Jainism

[ jahy-niz-uhm ]

noun

1. a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century b.c. as a revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, especially through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living creatures.

Jainism

/ ˈdʒaɪˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. an ancient Hindu religion, which has its own scriptures and believes that the material world is eternal, progressing endlessly in a series of vast cycles

Derived Forms

• ˈJainist, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Jainism¹

First recorded in 1855–60; Jain + -ism

Example Sentences

Some of the words from the Article, "Hinduisn and Jainism" contain stand-alone acute accents, which have been retained.

From Project Gutenberg

Like Buddhism, Jainism, and Christianity, it owed its origin to a single founder.

From Project Gutenberg

The first two gradually decayed and made way for the last, although Jainism remained powerful until the tenth century.

From Project Gutenberg

Jainism is an Indian religion so like Buddhism as to have been considered by many to be a sect of the latter.

From Project Gutenberg

The organization into communities was made by Buddha2065 and, apparently contemporaneously, by Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.

From Project Gutenberg