur, c. 1850
Jain temple painting explaining Anekantavada with Blind men and an elephant
A Jain monk in meditation, wearing the characteristic white robe and face covering
Nishidhi stone, depicting the vow of sallekhana, 14th century, Karnataka
Praying at the feet of a statue of Bahubali
Jain worship may include ritual offerings and recitals.
Celebrating Das Lakshana (Paryushana), Jain Center of America, New York City
The birth of Mahavira, from the Kalpa Sūtra (c.1375–1400 CE)
Shikharji
Idol of Suparśvanātha
A symbol to represent the Jain community was chosen in 1975 as part of the commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of Mahavira’s nirvana.
Rishabhdev, believed to have lived over 592.704×1018 years ago, is considered the traditional founder of Jainism.
The ruins of Gori Jain temples in Nagarparkar, Pakistan, a pilgrimage site before 1947.
Ranakpur Jain Temple
Dilwara Temples
Parshvanath Temple in Khajuraho
Girnar Jain temples
Jal Mandir, Pawapuri
Lodhurva Jain temple
Palitana temples
Saavira Kambada Basadi, Moodbidri, Karnataka
Jain temple, Antwerp, Belgium
Brahma Jinalaya, Lakkundi
Hutheesing Jain Temple

The three main pillars of Jainism are ahiṃsā (non-violence), anekāntavāda (non-absolutism), and aparigraha (asceticism).

Jain Śrāvaka praying at Gommateshwara statue

Śrāvaka (Jainism)

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Used to refer the Jain laity (householder).

Used to refer the Jain laity (householder).

Jain Śrāvaka praying at Gommateshwara statue
A Jain Śrāvika worshiping

1) Ahiṃsā – Not to hurt any living being by actions and thoughts. Out of the five types of living beings, a householder is forbidden to kill, or destroy, intentionally, all except the lowest (the one sensed, such as vegetables, herbs, cereals, etc., which are endowed with only the sense of touch).

Broad classification of Karmas as per Jain philosophy

Karma in Jainism

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Basic principle within an overarching psycho-cosmology in Jainism.

Basic principle within an overarching psycho-cosmology in Jainism.

Broad classification of Karmas as per Jain philosophy
The soul travels to any one of the four states of existence after the death depending on its karmas
The common representation of the mango tree and men analogy of the lesyas.
Representation of a soul undergoing reincarnation.
Karma as moral action and reaction: goodness sown is reaped as goodness.

Karma forms a central and fundamental part of Jain faith, being intricately connected to other of its philosophical concepts like transmigration, reincarnation, liberation, non-violence (ahiṃsā) and non-attachment, among others.

Non-possession

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Philosophy that holds that no one or anything possesses anything.

Philosophy that holds that no one or anything possesses anything.

After ahiṃsā, Aparigraha is the second most important virtue in Jainism.

Sculpture depicting the Jain concept of ahimsa (non-injury)

Ethics of Jainism

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According to Jain text, Puruşārthasiddhyupāya:"All these subdivisions (injury, falsehood, stealing, unchastity, and attachment) are hiṃsā as indulgence in these sullies the pure nature of the soul. Falsehood etc. have been mentioned separately only to make the disciple understand through illustrations."

According to Jain text, Puruşārthasiddhyupāya:"All these subdivisions (injury, falsehood, stealing, unchastity, and attachment) are hiṃsā as indulgence in these sullies the pure nature of the soul. Falsehood etc. have been mentioned separately only to make the disciple understand through illustrations."

Sculpture depicting the Jain concept of ahimsa (non-injury)
Jain emblem and the "Five Vows"

Ahiṃsā (Non-violence)

Tattvartha sutra

Tattvartha Sutra

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Ancient Jain text written by Acharya Umaswami in Sanskrit, sometime between the 2nd- and 5th-century CE.

Ancient Jain text written by Acharya Umaswami in Sanskrit, sometime between the 2nd- and 5th-century CE.

Tattvartha sutra
Chart showing Samyak Darsana as per Tattvarthasutra

ahimsa (abstinence from violence)

A Jain monk

Śramaṇa

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Śramaṇa (Sanskrit; Pali: samaṇa) means "one who labours, toils, or exerts themselves (for some higher or religious purpose)" or "seeker, one who performs acts of austerity, ascetic".

Śramaṇa (Sanskrit; Pali: samaṇa) means "one who labours, toils, or exerts themselves (for some higher or religious purpose)" or "seeker, one who performs acts of austerity, ascetic".

A Jain monk
23rd Jain Tirthankar, Parshwanatha re-organized the shraman sangha in 9th century BCE.

The distinguishing features of Jain philosophy are its belief in the independent existence of soul and matter, predominance of karma, the denial of a creative and omnipotent God, belief in an eternal and uncreated universe, a strong emphasis on nonviolence, an accent on anekantavada and morality and ethics based on liberation of the soul.

Major religious groups as a percentage of world population

Indian religions

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Indian religions, sometimes also termed Dharmic religions or Indic religions, are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent.

Indian religions, sometimes also termed Dharmic religions or Indic religions, are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent.

Major religious groups as a percentage of world population
"Priest King" of Indus Valley Civilisation
The so-called Pashupati seal, showing a seated and possibly ithyphallic figure, surrounded by animals.
Hindu Swastika
Buddha statue at Darjeeling
Buddhist Monks performing traditional Sand mandala made from coloured sand
Saga Agastya, father of Tamil literature
Typical layout of Dravidian architecture which evolved from koyil as king's residence.
Krishna fighting the horse demon Keshi, 5th century, Gupta period.
A basalt statue of Lalita flanked by Gaṇeśa and Kārttikeya, Pala era.
The Golden Temple of Mahalakshmi at Vellore.
An aerial view of the Meenakshi Temple from the top of the southern gopuram, looking north. The temple was rebuilt by the Vijayanagar Empire.
Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) is culturally the most significant place of worship for the Sikhs.
Mahamagam Festival is a holy festival celebrated once in twelve years in Tamil Nadu. Mahamagam Festival, which is held at Kumbakonam. This festival is also called as Kumbamela of South.
The largest religious gathering ever held on Earth, the 2001 Maha Kumbh Mela held in Prayag attracted around 70 million Hindus from around the world.
Map showing the prevalence of Abrahamic (pink) and Indian religions (yellow) in each country
A devotee facing the Ganga, reading a stack of holy books ("Chalisa" of various god) at the Kumbh Mela
A holy place for all religion - "Mazar of Pir Mubarak Gazi"
Symbols of Major Indian Religions

The 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, Mahavira, stressed five vows, including ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), and aparigraha (non-attachment).

Image of Āchārya Kundakunda (author of Pancastikayasara, Niyamasara)

Digambara monk

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Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold sangha.

Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold sangha.

Image of Āchārya Kundakunda (author of Pancastikayasara, Niyamasara)
The Ascetic (Sādhu) keeps with him a feather-whisk (picchī) – implement of compassion, a water-pot (kamaņdalu) – implement of purity, and scriptural treatise (śāstra) – implement of knowledge.
Vidyasagar, a prominent Digambara monk

Digambar Sādhus have 28 primary attributes which includes observance of the five supreme vows of ahimsa (non-injury), truth, non-thieving, celibacy and non-possession.

A Jain illustration of the blind men and an elephant parable. At the top, the Kevalins are shown having the ability to view all perspectives.

Jain philosophy

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Jain philosophy refers to the ancient Indian philosophical system found in Jainism.

Jain philosophy refers to the ancient Indian philosophical system found in Jainism.

A Jain illustration of the blind men and an elephant parable. At the top, the Kevalins are shown having the ability to view all perspectives.
Classification of Saṃsāri Jīvas (transmigrating souls) in Jainism
An explanation of the five types of material bodies associated with a Jiva.
Structure of Universe according to the Jain scriptures.
Division of time as envisaged by Jains.
Scale of time in Jain texts shown logarithmically.
Karma as action and reaction: if we sow goodness, we will reap goodness.
The various realms of existence in Jainism
Classification of karmas as mentioned in Jain texts
Sculpture depicting the Jain concept of ahimsa (non-injury)
A depiction of a Jain monk and a tree depicting the five great vows. The Muhapatti (mouth covering) is a symbol of ahimsa and it is supposed to prevent small animals from flying into the mouth of the ascetic.
The twelve vows of a Jain lay disciple
A Jain sculpture, the central figure is a depiction of a fully liberated soul, a siddha. The cut out outline of a human form symbolizes the non-material nature of siddhas.
Fourteen stages on the path to liberation
Umaswati, the first Jain philosopher to write a systematic exposition of Jain thought

Scholarly research has shown that philosophical concepts that are typically Indian – Karma, Ahimsa, Moksa, reincarnation and like – either have their origins in the sramana traditions (one of the most ancient of which is Jainism).