traditionally known ancient indian religion belonging tradition non violence living beings possible extent main principles non non followers main vows lying non stealing monks follow completely observe partially self discipline major focuses function souls help motto word derives sanskrit word human conquered inner like attachment desire anger pride greed etc called followers path practiced preached known trace history succession teachers path known current era started concluded believe eternal forgotten revived time time philosophy oldest indian philosophy separates body matter soul consciousness completely maintain living beings soul perfect immortal souls liability repeated deaths said imprisoned body practitioners believe non violence self control means liberation texts reject idea creator deity eternal universe elaborate framework types life includes life forms invisible greatly influenced adopted principles life majority reside india million followers smaller major world religions outside india largest communities found united_states europe kenya canada divided major basic common prayer major festivals include aka non violence principle non violence non injury fundamental known aspect everyday implementation principle non violence comprehensive religions identity believe avoiding harm thoughts speech actions according text killing living injury act non injury extend practice humans living beings reason identity majority practicing violence animals production dairy products encouraged humans animals insects living offered protection practice avoidance intentional harm insects emphasized example insects home escorted instead killed teaches intentional harm absence compassion action violent humans animals insects efforts plants necessary admit plants destroyed sake food accept violence human survival including eat root vegetables potatoes tiny organisms injured plant pulled ability seen characteristic living believe intent emotions act violence important action example person kills living later regrets act compared person kills kind living anger revenge etc soldier acting self defense different type violence killing person hatred revenge violence war self defense justified resort peaceful measures thoroughly exhausted according text causes injury injury caused living beings non second main principle non non means maintaining open includes recognition perspectives humble respect differences beliefs encourages adherents consider views beliefs rivals opposing parties principle influenced adopt principles religious tolerance formally stated observing objects infinite qualities modes existence completely aspects finite human perception beings objects aspects capable partial knowledge accordingly single specific human view claim represent absolute truth illustrate theory blind men elephant story blind man feels different elephant trunk leg ear claim understand explain true appearance elephant limited perspectives partly succeed concept non explained expand concept non recommends expression epithet phrase expression means ways perspective reality complex single proposition express nature term proposition giving point view removing statement seven theory partial viewpoints compound sanskrit words partial viewpoint school thought debate arrive certain point view object infinite aspects describe practice speak relevant aspects ignore irrelevant holds philosophical disputes arise confusion adopt outcome purposes pursue realize partial expression truth enables reality non attachment main principle non attachment non includes non emphasizes taking necessary ownership objects allowed non attachment possessions taught followers minimize tendency unnecessary material possessions limit attachment current possessions wealth possessions shared donated possible attachment possessions said result direct harm oneself texts mention attachment possessions kinds attachment internal possessions attachment external possessions fourteen internal possessions wrong belief sex male sex passion female sex passion sex passion defects laughter like dislike sorrow fear disgust anger pride greed external possessions divided sub classes non living living according texts internal external possessions proved injury non manifestation passion attachment termed non violence manifestation passion considered injury said essence scripture according sacred text attachment possessions additionally identifies mind anger pride ego greed recommends conquering anger forgiveness pride straight greed practices accordance principle non violence beings strict followers limit dairy products avoid root vegetables avoid eating sunset fast year particularly festivals takes forms practiced based ability examples include eating meals day drinking water day eating sunset eating processed foods eating food sugar oil salt prayers purpose prayer break barriers desires assist liberation soul pray favors material goods rewards fundamental prayer recited time worship qualities supreme including attained salvation order adopt similar behavior meditation developed type meditation called term derived word goal achieve feeling perfect understand truth self sam means state aimed developing refrain injury particularly important religious festival believed meditation assist managing balancing great emphasis placed internal control thoughts influence behavior actions goals follow duties known practising praising teachers monks texts meditation forms wish stop influx extend reflections mentioned ancient texts like world soul pain suffering implied inability share suffering sorrow body soul body influx matter matter gradual matter form divisions universe nature conditions prevailing different regions heavens like extreme difficulty obtaining human birth subsequently attaining true faith truth festivals important annual event usually celebrated august september lasts days time lay people increase level spiritual intensity prayer meditation help main vows emphasized time set rules followers encouraged practice according ability desires day involves focused prayer meditation session known conclusion festival followers request forgiveness offenses committed year forgiveness asked saying means offended way thought word action seek forgiveness literal meaning coming birth era usually celebrated late march early april based lunar calendar festival marks anniversary hindu festival celebrated date celebrated atmosphere simplicity equity charity philanthropy environmental consciousness temples homes offices shops decorated lights small oil lamps lights symbolic knowledge removal ignorance distributed morning offered praying temples world new year starts right festivals celebrated rituals rituals basic worship ritual practised seeing pure self idols example related life events called rituals practices include performing ceremonial bath images sites include site mount capital locations divine events occurred temple places associated lives great men places associated famous centers learning encouraged respected monks live extremely lifestyles follow main vows strictly observe complete monks permanent home possessions use vehicles travel place distance place place months prepare food live people offer monks carry like object called fallen feathers sweep ground ahead sitting avoid inadvertently crushing small insects monks carry like object dense thick thread strands monks follow duties known practising praising teachers monks monks presence needed rituals confused priests employ need perform special daily rituals duties temple ethics ethical code seven vows vows include merit vows encourages spiritual development cultivation personal wisdom self control main vows means non injury major taken cause harm living beings involves intentional harm living creatures actions speech thoughts considered foremost vows means truth speak truth given priority principles yield conflict situation speaking truth lead violence silence observed means stealing willingly offered attempting material wealth exploit weak considered theft fair value given goods services purchased means monks requires exercise control senses control sexual activity means non includes non non attachment objects places people monks completely renounce property social relations monks practice cardinal principles stealing non strictly encouraged observe current practical limitations observed end life voluntary gradual reduction food liquid intake conditions condition severe famine disease great disability old age person nearing end seen spiritual detachment requiring great deal spiritual accomplishment maturity declaration person finished world chosen leave believe allows achieve death dignity great reduction negative philosophy according simple substances existence soul matter time space philosophers distinguish substance body thing declaring simple element reality compound substances claim partial total destruction body thing substance destroyed according substance sub qualities exist apart instance quality moisture like exist water conceived separately possible create destroy substance means time existing substances shall cease soul soul substance called distinguished remaining substances matter time space collectively called intelligence soul substance endowed found substances nature soul substance said freedom modifications said subject knowledge enjoyment suffering varying degrees according circumstances texts living beings soul perfect immortal souls said embodied body prison non soul matter considered non intelligent substance consisting infinity particles eternal said possess sensible qualities taste smell color certain forms touch sound time said cause continuity succession kinds space space divided parts space occupied universe portion universe portion found remaining substances souls matter time region pure space containing substance lying stretched sides bounds worlds entire universe substances said helpful motion stationary states things respectively enabling place place come rest condition motion reality philosophy based seven known attempt explain nature provide solutions ultimate goal liberation soul soul characterized consciousness non living entities consist matter space time influx evil matter soul mutual soul masks reaching true potential perfect knowledge perception matter soul gradual separation falling matter soul liberation complete matter bound particular soul soul according belief souls pure possess qualities infinite knowledge infinite perception infinite bliss infinite energy ideal state reality qualities found soul association matter ultimate goal realization reality relationship soul explained analogy gold gold found mixed natural state similarly ideal pure state soul mixed like gold soul achieved proper methods applied theory attach responsibility individual action cited explain suffering pain special type raises soul supreme status texts state life principles senses energy life duration organ speech mind table living beings possess accordance senses texts universe created cease exist independent self sufficient require superior power govern elaborate descriptions shape function physical universe constituents provided canonical texts commentaries writings philosopher monks according texts universe divided parts upper middle lower worlds called respectively constituents living entity matter substance responsible motion substance responsible rest space time time beginning eternal cosmic wheel time called according texts universe rise fall periods regeneration cycle time divided parts half cycles ascending descending period progressive prosperity happiness increases period increasing sorrow according currently 5th half time cycle exactly years years left present age sorrow misery religion practiced form liberation possible end religion disappear appear advent years following table depicts trend start reversing onset half time cycle regeneration according texts beings called born earth universal history compilation deeds persons comprise emperor world lord material realm possesses power finds ambitions list universal monarchs golden greatest mentioned scriptures texts like like mention india came known memory sets brothers heroes violent heroes described villains according legends ultimately kill attain liberation goes heaven death hell account violent exploits intended uphold according text knowledge kinds knowledge sensory knowledge regarded indirect knowledge remaining direct knowledge divine preaching hall called discourse delivered called comprises fourteen discourse recorded chief disciples composed departments generally represented tree branches historically based teachings present half cycle passed ages lost famine caused death saints thousand years death comprise thirty works liberation path liberation called path liberation text right faith right knowledge right conduct constitute path liberation book reality writes perfect release liberation path liberation method attained singular path order indicate constitute path liberation views singly constitutes path understood right faith right knowledge right conduct constitute direct path liberation following constitute path liberation right view belief substances like soul non soul right knowledge knowledge substances doubt right conduct free attachment right believer commit injury stages path philosophy fourteen stages soul pass order attain liberation called second stage soul destroys including knowledge results manifestation infinite knowledge said true nature soul pass stage called fully established right faith right knowledge right conduct according texts total destruction released pure soul goes summit universe eternal bliss soul removes ignorance 4th stage 6th stage 12th stage activities body mind speech 14th stage liberation god texts reject idea creator destroyer god eternal universe divides cycle time parts according belief half cycle time grace universe teach doctrine right faith right knowledge right conduct word signifies founder means passage sea path sea deaths said present half cycle 6th century revered texts explain existed exist modern historians place earliest evidence 9th century perfect souls body called perfect souls body called liberated souls helps achieve liberation role models seeking liberation called human spiritual guides fold order consists male female described religion teach supreme enlightenment guide teacher points way enlightenment struggle enlightenment following verses definition god according nature things true god free faults weaknesses lower nature things way constituted free hunger disease birth death fear pride attachment worry hatred sweat sleep surprise called god history origins origins obscure philosophy believe religion eternal said founder present half cycle vice president india wrote evidence far century people doubt prevailed mentions view founder believed older wonderful saying existence long composed volume claim great antiquity religion earliest prophet mentioned belonging remote past earliest literature found traces existence religious order 6th century bce fourth era appears tradition beginning followed religion established long ago predecessor historical figure lived 9th century bce antiquity view truth idea religion goes remote antiquity antiquity question pre called period recently dramatically illuminated discovery series great late stone age cities dating fourth millennium evidence presence monks south india second centuries archaeological evidence monks second century royal patronage ancient city capital modern described text important centre time frequented merchants revered known bce conquered took statue capital said flourished empire came power downfall emperor bce life disciple migrated bce grandson emperor said converted monk named conversion credited actively spreading parts india making possible monks travel lands building thousands temples establishing millions icons ruled place called 1st century bce emperor dynasty invaded retrieved statue installed near capital according ruler military victor according said certainty probably free subjects including chinese traveller notes numerous present time near surviving stone monuments king dynasty northern raised monk named supported rule king 8th century converted disciple famous monk converted friend authored famous epic titled decline major religion declined number factors including religious groups persecution withdrawal royal patronage absence central leadership time faced rivalry buddhism hindu suffered isolated violent groups main factor responsible decline religion success hindu movements 7th century saw considerable growth expense efforts saints like royal patronage key factor growth decline king converted influence work certain expresses contempt converted contemporary king 11th century minister king succeeded converting numerous sect destroyed temples belonging adapted use king follower sect influence grew rapidly hindu grew compromised following hindu rituals customs hindu deities literature legends massacre ancient times buddhist king bce said ordered killings drew picture feet king briefly converted said ordered massacre conversion legends found texts appear fabricated propaganda stories destruction sect sect common time way prove superiority sect legend ordering crushed oil mill appear historically true decline continued muslim conquests indian muslims rulers din oppressed community idols destroyed temples converted burned books killed conversions peaceful 13th century known peaceful propagation islam enjoyed relations rulers tributary hindu kingdoms period number influence diminished significantly rivalry community majority currently reside india million followers relatively small compared major world religions form india population concentrated states delhi significant populations outside india large communities found united_states europe temples built places smaller communities exist kenya canada developed system philosophy ethics great impact indian culture contributed culture language indian states encourage research obtain higher education monks particularly published numerous research according indian census highest degree literacy religious community india percent manuscript libraries oldest country libraries including large number preserved manuscripts schools branches community divided major denominations monks sky clad tradition wear clothes female sect wear plain white referred white clad hand wear white seamless clothes reign knowing indirectly predicted year long famine moved disciples pupil stayed famine followers returned found stayed started wearing white clothes unacceptable remained naked began naked white clothed saw opposed according required complete nudity evidence naked philosophers greek records early fourth century bce supports claim preserved ancient practice earliest record beliefs contained 2nd century believe remained unmarried believe married woman bore daughter believe women attain liberation female excavations revealed statues time 1st century represented clothes monks cloth wrapped left arm identified half clothed mentioned texts believed originated followed nudity beliefs literature sect maintains lost famine lost according partial knowledge original canon later learned started restore written words teachings subject matter century guided teachings written form wrote palm leaves oldest known texts texts include main texts famous texts include scholars believe author oldest extant work literature tamil 3rd century bce considered work scholars supports chapter states giving animal sacrifice worth thousand offerings fire verse famous tamil poetic work composed monks earliest surviving epic tamil literature written epic major work tamil literature describing historical events time prevailing religions buddhism according holds endowed chair tamil studies written legend tamil literary assemblies based permanent assembly called established likely assembly model tradition fabricated legend scholars poets authored tamil classics period beginning period 9th 13th centuries authors predominantly earliest known literature dominated 12th century wrote aspects faith greatest poets court poet king best known art architecture contributed significantly indian art architecture mainly depict important people seated standing posture attendant spirits guard usually shown figures seals bear similarity images nude posture earliest known image museum approximately dated 3rd century bce bronze images seen prince mumbai museum dated 2nd century bce tower good example architecture decorated manuscripts preserved libraries containing paintings illustrations depict historical events known life usually depicted lotus position standing position distinguished long locks hair falling shoulders bull images appear sculptures paintings incidents life like marriage marking forehead depicted paintings presenting pottery bowl followers seen painting house weaving visited mother associated distinctive listed texts caves stone beds inscriptions sculptures site wrote great books grammar tamil temples remnants ancient temples cave temples found india notable caves near temples near cave temple regarded finest examples art oldest famous centre region possesses early cave shelter medieval rock cut temple excellent paintings comparable paintings steep hill contains isolated locally known derived seven holes cut rock serve steps leading shelter cave seventeen stone beds aligned rows raised portion served largest stone bed distinct inscription 2nd century bce inscriptions belonging 8th century bce found nearby beds continued 7th 8th centuries inscriptions remaining stone beds monks 8th century temple marks revival south india statues sculptures metre foot statue referred built minister commander situated district state statue voted sms poll india conducted times_of_india statue depicting erected tall large number offerings worship excavated symbols important symbol arms symbolize states existence according heavenly human like flora fauna reception like religions criticized praised practices beliefs greatly influenced adopting principles compassion forms life importance vows self discipline self mutual tolerance people different said religion world explained principle deeply systematically discussed human life principle non violence ascribed practice people world achieve end life world sure status sure respected greatest authority appreciated role development indian religious philosophy words asks saved indian society burden animal sacrifices crushed life revolution took strong stand exclusively morals philosophical truths
Jainism