a religion originating in India in the sixth cent. bc that emphasizes the perfectibility of man and teaches liberation of the soul, esp by the practice of self-denial and ahimsa (non-violence)
Jainism is the religion of the Jains, the followers of the Jinas (‘Conquerors’), revered as enlightened beings who taught the path to liberation from rebirth. One of the Jinas was Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha. Although it has many influential doctrines and practices, Jainism is particularly known among Indian religions for ahimsa (non-violence) toward humans, animals, and plants — Professor Donald Lopez