Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live lives of harmlessness and renunciation.

Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma, is an ancient religion known since early recorded times as an independent faith and philosophy. It is based more immediately upon the teachings of Mahavira (599 - 527 BC), or Lord Mahavira to Jains.

According to belief, Jain philosophy is an understanding and codification of eternal universal truths which at times lapse among humanity, but later reappear through the teachings of human beings who have gained enlightenment or omniscience (Keval Gnan). In this part of the universe, in the present half cycle of time, the philosophy is believed to have first been given to humanity by Lord Rishabha. Evidence from the Indus Civilization (c. 3000 - 1500 BC) seems to attest to its early existence as shown through seals and other artifacts unearthed since the civilization's discovery in 1921.

The essence of Jainism is concern for the welfare of every being in the universe.

Most Jains live in India, where the latest census found 3.2 million Jains.

The essence of Jainism is concern for the welfare of every being in the universe and for the health of the universe itself.

Jains believe that animals and plants, as well as human beings, contain living souls. Each of these souls, whatever species it may be in, is considered of equal value and should be treated with respect and compassion.

Jains believe in reincarnation and seek to attain ultimate liberation - which means escaping that continuous cycle of birth, death and rebirth so that the immortal soul lives for ever in a state of bliss, with no attachments or desires.

Liberation is achieved by eliminating all karma from the soul - karma sticks to the soul as the result of bad thoughts, or behaviour.

Each soul has to achieve liberation through its own efforts: Jainism is a religion of self-help in which there are no gods or spiritual beings that will help human beings on the road to liberation.

The three guiding principles of Jainism (called the "three jewels") are right belief, right knowledge and right conduct.

Jainism is well-known to non-Jains because of its strict principle of non-violence (ahimsa); the supreme principle of Jain living. This is one of the 5 mahavratas (the 5 great vows. The other mahavratas are non-attachment to possessions, not lying, not stealing, and sexual continence restraint (with celibacy as the ideal).

Much writing about Jainism is devoted to the Jain code of living rightly, but it is very important to understand that what a person does physically is no more important than what a person does mentally and that both right mental and right physical living are essential for a person to achieve the Jain goal of ultimate liberation . (Both speech and thought are forms of conduct and so are as important as physical action in classical Jain thinking.)

Jainism has no priests. Its professional religious people are monks and nuns, who lead strict and ascetic lives. Jain lay people should live their lives according to the Jain principles but less strictly than the ascetics.