Jain Religion :

Jainism is one of the worlds oldest living and originated in India, where the majority of its followers still live today. Jainism does not believe in a creator God, but it does believe in many Gods who are the self-realised individuals who have attained enlightement." Jainism is based on the teachings of Lord Mahavira. He organized his followers, into a four fold order,namely

• Monk (Sadhu)
• Nun (Sadhvi)
• Layman (Shravak)
• Laywoman (Shravika)

Later on they are known as Jains.

The ultimate objective of his teaching is how one can attain the total freedom from the cycle of birth, life, pain, misery, and death, and achieve the permanent blissful state of one's self. This is also known as liberation, nirvana, absolute freedom, or Moksha.

He explained that from eternity, every living being (soul) is in bondage of karmic atoms, that are accumulated by its own good or bad deeds. Under the influence of karma, the soul is habituated to seek pleasures in materialistic belongings and possessions. Which are the deep rooted causes of self-centered violent thoughts, deeds, anger, hatred, greed, and such other vices. These result in accumulating more karma.

Jain Religion is of purely human origin and is preached and practiced by one who has attained perfect knowledge, omniscience and self-control by his own personal efforts and has been liberated from the bonds of worldly existence, the cycle of births and deaths. Such human beings are considered Gods of Jainism.

Jainism believes that the universe and all its substance or entities are eternal. Jains believe that all living things (animals and plants) have souls and are of equal value.

At the heart of right conduct for Jains lie the five great vows:

• Nonviolence (Ahimsa) not to cause harm to any living beings
• Truthfulness (Satya) to speak the harmless truth only
• Non-stealing (Asteya)not to take anything not properly given
• Chastity (Brahmacharya) not to indulge in sensual pleasure
• Non-possession/Non-attachment (Aparigraha) complete detachment from people, places, and material things.

Jains hold these vows at the center of their lives. The monks and nuns follow these vows strictly and totally, while the common people try to follow the vows as far as their life styles will permit.

Prayer of Jain religion :

Every day Jains bow their heads and say their universal prayer, the Navkar-mantra. All good work and events start with this prayer of salutation and worship. The prayer is known as :

Namaskar Mantra